investment

Name That Black Swan

"You might argue that a black swan event could occur at any time. That's true. But our current fiscal, monetary, and economic circumstances are so tenuous that the possibility of a black swan event hitting our economy is greater than usual. Indeed, the number of anomalous events that could take place is large enough that collectively they represent a high probability. And since we all live and work within an economic system and use money every day, the impact to us as individuals could be severe. So the question is this: what data are available now that show where we are most vulnerable to experiencing a black swan event?" Continue reading →

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Termites Feast On Woman’s Life Savings

"A Chinese woman almost lost her life savings recently when termites invaded a wooden drawer in which she kept a plastic bag containing 400,000 yuan: the equivalent of $65,000 U.S. dollars. It was only after the woman decided to redecorate her house in Guandong Province that she noticed the termites had dined on her nest egg. According to the Guangzhou Daily, the money was given to the woman by her children. A local bank generously scanned the remaining cash and was able to identity 340,000 yuan which means the termite's meal ultimately cost the woman roughly $9,786." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTermites Feast On Woman’s Life Savings

This One Group of Bankers Can Help You Predict the Markets

"Fifty-eight of the world’s largest central banks are members of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), a group that meets every two months behind closed doors in Basel, Switzerland. At their bi-monthly dinner meetings, the central bankers supposedly discuss monetary policy, the global markets and international money flows. But we don’t really know, because the meetings are private — no transcripts, no minutes and no journalists allowed. Even staff members are barred from the room. What is certain is that any major policy decisions made by any of the world’s large central banks are cleared through the BIS first. Its latest warning is a doozy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThis One Group of Bankers Can Help You Predict the Markets

They Think You’re Naïve…

"When it comes to the financial markets, Bernanke is, without a question, the most powerful man in the world. On May 22, he suggested that the Fed may soon reduce the size of its money-printing program, known as QE. Since then, the market has experienced a small meltdown. More than $2.5 trillion has already been erased from the value of global equities. Some analysts think the Fed announcing the end of QE would be a good thing. They think it would indicate the Fed is confident the economy is strong enough to operate without stimulus. The only problem is the Fed is thinking about ending QE for a reason that has nothing to do with healthy economic growth." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThey Think You’re Naïve…

Obama Says Bernanke Has Been at Fed ‘Longer Than He Wanted’

"President Barack Obama said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke has stayed in his post 'longer than he wanted,' one of the clearest signals the central bank chief will leave when his current term expires next year. 'Ben Bernanke’s done an outstanding job,' Obama said in an interview with Charlie Rose that aired yesterday on PBS, when asked about nominating him for another term subject to Senate approval. 'He’s already stayed a lot longer than he wanted or he was supposed to.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Says Bernanke Has Been at Fed ‘Longer Than He Wanted’

Bond bubble threatens financial system, Bank of England director warns

"A key Bank of England policymaker has warned of the risks to global financial stability when 'the biggest bond bubble in history' bursts. In a wide-ranging testimony to MPs, Andy Haldane, Bank of England director of financial stability, admitted the central bank's new financial policy committee is taking too long to force banks to hold more capital and appeared to criticise the bank's culture under outgoing governor Sir Mervyn King. Haldane told the Treasury select committee that the bursting of the bond bubble – created by central banks forcing down bond yields by pumping electronic money into the economy – was a risk 'I feel acutely right now'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBond bubble threatens financial system, Bank of England director warns

The World’s Greatest Investor is Dead Wrong

"Contrary to the wisdom spouted by people like Mr. Buffett, gold’s movements are not about the economy. They’re not about geopolitical tensions. They’re not about inflation (and they’ve never been about inflation— a fact that four decades of correlation statistics handily prove). They’re not about what central banks are or are not buying. They are, instead, entirely about the direction of the U.S. dollar as a reflection of the U.S. fiscal situation. And as the last four decades have proven, the dollar will go down as America’s finances worsen. And that makes gold a buy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe World’s Greatest Investor is Dead Wrong

Don’t Dismiss the Possibility of Gold Confiscation

"If you hold precious metals in your portfolio, there is a good chance you fear hyperinflation and the crash of fiat currencies. You probably distrust governments in general and believe they are self-serving and have no interest in your economic well-being. It is likely that your holdings in gold are your lifeline – your hope to get you through these times while holding on to your wealth. But have you ever given any thought to the possibility of having this lifeline confiscated by the authorities? It's an interesting thought that the greatest threat to gold and silver investment might not be the possibility of losing on the speculation, but the government taking it away from you." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDon’t Dismiss the Possibility of Gold Confiscation

Mint: U.S. bullion coin demand still at ‘unprecedented’ levels

"Demand for U.S. gold and silver bullion coins is still at 'unprecedented' high levels almost two months after an historic sell-off in gold released years of pent-up demand from retail investors, the head of the U.S. Mint said on Wednesday. His comments are likely to allay concerns among some traders that frenzied buying by mom-and-pop investors since mid-April after prices plunged to two-year lows had started to fade. Their interest has helped prices recover to above $1,400 an ounce, providing key support to prices after institutional investors fled the futures market and exchange-traded funds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMint: U.S. bullion coin demand still at ‘unprecedented’ levels