A demographic stampede is about to pulverize American society. Eighty million retirees—the baby boom generation—are rapidly heading into their retirement years and, according to a recent survey, Americans have less money than ever. Being so unprepared can only mean a very unhappy "retirement" unless they pull their heads out of the sand and do something about it before it is too late. Words: 807
Read More »Richard Russell: Why I’m in Cash and Gold – What About You? (+2K Views)
If the market is topping, it’s doing so in the face of rosy news in every area except for employment and there is nothing more ominous than a stock market turning down in the face of a “bright” economy. At such times, nobody is ready or positioned for a sudden reversal. [Are you?] Words: 637
Read More »The Latest Economic Data is Being Massaged and Sugar-coated
I believe that the worse things get, the better they will sound coming from our nation’s leaders/ pundits. Words: 1132
Read More »Dent: How to Prepare and Prosper from "The Great Depression Ahead" (+2K Views)
Most investors didn’t take warnings about the future of the economy and the financial marketplace - warnings that a ‘Category 6 Fiscal Storm’, a ‘Debt-Driven Meltdown’, a ‘Systemic Banking Crisis’, a ‘Financial Train Wreck’, a ‘God-Awful Fiscal Storm’, etc. was in store for the U.S. - seriously until it began. Perhaps this time around, before the other shoe drops, we should become more informed so we will be better positioned to survive and prosper regardless of what comes next. Words: 2128
Read More »Stocks are Now Overbought, Overvalued and on Borrowed Time: Credit Suisse
The cards may be stacked against equities in 2010. After one of the most spectacular rallies in the history of the equity markets from its March, 2009 low stocks are now arguably overbought, overvalued and on borrowed time Words: 773
Read More »Claptrap! Balderdash! Flimflam! This ‘Recovery’ is a Scam
Officially, the crisis is over. Everyone says so. Central bankers and Treasury officials have been congratulating themselves. It’s been a year now since the end of the world didn’t happen. These fellows take credit for it. Claptrap! Balderdash! Flimflam! Words: 669
Read More »10 Reasons We are NOT Undergoing a Cyclical Recovery
This is NOT a business cycle: this is a one-time reversal of twenty years of inflation of the household balance sheet. An aging population needs a 10% savings rate (at least) to meet minimum funding requirements for the biggest retirement wave in US history but, instead, with 17% effective unemployment, many Americans are dis-saving. Words: 332
Read More »Sovereign Debt Defaults Now Possible/Likely? (+2K Views)
Governments the world over have spent the past year bailing out, backstopping, insuring, and stimulating their financial sectors and economies throwing around trillions of dollars, euros, yen, and pounds like Halloween candy. Officials have assured us there’s little risk to that strategy but I believe that the opposite is true - that if you borrow and spend too much, all you’re going to do is transform a Wall Street debt crisis into a Washington debt crisis. Words: 882
Read More »Roubini: Hunker Down for More Job Losses (+2K Views)
Think the worst is over? Wrong. Conditions in the U.S. labor markets are awful and worsening. We can expect that job losses will continue until the end of 2010 at the earliest. In other words, if you are unemployed and looking for work and just waiting for the economy to turn the corner, you had better hunker down. All the economic numbers suggest this will take a while. The jobs just are not coming back. Words: 536
Read More »Effects of Credit Crunch on Real Estate Market to Continue (+2K Views)
The effects of the credit crunch on the real estate market have been serious, but negative trends will not continue forever. Words: 512
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