China's Central Bank Pulls a Capitol Move: Will it Spark a Rebellion or Just Another Quarter Quell?

The Odds Are Never In Our Favor Especially When Trade Wars Erupt

Well folks looks like even the mighty aren't immune to a bit of…shall we say…'rebellion' in the markets. China's central bank just announced they're slashing interest rates. Ten basis points to be exact on the seven day reverse repurchase rates. Sounds like a fancy Capitol concoction if you ask me. Apparently this Pan Gongsheng fellow – not to be confused with a mockingjay though I wouldn't put it past the Capitol to engineer one – thinks this will goose the economy. I've seen enough 'goose' tactics to know when someone's trying to pull a fast one.

Unleashing the Yuan: More Like Unleashing the Tracker Jackers?

And here's the kicker: they're also lowering the reserve requirement ratio. That's banker speak for 'we're letting loose a cool 1,000 billion yuan into the market.' That's a whole lot of bread even by Capitol standards. Will it bring prosperity? Or will it turn into a swarm of tracker jackers stinging everyone in sight? Only time will tell. Remember 'hope it is the only thing stronger than fear.' But hope doesn't pay the bills does it?

Heads of State and Mockingjays: All Playing the Same Game

This comes right before a pow wow between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and some U.S. Treasury bigwig in Switzerland. More talking. Always more talking. Just like Snow trying to reason with me – never works does it? Apparently they're gonna chat about tariffs. You know those lovely little taxes that are currently strangling trade between China and the U.S. Last I checked someone cranked those tariffs up to a horrifying 145%. That's worse than the odds in the Quarter Quell! And naturally China retaliated with levies of their own. It's a regular playground fight just with bigger sticks and a lot more money on the line.

Turning Point or Just Another Arena Trap?

They're calling this meeting a 'turning point.' Sure it could be. Or it could be another one of those Capitol engineered traps where everyone loses except well the Capitol. This whole trade war has markets shaking and economies trembling like Prim when she heard my name called at the reaping. We can only hope that these talks amount to something more than empty promises and thinly veiled threats. Because I know a thing or two about those.

May The Odds Be Ever NOT In Your Favor (Because They Never Are)

So what does this all mean? China's trying to stimulate its economy navigate a trade war and keep the whole thing from imploding. Sounds familiar doesn't it? Like surviving the arena. It's a delicate balancing act and one wrong move could mean disaster. Remember what Haymitch always said: 'Stay alive.' In this case stay solvent. Let's hope they can pull it off. For all our sakes.

Stay Tuned: Because You Know More Games Are Coming

As for me I'll be keeping a close eye on things. After all when you've been through the Hunger Games you tend to develop a keen sense for impending doom. And something tells me the Games are far from over... Now if you will excuse me I must go and catch my prey because I am not doing this for fortune and fame.