Thursday, December 1, 2011

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saveyourassetsfirst3


StockPuke Alert – CEM.V

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:54 AM PST

Apparenlty we have one, perhaps two large sellers that are not too concerned with what price they get for their aggressive sales of Constantine Metal Resources (CEM.V) this Thursday, December 1. 

 
In a bizarre occurrence we note that Constantine is off 22.2% to $0.07 while their joint venture partner in the Yukon Carlin Gold (CGD.V) is up about 50% to $0.135.  Just below is our tracking chart for CEM.V.

 
Yes, we have put in a ladder to capture tranches of CEM at progressively lower levels until the Stock Puker is done serving up his lunch of Constantine.   We are adding to what amounts to a Double Trophy Shares position on CEM, our "winnings" as it were from previous trading. 

20111201-CEM
 
CEM.V

Like everyone, our resources are not unlimited, so we shall only add one full unit at this level, reserving some ammo to fire if the tax loss seller manages to take it under our blue panic target box ($0.05 to $0.10). 

Naturally our usual admonitions apply about these being extremely risky stocks that are definitely not for everyone.    

Disclosure:  Constantine Metal Resources (CEM.V or CNSNF) is a Vulture Bargain Candidate of Interest (VBCI) and is our Vulture Bargain #6.  Members of the GGR team are actively accumulating and hold long positions in the company.

LISTEN: Interview with Bob Chapman

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:50 AM PST

From KerryLutz.com:
Bob is back! He brings the latest info on what's really happening in Europe, why the bank bailout will be good for a year at the most and why you need to be acquiring gold, silver and the shares of quality mining companies. Bob's been at it for over 50 years, trading the markets, acquiring precious metals and freely and lovingly dispensing advice. He has studied history and understands exactly what's going on now. He believes that the global financial elite has a plan in place to completely dominate and control all of the world's inhabitants. Unfortunately for them, the plan has come off the rails and the collapsing Euro may very well be the "nail in the coffin." We can only hope.

The US Senate has passed S. 1867, which allows the pursuit of terrorists, both American and non-American in virtually any location within the United States. This is yet another example of creeping totalitarianism, which has been well underway for decades. The major media has deliberately failed to inform the American Public of this outrage. It's just a matter of time until we wake up one day with no freedoms and no constitution.

Much more @ KerryLutz.com or @ 347.460.LUTZ

Stock Market Panic Buying

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST

Stock Market Panic Buying As Bear Market Goes Up in Smoke on Dollar Printing for Euros

from ZeroHedge:

It's fascinating to watch things play out as we rapidly approach the final rounds in the end game of the great game. The great game is of course the never-ending global struggle for power and dominance. The current entrenched powers that be have been in their positions for a very long time and they have no intention of giving up that role. What the moral and decent percentage of humanity need to understand in no uncertain terms is that these folks and their minions have no conscience. They could care less how many starve to death, get blown to bits in war or waste their lives away in front of the television set watching Snookie on the Jersey Shore. In fact, I am certain that they totally get off on these things. Degrading humanity into an animal-like state clearly appears to be their aphrodisiac. Notice how the media encourages people to go out and trample each other for a $2 waffle maker on Black Friday. The scenes of people running into Wal-Mart or Best Buy in the early morning hours when they should be at home with their families having conversation after Thanksgiving dinner reminds me of scenes of cattle being shuffled into a sorting pen.

Read More @ ZeroHedge.com

Silver Price: Sprott Hatches an OPEC for Silver Industry

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:40 AM PST

by Dominique de Kevelioc de Bailleul, BeaconEquity.com:

In a gesture of highlighting the glaring impediments and equally exciting opportunities facing the silver industry today, Sprott Asset Management CEO Eric Sprott issued a "A Call to Action" letter to 17 of the world's largest silver producers, posted on one the world's leading sources of breaking news in the bullion markets,King World News.  Sign-up for my 100% FREE Alerts

As a synopsis of the 1,876-word letter, Sprott outlines a compelling case for producers to hold back inventory for the sake of supercharging its balance sheets as well as maximizing future profits in the wake of drastically changed global market conditions from years past—namely, an environment, in which:

1)   The dollar's value is expected to decline more rapidly than it did during the 1970s.  Through the Fed's policy of negative real interest rates, the CRB Index has risen at a 10.3 compounded percent rate since 2002, already rivaling the decade of the 1970s and expected to get worse, as Bernanke has stated that ZIRP rates will last through June 2013, at least, in an effort to mitigate the effects of the crisis in Europe to liquify U.S. banks;

Read More @ BeaconEquity.com

China’s September Gold Purchases Leap Sixfold

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:39 AM PST

by Shivom Seth, MineWeb.com:

The regulations passed by the Chinese authorities to encourage gold trading over the past year appear to be working. Gold purchases in China via Hong Kong hit a record 56.9 tonnes in the month of September, registering a six fold increase year on year.

Data from the Hong Kong government showed that the Chinese mainland imported about 140 tonnes of gold via Hong Kong in the July to September quarter, more than the roughly 120 tonnes for the whole of 2010.

Cheng Bing Hai, president of the Shanghai Gold and Jewellery Trade Association, has also been quoted by newswires as saying that total jewellery sales by the top three jewellers in Shanghai have already exceeded 100 tonnes so far this year.

Read More @ MineWeb.com

S&P 500: Pass The Hopium Please

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:35 AM PST

By DeWayne Reeves:

The E-Mini S&P 500 spiked up to $1246.75 today as the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank decided to drop the cost of the existing dollar swaps by 50 basis points to begin on December 5th. They were joined by the central banks of Britain, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. The contagion fears were stifled by hopes the European banks may bypass the debt crisis effects.

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde has been traveling and visiting the leaders of the varied countries to combine efforts to support the fund's intervention in the debt crisis. The IMF is known for its restructuring programs for ailing countries and is well respected as one of the most credible organizations. Finland, Mexico and the BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have offered support to the IMF through resources they have available. Brazil cut interest rates today


Complete Story »

The Silver Market and Inflation

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:15 AM PST

A look at the silver market, focusing on supply and demand, psychology, and inflation. Visit http://www.edrsilver.com for more information. Presented by Endeavour Silver Corp. as part of an ongoing series of educational films on all things silver.

Kyle Bass: Global Restructuring Required, Precious Metals To Benefit

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:59 AM PST

By Parsimony Investment Research:

Kyle Bass of Hayman Capital Management released his must read annual letter to shareholders. Bass has a gift of being able to break down complex global political and economic issues into a easy-to-digest framework. Hayman's underlying thesis is that the global credit market debt has reach a point of diminishing returns, and a global restructuring is required.

Bass's previous letters and discussed the quantitative issues in great detail. This most recent letter, while full of fact and figures really focuses on the qualitative issues. The quantitative issues are now well documented and "are what they are" but qualitative issues have become front and center

Below are the highlights of the letter:

  • Total global credit market debt has grown at more than an 11% CAGR from $80 trillion to approximately $200 trillion. Over the same period of time global real GDP has grown at approximately 4% CAGR.
  • The markets are already

Complete Story »

The Central Banks' Wall Of Money

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:55 AM PST

By Shareholders Unite:

There is a proverbial wall of money coming from central banks. However, the commentating class expects little of that. Do they have a point? In the 1980s, one had the proverbial wall of money from Japan. Actually, despite that country falling into a couple of Lost Decades (which turns out to be not that lost), the wall of Japanese money survived in the form of the famous carry-trade, in which money was borrowed in Japan at very low interest rates and put to speculative uses.

Now that basically the whole Western world enjoys Japanese interest rate, even that carry trade has come to a halt. But there seems to be something coming to replace it.

