Off the Charts!: Recent Episodes
Blu Putnam
CME Group Chief Economist Blu Putnam's series Off The Charts! examines the pertinent economic issues of the day in the United States and across the globe. The podcast series provides a deeper dive into complex topics and frames the issues in a way that can lead to a better understanding of the financial and commodities markets.
Copper output has been stagnating or declining since 2015, with the pandemic causing mine closures in top producer Chile.
Do options skews in Treasuries provide any guidance on market trend? We look into whether extreme downside skews signal a buying opportunity.
Investors in the oil market seem to be more concerned over a market slump than a rally, as reflected in out-of-the-money options skews. Were they right?
Oil prices have bounced off their recent lows but the implied volatility in options is indicating uncertainty in the market's direction over the long term.
Outcome of talks for UK's exit from the European Union under Brexit presents a classic case of event risk that could reach a climax in November.
Large-cap U.S. stocks are much more vulnerable to the fallout from the trade war between the U.S. and China because of their complex global supply chains.
As crude oil prices top $70 per barrel amid escalating Mideast geopolitical risk premium, will shale producers ramp up output as they lock in prices?
The Fed faces several key challenges as it charts a new monetary course in the aftermath of the emergency policies put in place during the Bernanke era.
An index named for China's prime minister seems to provide better insight into its growth than official GDP. What's in store for the world's No. 2 economy.
From growing U.S. budget deficits to potential trade wars and the end of quantitative easing, several "phase transitions" could fire up market volatility.
From U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum to the uncertain future of NAFTA and tough Brexit negotiations, trade issues are taking center stage in 2018.
Bitcoin supply is likely to grow by less than 5% in 2018 as the cryptocurrency edges closer to its production cap and as mining difficulty rises sharply.
Grain markets are not overly concerned of a La Niña, with options implied volatility near lows, but hedging costs could spike quickly if the weather bites.
How will central banks' unwinding of quantitative easing, starting with the Federal Reserve, impact financial markets in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
The lackluster growth in U.S. wages can be attributed, in part, to expectations of low inflation, which has remained subdued for more than two decades.
The trajectory of oil prices will depend on whether U.S. inventories continue to fall, OPEC members adhere to output cuts, and if U.S. production rises.
Is China heading toward a recession? It's nascent yield curve is pointing to a possible major slowdown in the world's second-largest economy in mid-2018.
The Brexit vote in Britain and the presidential election in the United States offer a glimpse into the differing nature of event risk that drives markets.
Uncertainty and volatility are different risk management concepts. More uncertainty does not necessarily mean more volatile markets, as in the U.S.
As interest rates in the United States go higher over the next two years, will it trigger a flight to quality into bonds on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean?
The U.S. economy is a conundrum as it grows moderately at around 2% a year even as the unemployment rate has tumbled to the lowest in 16 years.
The Federal Reserve's approach to reducing its massive balance sheet is to proceed very slowly so it does not disrupt markets, especially home mortgages.
The French go to the polls on May 7 to elect a president, and the outcome could determine the future of the EU, impact the euro and affect Brexit talks.
Among asset managers, many are benchmarked to major equity indexes. Here are four reasons why it can be difficult to consistently outperform these indexes.
The lack of volatility in gold has seen options prices slump, but is the market about to change course as Congress weighs in on major Trump initiatives?
The bond yield curve in relation to short-term rates is often a reliable indicator of a recession, and at the moment it is flashing the all-clear sign.
Janet Yellen's tenure as Fed Chair comes to a close next year, providing the Trump administration the opportunity to leave its imprint on the central bank.
Copper's blistering rally coincides with the Fed gearing up for multiple rate hikes in 2017. Will higher borrowing costs impact the red metal's performance?
The weather outlook seems benign for crops like corn and soybeans in the Americas this year but shifts in U.S. trade policies could fuel market volatility.
Elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany on the heels of the surprise 'Brexit' vote could either strengthen European unity or deepen the divide.
Can OPEC's latest output cuts keep oil prices afloat? Cost-efficient shale producers in the United States will play a big role in the market's direction.
With about a year left on the job, will the Fed's Janet Yellen keep with the tradition of handing over a clean slate by shrinking its mighty balance sheet?
Listen to CME Group Chief Economist Blu Putnam discuss the impact of U.S. tax cuts in stimulating growth in an economy well past the drag of a recess.