According to Barclays Capital, gold, silver, platinum and palladium, as well as other commodities, generally stand a better chance of handling a global economic downturn than other types of investments [because] commodities "are on a very different footing" from two years ago [which they explain in detail below.] Words: 350

It is widely accepted that Greece is insolvent even though the higher echelons of euro-zone politics still hesitate to use the term, and default swap prices...give virtually 100% odds that Greece will default. The handling of the issue has heightened the perception of risk for other problem countries of the euro zone...such that investors now give 60% odds of default by Portugal...and 30%-plus odds for default by Italy... Even France, with its S&P AAA rating, is now rated more likely to default than Brazil! [In addition, the U.S. is facing the liklihood of a fiscal policy impasse in Congress that could well lead to a recession. As such, as we see it, the risk of contagion in the financial system around the world has risen dramatically. We substantiate our contentions below.] Words:1612

[A]s we’ve consistently seen, when financial conditions get particularly rough, gold and silver lose their safe-haven appeal [but their]...prices may have already struck bottom and, [al]though we don’t expect them to run away to the upside, now may be the time for long-term investors to accumulate positions. That said, what should an investor buy: gold or silver? That is always an interesting question, but especially so during periods of rapid price movements such as now. [Below I analyze the gold/silver ratio and come up with the answer.] Words: 760

Harvard Professor/Economic Historian Niall Ferguson wrote recently that he is of the opinion that, while all the fiscal and monetary government stimuli undertaken by many of the governments of the world's developed countries since 2007 may have averted a second Great Depression, they will, most likely, still experience a "slight" depression. Campbell reviews the rationale behind Ferguson's position and then presents his view that, as he sees it, most developed countries will face, instead, "a form of" Stagflation where the prices of non-durable goods (food, energy, and basic consumables) inflate, but the price of durable goods (long-term assets such as houses, cars, refrigerators, etc.) deflate. Campbell's commentary makes for a very thought-provoking read. Words: 922

Now that Q4 is underway, investors are scrambling to find the right asset class for this rocky environment. Last quarter wreaked havoc on a number of investments and portfolios alike, as the global economy seems to be on a downward spiral. Given the current environment, various investors have flocked to their favorite safe havens to wait out the storm. Gold is perhaps the most popular safe haven in troubled markets, though its actual use as a metal is relatively low. As such, there has been much speculation over whether or not the metal is overvalued, scaring a number investors out of gold and into another precious metal, silver. Words: 3422

These days there's so much interest in gold and silver it can be easy to forget that there are a number of other precious metals out there that investors should be considering for their portfolios. While gold and silver should form the core of any metals portfolio, there's at least one other metal that merits serious attention and that is platinum. [Let me explain why.] Words: 493

[We have determined that] the current cyclically adjusted real yield of 5.28% is telling us that the stock market is expensive, at least by historical standards. [In addition,] ...we have also determined that, relative to bonds, the real spread between stocks and bonds is 7.2% in terms of yields, i.e., stocks relative to bonds seem cheap. If stocks are expensive, and stocks relative to bonds seem cheap, this implies that bonds are also expensive. Everything is expensive! [Let me show you the math that confirms just that.] Words: 1590

Why have gold and silver have been selling off? The answer is very simple. There is a strong correlation between a strong dollar and weak commodities. The dollar is no different than anything on earth – it will always follow the path of least resistance. As the dollar grows stronger commodities sell off or become cheaper [- and gold could go down as low as $1,500/ozt. and silver down to perhaps as low as $21/ozt. before this is all over. Let me explain further.] Words: 650

Europe is on the verge of a collapse, and unless something gets done relatively soon, (perhaps as soon as the next few weeks), Europe is likely to experience their own 2008 scenario. The U.S. and Chinese economies are heavily dependent on exporting goods to Europe, and with Eurozone growth slowing as a result of the potential default in Greece, and then on to the rest of the PIIGS, a "Great Depression-like scenario" could very well play out. [In fact,] George Soros thinks we are headed towards another Great Depression and, you know what, he's right! What do you think? Is George Soros right? Are we headed for another depression? Words: 530

155 analysts have gone public, to date, in maintaining that gold will eventually go to a parabolic peak price of at least $2,500/ozt.+ before the bubble bursts. Of those 155 a total of 140 believe gold will reach at least $3,000/ozt., 101 see gold achieving a price of at least $5,000/ozt. and 20 maintain that gold will reach a parabolic peak price of $10,000 per troy ounce or more. Take a look here at who is projecting what, by when and why. Words: 832