Yesterday, in a coordinated manner, five central banks (the Fed, the ECB, the Swiss central bank, the BoJ and the Bank of England) engaged in an operation to relieve funding stress, more particular, dollar funding


Complete Story »

Salesforce 10Q: Stock Expense, Deferred Revenue And CMO's

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:54 AM PST

todd sullivanBy Todd Sullivan:

I'm not going to rehash much of what I have already said regarding deferred commissions and amortized software expense accounting. IMO it is overly aggressive and hides the true current financials of the company. Nor will I talk about the $500M .75% convertible bond deal that will have the company eventually paying loan shark like rates upon conversion (barring a collapse to $85 in the stock price). Do a search on the blog for CRM and those post will come up.

Let's get right to the stock based comp. Here is the applicable section from the last four 10Q's filed.

November 2010:

During the nine months ended October 31, 2010, the Company recognized stock-based expense of $78.7 million. As of October 31, 2010, the aggregate stock compensation remaining to be amortized to costs and expenses was $237.7 million. The Company expects this stock compensation balance to be amortized as follows:


Complete Story »

Gensler Recusal on MF Global Hearings, Tax Loss Season Peaking

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:53 AM PST

HOUSTON --  Barney Frank calls it a career (thank goodness), China takes it's foot off the brakes, lowering the bank reserve requirements for the first time in a long while and the world's biggest central banks get together to provide deep oceans of cheaper liquidity in a coordinated move.  The latter may not be "QE-3" per se, but the world sees it being a close facsimile thereof.  Equities, gold, silver, copper and crude oil get a bid under them as the U.S. dollar gets bushwhacked. 

Meanwhile, the MF Global "hearings" are underway on Capitol Hill, but the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Mr. Gary Gensler, finds it conveniently necessary to recuse himself from any questions about MFG (after not finding it necessary to do so up to now) - ostensibly because of Mr. Gensler's "relationship" to Mr. Jon Corzine, the architect of M F Global's demise. 

For a brief connect-the-dots summary of that idea, follow the link below to view a short summary on CNBC (we particularly enjoyed Mr. Rick Santelli's off the cuff remarks this morning, also on CNBC, but sadly, we were unable to locate a video clip of them to share). 

 

CNBC: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000060083

As a side note, we have growing respect for Mr. Simon Hobbs at CNBC and tend to listen closely to his remarks these days vis-à-vis Europe especially.

Video of the Agricultural Committee hearings is available for those with tons of time and nothing better to do or perhaps a morbid sense of curiosity.  Some folks love to watch people in high government places squirm under questioning by elected reps who probably have just as many reasons to recuse themselves, but don't.

 
Tax Loss Selling Season Peaking

Our simple-Simon take on all the events unfolding is that our expected monetary easing is now well underway and that ought to be supportive for precious metals just ahead.  If not robustly, then at the very least marginally.  Eventually we expect that to trickle down to The Little Guys.

20111201CDNX


As we move into the height of the retail tax loss selling season … the time when the most beaten up and battered of The Little Guys we track and try to game get even more beaten up and more battered, we intend to use a portion of our remaining Little Guy Ammunition on the issues we want to increase size in, focusing as much as possible on the most heavily oversold by the tax loss brigade. 

This should be about as vigorous a tax loss selling season as we have ever experienced.  Quite a few traders of the smallest, least liquid and more speculative junior miners and explorers booked substantial gains at the beginning of the year, back when liquidity was still flowing into them and prices were still relatively high.  Now that the smaller miners have been crushed, and with only 21 trading days left in the trading year, the pressure is on to utilize paper losses to offset one's overall tax liability. 

 
At times like now the need to book a tax loss overrides the notion that particular issues have become Ridiculously Cheap (RC).  Sellers with large gains to offset and big lots of shares to unload to book losses are not too particular about how low they drive the share price.  Their goal is not maximizing cash out of their sales, but instead maximizing losses.  For a very few of the issues we track we expect that to offer up some astonishingly low prices that will more than likely be quickly corrected in the New Year.

20111201-CDNX-GDXJ
 
CDNX and GDXJ

No one knows if the CNDX and the GDXJ are about to begin a new positive liquidity event (PLE), but we do know that one is becoming strongly overdue. It would not be all that surprising to see a positive liquidity event getting underway in the first quarter of 2012, especially if we continue to see wealth flowing into precious metals. 

   
We intend to add notations to our 35 individual company tracking charts (available to Vultures, Got Gold Report Subscribers) along those lines as we go through the December Vulture Tax Loss bargain period. When we can add 5 or 10 shares today for the price one share sold for at the beginning of the year we imagine a flashing blue light next to the clearance rack as we do.

That is, of course, for the ones we have confidence in to reverse course soon after the tax loss sellers are through and the panic sellers they influenced are done puking them up to us Vultures. 

 

WATCH: Vince Lanci's Gold Report

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:47 AM PST

Kitco's Daniella Cambone talks with Vince Lanci in the 12.1.11 gold report.

~TVR

Defend Against The China Blahs With Gold; Avoid Commodities

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:45 AM PST

By Robert Hallberg:

Europe is in serious trouble, and the rest of the global economy also seems to be slowing down. This is not necessarily a reason to panic out of equities, since the market attempts to discount future earnings. It may already have priced in a recession. A reason for concern would be an unexpected slowdown that is not widely recognized by most market participants. Perhaps a slowdown in China presents this sort of scenario.

It appears that the crisis in Europe is drawing attention away from what's going on in China. And China has a huge influence on the rest of the world. Many have looked to China to pull us out of this economic recession.

It seems that China is experiencing a typical Austrian economic boom-bust cycle that is nearing a bust. The degree of mal-investment is unprecedented. The most noticeable signs of mal-investments are newly built cities with almost


Complete Story »

WATCH: Jim Rogers Sees Gold Correction

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:44 AM PST

The price of gold has been rising for 11 years in a row and the precious metal is due for a correction, investor Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, told CNBC.

Part One

Part Two

~TVR

What Europe Might Do To Solid Dow Dividends

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:24 AM PST

By MyPlanIQ:

Europe is a flashing red blip on everybody's RADAR screens. Brian Stoffel of the Motley Fool highlights European exposure of major companies who are likely to be responsible for a great deal of the dividends on which many will rely over the next few quarters. Brian started by selecting the Dow dividend stocks that could weather a eurozone meltdown. He wanted to throw out those with yields that were puny. He did this by eliminating from consideration any company that didn't at least offer its shareholders a 2.5% yield. In addition, he checked out the company's dividend payout ratio and eliminated all companies with payout ratios above 80%.

Company

Dividend Yield

Payout Ratio

3M (MMM) 2.9% 37%
Boeing (BA) 2.7% 33%
Chevron (CVX) 3.5% 22%
Coca-Cola (KO) 2.9% 34%
DuPont (DD) 3.7% 45%
ExxonMobil (XOM) 2.5% 22%
General Electric (GE) 4.1% 48%
Home Depot (HD) 3.2% 43%
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)

Complete Story »

Dominic Frisby interviews Martyn Element

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:15 AM PST

Dominic Frisby interviews Martyn Element, of ElementandAssociates, for the GoldMoney Foundation. They talk about gold as the best safe haven for the turbulent years ahead. They talk about ...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Gold is Still Good

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:56 AM PST

The Aden Sisters say we're all in his problem together.

Gold Rises As Central Banks Further Debase Currencies

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:03 AM PST

Gold Rises 1.8% As Central Banks Further Debase Currencies – Gold Safe Haven in November

from GoldCore:

Gold is trading at USD 1,746.90, EUR 1,295.30, GBP 1,111.10, CHF 1,589, JPY 135,700 and AUD 1,706.4 per ounce.

Gold's London AM fix this morning was USD 1,750.00, GBP 1,113.02, and EUR 1,298.03 per ounce.

Yesterday's AM fix was USD 1,704.00, GBP 1,095.61, and EUR 1,282.46 per ounce.

