Category: Economics & Investing

John R. sent this: 647,762,000,000,000 Reasons to Worry: The Derivatives Time Bomb. Food is the New Oil, Land is the New Gold. (Thanks to Bob G. for the link.) Reader J.B.G. sent this: Pharmacy queues show price Greeks are paying for credit breakdown L.M.W. suggested some more great commentary from Karl Denninger: On “Austerity” and False Gods Items from The Economatrix: AIG Chief Sees New Retirement Age as High as 80 After Crisis. Shenandoah:  A Fascinating Editorial From A Chinese Economist On The US Dollar The Dark Financial Clouds Engulfing Europe

Nearly everyone who has bought residential real estate in the U.S. as “an investment” since 2005 can now call themselves contrapreneurs. The seasonally-adjusted Case-Schiller data for Q1 of 2012 shows that new lows have been reached in many markets. FWIW, I’ve been reading “The bottom is near”-themed articles since 2008, but I’m not holding my breath. In some markets, the majority of sales are either short sales or “bank owned” (foreclosed) properties. It may be another decade until the real bottom is reached. Regular content contributor Pierre M. sent this: BIS warns global lending contracting at fastest pace since 2008 …

Jim Rogers’ Most Dire Warning, “Please Get Worried”. (Thanks to David B. for the link.) C.D.V. sent this: Don Coxe – Emergency Fed Meeting & Gold Backed Bonds Also from C.D.V. : Germany Resists Proposals to Aid Spain’s Banks The Banker’s New Greek Strategy: Starve them into Compliance. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Shenandoah:  The Banker’s New Greek Strategy:  Starve Them Into Compliance Oil Price Little Changed As Investors Track Europe Gold Eases, Focus Shifting To Key Economic Events

Dimitri Orlov: Prepare Yourself – America will collapse Reader C.D.V. sent this: More and More Chances of Quantitative Easing, QE3 Dreams Live On Reader L.M.W. suggested this sobering essay by Karl Denninger: Time is Running Out Market rumor: Pimco and JP Morgan halt vacations to prepare for economic crash Debate: JPMorgan prop trading or hedging? Items from The Economatrix: Schiff:  America Is Already Bankrupt Obama Stimulus May Have Cost $4.1 Million Per Job

Mr. Rawles, In response to the article entitled A Home Purchasing Guide For Rookies, I feel compelled to set the record straight.  Before doing so, I want to thank you for your factual comments at the end of his letter. The purpose of my response is to ensure that Survival Blog readers get factual information that they can use in their decision making process.  The author of the article made some unfair and sweeping generalizations about Real Estate professionals in general.  Hopefully he will read and learn from the recent posts about logic and decision making.  Here is an outline …

Former Hedge Fund Manager Warns Of ‘THE END GAME’ In Terrifying Presentation. (Thanks to Todd M. for the link.) Also from Todd: What if US gets downgraded again? B.B. sent this: Debt crisis: a $46 trillion problem comes sweeping in June 5, 1933: FDR takes United States off gold standard Items from The Economatrix: Many Unemployed Facing Early End to Benefits The Truth About Europe:  There is No Solution The Global Economy is Sitting on a Volcano.  What Happens Next? Steve Quayle Alert:  Acceleration of Financial Meltdown Can’t Be Stopped Zero Hedge: The Real Banking Crisis, Part II John Galta:  …

Monty Pelerin: Europe Will Trigger U.S. Frantically spending and monetizing, to delay the collapse: Debt Up $1.59 Trillion Under GOP House—More in 15 Months than First 97 Congresses Combined Greek Exit From Euro Seen Exposing Deposit-Guaranty Flaws The end game of global leveraged debt – double-digit percentage point market declines in Europe and Japan and the danger of refinancing debt with longer term debt. Over at TF Metals Report: Getting Real, Real Fast ‘Beware a rerun of the Great Panic of 2008’: Head of World Bank warns Europe is heading for ‘danger zone’ Items from The Economatrix: Oil Set For …

