Blu Putnam
Chief Economist, CME Group
Bio
Bluford (Blu) Putnam has served as Managing Director and Chief Economist of CME Group since May 2011. He is responsible for leading economic analysis on global financial markets by identifying emerging trends, evaluating economic factors and forecasting their impact. Prior to joining CME Group, Putnam gained more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry with concentrations in central banking, investment research and portfolio management. He has authored five books on international finance.
The Trade War Moves to Europe
October may well see the opening of a new front in the U.S.-initiated trade wars, with Europe being the target…
Chart: Corporate Profits Are Stagnating
U.S. corporate profits are stagnating due to the trade war. Lower interest rates are not going to fix this problem….
The Federal Reserve Is Out of Options
Inflation is subdued and there is nothing the Federal Reserve (Fed) can do about it. Inflation pressures are low in…
Equity Volatility Does Not Spell Recession
Equities and bonds are worried about a recession. With the escalating trade war with China, the odds of a U.S….
Gold’s Ride Hinges on Rates
The price of gold has had a nice run, but it has not been smooth. Having risen to $1,350 an…
Trade War: An End to China’s Currency Stability
In mid-May, U.S. President Donald Trump eased some restrictions on the Chinese technology giant, Huawei, and the United States and…
Two Threats Remain for This Record U.S. Economic Expansion
On June 30, 2019, the current economic expansion tied the old record from the Clinton decade of 40 quarters, and…
Will The Fed Cut Rates in July? Six Key Dates To Watch
CME Group’s FedWatch Tool expects a rate cut soon. The Federal Reserve (Fed) meets on July 30-31 to decide whether to…
These Are the Forces Driving the Bond Rally
The U.S. has had an extended and very impressive rally in the prices of U.S. Treasury securities. The 10-year U.S….
Corn and Soybeans Are Facing Flood, Trade Cross Currents
Two major U.S. agricultural markets are being buffeted by serious cross currents. First, there is the escalating US-China trade war. …
Chart: The U.S. Bond Market Is A Tug of War
The bond market is confused, with two prevailing viewpoints that are pulling it in different directions. The chart below illustrates…
What the Market Reaction to The G20 Taught Us
The recent G-20 meeting was full of interesting developments and the market reactions were equally fascinating. First, the U.S.-China Trade…