George Robertson: The End of Monetary Policy - [Making Markets, EP.16]

George Robertson: The End of Monetary Policy - [Making Markets, EP.16]

Author: Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts February 9, 2024 Duration: 54:38

My guest today is George Robertson. George is a highly interesting and contrarian investor who started on Wall Street way back in 1981. We start this conversation with a few incredible stories from his colorful career. George then makes a compelling case for why the Fed no longer has any power and what’s really happening with the economy. We end the conversation with another provocative claim on the market for US treasuries. Please enjoy this conversation with George Robertson.


For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.

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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).


Show Notes

(00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets

(00:00:15) First Question - A quick background of his investment career

(00:06:27) Basic tenants to think about when starting in trading 

(00:12:41) Fed reaction functions before the market got weird 

(00:17:17) How the Fed lost the power of the reaction function  

(00:19:19) Outcomes of the Fed buying trillions in assets 

(00:22:04) How pushing out risk spectrums does not inflate assets

(00:26:13) Difficulties behind trying to start inflation before covid  

(00:28:42) Reasons covid unleashed fiscal spending

(00:30:21) His estimate on how much money the government put into the economy  

(00:34:55) What the salesman macro pitch got so wrong 

(00:36:52) His view on why rates are going higher

(00:38:54) Whether raising funds is the right thing to do

(00:39:27) The driver behind the higher rates call 

(00:41:52) Conventional mortgage numbers versus NGDP numbers

(00:42:20) The housing narrative compared to supply and demand 

(00:44:35) Recession structure without bank involvement 

(00:45:55) How high-frequency trading has impacted market forces 

(00:48:48) His view on how one person can drastically shift the market

(00:51:31) Where he thinks we are in the sentiment cycle

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Eric Golden hosts Making Markets, a podcast that digs into the often unseen mechanics and human behaviors driving how value is assigned and traded. Rather than just analyzing charts or headlines, conversations focus on the underlying architecture-the rules, relationships, and psychology-that defines how any marketplace functions. This approach means that one episode might dissect the familiar terrain of bonds or equities, while the next ventures into the specialized worlds of fine art, cryptocurrency, or even vineyard acquisitions. The common thread is a curiosity about the actual transactions and the people who facilitate them, providing a tangible sense of what occurs when assets change hands. By speaking with practitioners and experts each week, the show demystifies the complex systems that form the backbone of global commerce, offering listeners a clearer picture of economic forces at work. As part of the Colossus network of investing and business podcasts, Making Markets builds a comprehensive library of knowledge, turning abstract concepts into accessible narratives. It’s for anyone who has ever wondered about the real-world machinery operating behind the curtain of daily financial news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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