investment

Get ready for Washington’s “Automatic IRAs”

"The basic gist is that businesses with 10 or more employees would be required to start funding a new form of individual retirement account. While businesses that already have retirement plans would be exempt, it’s estimated the legislation would affect about 40 percent of the U.S. workforce. Employees would be automatically enrolled. What kind of investment choices would be offered? That’s not clear yet, though Mr. John — the initial creator — has said: 'There could be an R-Bond account at Treasury for first-time savers, but that money would be rolled into private sector accounts once the individual accounts reached a certain size.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGet ready for Washington’s “Automatic IRAs”

Get ready for Washington’s “Automatic IRAs”

"The basic gist is that businesses with 10 or more employees would be required to start funding a new form of individual retirement account. While businesses that already have retirement plans would be exempt, it’s estimated the legislation would affect about 40 percent of the U.S. workforce. Employees would be automatically enrolled. What kind of investment choices would be offered? That’s not clear yet, though Mr. John — the initial creator — has said: 'There could be an R-Bond account at Treasury for first-time savers, but that money would be rolled into private sector accounts once the individual accounts reached a certain size.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGet ready for Washington’s “Automatic IRAs”

Jim Rogers: Don’t Sell Your Gold and Silver Coins

"Demand for gold and silver coins is raging, and given the weak outlook for paper currencies, investors should hold on to these coins, says star investor Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings. Gold coin sales hit a 19-month high last month, while silver eagle sales climbed to a record peak. 'You can’t get [silver coins]. They sell out,' Rogers tells Yahoo. 'Several mints have run out of coins, … because everybody’s worried about the future of the world.' Rogers says he 'wouldn’t rush in right now' to buy more coins, but would consider purchasing gold if prices fall further." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJim Rogers: Don’t Sell Your Gold and Silver Coins

Peter Schiff: Messing with the Bull

"In retaliation for the unpardonable sin of questioning the U.S. Treasury's credit worthiness, the Obama Administration is sending a loud and clear message to Wall Street: mess with the bull and get the horns. Shockingly, the blatant selectivity of the prosecution, however, has failed to ignite a backlash. But as the move violates both the spirit of the Constitution and the letter of the law in so many ways, I can't help but look at it as a sea change in the nature of our governance. Call it Lincoln with a heavy dose of Putin." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPeter Schiff: Messing with the Bull

Peter Schiff: Messing with the Bull

"In retaliation for the unpardonable sin of questioning the U.S. Treasury's credit worthiness, the Obama Administration is sending a loud and clear message to Wall Street: mess with the bull and get the horns. Shockingly, the blatant selectivity of the prosecution, however, has failed to ignite a backlash. But as the move violates both the spirit of the Constitution and the letter of the law in so many ways, I can't help but look at it as a sea change in the nature of our governance. Call it Lincoln with a heavy dose of Putin." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPeter Schiff: Messing with the Bull

Investing In a World of Make Believe

"In recent years, a high degree of economic, financial, and political uncertainty has resulted in acute volatility in stocks, real estate, commodities and precious metals. I believe that another aggravating factor has been the increasing skepticism through which the investing public views government statistics and statements. To make prudent decisions, investors need to know key economic indicators such as economic growth, inflation rates, unemployment levels and the real cost and value of money. For the past 20 years or so, the key assumptions behind the calculation of these figures have been distorted in favor of government image." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInvesting In a World of Make Believe

The Fed’s Asset-Inflation Machine

"Winners on stocks or land holdings should happily accept their gains as the best to be expected in a very unsettled financial environment. But they should also remember the 2000s, when so many people thought their newfound riches were real and cashed them in for yet more debt, such as home-equity loans. They later had a rude awakening. The 'wealth illusion' of asset inflation is seductive, which is why central banks in charge of a fiat currency and subject to no external disciplines so often drift in that direction. Politicians smile in satisfaction and powerful Washington lobbies cry for more. But an economy built on an illusion is hardly a sound structure." Continue reading →

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Jim Rogers: Short US Government Bonds ‘Right Now’

"With the Federal Reserve and now Bank of Japan printing massive amounts of money, billionaire investor Jim Rogers told CNBC's 'Closing Bell,' he is shorting U.S. government debt. 'It's all artificial what's going on right now,' Rogers said. 'The Federal Reserve is printing money as fast as they can. The Bank of Japan said 'we're going to print unlimited money.'' He called the Fed's monetary stimulus 'outrageous.' He also likes Russia for the first time in his career. Russia is changing but the market remains unloved. Rogers is buying the bonds, the currency and stocks." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJim Rogers: Short US Government Bonds ‘Right Now’

Why S&P is in the Crosshairs of the Department of Justice

"It was S&P that took the heat in August of 2011, being first to actually cut the nation's rating to AA+. At the time the Obama administration lashed out at S&P, launching an unprecedented attack, specifically accusing the agency of 'misleading calculations.' Some now speculate that the Obama administration is merely getting revenge on S&P's downgrade by taking legal action against the rating agency. But it is also plausible that the Obama administration made a shrewd political calculation in taking this action. The Obama Justice Department's suit puts Moody's and Fitch on notice that they had better behave." Continue reading →

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Jim Rogers Joins Bill Gross Warning on Treasuries

"Investor Jim Rogers joined Bill Gross, who runs the world’s biggest bond fund, in warning that a rout that sent Treasuries to their biggest loss last month in almost a year probably isn’t over. 'I’m short long-term government bonds,' betting the securities will fall, Rogers, the author of the book 'Street Smarts,' said yesterday on Bloomberg Radio. 'I plan to short more. That bull market, that’s a bubble.' In an interview with Bloomberg News on Oct. 28, 2009, he said Treasuries are the 'next bubble in the making' when yields on the 10-year note were 3.42 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJim Rogers Joins Bill Gross Warning on Treasuries