Chuck Butler’s recent Dow Theory Letter article (behind paywall), “Central Bank Frustrations” was an eye-opener. Chuck removes any illusions about “trusting” central bankers. He quotes former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke: “Given the fundamental factors in place that should support the demand for housing, we believe the effect of the troubles in the subprime sector on the broader housing market will […]
» Read more“Oh my gosh”, my wife Jo exclaimed. “He’s walking right toward us!” He smiled, extended his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Ron Paul.” I smiled, shook his hand, and introduced myself and my wife. I was the oddball when I wrote for Casey Research. I was surrounded by legendary newsletter pundits and heavy-duty researchers. I was a 73-year-old retiree, writing […]
» Read moreDuring the season, the waters in the Florida Keys are decorated with various colored buoys attached to lobster traps. The symbols are akin to branding cattle. Don’t even think about rustling lobster from someone else’s trap! You could end up in the middle of the ocean with a sinking boat full of bullet holes. Lobster fishing is different. Maine Lobster […]
» Read moreIn a recent interview with Chuck Butler, he warned us that we may be in for a significant “Minsky Moment”. The federal reserve is raising interest rates and unloading trillions in their US debt holdings. Countries that normally buy our bonds are slowing down their purchases or reducing their holdings. With fewer buyers, what happens if interest rates continue to […]
» Read moreWith a concerned look on his face, my friend John said, “A special assessment would be close to $5,000 per home.” My wife Jo and I live in a Del Webb community in the Phoenix suburbs. Our community is responsible for maintaining our own roads. Here is the conversation that followed: John – “Most roads are expected to last 20 […]
» Read moreWhen the Federal Reserve bailed out the banks, interest rates hit historic lows. Safe, good yielding fixed income investments disappeared. Investors were forced to put more of their capital at risk to earn a decent return. A recent article by Matthew Kerkhoff in the Dow Theory Letters titled, “Where Did TINA Go?” grabbed my attention. The bailouts began almost a […]
» Read moreThe games played by corporate America put Houdini to shame. Their illusions exclude the warning, “Don’t try this at home”, nor is it for entertainment purposes only. Corporate America and Wall Street encourage investors to buy overpriced stocks, while executives collect bonuses for lousy performance. Looking behind the curtain Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) versus adjusted earnings. Many play this […]
» Read moreThe Federal Reserve’s Zero Interest Rate experiment saved the banks and destroyed the retirement plans of many generations. Now they want to “normalize” things. Their solutions are ill timed and risky! When things collapse, President Trump will become a combination of Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter – blamed for the catastrophe. Democrats will be cheering, “Pin the tale on the […]
» Read moreDespite Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s expression of confidence in raising the federal funds rates, the worst of the tragic consequences of the government bank bailouts is yet to come. Part II of “The People Were Ruined” is on the horizon, and “the people” are going to suffer dramatically. William Gouge (1796-1863) was credited with the famous quote. His premise […]
» Read moreWhat’s going to happen to dividend stocks when the Fed continues to raise rates? In early 2016 San Francisco Fed President John Williams predicted, “I think something in that three-to-five-rate-hike range makes sense, at least at this time.” It didn’t happen; they waited until December 2016 to raise rates a quarter point. Janet Yellen and her Federal Reserve Gang now […]
» Read more