Trading Perspectives: An Economic Podcast
287 episodes - English - Latest episode: 19 days ago - ★★★★★ - 71 ratingsIn this podcast, John & Sam exchange perspectives on current events that are impacting our economy and influencing investment strategies. Trading Perspectives is hosted by Oakworth Capital Bank's Chief Economist, John Norris along with Sam Clement, Associate Managing Director.
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Episodes
America's Population Problem
June 01, 2023 18:53 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBAmericans currently aren’t having enough children to replenish the population. Fortunately, immigration should be able to make up some of the domestic shortfall. What is the cause of this? Is it economic in nature? Or is it societal? Essentially, why are Americans waiting longer to have children and having fewer of them? What are the financial implications of more or less children? Are there any long term consequences? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss America’s...
What Keeps You Up at Night?
May 25, 2023 14:04 - 26 minutes - 36 MBAt a recent presentation, someone asked John what kept him up at night. Was it the debt ceiling imbroglio? The Federal Reserve? The potential for a recession? War in Asia? War in Ukraine? With so many different problems from which to choose, what keeps you up at night? Is it one of these things or something completely different altogether? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss their greatest fears for the present and the future. Are there any generational or...
The Boys of Summer Make How Much?
May 17, 2023 19:33 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MBCurrently, four of the five big professional sports leagues are in action. While these depend on the common man for success, the money the athletes make is anything but common. The numbers boggle the mind. The question remains: “how much longer will the American public continue to pay the bills?” After all, a trip to the ballpark for a family of four can be an expensive undertaking. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the runaway salaries professional athlet...
Will Inflation Ruin My Vacation?
May 10, 2023 18:02 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBWhile the rate of inflation has recently gone down, prices remain higher than where they were this time last year. Will this impact any summer vacation plans? If so, how? Will more folks have staycations? Or will people make more PB&Js to take to the beach while on vacation? After all, the wallet might not be as thick in 2023. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss how higher prices have impacted their personal travel plans for the summer. You might be surprise...
Is the Dollar Almighty?
May 03, 2023 17:55 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MBThe US dollar has been the preferred reserve currency and method of international exchange since the end of WWII. How much longer can this continue? After all, the rest of the world wants a say about how the global financial system works. But is there an alternative to the greenback? Also, should Sam and Courtney get euros and pounds now or later? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the global currency markets, the best way to exchange currencies for the ave...
The Nanny State
April 26, 2023 17:22 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MBOver time, the government has gotten more involved in the lives of American citizens. It seems there is a law, ordinance or tax on just about every action and transaction we make. While the argument is always that they are in “the public good,” at what point should that supersede individual rights? Are there any generational or gender differences in opinion? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss governmental involvement in their day-to-day lives and what, if a...
Can You Be Influenced?
April 19, 2023 18:51 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBRecently, Bud Light has made a lot of headlines for using social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote its product. This has unleashed a firestorm of opinion on the role of influencers in general. Are they effective? Are they cost efficient? Are they the wave of the future as marketing departments get more granular in attracting specific demographics? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the use of social media influencers and the impact they have on the...
Pay What For a Used Car?
April 13, 2023 13:29 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBAnyone who has been in the market for a new or used car lately knows they have gone up sharply in price. Inventories are still extremely low for both and borrowing costs are substantially higher. Can potential buyers still get the car of their dreams? Or is the dream becoming a nightmare? If so, when will it end? Will car prices ever come back down to a manageable level? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the sticker shock in the car industry. Will this imp...
Are Layoffs Coming to Your Town?
April 05, 2023 21:50 - 21 minutes - 29.2 MBThe U.S. labor markets have been incredibly strong for the last couple of years. However, a few months ago, cracks began to show as tech companies started to let workers go. For a while, the job losses seemed relatively contained to the sector, but they seem to be popping up everywhere. How much longer will it be before they hit your industry and your town? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the recent increase in layoff announcements. Is this a serious lon...
Creatively Capitalistic?
March 24, 2023 16:16 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBIt seems every movie is a sequel or another rendition of long established characters and stories. The same could be said for music as well. Is our entertainment industry in a collective funk? Why do we keep seeing the same old same old, but only with new actors? Has creativity bottomed in the United States? If so, what does that say about the future? Or is there something else happening? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John ponder why everything seems to be a remake....