Gold is marginally higher today in dollars after yesterday's nearly 2% gain. Yesterdays' PM fix was not the same as the AM fix after the central bank intervention saw gold surge nearly 2%. The highly coincidental exact AM and PM fixes for 2 consecutive days may have been an unusual anomaly.

Read More @ GoldCore.com

Watch T-Bonds, Not the Criminally Insane Dow

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:02 AM PST

by Rick Ackerman:

If DaBoyz can squeeze a 500-point Dow rally out of yesterday's administered easing of dollar "swap" rates, just imagine what they can do with a little Santa seasonality and a dollop of year-end window-dressing. Let's be straight about a couple of things. First, no one expects the latest easing of global credit lines to resolve Europe's debt crisis. And second, the 800 points the Dow has tacked on this week represent little more than trading machines masturbating each other amidst a short-covering panic. Some observers merely yawned, noting that the swap arrangements that make it easy and cheap – and now even easier and cheaper, if such a thing were imaginable — for foreign banks to borrow dollars have been in place since 2007. However, others saw the announcement by the central banks as nothing less than a bold step by the Federal Reserve to begin monetizing the debt of Spain, Italy, Greece, France et al.

Read More @ RickAckerman.com

Morgan Stanley Prefers Gold & Silver In 2012

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:57 AM PST

from Reuters.com:

(Reuters) – Morgan Stanley said it prefers exposure to gold, silver and livestock in the coming year, as such commodities perform well in a global economic slowdown.

The bank's economists expect global GDP to grow by a mere 3.5 percent in 2012, down from its prior forecast of 3.8 percent, with the first half of the year seen as particularly weak.

"Given the low growth environment, we do not feel it is prudent to be long on the commodity complex indiscriminately," analysts Hussein Allidina and Peter Richardson said in a research note dated Tuesday, November 29.

Gold, silver and livestock are the most preferred commodities while base metals and crude oil are the least, the bank noted.

Read More @ Reuters.com

Gold Price Boosted By Dollar Swap News

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:52 AM PST

from GoldMoney.com:

Fed meeting room Yesterday's big news of coordinated central bank action in order to ease conditions in the Eurodollar market predictably led to the US dollar dropping against other currencies, with rallies in stocks, commodities, and precious metals. With the financial community desperate for signs of a "big bazooka" play on the part of central banks to help supposedly resolve the debt crisis in Europe, these new dollar swap lines with the Federal Reserve were some comfort to gloomy traders.

As the Fed's press release made clear, under a new deal authorised to run until February 1 2013, the Fed has authorised an extension of the existing temporary US dollar liquidity swap arrangements with the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, and the Swiss National Bank through February 1, 2013. The rate on these swap arrangements has been reduced from the US dollar overnight indexed swap (OIS) rate plus 100 basis points to the OIS rate plus 50 basis points.

Central Banks Latest Move Shows Desperation

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:49 AM PST

from Washingtonsblog.com:

The coordinated swap line bailout by the Federal Reserve Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, and the Swiss National Bank- and China's reduction of reserve requirements by .5% – shows desperation. (For background on swap lines, see thisthis andthis.)

The Street notes:

Don't get flustered by the terminology of "dollar swap lines" above. Here's a more simple explanation: Central banks around the globe have acted in desperation to boost liquidity in the system, which has sparked a rally in equities.

In a separate article, The Street points out:

What's great for the banks isn't so good for everyone else, though. Investment strategists already are noting the desperation of the move, adding that flooding the banking system with liquidity doesn't do anything to solve the real problem of ballooning, unmanageable debt levels.

Read More @ Washingtonsblog.com

China's September gold purchases leap sixfold

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:38 AM PST

China's gold purchases leap sixfold

The spotlight is on the world's second largest gold consumer, China, with its record purchase of gold via Hong Kong and imminent policy changes to revitalise its gold sector.

Author: Shivom Seth
Posted: Thursday , 01 Dec 2011

MUMBAI - - The regulations passed by the Chinese authorities to encourage gold trading over the past year appear to be working. Gold purchases in China via Hong Kong hit a record 56.9 tonnes in the month of September, registering a six fold increase year on year.

Data from the Hong Kong government showed that the Chinese mainland imported about 140 tonnes of gold via Hong Kong in the July to September quarter, more than the roughly 120 tonnes for the whole of 2010.

Cheng Bing Hai, president of the Shanghai Gold and Jewellery Trade Association, has also been quoted by newswires as saying that total jewellery sales by the top three jewellers in Shanghai have already exceeded 100 tonnes so far this year.

According to available data, imports of gold and specie in September 2010 was HK$ 4317.3 million, while in September 2011, it was HK$ 19,500 million (+351.7). Similar data from the external merchandise trade and trade in gold and specie showed that between January to September 2010, imports were HK$ 47629.9 million as compared to HK$ 102,808.1 million (+115.8) in the January to September 2011 period.

Domestic exports on the other hand were way lower. According to the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong government, exports were HK$ 1814.4 million in September 2010 as compared to HK$ 8331.2 million (+359.2) in September 2011. Similarly, domestic exports between January to September 2010 were HK$ 34779.4 million as compared to HK$ 41298.7 million (+18.7) in the corresponding period of this year.
China has been encouraging its citizens to buy and hold physical gold, either in the form of jewellery, coins or bars. The Asian country also had widened the number of banks allowed to import gold and has been encouraging more gold investment through new exchanges and yuan denominated products. On June 28, China opened its first precious metals spot exchange.

POLICY DECISIONS
Reports indicate China's aggressive promotion has pushed Chinese consumer demand for gold up 25% overall this year - much higher than the 7% global average. This is a far cry from the position in 2002, before which Chinese citizens were barred from owning physical gold under penalty of imprisonment.

That policy was dropped and the Shanghai Gold Exchange came into being. In mid October, a new Renminbi kilobar gold was launched, the world's first offshore yuan denominated spot gold contract. It started trading on Hong Kong's Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange.

Taking this a step ahead, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China has plans to reform the gold sector in China by eliminating smaller gold smelters. The Ministry also has said it will support international gold prices in the long run. At a national gold industry meeting on November 28, the Ministry said it planned to shut down certain gold producers with smaller ore processing capacities.

In a major turnaround and for some time now, the government also has been airing news programmes on state owned television urging consumers to buy and sell gold and silver. Moreover, analysts say when China expressed its interest in purchasing $80 billion in gold (about 2600 tonnes), it profoundly altered the gold market's long standing synergy.
Analysts have said the country also has mounted an aggressive defense of its domestic gold mining industry. Its country's rising middle class and growing affluence will ensure that China's gold jewellery market nearly doubles to 955.2 tonnes by 2020, as compared with 519.6 tonnes in 2011, analysts added.

http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/...ail&id=110649

Back Door Deals, Gold Zoom, Silver Bam!

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:34 AM PST

from King World News:

With news of the coordinated central bank action, which was to designed to help stabilize the European banking crisis, today King World News interviewed Gerald Celente, Founder of Trends Research and the man many consider to be the top trends forecaster in the world. Celente had this to say about the coordinated central bank action, "Well you could see it coming. Go back two weeks ago, the headline in the Wall Street Journal, 'Banks face funding stress, European institutions resort to potentially risky swaps to generate liquidity.' That's language for the loan sharks that can't collect on their bets. And they are coming up with new schemes in trying to squeeze money out of the system to keep their Ponzi scheme going."

Continue reading @ KingWorldNews.com

Jim Rogers: Gold Likely to Continue Consolidating

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:33 AM PST

by Roman Baudzus, GoldMoney.com:

Gold bars According to renowned investor Jim Rogers, precious metal prices will continue to consolidate, although yesterday's announcement that the Fed would be providing five other major central banks with dollar swap lines boosted gold and silver prices. Many market observers are convinced that yesterday's announcement is the first step towards more serious money printing by major central banks.

