Investing

How does the current behavior of the global financial markets compare with the two recent crises, namely the great financial crisis of 2008/2009 and the minor one in 2010 when the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone developed? [I have analyzed 15 aspects of the markets and have concluded that over the next 2/3 months we should see, among other things, increased volatility, declining S&P 500 and MSCI World indices, a bottoming in the 10-year U.S. Treasuries yield, renewed U.S. dollar weakness, renewed strength in the price of gold and silver with silver outperforming that of gold. Take a look at the 19 charts below to see for yourself.] Words: 825

Third-quarter reporting season is set to begin [and,] as a result, the troubles in Europe are about to become background music as investors once again focus on individual company fundamentals and when it does, here are the three most important statistics we need to track. Words: 545

According to Barclays Capital, gold, silver, platinum and palladium, as well as other commodities, generally stand a better chance of handling a global economic downturn than other types of investments [because] commodities "are on a very different footing" from two years ago [which they explain in detail below.] Words: 350

[A]s we’ve consistently seen, when financial conditions get particularly rough, gold and silver lose their safe-haven appeal [but their]...prices may have already struck bottom and, [al]though we don’t expect them to run away to the upside, now may be the time for long-term investors to accumulate positions. That said, what should an investor buy: gold or silver? That is always an interesting question, but especially so during periods of rapid price movements such as now. [Below I analyze the gold/silver ratio and come up with the answer.] Words: 760

Now that Q4 is underway, investors are scrambling to find the right asset class for this rocky environment. Last quarter wreaked havoc on a number of investments and portfolios alike, as the global economy seems to be on a downward spiral. Given the current environment, various investors have flocked to their favorite safe havens to wait out the storm. Gold is perhaps the most popular safe haven in troubled markets, though its actual use as a metal is relatively low. As such, there has been much speculation over whether or not the metal is overvalued, scaring a number investors out of gold and into another precious metal, silver. Words: 3422

These days there's so much interest in gold and silver it can be easy to forget that there are a number of other precious metals out there that investors should be considering for their portfolios. While gold and silver should form the core of any metals portfolio, there's at least one other metal that merits serious attention and that is platinum. [Let me explain why.] Words: 493

[We have determined that] the current cyclically adjusted real yield of 5.28% is telling us that the stock market is expensive, at least by historical standards. [In addition,] ...we have also determined that, relative to bonds, the real spread between stocks and bonds is 7.2% in terms of yields, i.e., stocks relative to bonds seem cheap. If stocks are expensive, and stocks relative to bonds seem cheap, this implies that bonds are also expensive. Everything is expensive! [Let me show you the math that confirms just that.] Words: 1590

Why have gold and silver have been selling off? The answer is very simple. There is a strong correlation between a strong dollar and weak commodities. The dollar is no different than anything on earth – it will always follow the path of least resistance. As the dollar grows stronger commodities sell off or become cheaper [- and gold could go down as low as $1,500/ozt. and silver down to perhaps as low as $21/ozt. before this is all over. Let me explain further.] Words: 650

Why is gold falling as the financial crisis worsens? After all, isn’t gold some sort of safe haven? [Let me explain.] Words: 1287

A review of the gold price written by Robin Bew, chief economist at HSBC Bank, proposes that the gold price is in danger of entering bubble territory and predicts a sharp correction by year-end and reach $1,000 per troy ounce by 2013. [Let's examine Bew's views more closely.] Words: 725