TikTok or Not
March 23, 2023 15:35 - 29 minutes - 41.2 MBThere has been an increased number of calls to ban the Chinese social media app, TikTok, in the US. The thought is that Beijing is using it to spy on Americans in order to both gain and skew information. However, would banning TikTok be a violation of the 1St Amendment? Would it be a violation of free speech? Is there any precedent for this sort of action during peace time? Or is this a big conspiracy hoax? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the ongoing Tik...
Banking Breakdown
March 15, 2023 15:23 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MBIt seems every day brings a new problem with some bank somewhere. How did this happen? Couldn’t anyone foresee these problems? Is there any end in sight? Will this ultimately be a repeat of 2008? Is there a flock of black swans out there? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the recent problems in the global financial system. Will these lead to a much bigger contagion? Or will cooler heads ultimately prevail?
Chinese Take Away
March 08, 2023 17:28 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBThis past week, senior Chinese officials made it very clear Beijing feels threatened by the United States. Or was it just for show? Was the saber-rattling a way of saving face or a new way of doing business with the People’s Republic? With everything that is happening in the world, is the US really capable of handling a two front war against major powers? What is the ultimate endgame and what does success look like? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the on...
The Sky Is the Limit
March 01, 2023 19:29 - 22 minutes - 30.6 MBIt seems Washington has been arguing about the debt ceiling for an extremely long time. Why does it go through this political theater? Is there really any appetite in Congress to meaningfully reign in spending? If so, what gets the ax? Also, is there any end in sight to the deluge in dollars? Should we be losing sleep over this? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the Federal debt and what, if anything, can be done about it. John also challenges Usain Bolt t...
Giving Up Unproductivity for Lent
February 22, 2023 19:32 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBThe average American's attention span has fallen dramatically over the last decade. Currently, 47 seconds is about the time people can stay focused on one subject. How has this impacted worker productivity? How has it impacted mental health, which ultimately impacts productivity? Is technology to blame? Social media? If so, what can we do as a society about it? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John analyze Courtney’s decision to give up social media for Lent. Will she...
Is ESG for Me or Thee?
February 15, 2023 21:55 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MBEnvironmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing has been making a lot of headlines. But what is it exactly? Should companies put ESG considerations ahead of the shareholders best interests, as in turning a profit? Also, what happens when or if societal norms shift? Will companies have to change everything just to stay in good ESG graces. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss ESG investing and whether it is important to them? More than that, they discuss w...
Popping China’s Balloon?
February 08, 2023 14:08 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBSometimes the headlines are hard to believe. Such was the case this past week, as a massive Chinese spy, presumably, balloon floated across the United States. Washington waited until it was just off the coast of South Carolina to shoot it down in order to prevent damages and injury on the ground. All of this begged a lot of questions. Don’t the Chinese have low-orbit satellites already? Why would they resort to a balloon which was visible on clear days? Why hasn’t Beijing pitched more of a f...
Tom Brady Can Retire. Can You?
February 01, 2023 16:22 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBFootball legend Tom Brady announced his retirement, again, this week. Unlike most people, Brady has plenty of options and professional opportunities ahead of him in his “retirement.” This begs the question, what does retirement mean to you? Is there is a differing of opinion between generations? Between genders? Do people have realistic expectations about what the future will hold for them? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss what retirement means to them. N...
Crack An Egg Over Your Budget
January 25, 2023 16:31 - 21 minutes - 29.2 MBThe sharp increase in egg prices has made a lot of headlines. What is the cause and how is it really impacting American consumers? Do people really eat that many eggs? Are the higher prices causing people to consume fewer? Or are chicken eggs more inelastic than you might think? If so, how much longer are these high prices going to last? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the recent rise in egg prices and how it has impacted them personally. Is there any re...
Ringing in the New Year With Layoffs
January 19, 2023 14:55 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBA number of major companies have already announced layoffs in 2023. These are the ones that get the headlines. However, a lot of smaller businesses have also been letting people go or even shutting for good. After all, when Microsoft announces 10,000 job cuts, it is all over the media. Not so when Daddy Pet’s BBQ in Grand Rapids extinguishes the pit. So, what is behind the recent job losses? Are there seasonal factors at play? Or is this more of a systemic weakening in the labor markets in g...