In an interview with cnbc.com, Jim Rogers pointed out that the gold price has been consolidating for almost three months. After 11 years of a bull market, this period of quiet consolidation was to be expected and welcomed. It is well known in mathematics that exponential growth is unsustainable. Considering the extent of the current consolidation, investors should be wary of the possibility of further short-term falls in gold and silver prices. Rogers thinks that the gold price could hit a correction low between $1,400 and $1,200 per ounce.

Read More @ GoldMoney.com

Unambiguous Wealth

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:32 AM PST

from FOFOA:

In the present monetary system, wealth is commonly held as ambiguous claims against the economy. We call it stocks, bonds, money market funds, mutual funds, etc… People hold their wealth in this way for the promise it makes of more wealth forthcoming! Sound familiar?

Now, when I say that there will actually be much more wealth forthcoming for those with **unambiguous** ownership of physical gold today, some people feel compelled to argue that their ambiguous claims have a better history of "more wealth forthcoming." And this argument is not without merit.

It is true that stocks and bonds did very well in the '80s and '90s. In fact, my own father is still waiting for the Dow to get back to 14,000 to regain the wealth he thinks he lost. The Dow beat CPI inflation hands down throughout the '80s and '90s, and that's how you know you made a good investment, by beating inflation.

Read More @ FOFOA.Blogspot.com

Gold Rises 1.8% As Central Banks Further Debase Currencies – Gold Safe Haven in November

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:15 AM PST

Trader alert: Read this if you missed this week's massive rally

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 12:41 AM PST

From The Stock Sage:

Today was the kind of day that fills the majority of market participants with regret. People are asking themselves questions such as:

Why didn't I have more long exposure?
Why was I short?
Why didn't I buy more on Friday?
Why didn't I buy when I heard the central bank swap news this morning?

You get the point. Very few benefited as much as they would have liked from today's massive market surge. That's just the way the market works – the largest moves are captured by the few, not the many. In the last week, I have been faced with two major "regret trades":

I was short $GRPN two weeks ago and covered for a small gain before the stock nosedived.
I was long $ES_F with a 1154.00 cost basis at the close on Friday and sold for +18 points on Sunday night.

Both of these moves look like colossal blunders in hindsight as GRPN cratered into the teens one week after I covered, and $ES_F has soared an additional 70-plus points since I took profits on Sunday night. As an experienced market participant, this is not the first time that I have cut profits short and missed out on major moves... but it hurts just the same.

Regret is a part of life and constitutes a huge amount of market participants' psychology. Therefore, it is essential that we learn to cope with it and move forward. Tonight, I am moving on and putting the past behind me with the help of master trading psychologist Dr. Brett Steenbarger "Hindsight Bias and Regret in Trading" – Here is Dr. Steenbarger...

Read full article...

More on trading:

Keep an eye on the U.S. dollar

Today could be the most important day for stocks all year

Trader alert: Where stocks and gold could be headed next

Global systemic crisis: Second half of 2011 - European context and US catalyst - Explosion of the Western public debt bubble

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 12:21 AM PST

- Excerpt GEAB N°50 (December 16, 2010) -
Global systemic crisis: Second half of 2011 - European context and US catalyst - Explosion of the Western public debt bubble
Analysis published in GEAB 1 year ago:

The second half of 2011 will mark the point in time when all the world's financial operators will finally understand that the West will not repay in full a significant portion of the loans advanced over the last two decades. For LEAP/E2020 it is, in effect, around October 2011, due to the plunge of a large number of US cities and states into an inextricable financial situation following the end of the federal funding of their deficits, whilst Europe will face a very significant debt refinancing requirement (1), that this explosive situation will be fully revealed. Media escalation of the European crisis regarding sovereign debt of Euroland's peripheral countries will have created the favourable context for such an explosion, of which the US "Muni" (2) market incidentally has just given a foretaste in November 2010 (as our team anticipated last June in GEAB No. 46 ) with a mini-crash that saw all the year's gains go up in smoke in a few days. This time this crash (including the failure of the monoline reinsurer Ambac (3)) took place discreetly (4) since the Anglo-Saxon media machine (5) succeeded in focusing world attention on a further episode of the fantasy sitcom "The end of the Euro, or the financial remake of Swine fever" (6). Yet the contemporaneous shocks in the United States and Europe make for a very disturbing set-up comparable, according to our team, to the "Bear Stearn " crash which preceded Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy and the collapse of Wall Street in September 2008 by eight months. But the GEAB readers know very well that major crashes rarely make headlines in the media several months in advance, so false alarms are customary (7)!

Global systemic crisis: Second half of 2011 - European context and US catalyst - Explosion of the Western public debt bubble
In this GEAB issue, we therefore anticipate the progression of the terminal crash of Western public debt (in particular US and European debt) as well as ways to protect oneself. Furthermore, we analyze the very important structural consequences of the Wikileaks revelations on the United States' international influence as well as their interaction with the global consequences of the US Federal Reserve's QE II programme. This GEAB December issue is, of course, the opportunity to assess the validity of our anticipations for 2010, with a of 78% success rate for the year. We also develop strategic advice for Euroland (8) and the United States. And we publish the GEAB-$ index that will now allow us to synthetically follow the progress of US Dollar against major world currencies every month (9).

In this issue, we have chosen to present an excerpt of the forecast on the explosion of the Western public debt bubble.

Thus, the Western public debt crisis is growing very rapidly under the pressure of four increasingly strong limitations:

. the absence of economic recovery in the United States which strangles all public bodies (including the federal state (10)) accustomed to an easy flow of debt and significant tax revenues in recent decades (11)

. the accelerated structural weakening of the United States in monetary, financial as well as diplomatic (12) affairs which reduces their ability to attract world savings (13)

. the global drying up of sources of cheap finance, which precipitates the crisis of excessive debt in Europe's peripheral countries (in Euroland like Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, ... and the United Kingdom as well (14)) and is starting to touch key countries (USA, Germany, Japan) (15) in a context of very large European debt refinancing in 2011

. the transformation of Euroland into a new "sovereign" that gradually develops new rules for the continent's public debts.

These four constraints generate varying phenomena and reactions in different regions / countries.

The European context: the price of the path from laxity to austerity will be partly paid for by investors
In this GEAB issue, we therefore anticipate the progression of the terminal crash of Western public debt (in particular US and European debt) as well as ways to protect oneself. Furthermore, we analyze the very important structural consequences of the Wikileaks revelations on the United States' international influence as well as their interaction with the global consequences of the US Federal Reserve's QE II programme. This GEAB December issue is, of course, the opportunity to assess the validity of our anticipations for 2010, with a of 78% success rate for the year. We also develop strategic advice for Euroland (8) and the United States. And we publish the GEAB-$ index that will now allow us to synthetically follow the progress of US Dollar against major world currencies every month (9).

In this issue, we have chosen to present an excerpt of the forecast on the explosion of the Western public debt bubble.

Thus, the Western public debt crisis is growing very rapidly under the pressure of four increasingly strong limitations:

. the absence of economic recovery in the United States which strangles all public bodies (including the federal state (10)) accustomed to an easy flow of debt and significant tax revenues in recent decades (11)

. the accelerated structural weakening of the United States in monetary, financial as well as diplomatic (12) affairs which reduces their ability to attract world savings (13)

. the global drying up of sources of cheap finance, which precipitates the crisis of excessive debt in Europe's peripheral countries (in Euroland like Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, ... and the United Kingdom as well (14)) and is starting to touch key countries (USA, Germany, Japan) (15) in a context of very large European debt refinancing in 2011

. the transformation of Euroland into a new "sovereign" that gradually develops new rules for the continent's public debts.

These four constraints generate varying phenomena and reactions in different regions / countries.

