Larry's Blog
Was Sign Stealing the Pivotal Factor in the Astros’ 2017 ALCS Victory?
January 16, 2020
In the 2017 American League Championship Series between the Astros and Yankees, the home team won all seven games. In light of the revelation that the Houston Astros that year used electronic devices to steal opposing pitcher signs and relay such helpful information to their batters just before the pitch, partisan claims have been made […] More
Central Bank Watch
South African Reserve Bank Repo Rate Sliced 25 BPS to 6.25%
January 16, 2020
Policymakers at the South African Reserve Bank voted unanimously to cut the central bank’s repo rate by a further 25 basis points to 6.25%. This follows an initial 25-bp cut last July that reversed a 25-bp hike in November 2018. In a released statement, bank officials announced downward revisions to the growth path, which overall […] More
Central Bank Watch
Interest Rate Cut in Turkey
January 16, 2020
The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey’s one-week repo rate was cut by 75 basis points to 11.25%. Analysts had been projecting a likely 50-bp cut. Today’s moves follow consecutive cuts of 425 basis points last July, 325 bps at September’s meeting, 250 bps in October and 200 bps last month. Even though the […] More
New Overnight Developments Abroad - Daily Update
Financial Markets Comparatively Steady after Signing of Phase I U.S.-China Trade Deal
January 16, 2020
The dollar rose 0.1% overnight against the yen but slipped by 0.3% versus sterling and the Australian dollar, 0.2% relative to the Chinese Renminbi and Swiss franc, and 0.1% versus the euro and loonie. Share prices in the Pacific Rim advanced 0.7% in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, 0.8% in South Korea, 0.1% in Japan, […] More