New Year’s Resolutions
January 04, 2023 17:23 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBAfter a topsy-turvy year in 2022, are Americans looking for a fresh start? If so, what are the willing to give up or start doing to get things right? In short, what resolutions have Americans made to start the new year? What resolutions have Sam, Courtney and John made to better themselves? Finally, what are the resolutions some global leaders should have? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss new year’s resolutions and whether they are worth the effort.
2023: What Are We Expecting for the New Year?
December 28, 2022 14:00 - 20 minutes - 27.7 MBAfter three consecutive years of the unexpected, what can investors expect in 2023. Will things return to some semblance of normal, if we even know what that means any longer? What are some of the safe predictions for the new year? Are there any black swans swimming towards us? If so, what will they be. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss the prospects for the upcoming year and come to a somewhat startling prediction. Will it come true or how can it not?
2022: Did We Learn Anything?
December 21, 2022 16:23 - 20 minutes - 27.7 MB2022 was another weird year. The data was bizarre and geopolitical events were head scratching. Unfortunately, this led to a lot of red ink in the investment markets. With everything seemly out of kilter, were there any lessons to be learned? Any a ha moments? Good takeaways from a very frustrating year. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam and John discuss the past year and come to a couple of conclusions. While they didn’t trade perspectives, they might have hit the nail on the head.
Holiday Movie Ho Hum
December 14, 2022 19:55 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBThe holidays have always been a time for massive blockbuster movies. However, changing consumer behavior seems to be threatening this tradition. After all, a lot of people wonder why they should pay no small sum of money in order to watch a movie that will be on a streaming service in a few weeks. Still, others love the whole ceremony of going to the theater, getting a soda and popcorn, and enjoying the entertainment with others. Which side will win? The new consumer or the old tradition...
China’s Lockdown Nightmare
November 30, 2022 19:29 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBIn a nation where conformity is paramount, recent protests in China have made global headlines. It seems even the Chinese don’t like Beijing’s zero-COVID policy. However, is the government more concerned with the virus or controlling the citizenry. If the latter, what does that mean for the global economy moving forward? Can multinationals pull their manufacturing capacity out of the PRC fast enough? If so, to where exactly? After all, if China doesn’t protect the rights of its own populatio...
Holiday Shopping Swoon?
November 22, 2022 15:40 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBWith inflation eating away at wallets and pocketbooks, how strong will the US consumer be this holiday shopping season? Analyst estimates are all over the place. However, a sharp spike above the rate of inflation would be an enormous surprise. Will families with small children step up or back from the plate? How about Gen X and Baby Boomer “empty nesters’? Will Gen Z even spend money at all? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the upcoming holiday shopping s...
Crypto Meltdown
November 16, 2022 21:39 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBOver the last 12 months, cryptocurrencies have fallen dramatically in value. Much of the downfall has to do with tighter monetary policy. However, recent scandals and exchange collapses at platforms like FTX have caused new questions. Are cryptocurrencies a legitimate store of value? Will they ever get back to those highs from 2021? Frankly, who is in charge here? Or is that still a selling point, that no one is in charge? Will anything be able to change the minds of either crypto bulls or c...
Looming Layoffs
November 09, 2022 21:26 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBAlthough the government keeps reporting strong jobs numbers, it seems layoffs are on the rise. This is especially true in the technology sector, where many household names have announced some form of job cuts, hiring freezes, and downsizings. So, which is it? Is the labor market strong? Are these job losses contained within the tech sector? Or are they the proverbial “canary in the coal mine, with bigger labor pains to come? This week, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the recent spate of lay...
School Daze
November 02, 2022 20:45 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBRecent standardized test scores suggest US students fell sharply behind during the pandemic. This isn’t surprising given the problems with remote learning. However, is that the only reason? Could it be something greater and potentially more sinister? Are we failing our children by not making education a bigger priority? What does the future hold? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the recent National Assessment of Education Progress assessments and debate w...
Christmas in…October?
October 21, 2022 12:42 - 21 minutes - 30.2 MBWhile the holiday shopping season seems to have been getting longer each year, some retailers put their Christmas decorations out in September. It is hard to get into the spirit when it is 80 degrees outside, so why has this happened? Is it due to excess inventories? Retailers worried consumers are going to reign in their spending this year? Has inflation forced the retail industry’s hand? Or is this just the way it is? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the ...