Global systemic crisis: Second half of 2011 - European context and US catalyst - Explosion of the Western public debt bubble
In this regard, what will help accelerate the bursting of the Western public debt bubble, and what will occur concomitantly for its US catalyst, is the understanding by financial operators of what lies behind the "Eurobligations" (or E-Bonds) (24) debate which has begun to be talked about in recent weeks (25). It is from late 2011 (at the latest) that the merits of this debate will begin to be unveiled within the framework of the preparation for the permanent European Financial Stabilisation Fund (26). Although, what will suddenly appear for the majority of investors who currently speculate on the exorbitant rates of Greek, Irish,... debt is that Euroland solidarity will not extend to them, especially when the case of Spain, Italy or Belgium will start being posed, whatever European leaders say today (27).

In short, according to LEAP/E2020, we should expect a huge operation of sovereign debt transactions (amid a government debt global crisis) which will offer Euroland guaranteed Eurobligations at very low rates in exchange of national securities at high interest rates with a 30% to 50% discount since, in the meantime, the situation of the entire Western public debt market will have deteriorated. Democratically speaking, the newly elected Euroland leaders (28) (after 2012) will be fully authorized to effect such an operation, of which the major banks (including European ones (29)) will be the first victims. It is highly likely that some privileged sovereign creditors like China, Russia, the oil producing countries,... will be offered preferential treatment. They will not complain since the undertaking will result in their sizeable assets in Euros being guaranteed.

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Notes:

(1) Worth more than € 1,500 billion per year in 2011 and 2012, including of course the United Kingdom.

(2) The US municipal bond market (" Munis ") is used to fund the local transportation, health, education and sanitation infrastructure, ... It's worth nearly 2,800 billion USD.

(3) Source : Reuters, 11/08/2010

(4) In a 11/20/2010 article Safehaven tonne indeed openly expressed surprise over the "silence" of the major financial media on the issue.

(5) The Financial Times, for example, has for the last month, begun to publish two or three articles per day on its website's homepage on the so-called "Euro crisis" and to manipulate news, such as the statements of German leaders, to artificially create feelings of anxiety. Finally, even some of the French media are beginning to realize what an incredible political propaganda machine the Financial Times has become, as this recent article by Jean Quatremer in the Libération shows.

(6) By way of comparison, no investor has lost money in the "Greek and Irish episodes" of the "Euro crisis", whilst tens of thousands have lost considerable sums in the recent US Muni crash... yet the media covers the first and not the second.

(7) LEAP/E2020 would like to remind readers of previous GEAB analyses that the discussion over the "Euro crisis" is of the same order as the Swine fever outbreak a year ago, namely a large-scale manipulation of public opinion to serve two purposes: first, to divert public attention from more serious problems (with Swine fever it was the crisis itself and its socio-economic consequences; with the Euro it is simply to divert attention from the situation in the United States and the United Kingdom), and secondly, to serve the goals of players with a major interest in creating this situation of fear (as regards Swine fever it was pharmaceutical laboratories and other related service providers; as regards the Euro, financial players are earning a fortune by speculating on the public debt of the countries concerned (Greece, Ireland, ...)). But just as the Swine fever crisis ended in a masquerade with governments stuck with colossal stockpiles of now worthless vaccines and masks, the so-called Euro crisis is going to end up with players who will have to redeem their so "profitable" bonds for next to nothing whilst their dollars will continue to fall in value. The summer of 2010 has already shown, however, the direction of events. Source: Bloomberg, 11/18/2010

(8) Following the methodology of political anticipation, in the past years our team has, of course, looked at the possibility that the Euro might disappear or collapse. Its conclusion is cut and dried because we have identified only one set-up where such a development would be feasible: at least two major Eurozone states must be headed by political forces wishing to revive intra-European conflicts. According to our team, this prospect has zero probability of taking place in the next two decades (our maximum anticipation span in political matters). So, exit this scenario, even if it makes some with nostalgia for the Deutschmark and Franc sad..., some economists who believe that reality pays little attention to economic theories, and some Anglo-Saxons who cannot imagine, without pain, a European continent which carves out its economic and financial path without them. According to Wikileaks even Mervyn King, head of the Bank of England, believes in an accelerated integration in the Eurozone as a result of the crisis, which recounts his conversations with US diplomats (source: Telegraph, 12/06/2010). Our work on the Euro therefore focuses on the anticipation of the Eurozone's laborious journey in adapting to its new status as Euroland in the context of the global systemic crisis. Incidentally, it is worth noting that this orgy of criticism and analysis that essentially the US and especially British media lavish has an undeniable value for Euroland leaders: it throws light on all the obstacles laid along the Eurozone path, a sine qua non for avoiding pitfalls. It's paradoxical, but it's an advantage not enjoyed by British or US leaders ... except when they read the GEAB.

(9) And not in relation to "made to measure" currencies as is the case for the Dollar Index.

(10) The New York Times has posted a very informative game called "You solve the budget problem" on its website which allows each player to try and restore the state of federal public finances according to its socio-economic priorities and policies. Feel free to put yourself in the shoes of a Washington decision maker in and you will see that only political will is lacking to solve the problem. Source: New York Times, 11/2010

(11) Sources: CNBC, 11/26/2010; Le Temps, 12/10/2010; USAToday, 11/30/2010; New York Times, 12/04/2010

(12) The United States funds its deficits by a huge daily grab of available global savings. The country's diplomatic credibility and effectiveness are therefore two essential features for its financial survival. But Wikileaks' recent revelations are very damaging to the credibility of the State Department, whilst the recent complete failure of the new Israeli-Palestinian negotiations illustrates a growing ineffectiveness of US diplomacy, already very sensitive at the last G20 in Seoul. See the more detailed analysis in this issue. Sources: Spiegel, 12/08/2010; YahooNews, 12/07/2010; YahooNews, 12/08/2010

(13) Even Chinese officials consider that the US fiscal situation is markedly worse than Euroland's. Source: Reuters, 12/08/2010

(14) Iceland, Ireland ... the United Kingdom, the United States, was the accursed follow-on of sovereign insolvency that LEAP/E2020 anticipated more than two years ago. Events are moving slower than we expected, but 2011 risks proving to be a "catch up" year. The United Kingdom is currently trying to save itself at the cost of huge and drastic socio-economic cuts of which student violence, including that against the Royal Family (a rare event), testifies to their unpopularity. But the size of its debt, its financial isolation and the State rescue of its banking debacles (as did Ireland) makes this headlong rush very dangerous, socially, economically and financially. As for the United States, their leaders seem to do everything (by "doing nothing") to ensure that 2011 is truly the year of the "Fall of the Dollar Wall " as LEAP/E2020 anticipated in January 2006.

(15) As Liam Halligan pointed out in The Telegraph of 12/11/2010, this development on interest rates does not bode well for US debt, expressing what LEAP/E2020 anticipated over two years ago now: we are reaching the moment of truth when available global savings are insufficient to meet the needs of the West, particularly the gargantuan need of the United States.

(16) A factor emphasized by the GEAB team for over four years.

(17) European Financial Stabilization Fund, hedge fund regulation, strict limits on bank bonuses, strict regulation of rating agencies, budget monitoring, next reinforcement of the whole of the European internal market financial regulation, first Euroland rating agency, … Sources: European Voice, 10/26/2010; Deutsche Welle, 11/05/2010; Reuters, 07/13/2010; ABBL, 12/08/2010; BaFin, 11/16/2010

(18) Wolfgang Schauble, the German Finance Minister, is currently the only politician who dared to clearly show his colours in his recent interview with Bild magazine, in which he states that during the next ten years, Euroland countries will have accomplished a genuine political integration. Karl Lamers, his colleague in charge of European affairs at the core of the CDU, identifies the crisis as an opportunity for Europe and Germany, as wel as as the too rarely heard American voice of Rex Nutting in the Wall Street Journal of 12/08/2010. On the technocratic side, the ECB President, Jean-Claude Trichet, called for a "budgetary federation" in Euroland. Sources: EUObserver, 12/13/2010; DeutschlandFunk , 12/09/2010; EUObserver, 12/01/2010

(19) For over a decade, public opinion in the Euroland countries has been, in effect, much more "integrationist" than their élite. Thus, rejection of the draft European Constitution in 2005 in France and the Netherlands would not have happened without some "pro-Europeans" voting "No", rejecting a draft that they considered too timid, politically, democratically and socially.

