By threatening to drop money out of helicopters to fight deflation - to leave a paperweight on the "print" button if you will - Bernanke convinced the market and all of Wall Street that the Fed would always be there to step in and save the day. [In fact, however,] the whole thing was a bluff meant to prop up the markets - the famed Bernanke Put - and it was a lie. The markets will be realizing this in the coming months, if not sooner, and when they do, we'll see the REAL Collapse: the one to which 2008 was just a warm-up. [Let me explain.] Words: 444

We are facing a crisis in Europe that is far, far worse than 2008. [It is so bad that,] before it ends, it is quite possible that we will see the entire western financial system collapse and a new system put into place. Words: 912

I believe that in the autumn of 2012 we are going to see...a series of negative events - failing economies, higher unemployment, more QE, and extraordinary levels of social unrest. When QE is announced, I see a temporary rally in stocks but at some point stocks will collapse. I’m not talking about mining stocks, but common stocks outside of the mining sector.

I believe that in the autumn of 2012 we are going to see...a series of negative events - failing economies, higher unemployment, more QE, and extraordinary levels of social unrest. When QE is announced, I see a temporary rally in stocks but at some point stocks will collapse. I’m not talking about mining stocks, but common stocks outside of the mining sector.

In the next 2-4 weeks I would not be surprised to see the S&P500 hit 1400/1450. In the ensuing 4 months (i.e. by the end of November), however, I expect global equity markets will fall by 20-25% from current levels and to trade at or below the lows of 2011! That would bring the S&P500 down to 1100/1000. That's not all. In December I expect the Fed will introduce a $1 Trillion QE. Words: 921

...[V]iewed objectively, the world currently stands at the precipice of an even greater crisis than the one in 2008-2009 but you wouldn't know it by looking at US stock prices. The S&P 500 is down only about 10% from its peak levels in October 2007 compared to the leading indicator stock markets in Spain, Italy and China which...are all down by 60% or more since their peaks. It is folly to think that the S&P 500 index can long withstand simultaneous conflagrations in those countries because, as their economies go, so too will the entire global economy and [that is bound to adversely affect the U.S. as] close to 50% of all S&P 500 earnings are derived from outside the U.S.. Words: 840

...[V]iewed objectively, the world currently stands at the precipice of an even greater crisis than the one in 2008-2009 but you wouldn't know it by looking at US stock prices. The S&P 500 is down only about 10% from its peak levels in October 2007 compared to the leading indicator stock markets in Spain, Italy and China which...are all down by 60% or more since their peaks. It is folly to think that the S&P 500 index can long withstand simultaneous conflagrations in those countries because, as their economies go, so too will the entire global economy and [that is bound to adversely affect the U.S. as] close to 50% of all S&P 500 earnings are derived from outside the U.S.. Words: 840

When the public, and in particular the savings public at large, comes to understand that quantitative easing is actually counterfeiting...you will begin to see confidence cave and the collapse in confidence will be epic. That’s what has me nervous. [Here is how to detect when confidence is about to cave and how to protect oneself in such an eventuality.]

When the public, and in particular the savings public at large, comes to understand that quantitative easing is actually counterfeiting...you will begin to see confidence cave and the collapse in confidence will be epic. That’s what has me nervous. [Here is how to detect when confidence is about to cave and how to protect oneself in such an eventuality.]

The extremely optimistic assumptions on which both of the recent International Monetary Fund's 'World Economic Update' and 'Global Financial Stability Report' are based are such that, given all the attendant circumstances, I do not place much weight on either of them. Here is a summary of what the reports have to say and why I have come to that conclusion. Words: 625