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Volatile was the word this week in equity and currency markets across the
world. The average investor -- whether institutional or individual -- does
not like to feel uncertain. So we protect ourselves from it the best we can.
The results were that global markets acted on the worst-possible scenario.
At the beginning of the week there was recession with the potential to get
worse. Then came the 0.75% cut in Fed Fund rates. Together with talk around
the $150 billion tax breaks from the White House, this was expected to send
the global economy back on the growth track -- even though it would be at the
expense of the USD. But hope wasn't enough. But markets are not falling and
have recovered to a large extent, so far. But investors are still jaundiced
by the realities of the moves.
No
cure
The moves we have seen and are expected to see are not curative; they are
at best stabilizing and temporary. Bush himself wants a temporary set of measures
[before applying more cures?], but the global economy needs more than stabilizing;
it needs to regain confidence in a long-term growing global economy.
Perhaps the problem that will serve gold and silver the best is not stabilizing
the U.S. economy at the expense of inflation and the USD; it is the fact that
the global economy is made up of a host of nations all bent on looking after
their own interests ahead of anyone else's -- and with no overall global government,
aiming at some form of international financial regulation and harmony. So by
its very nature the bleeding U.S. is and will affect all other nations to some
extent.
Separate Trading Blocs
We expect a fragmentation of the global economy into focused trading blocks.
Each of these will behave differently, with the U.S. woes affecting its major
trading partners directly and others indirectly to some extent.
Europe's trading partners will benefit so long as the decline of the $ does
not inflict damage on the global trade of Europe.
China's trading partners will continue to benefit from her growth, with the
trade between its main trading partners continuing to grow.
The new wealthy of the growing parts of the world will see safety in gold
in the face of the uncertainties facing paper currencies as investments, with
the wealth-losing nations investors seeing protection in gold as doubts pervade
their own paper investments (as we saw this week too). The combination of the
two will keep gold and silver in the limelight.
Where the global trading blocs come together in international competition,
anything short of a catastrophic collapse of currencies will fail to make Chinese
goods more expensive than wealthy nation's products. As a result, in a recession
Chinese and other Asian imports will do well because they will remain cheaper
than homegrown products. This will continue to drain wealth to the East, more
so than in a vibrant economy.
Protectionism
The only actions that can stop such a powerful osmotic pressure will be legislated
protectionism. [Even in a climate where Exchange or Capital Controls are imposed
economies do flourish, especially as imported goods are replaced by homegrown
ones]. Protectionism in some nations is moving from the probably toward the
inevitable.
The stimuli being given now (and those contemplated) are forerunners of far
more serious measures to come -- because the stimuli are only 'keep going'
measures. We have contemplated the alternative, curative options in front of
the U.S. and European governments and they have to be dramatic, inflationary
while gold and silver positive.
"If-Onlys"
Unless
investors act in the near-term to protect themselves in the precious metals,
they will join the ranks of the "if-onlys". And there is already a great crowd
already in gold and silver. Don't misunderstand what we are saying though:
we are not saying all is lost; we are saying things have changed dramatically
and opportunities abound in a climate of growing desperation. Investors in
all markets are having to go back to fundamental issues and examine which way
their current investment positions are vulnerable and which will benefit from
these changes. Gold and silver are investments that have been well demonstrated
over the last few years to be excellent contra-performers to currencies and
in many cases, equities as well. What's more is that like good wine and beer,
gold and silver will, from now on be great to enjoy in good times and to turn
to in bad times.
Meanwhile we are still only at the stage of what 'keep going' measures are
going to be put into the economy while looking at how they will ripple through
the global economy. Right now the markets are telling us that they won't fall
further but are not convinced. Investors want curative solutions and they want
them now. Until then the pernicious atmosphere of fear and doubt will make
them ready to run for cover.
"The
gold price will benefit tremendously from the U.S. rate and tax cuts in
the States and the evolving global economy going forward!"
This is a snippet from the recent issue of the weekly newsletter
from: www.GoldForecaster.com.
For the entire report, please visit www.GoldForecaster.com.
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