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"Portfolio managers have been swayed by hope over experience" when it comes to anticipating the effects the fiscal cliff will have on markets. Investors aren't giving as much attention to the fiscal cliff as they should be, and that may be helping to set the markets up for a repeat of last year, when the debt ceiling negotiations sent stocks plummeting.

Something really strange appears to be happening. All over the globe, governments and big banks are acting as if they are anticipating an imminent financial collapse. Here's some of what is being said and is apparently happening. Words: 1200

When you head out to the voting booth this November, know this… whether you pick Obama or Romney, you’re essentially voting for the same person. If you watch this video all the way to the end (it gets better as it progresses) you will understand why this is so, why that come election time you'll only have one choice - Obamney of the Republicrats party. The arguments, the debates, the smear campaigns and the emphasized differences between the two candidates are there to give you an illusion of choice.

Lately, nearly every piece of economic data is judged based on the degree to which investors perceive it will encourage/discourage central banks from embarking on a new round of quantitative easing (QE). Generally, bad data and subdued inflation is good because it means the Fed has both cause and room to ease, while good data and higher inflation are bad as they eliminate the need for easing and increase the chance that any asset purchases may contribute to already rising prices. That tendency to judge economic data in such a way is wrongheaded. [Let me explain why that is the case and more.] Words: 755

When a major global player with direct ties to the White House, Wall Street, and the banking system starts off-loading stocks and starts stacking gold, it suggests a very serious market move is set to happen - and that is just what George Soros has done according to his latest 13-F report filing. [Should we buy more gold too?] Words: 484

Natural gas has the potential to bridge the gap between the current oil dominated energy mix and sustainable renewables. It’s cheap, abundant, and the cleanest fossil fuel in the world. In fact, at today’s consumption rates, estimated US natural gas resources could be used to supply domestic electricity generation for 52 years.That being said, shale gas is trapped thousands of feet underground. How do we extract it and what does the process look like? The infographic below has all the details.

Under current law, a sharp reduction in the federal budget deficit between 2012 and 2013 will cause the economy to contract but, the Congressional Budget Office projects, will also put federal debt on a path more likely to be sustainable over time. To illustrate the effects of fiscal tightening, CBO compared its projections under current law (the "baseline" projections) with projections under an alternative set of policies — two scenarios in a broad spectrum of choices - in the infographic below.

Much has been written about the merits of the Gold Standard but there seems to be a lack of knowledge about the history of the various exchange-rate regimes over the years and why each was introduced and replaced. The infographic below does an outstanding job of doing just that.

Unless the government acts quickly, it is probable that the term "fiscal cliff" will become a household phrase over the next few months. Unfortunately, this is reminiscent of the budget ceiling crisis about a year ago. In this report we will explain what the cliff is, discuss the worst case scenario, and determine what, if anything, you should do about it. Words: 1436

No one seems to understand what is happening in Europe the way Graham Summers does and, as such, his insightful articles keep appearing on this site as the best choice to convey the message. Below are introductory paragraphs to each of 12 articles with hyperlinks to each should you wish to read any in their entirety.