A friend of mine works for Morgan Stanley and I asked him over the weekend if he thought the VIX (volitility index) would spike up the next few weeks as we enter earnings season. His response was "I have no idea, the markets are 100% rigged."

I would agree after what I've seen the past year. And to your first point, Central Banks are pulling the strings, in my opinion.

I wouldn't worry about China selling their US Dollar portfolio, though. The Yuan is pegged to the dollar and they want it that way. Even US regulators want them to free float their currency. They LOVE the stability that the dollar offers their currency and they don't want to float on the merits and value of the Yuan and the underlying Chinese economy. By virtue of that fact, they have to maintain an inventory of US Debt/Dollars. That is why they own so much of our debt. I don't think it's a threat to our economy.

As far as the reliability of China's numbers....I laugh when the markets move based on Chinese economic data...unless it's because they actually change their interest rate or something significant. Their integrity is questionable at best.

Just my thoughts, I responded to your post because Scambo used the word "tomfoolery" and I don't respond to people who say tomfoolery.

 

 

However you need to understand all their contract. I suspect if we offered up the UPS contract management would grab it!

 

Personal drop question For the smarter folk. I have a carryover trip into June. Can we PD those? I know it has to do with reserve levels...but there are bo reaerves in June yet?

 

AMT SUCKS! Nailed as well. Return was accompanied with a hefty payment which roughly equaled my PS.

 

Please explain, to me the worst part about their contract is the pay banding. I don't like the idea of how many jobs that would cost in training effiencies.

I would love to get rid of PBS and go back to line of time. I would love to have their vacation rules. It would be great if the company paid for all my uniforms. Their medical plan is so much better than ours you can't even compare the two.

Unless you are talking about their management pilots who basically have no rules and are flown to the FAR max.

 

Just back from Vacay and tried to update tablet before work (That's a 1st for me.) No problem w/ the Content Locker, but the Jepp has a 112 Error, "Invalid expected configuration from server." I looked at the 13 page 'Known Issues' and it didn't show up. I called the help desk and after I finally got them to call back (nice feature,) the gal said they're having a problem w/ Jepp. WTH? So I wasted 30 minutes of my home time and
IF I do an FCR there goes another 20. I'm not wasting any of my time on this POS unless I'm getting paid. Here me Negotiating Committee?

Rant Over - Time to get kids to school.

Baja.

 

I have the same problem! Every year I make a big bet with my life insurance company. I wager that I'll die sometime during the year, even though the odds are waaaay against that happening. Over the years I've thrown thousands of dollars away.

Intervene immediately! Call them right now and share your 20/20 hindsight. In a calm, patient tone, tell them what the price of oil will be next year.
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Sorry for the snark. I read the hedging loss info with the same concern. If the guys making the hedge decisions were low paid nitwits brought in to spin the Wheel Of OPEC for big money - cool. But we've been told by our senior executives that they're really good at this.

Prove it.

 

We are gonna hire 1000 guys/year. Show me some numbers on the training efficiencies of which you speak

 

Management pilots hired off the street 3 months earlier checking pilots there 20 years. The loss of those positions off the list. Pre built scab list. Jobs lost from pay banding, reserves used as seat fillers for sim events constantly while on long call in Anchorage among other places.