Currencies

The Economist’s Big Mac index is a fun guide to whether currencies are at their “correct” level. It is based on the theory of pWords:urchasing-power parity (PPP), the notion that in the long run exchange rates should move towards the rate that would equalise the prices of a basket of goods and services around the world. [As such, take a look at the chart below to see just how expensive a Big Mac is in your country (raw and adjusted for GDP per person) and therefore, by inference, the extent to which your country's currency is over- or under-valued compared to the U.S. dollar.] Words: 421

If the debt ceiling deal agreement is fully implemented [it is only going to exacerbate America's financial and economic woes and accelerate the demise of the U.S.] Dollar Standard which is inherently flawed and increasingly unstable. Its demise is imminent. The only question is will it be death by fire—hyperinflation—or death by ice—deflation? Fortunes will be made and lost depending on the answer to that question. [Let me explain how the collapse of the dollar could well unfold.] Words: 944

The recent outperformance of precious metals, combined with budget problems in the United States and parts of Europe, has prompted some to speculate that gold or silver will become the next international reserve currency [but in my opinion that is highly unlikely. As such, investors would be highly encouraged to give pause [before] allocating a portion of their portfolios to precious metals. Let me explain further.] Words: 1094

Greece is going to default and even take the euro, and maybe the EU, with it. There will be 5 investment opportunities should that unfold as expected and one of them will be the U.S. dollar. [Let me explain.] Words: 1187

According to conventional market wisdom, there are three safe haven currencies: the Swiss franc, Japanese yen, and US dollar. It is to these currencies that investors flock whenever there is a crisis, or merely an outbreak of uncertainty, and for much of the period following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the three were closely correlated [but that is nolonger the case as the title of this article so indicates. Let me show you what has happened of late.] Words: 670

At present the USD is at yet another major inflection point and what it does from here will have direct implications for U.S. investors, not only asset allocation (bonds, stocks, commodities, currencies) but also sector allocation (cyclicals, non-cyclicals). [Let's take a closer look at the situation.] Words: 2102

The U.S. dollar is in a classic dead cat bounce as it appears to fight desperately to avoid dropping below the much watched ‘72′ level. We say fight, but the real situation is not a fight at all; it's a managed decline by the United States to lower the value of its currency and ultimately inflate away the mountain of debt that it realizes is impossible to ever re-pay... [and that will be of major benefit to future gold and silver prices and even more so to the stock of companies that mine the metals. Let me explain.] Words: 1100

Sadly, the great American public doesn't understand what is happening...[and that it will be] on a greater scale than has ever occurred before in the history of mankind. It's going to hit the current generation of Americans like a whirlwind. It will be historic in its intensity and destructiveness. [Here is an attempt to enlighten them.] Words: 939

The U.S. dollar is essentially at an all-time low against other currencies on both a real and nominal basis [and such a] weak dollar is a serious problem, but there is no reason yet to abandon all hope... [Let me explain.] Words: 1064

What event could trigger an unstoppable domino affect leading to a financial meltdown? You may think [that such a possibility is extremly unlikely] but daily we move closer to the real possibility that a major fiat currency such as the US Dollar or the Euro could collapse in the blink of an eye. [Let’s take a look at why and how such …