Gold may rally further from this month’s record if President Barack Obama wins lawmakers’ agreement to raise the U.S.’s debt ceiling, weakening the dollar and boosting demand for the precious metal as a store of value, according to Korea Investment & Securities Co. [Below is a chart which shows this quite clearly.] Words: 360

The headwinds mentioned below and the massive rally in the stock market over the last few years leave equity markets highly vulnerable. At the very least I think we will test the lower end of the S&P trading range (1250) in the very near future. [Let me explain.] Words: 659

As bad as the housing crisis has been over the past three years, it has only been a warm up to what we have headed our way... [In fact,] the forecast is horrific, to say the least!28% of US homeowners already owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth [and]... 27% of American homeowners are considering walking away from their mortgage...This is going to significantly drive home prices further down. [Let's look at the details.] Words: 657

As of the end of March, the federal government owed $14.27 trillion to a wide variety of holders of U.S. Treasury securities. The graphic below depicts who those creditors are and the amount they have bought in treasuries. All amounts are in billions of dollars. Words: 417

What are the implications for gold in each of the debt and "default" scenarios possible after August 2nd? [Let's take a look.] Words: 1111

Here is an up-to-the-minute list of the amount of gold owned by the top 10 countries in the world plus that of the International Monetary Fund. Words: 257

Check out this chart (via Ed Yardeni) that shows the price of gold relative to U.S. Treasury and U.S. agency securities held by the Federal Reserve and other central banks - a VERY interesting correlation to say the least. Words: 260

Republicans and Democrats probably will reach a deal to pay America’s bills before the U.S. government runs out of cash at the end of July - probably - but in the meantime it has pushed the United States — and the world economy — toward a fearsome shock at a time when the world economy cannot afford any more shocks. If a U.S. default did happen, however...what would it mean for Canada? The answer is surprising. Read on. Words: 832

Most Americans don't understand what is happening because neither the mainstream media nor our politicians are telling them the truth. We are being told that we just need to accept our lower standard of living and most Americans seem willing to accept that reality because they keep sending most of the exact same bozos back to Washington D.C....Why are the majority of Americans not screaming to their political "representatives" that they are as mad as hell and not willing to take it any more? Words: 1270

Is a second recession in so short of a time in the offing? It certainly seems that way. The hope for a continued recovery has grown dim lately as many of the economic indexes are moving towards contractionary territory... There are several concerns pressing the U.S. economy and, in the words of David Rosenberg, chief economist at Gluskin Sheff, "one small shock" could send us into a second recession. [We, for our part, believe that even] another round of Quantitative Easing by the Fed...may not be enough to offset the real problems facing the U.S. economy. [Let's take a closer look.] Words: 1295