(20) European leaders are like the tortoise in the Jean de La Fontaine fable "The Hare and the Tortoise " ... but the race would be described by hares!

(21) By the way, the Eurozone's future political leaders would be well advised to practice, as quickly as possible, how to manage Euroland through two interactive games, Economia and Inflation Island, that the European Central Bank has made available to the public.

(22) As LEAP/E2020 has repeated for nearly two years, European austerity is politically viable only if accompanied by unquestionable social and fiscal equity and the implementation of major democratic and social projects throughout Euroland. It is here that the real medium to long term weakness of the Eurozone can be found, not in the sovereign debt of the peripheral countries. To illustrate this point, it is useful to watch the very interesting video coverage made by the New York Times during the summer of 2010, called "The Austerity Zone: Life in the New Europe ".

(23) Given the obvious difficulty of the American élite to understand the developments taking place in Europe, LEAP/E2020 wishes to contribute to the debate currently raging on US college campuses where budget austerity has led to heavy cuts in language teaching. As always, behind budgetary justifications, several "hidden agendas" can be identified as well as candid lack of understanding of what's going on in the rest of the world regarding languages. A perfect example of both trends seems to be Richard N. Haas, former key official of the US State Department in the G.W. Bush administration, and now the

Umfassende weltweite Krise: 2. Halbjahr 2011 – Die amerikanische Zündschnur am europäischen Schuldenpulverfass - Explosion der Staatsschulden der westlichen Staaten (Vollversion)

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 12:15 AM PST

- Auszug GEAB N°50 (16. Dezember 2010) -
Umfassende weltweite Krise: 2. Halbjahr 2011 – Die amerikanische Zündschnur am europäischen Schuldenpulverfass - Explosion der Staatsschulden der westlichen Staaten (Vollversion)
Analyse in GEAB vor 1 Jahr veröffentlicht:

Im 2. Halbjahr 2011 werden sich die Investoren weltweit der Erkenntnis stellen müssen, dass der Westen einen großen Teil der Schulden, die er in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten angehäuft hat, nie zurückzahlen wird. Wir gehen davon aus, dass der Moment der Wahrheit im Oktober 2011 erreicht werden wird. Denn dann werden viele amerikanische Städte, Gemeinden und Bundesstaaten, denen die Bundesregierungen finanziell nicht mehr zur Seite wird stehen können, de facto oder auch de jure bankrott sein, während gleichzeitig die europäischen Staaten einen großen Teil ihrer Schulden (1) refinanzieren müssen.

Die Medienhysterie über die Staatsschulden der Randstaaten der Eurozone und das sich daraus angeblich zwingend ergebende Auseinanderbrechen der Eurozone hat die Bedingungen für eine entsprechende Panik der Investoren geschaffen, die auf dieser Seite des Atlantiks dann die Staatsanleihenblase platzen lassen wird. Einen kleinen Vorgeschmack von dem, was uns bevorsteht, konnte man im November 2010 schon auf dem Markt für amerikanische « Munis (2) » bekommen, als ein Mini-Krach im Verlauf von nur wenigen Tagen die gesamten Gewinne eines ganzen Jahres vernichtete. Dieser extreme Kurseinbruch, den wir übrigens schon in der 46. Ausgabe des GEAB vom Juni vorhergesagt hatten und dem auch der Anleihenversicherer Ambac zum Opfer fiel (3), blieb der allgemeinen Öffentlichkeit fast vollständig verborgen (4). Denn die britisch-amerikanische Medienlandschaft (5) hatte es geschafft, die weltweite Aufmerksamkeit auf die « Eurokrise » und das bevorstehende Ende des Euro-Währungsraums zu konzentrieren. Die Hysterie erreicht hier beinahe schon das Niveau der Berichterstattung über die Schweinegrippe (6). Richtig ist jedoch, dass in der Kombination von europäischer Staatsschuldenkrise und Krach auf dem amerikanischen Markt für Städte – und Gemeindeanleihen einiges an Sprengstoff steckt. Nach unserer Auffassung befindet sich das internationale Finanzsystem in einer Lage, die mit der vom Frühjahr 2008 vergleichbar ist, als der Konkurs von Bear Stearn den Konkurs von Lehman Brothers und den Zusammenbruch der Wall Street im September 2008 vorbereitete. Aber die Leser des GEAB wissen zur Genüge, dass die Medien nur selten vor den wirklich großen Gefahren warnen. Falschen Alarm hingegen lösen sie gerne aus (7).

Umfassende weltweite Krise: 2. Halbjahr 2011 – Die amerikanische Zündschnur am europäischen Schuldenpulverfass - Explosion der Staatsschulden der westlichen Staaten (Vollversion)
In dieser 50. Ausgabe des GEAB analysieren wir, welche Entwicklung die Schuldenkrise der westlichen Staaten, und hier besonders die der USA und der europäischen Länder, nimmt, und zeigen Optionen auf, wie Vorkehrungen getroffen werden können. Auch widmen wir ein Kapitel den strukturellen Folgen der Wikileaks auf den Einfluss der USA in den internationalen Beziehungen. Weiterhin enthält diese Dezemberausgabe die schon beinahe traditionelle Evaluierung unserer Vorhersagen; für das Jahr 2010 lagen wir nach unserer Einschätzung richtig zu 78%. Weiterhin geben wir strategische Empfehlungen für Euroland (8) und die USA. Zu guter Letzt veröffentlichen wir erstmalig den GEAB-$–Index, der in Zukunft monatlich einen Überblick über die Entwicklung des Dollars im Vergleich zu den anderen großen Weltwährungen ermöglichen soll (9).

In dieser Pressemitteilung der 50. Ausgabe des GEAB geben wir einen Einblick in unsere Vorhersagen über die Explosion der Schuldenblase der westlichen Staaten.

Die westliche Schuldenkrise verschärft sich unter dem wachsenden Druck von vier Faktoren mit hoher Geschwindigkeit:

- Der ausbleibende Aufschwung in den USA, der die Kommunen, Kreise, Bundesstaaten und auch die Bundesebene (10), die sich alle in den letzten Jahren an großzügig fließende Steuereinnahmen und großzügige Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten gewöhnt hatten, in die Zahlungsunfähigkeit treibt (11).

- Der mit hoher Geschwindigkeit nachhaltig schwindende Einfluss der USA in der internationalen Geldpolitik, an den globalen Finanzmärkten und in den internationalen Beziehungen (12), womit sich auch ihre Fähigkeit, ausländisches Kapital in die USA zu locken, verringert (13).

- Das weltweit rückläufige Angebot an billigen Krediten, wodurch sich die Verschuldungskrise der Eurozonen-Randländer wie Griechenland, Irland, Portugal und Spanien (sowie Großbritannien) (14) massiv verschärft. Allmählich stellt die Situation auch die entscheidenden Länder wie die USA, Deutschland und Japan (15), die alle 2011 große Anteile ihrer Schulden refinanzieren müssen, vor große Probleme, ihre Defizite zu finanzieren.

- Die Wandlung der Eurozone in das quasi-staatliche Euroland, dessen Umgang mit Staatschulden immer stärker das Maß aller Dinge für die Finanzierung öffentlicher Schulden in Europa wird.

