• September 24, 2011

Catastrophic Success

Breathes there a man with brain so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
“Social Security looks like a Ponzi Scheme?”

- With apologies to Sir Walter Scott

Today we look at Social Security. In the US, Texas Governor Perry touched the third rail of Social Security and called it a Ponzi scheme, which of course immediately made him the leading candidate in the “shoot the messenger” category. Behind the rhetoric, we look at some actual numbers. No, not...

• September 24, 2011

Featured Video: Louis-Vincent Gave on the China Driven Emerging Market Boom

Watch special video of Louis-Vincent Gave, chief executive officer of GaveKal, as he discusses the China Driven Emerging Market Boom. This insightful presentation was filmed at the Strategic Investment Conference 2011 in La Jolla, CA.

• September 17, 2011

Twist and Shout?

What in the wide, wild world of monetary policy is the Fed doing, giving essentially unlimited funds to European banks? What are they seeing that we do not? And is this a precursor to even more monetary easing at this next week’s extraordinary FOMC meeting, expanded to a two-day session by Bernanke? Can we say “Operation Twist?” Or maybe “Twist and Shout?” Not many charts this week, but some things to think about.

But first, I have had readers ask me about my...

• September 17, 2011

Featured Video: Martin Barnes Presents Market Outlook and Fiscal Overview

Watch special video of Martin Barnes, managing editor at BCA Research, as he presents his market outlook and fiscal overview. This informative presentation was filmed at the Strategic Investment Conference 2011 in La Jolla, CA.

• September 10, 2011

Preparing for a Credit Crisis

“I am sure the Euro will oblige us to introduce a new set of economic policy instruments. It is politically impossible to propose that now. But some day there will be a crisis and new instruments will be created.”

- Romano Prodi, EU Commission President, December 2001

Prodi and the other leaders who forged the euro knew what they were doing. They knew a crisis would develop, as Milton Friedman and many others had predicted. They accepted that as the price of European unity....

• September 9, 2011

Complimentary Issue of Browning Newsletter

Evelyn Browning Gariss is one of the world’s greatest climatologists. Her letter is a must-read. For those who wish to subscribe, you can go to www.browningnewsletter.com and either use PayPal or a credit card. This winter we are sadly being set up for what may be a repeat of last year’s weather in the Southern Hemisphere, and rain at the wrong time in the US, during harvest. You can read the latest issue for free by entering your email below.

• September 9, 2011

Featured Video: David Rosenberg on Inflation vs. Deflation

Watch special video below of David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist at Gluskin Sheff & Associates, discussing the inflation vs. deflation debate. This powerful presentation was filmed at the Strategic Investment Conference 2011 in La Jolla, CA.

• September 4, 2011

It’s All About the Jobs… and Gold

This week we briefly look at yesterday morning’s dismal unemployment report, then drop back and survey some other very eye-opening data on employment. Some groups are (surprise) doing better than others. What would it take to get us back to “normal,” whatever that is? I give you a link to some webinars I will be involved in and finish with the answer to the question I am asked most often, “What do you think about gold?” I tell all. There are lots of topics to cover, so let’s get...

• September 2, 2011

Featured Video: Gary Shilling on Outlook for Global Economies

Watch exclusive video below of Dr. A. Gary Shilling, president of A. Gary Shilling & Co., giving his 2011 Outlook for Global Economies and Investment Strategies. This important presentation was filmed at the Strategic Investment Conference 2011 in La Jolla, CA.