What’s going on with the price of gold? It would be nice if gold always went up in a crisis but short term it can get just as burnt as everything else. [It begs the question, however,] if gold is the great anti-asset, the thing to hold when everything else is in collapse, why is it now trading…[below $1,700 and] not $2,000? What is next for gold? Words: 765

The global economy is going to endure a significant deleveraging cycle as we move through 2012 - one that will affect most if not all parts of the developed world. It will be accomplished by some combination of default and write-downs, debt repayment and rising savings rates. [Below I outline 8 areas of behaviorial change to watch for in 2012 and 7 ways to invest in such a fluid economic environment.] Words: 1186

With most of the world’s major economies as well as the financial system bankrupt...most people will rely on governments and central banks to save us but how can anyone possibly believe that totally incompetent and clueless politicians and central bankers could solve the problem they created in the first place... The main objective of governments is to stay in power and thus to buy votes, therefore they are incapable of taking the right decisions and the opposition, aspiring to power, is even less suitable since they will lie through their teeth and promise the earth in order to be elected. So what is the solution? Read on! Words: 2391

Governments make fruitless effort to retain control over deteriorating real growth and rising unemployment by having their central banks print more and more money, risking a hyperinflationary depression (stagflation at best). The only respite for many investors is gold.

Comparing the level of the Vix Index of implied equity volatility to the level of the 10-yr Treasury yield is a handy way of gauging how extreme market sentiment is. The Vix index is a good proxy for fear (because the implied volatility of options determines how expensive it is to purchase options in order to limit one's downside risk), and the 10-yr Treasury yield is a good proxy for the market's long-term outlook for growth and inflation. When you combine a high level of the Vix with a low level of the 10-yr, you have a market that is not only very fearful but also very pessimistic about the future. [IMO, however, we may well have time on our side. Here's what I mean by that.] Words: 730

What’s going on? If gold is the great anti-asset, the thing to hold when everything else is in collapse why is it now trading…[below $1,700 and] not $2,000? Words: 1139

The market believes that there is more profit to be made in speculation than in new business investment - and speculation is what you get when you weaken the incentives to invest in productive activities for the long haul. In fact, fear and uncertainty are inhibiting growth [- almost everywhere - as shown in graphic form in the 8 charts below]. Words: 1000

The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate set by Congress of maximum employment and stable prices. During Chairman Bernanke’s most recent press conference he indicated that the Federal Reserve has done a better job of maintaining price stability while falling short of fostering maximum employment. [As such,] we believe the Federal Reserve will continue to increase the monetary base and weaken the dollar as long as unemployment remains elevated. While the economy (measured by real GDP) and the unemployment rate have not benefited from a substantial increase in the monetary base, the price of gold and silver have benefited from money printing. We believe this statement is quite important for monetary policy and for investors. [Let us explain further.] Words: 388

A highly talented individual in the USA finds it ever more difficult to fight his way through to self-realization and a socially creative position. Universities, politics, and businesses ever more frequently demonstrate a united front of relatively untalented persons and even incompetent persons. The word 'overeducated' is heard more and more often. Such 'overqualified' individuals finally hide out in some foundation laboratory where they are allowed to earn the Nobel prize as long as they don’t do anything really useful. Words:

140 analysts maintain that gold will eventually reach a parabolic peak price of at least $3,000/ozt. before the bubble bursts of which 100 see gold reaching at least $5,000/ozt., 17 predict a parabolic peak price of as much as $10,000 per troy ounce of which 12 are on record as saying gold could go even higher than that. Take a look here at who is projecting what, by when and why. Words: 676