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Merrill conducts a periodic survey of US institutional money managers. One area the survey focuses on is a set of questions on the so-called "tail risks", the less probable but potentially devastating events that negatively impact financial asset valuations. Here are the survey results from September and October of this year. Words: 535

With President Obama being re-elected we can expect four more years of a Washington-centric controlled economy with a rolling program of borrow, print, spend and pretend; similar to the last four years....[What affect will such fiscal irresponsibility have on the U.S. dollar, gold and silver? Read on!] Words: 717

As the fiscal cliff is nearing with the end of 2012 in sight and total public debt approaching the debt limit of $16.4 trillion, investors need to seriously start worrying about the U.S. bond market. [Below are 5 trends that support that view.] Words: 599

I have long recommended that investors keep 5-10% of their portfolio in physical gold so, in light of Obama's re-election, it is that much more important if you have no gold or silver in your portfolio, that you to buy some. If you already own gold or silver, you may want to consider adding to your position. Let me explain why that is the case.

None of the three different statistical measures of financial stress released this week suggest any conditions in the financial markets that would indicate that the U.S. economy is in a recession already, and none of them are exhibiting any upward trends that would point to a pending recession. In fact, all three stress measures have been trending downward through 2012, indicating that there is less financial stress now than at the beginning of the year. [Take a look at what each has to say and judge for yourself.] Words: 571

The election is now behind us and I pray our elected officials can come together and make quality decisions to move this country forward in a positive direction. [That being said, how the U.S. Dollar Index reacts over the short term] is going to be very important for portfolio construction in the weeks and months ahead! [Let's take a look at what the following charts say on the subject.] Words: 225

The Dow Jones Industrial Average composite (DJIA) hitting a five year high early last month does not bode well for the bulls. Frankly, I am predicting that the recent five year high...(October 5th) will prove to be the cyclical high in an ongoing secular bear market that has not yet hit its bear market low for this secular bear and that...it will not get to an all-time new high until 2015 at the earliest. Prepare to be nickled and dimed in the meantime! Words: 995

The public's estimates and predictions of inflation are significantly, and systematically, related to the demographic characteristics of the respondents...[and] even after we hold constant income, age, education, race, and marital status...women in our survey tended to think inflation was 1.9 percentage points higher than men. [There are more interesting findings, so read on.] Words: 987

The USA continues to decline economically relative to some parts of the world, most notably those in Asia yet we still lead in many areas. Unfortunately being number one is some categories is not a good thing and our level of debt is one of these areas. In fact, our debt burden leads the world. [A look at the charts below illustrates that all too clearly.] Words: 272

The Legatum Prosperity Index survey, as shown in the following table, ranks countries on eight different attributes, and then consolidates those attributes into an 'overall ranking'. The report says that the U.S. has fallen out of the top 10 (to #12) in the 'most prosperous country ranking' increasing doubts about the health of its economy and ability of its politicians. Read the balance of the article to see where your country is ranked overall and in each of the 8 different categories. Words: 520