Jim W. suggested this chilling piece abut the next wave of house price declines: Keith Jurow: Prepare For The Coming Housing Collapse Greek energy crisis could cause national power blackout in June. (Thanks to Ian R. for the link.) PIMCO’s Gross warns of economic “breaking point” Nobel Laureate Says Globe Headed For Financial “Breakdown” and “Radicalism” Chris G. flagged this bad news: Time Bomb? Banks Pressured to Buy Government Debt Items from The Economatrix: Some derivatives news: The Second Act of the JPM CIO Fiasco Has Arrived — Mismarking Hundreds of Billions in Credit Default Swaps Another Housing Collapse Is …

Taxes One of the questions I was asked that prompted creating this document, was that of a comparison of tax basis for home purchase decisions. Its very hard for me to appropriately answer, as the question of comparison is largely based on the entities in the county in question. I can tell you that differences in South Western and Central Wisconsin counties are negligible (although they can vary higher in larger municipalities and vacation destinations such as Madison and Lake Geneva.) For most rural properties, its quite comparable based on zoning and use. The question I believe was prompted in …

Friday (June 1st, 2012) was a banner day. Stocks plunged, but gold and silver rallied, hopefully signaling a change from May’s declines. With the credit market in turmoil, everyone is frantic for cash–among other things to meet CDS derivative margin calls. (I’ve been warning you about derivatives since 2006.) Hence the fire sale in stocks, metals, and even crude oil–both futures and spot markets. But the long term prospects for silver and gold look bullish. In the current era of “quantitative easing” monetization, the paper currencies are doomed to go down, and metals are the safe haven hedge. My favorite …

The Start Of An Economic Collapse In Europe, But It Will Deeply Affect The Entire Globe C.D.V. sent this: Germany Has A Generous Proposal To The Broke PIIGS: “Cash For Gold” Also from C.D.V. : Cramer: Europe Has Become a Black Box More monetization ahead: Early Fed Move Will Boost Gold Spain faces ‘total emergency’ as fear grips markets Money flies out of Spain, regions pressured Items from The Economatrix: When The Derivatives Market Crashes (And It Will) US Taxpayers Will Be On The Hook Consumer Confidence in the Economy Plunged in May A No-Confidence Vote For Obamanomics May Jobs …

Pierre M. sent this: Debt crisis: a $46 trillion problem comes sweeping in Pierre also suggested this by John Rubino: Welcome to the Currency War, Part 1: Iceland and the Tragedy of the Commons Insight: European firms plan for Greek unrest and euro exit. (Thanks to Sue C. for the link.) Ex-employees punish JPMorgan via CDS derivatives trades Food stamp Usage Remains at All Time High, Record Number uf Households Receive $277 in Poverty Assistance Monthly Items from The Economatrix: Home Prices in US Fell at Slower Pace in Y/E March Consumer Confidence in US Fell in May to Four-month …

Dr. Walter E. Williams: Our Nation’s Future. Williams begins his latest essay: “Our nation is rapidly approaching a point from which there’s little chance to avoid a financial collapse.” G.G. flagged this: 18 Staggering Charts On The Rise Of Government Dependence Simon Black: Why We’re Nowhere Near The Mania Phase In Precious Metals One Out Of Every Ten Banks Is A “Problem Bank” – FDIC Issues 56 Enforcement Actions In April Lloyd’s ‘has plans for euro collapse’. (Thanks to Andre D. for the link.)

Those pesky derivatives: Wall Street Journal says Comex has been classified as ‘too big to fail’. (“Taxpayers Now Stand Behind Derivatives Clearinghouses.”) More About Banksters and Derivatives: Taxpayer Supported Gambling How Crumbling U.S. Dollars Bailed Out Zimbabwe. (Thanks to Gregg P. for the link.) Adam Brown of Forbes reports: European Crisis: A Greek Exit Would Only Be The Start, Not The End Spain: Five banks downgraded, Bankia seeks 19 billion euros in aid. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Turn Out The Lights:  The Largest US Cities are Becoming Cesspools of Filth, Decay, and Wretchedness The …