Diese vier Faktoren produzieren Entwicklungen und Reaktionen, die je nach Land/Region unterschiedlich sind.

Das Schuldenpulverfass Europas: Nun werden auch die Investoren zur Kasse gebeten
Europa wandelt sich mühsam aber letztendlich doch mit bisher unvorstellbarer Geschwindigkeit von der Eurozone in ein quasi-staatliches Euroland. Das Mühsame an diesem Prozess erklärt sich nicht ausschließlich mit den Unzulänglichkeiten des gegenwärtigen europäischen politischen Personals, wie die Altvorderen Helmut Schmidt, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing und Jacques Delors in einer endlosen Reihe von Interviews zum Besten geben. Sie selbst hatten nie mit einer Krise von diesem Ausmaß zu tun.

Mühsam ist diese Wandlung auch, weil die notwendigen Veränderungen an der politischen Struktur der EU immens (16) sind und den handelnden Personen dafür jegliches demokratisch legitimiertes Mandat fehlt. Das treibt die Regierungen der europäischen Mitgliedstaaten in das Dilemma, auf der einen Seite mit Nachdruck zu leugnen, was sie auf der anderen Seite machen, nämlich die Eurozone in eine quasi-staatliche Struktur umzuwandeln, die weitreichende wirtschaftliche, soziale und steuerrechtliche Zuständigkeiten erhalten wird (17). Sie können sich offensichtlich nicht vorstellen, dass die Mehrheit der Wähler und insbes. die wichtigen Akteure in Wirtschaft und an den Finanzmärkten grundsätzlich mit dieser Politik einverstanden sind und lediglich erwarten, dass die anstehenden Entscheidungen transparent und nachvollziehbar getroffen werden (18). Denn eigentlich ist die wesentliche Entwicklung schon vorgezeichnet. Wir werden sie eingehend in dieser Ausgabe des GEAB darstellen.

Problematisch für die Regierungen der Eurozonen-Länder ist auch, dass viele der Entscheidungen der europäischen Regierungen von den großen Wirtschafts- und Finanzmedien kommentiert und kritisiert werden, von denen keines in der Eurozone angesiedelt ist, sondern in der Dollar- und Pfundzone, in der jede Stärkung des Euro als Katastrophe empfunden wird. Sie haben also gesteigertes Interesse daran, die zwingende Wandlung der Eurozone zu Euroland soweit wie möglich zu behindern und hinauszuzögern (19).

Dennoch verlieren die Querschüsse an Wirkung. In der « Griechenlandkrise » ging der Wechselkurs des Euro im Vergleich zum Dollar noch stärker zurück als in der Fortsetzung der Eurokrise « Irland ». Ab Frühjahr 2011 wird eine negative Berichterstattung nur noch zu vernachlässigbaren Ausschlägen führen. Bleibt als entscheidender Faktor für eine weitere gedeihliche Entwicklung von Euroland neben der Qualität des politischen Personals in Europa (insoweit muss man auf die Wahlen hoffen, die ab 2012 in den wichtigsten Eurozonen-Mitgliedstaaten anstehen) die Frage nach einer ausreichenden demokratischen Legitimation für den weitreichenden strukturellen Umbau der Europäischen Union (20). Es wird wohl darauf hinauslaufen, dass bis 2012/2013 aus demokratischer Sicht das Pferd von hinten aufgezäumt wird: Erst werden die notwendigen Maßnahmen getroffen, um die Krise zu meistern, und wird dann in einem zweiten Schritt die demokratische Legitimation dafür geschaffen (21).

Umfassende weltweite Krise: 2. Halbjahr 2011 – Die amerikanische Zündschnur am europäischen Schuldenpulverfass - Explosion der Staatsschulden der westlichen Staaten (Vollversion)
Wenn die Anleger erst einmal verstehen werden, was sich hinter der Debatte über die Einführung von Eurobonds (22), die seit einigen Wochen an Intensität zunimmt, überhaupt verbirgt, wird die Blase der Schulden der westlichen Staaten schneller platzen als sich dies bisher jemand vorstellen kann (23). Denn spätestens ab Ende 2011 werden vor dem Hintergrund der dauerhaften Einrichtung des europäischen Rettungsfonds in Sachen Eurobonds die Karten auf den Tisch gelegt werden (24). Dann werden Spekulanten, die zurzeit massiv griechische und irische Anleihen sowie Anleihen von anderen insolvenzverdächtigten Eurozonenländern kaufen, zu ihrer Überraschung feststellen, dass die europäische Solidarität für sie nicht gelten wird. Da mögen die Regierenden heute auch etwas ganz anderes sagen (25).

Wir gehen also davon aus, dass die Lösung der Schuldenkrise darin liegen wird, den Anlegern aufzuerlegen, ihre Staatsanleihen in Euro-Anleihen umzutauschen, deren Zinsen und Rückzahlung von allen Euroländern garantiert werden. Die Zinsen für „Euro-Bonds" werden deutlich niedriger sein, und der Umtausch würde nur mit einem Abschlag von 30 bis 50% erfolgen. Denn bis dahin wird die Lage auf den nationalen Anleihenmärkten noch prekärer geworden sein. Die bis 2013 neu gewählten europäischen Regierungen (26) hätten auch eine ausreichende demokratische Legitimation für einen solchen Zwangsumtausch, dessen erste Opfer die großen, auch europäischen Banken (27) sein würden. Es ist sehr gut möglich, dass einigen staatlichen, privilegierten Gläubigern wie China, Russland und den Erdöl exportierenden Ländern ein Tausch zu besseren Bedingungen angeboten wird. Für sie wird die ganze Aktion damit insgesamt sehr positiv zu Buche schlagen. Denn mit einem Schlag würden ihre unsicheren Anlagen in sichere umgewandelt.

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Noten:

(1) Großbritanniens Schulden eingerechnet sind das mehr als 1.500 Milliarden € pro Jahr (2011 und 2012)

(2) Munis sind im Finanzjargon die Anleihen der US-Gebietskörperschaften (Städte, Gemeinden und Kreise), mit denen die lokale öffentliche Infrastruktur finanziert wird (Nahverkehr, Gesundheit, Schulen, Abwasser usw.).

(3) Quelle: Reuters, 08/11/2010

(4) In einem Artikel vom 20.11.2010 wundert sich SafeHaven ganz offen über das offensichtliche « Schweigekartell » der großen Finanzmedien.

(5) Die Financial Times hat zum Beispiel seit einem Monat wieder damit begonnen, jeden Tag zwei oder drei Artikel über die sogenannte Eurokrise als Aufmacher seiner Webseite zu bringen. Sie geht sogar soweit, Informationen wie z.B. die Verlautbarungen von Mitgliedern der deutschen Bundesregierung zu manipulieren, um auf diese Art und Weise ein Atmosphäre der « Angst um den Euro » zu schaffen. Selbst die französischen Medien, wie man an diesem Artikel von Jean Quatremer in der Zeitung Liberation sehen kann, merken allmählich, dass die Financial Times zum Propagandawerkzeug verkommen ist.

(6) Nur zum Vergleich: Kein Investor hat in der « Griechenlandkrise » oder der « Irlandkrise » Geld verloren, wohingegen bei dem nicht lange zurückliegenden Kurseinbruch am Muni-Markt abertausende Anleger hohe Summen abschreiben mussten. Dennoch wird viel mehr Druckerschwärze auf die Eurokrise als auf die Muni-Krise verwandt.