Gigging the Gig Economy
October 12, 2022 15:43 - 23 minutes - 32.3 MBThis week, the Administration announced new plans to turn ‘gig economy’ workers into employees, as opposed to independent contractors. While the intent might be well-meaning, what impact will this have on the workers and the economy? Is it necessary and do workers really want it? Finally, who will get hit the hardest if the cost of gig work goes up for the end consumer? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the impact of turning gig workers into corporate employ...
A Few Tweets About Twitter
October 05, 2022 18:24 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBThe ongoing battle between Elon Musk and Twitter appears to be reaching an end, with the former honoring his initial purchase price. What does this mean for the company? Will a Musk-owned company demand freer speech? Eliminate bot and other false accounts? Figure out a better way to monetize the company’s technology? Trim a bloated workforce? And will the company let Donald Trump back onto the platform? Inquiring minds want to know. What will it mean for their own social media use?
The Great Leap to the Right
September 29, 2022 18:12 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBThis week, far-right politicians won a clear majority in Italy. This follows on the heels of the UK’s recently proposed pro-business policies. Even traditionally liberal Sweden has elected right of center governments. Then, the headlines suggest the GOP could make up serious ground in the Congress this November. Across the globe, people seem to be shifting to the right. Are people suddenly more politically conservative? Or are people simply responding to human nature after close to 3-years o...
Is There An End in Ukraine?
September 21, 2022 17:26 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBAlmost 8 months into the fighting, it doesn’t seem there is a legitimate end in sight. Will Moscow up the ante to save face? Why have the Russians had such a difficult time subduing a smaller opponent? What are the geopolitical and economic ramifications? Is there any way to end the fighting and go back to the status antebellum? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine from an American point of view safely thousands of miles away.
The Queen is Dead, Long Live the King
September 16, 2022 18:42 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBAs people mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, it is unclear whether the monarchy will be able to remain relevant moving forward. After all, Charles III has a much lower approval rating in the UK than his mother. Since the throne exists largely at the pleasure of the people, will a less popular monarch lead to less support for the monarchy as a whole? How much longer will the British taxpayer be willing to pay, directly or indirectly, for the royal family? Basically, can the monarchy sur...
Solving the Student Debt Crisis
August 31, 2022 15:16 - 23 minutes - 32 MBWith the wave of a wand, billions in student loan debt will be wiped away. How is this possible and what will the impact be? While this sounds great, every action has consequences. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss how this student loan debt relief will impact everything from consumer confidence and elections, to inflation and the soaring cost of college.
How Much Does Social Media Know?
August 24, 2022 16:54 - 21 minutes - 29.9 MBNever before in history have people shared so much information with so many people, knowingly and unknowingly. Every social media post contains information that companies dissect in order to market more effectively to you. While that might sound harmless enough, most people wouldn’t share as much with people they know as they do with, say, Facebook. If all of that data is out there, will someone use it against you? This week Sam, Courtney, and John discuss how much information social media p...
Hot Temps & Energy Prices
August 17, 2022 20:09 - 19 minutes - 27.4 MBHow is the current energy crisis impacting investor behavior around the world? Can Europe escape the economic corner it backed itself into with its energy policies? Will the winter be extra cold this year? Or will the Russians turn on the spigot if the Europeans give Moscow the green light? Could it be the US, despite all of its problems, still the best place for an absolute return? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the continued turmoil in the global energ...
Gender Wage Gaps
August 10, 2022 17:16 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBAs the political season starts to heat up, candidates will likely discuss inequalities in our society. The difference between male and female paychecks will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion. It often is. However, do all the studies on the subject compare apples to apples? Is there an inherent bias in the system? Do employers knowingly pay males more simply because of their gender? Why do female workers tend to fall behind their male counterparts? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam,...
A Recession With Too Many Jobs?
August 03, 2022 20:06 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBLike much of the last 24 months, recent economic data has been strange. How can the economy be slowing down and employers still not able to find workers? What is keeping people from going back into the workforce? Is it a generational issue or an inflection point in the US economy? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss the large numbers of jobs available despite two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.
