Axel Merk

Merk Funds

Contributor since: 26 Feb 2010

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• Growth Versus Austerity: A U.S. Dollar Perspective

  Published 20 June 2012 | viewed 0 times

  Austerity versus Growth? Which economic model is sustainable? If it weren't for those pesky bond vigilantes, it may be only politics. Let's not get too…

• Saving the Euro

  Published 13 June 2012 | viewed 0 times

  The management of the Eurozone debt crisis is dysfunctional. In our assessment, to save the Euro, policy makers must focus on competitiveness, common sense and…

• Merk Commentary: ECB Meeting - No Horse Trading, No Additional Money Printing (for now)

  Published 06 June 2012 | viewed 0 times

  Draghi stuck to his guns in today's press conference of the European Central Bank. Keeping the main refinancing rate unchanged, he discarded various proposals on…

• What's next for the U.S. Dollar? QE3?

  Published 06 June 2012 | viewed 0 times

  The dismal U.S. jobs report for May, released last Friday, caused the price of gold to soar as the market appears to be pricing in…

• U.S. Dollar and Euro - Review and Outlook

  Published 30 May 2012 | viewed 0 times

  The analysis below is based on our letter to shareholders in the annual report of the Merk Funds*.   The 12-month period ended March 31,…

• Eurozone Election Hangover

  Published 07 May 2012 | viewed 0 times

  With the hangover from elections in the Eurozone lingering, which answer is correct? A socialist is in charge in France; Nobody is in charge in…

• Merk Commentary: ECB Warns Easy Money No Solution

  Published 03 May 2012 | viewed 0 times

  Central Banks around the world have been under pressure to cover shortfalls in fiscal policy. At his monthly press conference, European Central Bank (ECB) President…

• Bernanke: Be Humble!

  Published 01 May 2012 | viewed 0 times

  "Humble" is typically not an attribute associated with the Federal Reserve (Fed), especially in light of the trillions of dollars recently printed. Yet, in his…

• Currency Wars: Gambling With Other Peoples' Money

  Published 19 April 2012 | viewed 0 times

  If running out of your own money wasn't bad enough, policy makers are increasingly spending other peoples' money to bail their country out. At the…

• Recovery - Who are We Kidding?

  Published 10 April 2012 | viewed 0 times

  The global economy is healing, so we are told. Yet, the moment the Federal Reserve (Fed) indicates just that - and thus implying no additional…

• Fed - Actions Speak Louder Than Words

  Published 03 April 2012 | viewed 0 times

  Investors may be taken for a ride by today's Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which expand on the FOMC's March 13, 2012…

• Bernanke's Problem with the Gold Standard

  Published 27 March 2012 | viewed 0 times

  In his new lecture series, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Ben Bernanke is going out of his way to discuss the "problems with the gold standard."…

• Falling Treasuries: A Currency Perspective

  Published 20 March 2012 | viewed 0 times

  What are the implications for the U.S. dollar and investors' portfolios if bond prices continue to fall, as they have of late? Within that context,…

• Eurozone Crisis: Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst

  Published 13 March 2012 | viewed 0 times

  A variation of this article appeared March 13, 2012 as an editorial in the Financial Times.   When Greece's woes first rattled the markets two…

• Fed Flying Blind

  Published 06 March 2012 | viewed 0 times

  In assessing whether to make tough decisions, policy makers tend to weigh the cost of action versus inaction. As critical as we are of our…

• Currencies: Crisis and Opportunity

  Published 29 February 2012 | viewed 0 times

  The road to hell is paved with good intentions. According to some estimates, Germany will contribute approximately 28% of the €130 billion (approx. US$170 billion)…

• Currency Funds: Special Case International Bond Funds

  Published 16 February 2012 | viewed 0 times

  Currency Funds May Help Mitigate Interest and Credit Risk With ongoing market turmoil, investors may want to reduce their exposure to interest and credit risk…

• Do Tax and Regulatory Policies Pose a Threat to the Dollar?

  Published 02 February 2012 | viewed 0 times

  Which political party will do a better job at preserving the purchasing power of the U.S. Dollar? A common tenet amongst Treasury Secretaries, irrespective of…

• Chinese Dragon To Unshackle Renminbi?

  Published 18 January 2012 | viewed 0 times

  With the Year of the Dragon around the corner, will the renminbi be unshackled? Will there be a surge in domestic consumption, or will a…

• Merk Commentary: ECB's Draghi Frames Issues

  Published 13 January 2012 | viewed 0 times

  ECB President Mario Draghi continued to impress with his very direct style during the European Central Bank's (ECB) first press conference of the year. While…