The crisis in Long-term Capital Management that began with Russian debt spread and hit every market with lightening speed. Even the dollar/yen fell from 147 to 103 in just days. Why? It is called contagion. Major investment is spread-out internationally. As a crisis unfolds for one region, it spreads by forcing liquidation of other markets […]

Of course, the USA stock futures and the dollar came under some pressure as the shutdown of the government appears more likely. Everyone knows this is just drama and posturing as if the USA would actually default. But hey, it is good for moving markets as the talking head talk to themselves so much, they […]

Many of the Goldbugs will be happy to hear that the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) says it might start charging member banks more or even dissolving the Gold Forward Offered Rates (GOFO) – the rate at which dealers will lend gold against US dollars – due to new financial market regulations. The push for regulation stems […]

QUESTION:  Dear Martin, In your last post you say that sovereign debt crisis may be postponed for 8.6 years.  Would this delay the phase transition in the Dow and other US share markets.  Thank you for your posts, me and others I talk to read your blog everyday. Sincerely, JD ANSWER: Any postponement in the […]

The gold price has continued to drift lower as the no-taper rally of a week ago quickly fading into a distant memory. Whether the US Federal Reserve continues its economic stimulus program unchanged adding $85 billion a month, is really irrelevant. The Fed’s balance sheet will only hit the $4 trillion mark by the end of the […]

The Federalization of Europe is underway. One day after the elections, the ECB is already dictating that they are taking over supervision of banks and are hiring 1,000 to 2,000 people to monitor 130 banks. Deutsche Bank, in the meantime, has come out and advised Germans to short the Euro and go to the dollar. […]

José Manuel Durão Barroso is a Portuguese politician and Member of the EPP . Since the end of November 2004 Barroso became President of the European Commission. On September 16, 2009 he was elected by the European Parliament for a second term of five years. He is indicative of why politicians should not be allowed […]

Now the focus will be the US debt issue going into early October. The dollar fell and world shares held near a one-week low as concerns over a potential government shutdown in Washington rises and mixed signals on U.S. monetary policy keeps the pundits and investors guessing. The key week will be next week in […]

The US rare coin market remains strong and is a “movable” asset class as is the case with ancient coins. A rare US $4 dollar “Coiled Hair Stella” gold coin from 1880 was auctioned at Bonhams in Los Angeles on Monday, bringing  $2.5 million, or $1 million more than expected. The coin contains six grams […]

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) filed a complaint against Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Capital I Inc, Barclays, JPMorgan Chase & Co’s unit Bear Stearns, Credit Suisse Group, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and UBS sold faulty securities to Southwest and Members United corporate credit unions. Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Wachovia Corp, a unit of Wells […]