Lottery Fever
July 27, 2022 17:32 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MBThe Mega Millions jackpot is one of the largest in history. People across the country are gobbling up tickets and dreaming about what they would do if they won. However, is it worth the money? After all, the chances of winning the jackpot at 1 in 302.5 million. So, is playing the lottery hope, fantasy or foolishness? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the Mega Millions jackpot and what they would do, if anything, if they were the lucky winner.
What is America’s Role in the World?
July 20, 2022 19:50 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MBThe headlines suggest the world is falling apart at the seams. From the ongoing war in Ukraine to economic crises in many emerging economies to increased tension in the South China Sea, it seems the US is stumbling from one problem to another. However, did we get to this point and what should the US do about today’s angst? Is it even our problem any longer, and should we let the rest of the world deal with its own problems?In today’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the ...
Greedflation? Is It Real?
July 13, 2022 18:33 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBWith inflation currently at 40-year highs, there is no shortage of explanations why this has happened. Folks have blamed Russia and Vladimir Putin. Fingers have wagged at supply chain inefficiencies. People have wrung their hands over our handling of the COVID pandemic. Then, there are those who argue corporations are taking advantage of inflation by gouging customers in order to goose profits. They call this “greedflation.” However, aren’t companies supposed to maximize their profits? This ...
A Lack of Confidence in Everything
July 06, 2022 16:28 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBA recent Gallup poll suggests Americans have lost confidence in most major public and private institutions. While this has been a long-term trend, it seems to have accelerated significantly over the last several years. Folks don’t trust the government, organized religions, big business, you name it. But why? It is a lack of leadership OR is how we consume information the culprit? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the current crisis in confidence gripping ...
The Soaring Price of Looking Good
June 29, 2022 20:36 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBWith inflation eating away at consumers’ wallets and pocketbooks, how has our morning routine changed? Are we still using the same products to help make us look presentable in public and the workplace? At what point does the average American worker, especially females, admit defeat to rising prices and decide to make changes to how they get ready? Is there a point? Or does getting ready provide a boost to mental health in today’s increasingly topsy-turvy world?In this week’s Trading Perspect...
Cryptocurrency Bloodbath
June 22, 2022 20:51 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBCryptocurrencies have fallen dramatically over the last several months. Is the beginning of the end for the things? Or is it the end of the beginning? Are there are generational considerations when determining whether crypto is going to be an ongoing asset class or is it just a flash in the pan? Albeit a very hot one. In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss how cryptocurrencies have lost their luster. Will they ever get it back? Does age have anything to do with ...
Eco-Anxiety: Do Your Anxieties Have Anxieties?
June 15, 2022 21:02 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBTemperatures are higher, and storms seem a little more severe. Does this keep you up at night? Do you have eco-angst? The WHO says a lot of people do, but is this really the case? If so, what can we do about it? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the growing trend of eco-anxiety and ways to combat it. Are there generational differences, and who gets thrown under the bus in the end?
The 4-Day Workweek: A Pipedream or the Future?
June 08, 2022 17:04 - 24 minutes - 33 MBAs employers continue to struggle to find employees, concepts like a 4-day workweek are getting attention in order to attract workers. How practical is this trend? How good is it for the employer? How good is it for the employee? Will it produce the desired results and become the default for workers in the future? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the concept of the 4-day workweek. Are there any generational differences? Or is everyone in lockstep?
Transitory Inflation? Get Real
June 01, 2022 19:13 - 21 minutes - 28.9 MBThis week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen admitted she was wrong last year when she said inflation wasn’t a concern. While a surprising admission from an Administration official, this was a statement of the obvious. However, shouldn’t we have all seen inflation coming down the pike? After all, creating money out of thin air and throwing it at the economy is usually a good way to goose prices. So, what’s next? This week, Sam, Courtney, and John discuss the now non-transitory inflation. Just ...
Good Intentions & The Road to Somewhere
May 25, 2022 17:40 - 21 minutes - 29.2 MBPolitically popular mandates often, it not almost always, seem to have ironic economic consequences. So, why do we keep doing them? Is there something about the nebulous “need to do something” which trumps economic common sense? Or is it deeper than that? Are the people making serious economic decisions and policy really qualified to do so? After all, what is their incentive? In this week’s Trading Perspectives, Sam, Courtney and John discuss how some recent government mandates with good int...