Economy

“The real risk for the euro zone now is not Greece, but France,” says a top French finance boss. Nicolas Baverez, a commentator who foresaw the country’s looming debt problems in a bestselling book of 2003, agrees: “I’m convinced that France will be the centre of the next shock in the euro zone.” [below their views are substantiated with some alarming and disturbing facts about France;s financial situation and how their politicians are failing to address the brewing crisis.] Words:740

Get ready...Save some cash, load up with gold and silver, and be patient...Start by buying top-grade dividend-paying stocks and gold on dips or corrections, and hold your gold. This era will see the catastrophic collapse of all fiat money. Gold should skyrocket. Get ready for crime and violence...

Spain is a catastrophe [of major proportions and] to fully understand [why that is the case] we need to understand Spain in the context of both the EU and the global financial system. [Once you read what I outline below you will more fully understand why] I believe that the EU in its current form is in its final chapters. Whether it's through Spain imploding or Germany ultimately pulling out of the Euro, we've now reached the point of no return: the problems facing the EU (Spain and Italy) are too large to be bailed out! Words: 1345

It was just 6 months ago that Spain enjoyed a credit rating of AA. In early October, 2011, S&P downgraded Spain to an AA- rating with a negative outlook (details below as to why) and then again in January, 2012 from AA- to A for failing to make much in the way of improvements. Then, just last week, having clearly forewarned Spain that it was at risk of having it's credit rating even further downgraded with all the financial implications of such a move, S&P further reduced Spain's credit rating by two levels to BBB+. When you read what S&P said back in October and again in January, Spain has only itself to blame for its amazing mismanagement and sorry state of affairs. Words: 2000

How this economic disaster ends is something about which many of us speculate. Two extreme endings are likely — a sudden deflationary collapse or a period of very high inflation/hyperinflation which ultimately cripples commerce and resolves itself in a deflationary collapse. In either case, the deflationary collapse is another Great Depression. It is important to know which route will occur because of what will happen to asset values along the way. Words: 1057

Paper money was first used by the Chinese during the Tang Dynasty in 806 AD–500 years before Europe began printing money in the 17th century. It would be another 100 years before America started circulating a national paper currency.... How familiar are you with banknotes from around the world?

Below is an interactive map of the 22 countries that make up Eastern Europe providing a snapshot of, and interesting facts about, each of the counties. Below is an interactive map of the 22 countries that make up Eastern Europe providing a snapshot of, and interesting facts about, each of the counties. If you want a fast and interesting geography lesson then this is it!

Everyone is talking about emerging markets, and their masses of people, resource-rich lands and rising economic stature [with many] saying that they will be the economic superpowers of the next century. How much do you know about emerging markets? Take our interactive quiz and find out.

It is easy to be branded a Cassandra when one has nothing but negative forecasts but so be it - it is what I see and believe. It is more palatable to be wrong in a distinguished crowd than as a lone nut, however, so I offer below quotes from 17 others about the coming global financial collapse that will make your stand up. Words: 1226

The disaster in Europe should be pushing the U.S. dollar up more than it is but it’s not, and that has me deeply worried. [I'm] worried that the next leg of the dollar’s decline may be right around the corner; worried that the loss of the dollar’s reserve-currency status could occur more quickly than even I had expected and worried that the “X&@!” may soon hit the fan, across the entire globe. [Let me explain.] Words: 600