John Browne, a financial analyst and former member of the British Parliament, is a financial columnist for the Tribune-Review.
John Browne can be reached via e-mail
Sell in May and go away
By John BrowneSell in May” is an old stock market maxim. It has long been respected, as it has proved profitable. On May 10, 1935, The Financial Times suggested that “sell in May” already was an old market saying. However, in days …
Paper cash squeezed by plastic
By John BrowneOver many years, consumers have moved from precious metals to cash and now, increasingly to plastic. As credit cards represent loans and not money, the Federal Reserve does not consider them to be part of the nation’s money supply. Nevertheless, …
Bernanke’s successor gets leeway
By John BrowneThe most interesting thing about the Federal Reserve Board’s Open Market Committee meeting last week was not the widely expected announcement that it would keep interest rates low amidst signs of an improving economy. Rather, it was the vagueness of …
The high cost of terrorism
By John BrowneAround for centuries, terrorism usually has been relatively cost-efficient. However, increased levels of lethality, miniaturization and remote control of modern explosives have rendered today’s terrorism vastly more cost-effective. Two relatively simple bombs placed at the finish line of the Boston …
Price plunge only a temporary tarnish for gold, which still glitters with promise
By John BrowneThere are three primary reasons to invest in gold. In addition to acting as a hedge against inflation, gold is an insurance against monetary catastrophe and a medium for speculation. Today, inflation appears tame, with growing evidence of recession. As …
Freedoms Thatcher helped create boosted UK economy
By John BrowneLoved by many, hated by some, but respected by most, Margaret Thatcher was one of the most important leaders of the 20th century. Queen Elizabeth I and Winston Churchill gave their names to eras. Uniquely, the former prime minister, who …
Cyprus scenario a warning
By John BrowneThe aftermath of a seemingly remote banking crisis in Cyprus provides important lessons for people with deposits in American banks. As in much of life, there is a division between the quick and the dead. In the United States, the …
Cyprus the canary in the banking mine
By John BrowneFacing a near-collapse of its financial system, Cyprus was ordered by the so-called “troika” of the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Union to impose a tax on all private accounts in its banks. The tax demand was …
Greenspan hints at Fed’s end
By John BrowneIn an effort to correct America’s economic woes, some economists have suggested an end to the Federal Reserve Board. Forbes, for example, published an article by Nathan Lewis on March 14 titled: “If Alan Greenspan Wants to ‘End the Fed,’ …
Bank stress tests are no test at all
By John BrowneThe Federal Reserve announced earlier this month the results of its much-heralded stress tests of major banks mandated by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial legislation. Seventeen of the 18 largest passed, sparking criticism that the tests reflected political maneuvering rather than …
Stuck with ‘synthetic austerity’
By John BrowneAs stock markets roar to new highs, some urge caution. Meanwhile, so-called austerity measures, or reductions in the rate of government spending in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union, are a delicate balancing act for government officials worried …
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