Category: Economics & Investing

More folks are catching on to nickels, as an inflation hedge. For example, see this recent piece over at Seeking Alpha: Looking For An Alternative To Gold And Silver? It is noteworthy that Kyle Bass didn’t make all of his millions with foolish irrational investing plays. He is one sharp cookie. James C. sent this from Sovereign Man: How Bankrupt Governments Will Confiscate Your Gold. (Yes, it has happened before in the U.S.: See Executive Order 6102. And the potential repeat of that, BTW, is one reason why I prefer investing in silver rather than gold.) Have you got your …

Reader V.L. sent a clip from a television reporter that must have skipped “Reality 101”, in college. (Sarcasm ON: I won’t sleep well at all tonight, now the I’ve been told that my gold “isn’t backed by anything–unlike the U.S. Dollar.”) German push for Greek default risks EMU-wide ‘snowball’ Items from The Economatrix: Euro Crisis Spreads and Puts the World Economy at Risk Detroit’s descent into economic darkness continues, literally: DTE deal pulls out lights in Highland Park–Areas in dark after 1,400 street lights removed to settle bill When?  (When will the next financial crisis happen?) The Top 100 Statistics …

SurvivalBlog’s G.G. sent this: Census: Housing bust worst since Great Depression Der Speigel asks: What Options Are Left for the Common Currency? EU delays summit to have more time to finalize plans for Greece, banks, bailout fund John R. mentioned this by Marty Weiss: Seven Major Advance Warnings Nine Ways Supermarkets Suck You In R.C. sent this: Colorado empties popular lake to pay its water bill Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Jump on European Pledge to Help Banks Oil Rises to Two-Week High Occupy America: Protests Against Wall Street and Inequality Hit 70 Cities

Gold Investing: Detailing Gold’s Wild Q3   Silver Futures Auction Market Perspective For those of us that like to track precious metals price ratios, Jerry T. recommended these charts. Steve R. sent this: Holiday Retail Sales Set To Slide Amid High Unemployment and Low Consumer Confidence G.G. flagged this: A job is becoming a dim memory for many unemployed Used Car Dealer Becomes a Horse Trader John R. sent us these items: World facing worst financial crisis in history, Bank of England Governor says – The Telegraph Economic Apocalypse Goes Mainstream: Meltdown In Two To Three Weeks; It Will Spread Everywhere; …

Those pesky derivatives, again: IMF advisor says we face a Worldwide Banking Meltdown. (In this case, it is credit default swaps.) J.B.G. was the first of several readers to mention this sign of the times: Thieves steal from community garden KAF sent this: Moody’s Cuts Rating on 12 UK Financial Institutions G.G. sent this: Regulators Close Two More Banks, bringing the nationwide tally of bank failures up to 76 for the year. Also from G.G.: CBO estimates $1.3 trillion deficit for 2011 Keely spotted this new item: Bold thieves steal bridge in North Beaver, Pennsylvania. Nestle Chief Warns of Food …

Silver Prices Beaten Down By a Strong Dollar Chris G. recommended this: California and Bust . Chris notes that this article was recently referenced by Rush Limbaugh and in Zero Hedge.   Quick Fix In Europe? Dream On   Items from The Economatrix: The End Of The Inflation/Deflation Debate There is No Plan to Fix The Economy Economists Agree:  We Are in a Depression From California to New York, the Tide of Protests Keeps Rising Some observations (circa 2007) from the late Derry Brownfield: Our Land is Collateral for the National Debt. Occupy Wall Street:  The Word is Getting Out …

US’s Geithner warns Europe crisis a global threat. (Thanks to Alex B for the link.) Peter Schiff: U.S. Dollar is the Monetary Titanic A sign of our nation’s doom? Nearly Half of U.S. Lives in Household Receiving Government Benefit G.G. flagged this: Americans have no choice but to get more frugal Why We Are Just Half-Way Through The Global Economic Crisis   The Metals Trade: Why I’m Still Really Bullish On Silver Items from The Economatrix: Leaders Push World to Depression Underwater Mortgages Could Sink US Without a Trace Banksters Expect Global Meltdown Within 12 Months Bank of America Website …

US Mint Bullion Sales: Silver Eagles Reach Record 6,422,000 [Troy Ounces] U.S. “close to faltering,” Fed ready to act: Bernanke . (JWR Notes: Keep in mind that “Action” in Helicopter Ben’s lexicon means either borrowing other people’s money, or creating money out of thin air.) IMF official retracts statement on bond purchases. (Thanks to K.A.F. for the link.) Morgan Tries to Quell Rumors About Its Holdings Tom Friedman: China’s Currency Manipulation Good & Bad for America S.G. sent this: Think Occupy Wall St. is a phase? You don’t get it Commentary from Randall W. Forsyth: The Bear Market Is Made …

William J. sent this: Texan investor hedging with $1 million in nickels. Does this sound familiar?) A Swedish newspaper reports: Germany has rush-ordered the printing of new D-Marks. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.) Darin H. mentioned this: Gerald Celente: The Crash will happen sometime this month Rhonda T. flagged this: “EU preparing bank rescues amid Greece doubts. Here is a key quote: “All roads now point to a mid-November crunch.” Italy downgrade deepens contagion fears over euro debt crisis. (Thanks to Al H. for the link.)

Things are looking more like my novels with every passing day. Here are the latest headlines… Stocks tank as Greece admits it won’t hit targets. Mentioned over at Don’t Tread On Me: 2011 US Mint Silver Set To Have Bigger Sales Than ’86 to ’92, combined! Are Hedge Fund Managers Dumping Gold Assets To Raise Cash? Four (4) Market Signs Signaling A Recession John R. kindly sent me a whole bunch ‘o links: The Dollar and Reserve Currency (Martin Armstrong)  Debt Men Talking (Richard Webb)   Batten Down The Hatches, A Big Storm’s Coming (Dave Cohen) The FINal Countdown (over …

World is heading for ‘Great Stagnation’, says Goldman “It’s Going to Get a Lot Worse”: ECRI’s Achuthan Says New Recession Unavoidable. (Thanks to Alan W. for the link.) J.B.G. sent this: Protectionism beckons as leaders push world into Depression Erik B. spotted this article: Greece to Miss Deficit Targets Imposed by Lenders as Part of Bailout Texas Bank Is Closed; U.S. 2011 Failures at 74. (Link courtesy of G.G.)

F.G. flagged this from The Wall Street Journal: House Is Gone but the Debt Lives On Max Keiser provides some manic comments on the European debt crisis, the Euro, bailouts, the ECB, the Fed and the potential loss of sovereignty for some nations on the European periphery. CNN: Forecast says double-dip recession is imminent. (Thanks to C.D.V. for the link.) Jonathan B. sent this: How to Stop a Second Great Depression. (Note that this is coming from globalist billionaire George Soros, so don’t be surprised to see “more government” as the proffered solution.) John R. sent the link to this interesting …

Doug Casey Answers The Hard Questions About Hard Times The latest economics animation by Omid Malekan is great: Inflation Explained. (The closing line was priceless: “In a world where cartoon bears on YouTube are the most reliable source of information, anything is possible.”) A bit of confirmation for one of my predictions in 2005 that was then called “alarmist”: No Rise in Home Prices until 2020: Bankers Items from The Economatrix: “Massive Jobs Shortfall” Predicted For Global Economy Fed Dissenter Says Latest Step Won’t Help The Economy Cash Is King No More, Gold Reigns Financial “Cataclysm” To Come; Gold To …