(7) Wie wir schon in vorhergehenden Ausgaben des GEAB schrieben, gibt es zwischen der Berichterstattung über die « Eurokrise » und der Schweinegrippeepidemie von vor einem Jahr viel Ähnlichkeit. Es handelt sich dabei um den Versuch der Manipulation der öffentlichen Meinung, die mit viel Aufwand betrieben wird. Zum einen geht es darum, die Menschen von den wahren Problemen abzulenken; die Schweinegrippe sollte die sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen der Finanzkrise in den Hintergrund verdrängen – die Eurokrise soll von der weitaus schlimmeren Situation in den USA und Großbritannien ablenken. Zum anderen soll ein Umfeld der Angst kreiert werden, das bestimmte Kreise für ihre Geschäftsinteressen ausnutzen können. Bei der Schweinegrippe konnten Pharmakonzerne erhebliche Gewinne machen, bei der Eurokrise erwirtschaften Investoren mit spekulativen Geschäften mit griechischen und irischen Schulden riesige Profite. Bei der Schweinegrippe blieben die Regierungen auf gigantischen Mengen Impfstoffen und Masken sitzen; bei der Eurokrise wird sich noch herausstellen, wer auf den Verlusten aus Spekulationswetten, die nicht aufgehen werden, sitzen bleiben wird. Nach diesem Sommer müsste eigentlich klar sein: Wer sein Geld aus dem Euro abzieht, um in Dollar zu investieren, vernichtet Vermögen. Quelle: Bloomberg, 18/11/2010

(8) In Übereinstimmung mit der Methodik der politischen Antizipation beschäftigen wir uns natürlich auch schon seit einigen Jahren mit der Frage, ob der Euro nicht eines Tages zusammen brechen könnte. Dafür gibt es nach unserer Aufassung nur ein einziges plausibles Szenario, nämlich wenn zumindest zwei der großen Euroland-Mitgliedstaaten von Parteien regiert würden, die ein Interesse am Wiederauflammen intereuropäischer Konflikte hätten. Wir gehen für die nächsten zwanzig Jahre von einer Wahrscheinlichkeit dieses Szenarios aus, die sich bei Null bewegt. Vorhersagen mit einem noch längeren Zeithorizont machen wir nicht. Unsere Schlussfolgerung mag sehr enttäuschend für die sein, die DM, franc oder einer anderen Währung nachtrauern; sie wird auch den Wirtschaftswissenschaftlern nicht gefallen, die glauben, dass ihre Theorien für die Wirklichkeit wichtiger sind als Fakten; und zuletzt nicht einigen Briten, die sich nur schwerlich vorstellen können, dass der europäische Kontinent seinen Weg in Wirtschafts- und Finanzfragen ohne sie weitergehen könnte. Sogar der Vorsitzende der Bank of England Mervyn King geht davon aus, dass die Eurozone unter dem Druck der Krise schneller zusammenwachsen werde. Das geht jedenfalls aus Gesprächsprotokollen von US-Diplomaten hervor, die Wikileaks veröffentlichte. (Quelle: Telegraph, 06/12/2010). Wir konzentrieren daher unsere Arbeiten auf die Antizipation der sicherlich nicht einfach zu bewerkstelligenden Wandlung der Eurozone in Euroland unter dem Druck der umfassenden weltweiten Krise. Insoweit hat die Flut an kritischen Artikeln und Analysen der britischen und amerikanischen Presse gegen den Euro auch etwas Gutes. Sie zeigen auf, wo die Stolpersteine auf dem Weg zu einer echten Gemeinschaftswährung liegen. Damit können sie auch leichter vermieden werden.

(9) Und nicht im Vergleich zu willkürlich ausgewählten Währungen, wie das beim Dollar Index der Fall ist.

(10) Die New York Times präsentiert auf ihrer Webseiten ein sehr lehrreiches Spiel mit dem Namen "Sie bringen den Haushalt in Ordnung". Dabei kann jeder Besucher versuchen, den Bundeshaushalt entsprechend seiner politischen und sozialen Leitentscheidungen in Ordnung zu bringen. Daran kann man sehen, dass das Problem nur deshalb nicht gelöst wird, weil der entsprechende politische Wille dafür in Washington fehlt. Quelle: New York Times, 11/2010

(11) Quellen: CNBC, 26/11/2010; Le Temps, 10/12/2010; USAToday, 30/11/2010; New York Times, 04/12/2010

(12) Da die USA ihre Defizite nur durch tägliche massive Kapitaleinfuhr finanzieren können, sind ihr Vertrauenskapital und Einfluss in den internationalen Beziehungen entscheidende Grundvoraussetzungen für ihr finanzielles Überleben. Das Vertrauenskapital des US-Außenministeriums und überhaupt der USA wurde durch die neuesten Enthüllungen deutlich geschmälert. Und am Scheitern der neuesten Verhandlungen zwischen Israel und Palästina kann man ablesen, dass der Einfluss der USA weltweit am Schwinden ist. Das hatte auch schon der G20-Gipfel in Seoul gezeigt. Wir kommen darauf in dieser Ausgabe des GEAB noch im Einzelnen zurück. Quellen: Spiegel, 08/12/2010; YahooNews, 07/12/2010; YahooNews, 08/12/2010

(13) Sogar die chinesische Regierung vertritt die Auffassung, dass die US-Verschuldung bei Weitem schlimmer sei als die der Euro-Staaten. Quelle: Reuters, 08/12/2010

(14) Erst Island und Irland, dann USA und Großbritannien. Das ist die Abfolge der Staatsbankrotte, die LEAP/E2020 schon vor mehr als zwei Jahren vorhergesagt hatte. Es dauert etwas länger als wir damals antizipierten, aber 2001 könnte die Entwicklung etwas von ihrer Verspätung wieder einholen. Großbritannien versucht gerade, sein Überleben durch eine gewaltige Amputation des Sozialstaats zu retten. Diese Politik ist sehr unpopulär, wie man an den teilweise gewalttätigen Ausschreitungen der Studenten sehen kann, die sich sogar die Königliche Familie, was äußerst selten ist, als Zielscheibe ihrer Wut ausgesucht hatten. Aber der Umfang der britischen Verschuldung, die Tatsache, dass das Land finanziell auf sich allein gestellt ist sowie die Rettung der Banken auf Kosten der Steuerzahler lassen diese Politik als soziales, politisches, wirtschaftliches und finanzielles Vabanquespiel erscheinen. Die Regierung in Washington scheint mit ihrer Untätigkeit alles daran zu setzen, dafür zu sorgen, dass 2011 wirklich das Jahr wird, in dem « die Dollarmauer fällt », wie LEAP/E2020 schon im Februar 2006 vorhergesagt hatte.

(15) Wie schon Liam Halligan im Telegraph 11/12/2010 schreibt: Das ansteigende Zinsniveau erschwert den US-Schuldendienst – und Neuverschuldung. Damit tritt nun das ein, was LEAP/E2020 seit nunmehr mehr als zwei Jahren vorhergesagt hat: Das weltweite Sparguthaben wird bald nicht mehr ausreichen, die Kapitalnachfrage des Westens und insbes. der USA zu befriedigen.

(16) Europäischer Rettungsfonds, Regulierung der Hedge Fonds, Begrenzung der Bankerboni, Regulierung der Rating-Agenturen, Haushaltskontrolle, vertiefende Reform der Finanzregulierung des europäischen Binnenmarkts, Errichtung der ersten europäischen Rating-Agentur usw. Quellen: European Voice, 26/10/2010; Deutsche Welle, 05/11/2010; Reuters, 13/07/2010; ABBL, 08/12/2010; BaFin, 16/11/2010

(17) Wolfgang Schauble, der deutsche Finanzminister ist zurzeit der einzige Politiker in Europa, der Tacheles redet. In seinem Interview mit der Bildzeitung äußert er, dass im Laufe der nächsten zehn Jahre die Länder der Eurozone noch eine weite Strecke in Richtung einer politische Union zurücklegen werden. Karl Lamers, der ehemalige außenpolitische Sprecher der CDU-Bunde

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