As we enter the 4th quarter of 2016, here in the U.S., there is less stress in the financial system than when we started the year and the S&P 500 is at the top end of its forward price-to-earnings ratio. However, overseas, Deutsche Bank is fighting a $14 billion penalty from the U.S. Department of Justice for “mis-selling” mortgage securities before the 2008 recession. Listen in to hear more on the German bank as well as why Japan has such low interest rates despite the amount of sovereign debt outstanding.
This week’s Inside the Economy with SH&J highlights an update on the global economy. Germany appears to be a bright spot within the European Union with a budget surplus in 2015 despite global trade trending down, particularly in China. After recording a trade deficit with China for 2015, Germany is now seeking to make the United States their primary trading partner. Japan is also seeing a downturn in output and could be in recession by this summer. Listen in to hear more on the ECB’s continued quantitative easing, the flood of refugees into Germany, and comments on Emerging Market debt.