Special Market Update – Weak Chain-Links Break

Bank regulators were caught off guard last week as three banks failed.  First Silvergate Capital, then Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) on Friday, and Signature Bank over the weekend.  Bank failures are rare.  Yet, it should not be a surprise when a weak link in the chain breaks as monetary conditions tighten via higher interest rates and minimal money supply growth.  History shows that leveraged situations become strained when financing costs rise and economic conditions slow.  That is our present situation – slowing economic growth due to fast rising interest rates to fight high inflation.

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