People don’t realize it, but these macro economic issues have real, personal consequences, said our French MoneyWeek editor. Simone calculated that keeping the debt under control, at 2009 levels, would cost the average Greek nearly $2,500 per year. That’s just the cost, per capita, of keeping up with the interest, while holding other expenses even with government revenues.
[Read more...]What’s More Important: Price Per Ounce or Ounces Owned?
March 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In a recent conversation with a fellow gold analyst, he was emphatic that the price one pays for physical gold should be ignored. “What’s far more important,” he insisted, “is how many ounces I own in relation to the total value of my assets.”
Building a core position in gold bullion is a smart goal, to be sure, and a strategy Casey Research has been advising for years. However, ignoring the price you pay for gold could be seen as foolhardy; sure, it’s insurance, but isn’t price part of the consideration when you shop for insurance?
[Read more...]Investing in Gold: Protection from Runaway Inflation
March 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Since the feds can’t grow their way out of debt…they’ll have to try to inflate their way out.
Trouble is, first…central bankers don’t have that good a grasp of inflation. They can control the amount of money in the monetary base at the Fed. But they don’t really control what happens to it next. For a long time, prices don’t necessarily react…because, in a depression, the velocity of money slows down to a crawl. The banks don’t lend; the money doesn’t get around…and it doesn’t feed into consumer prices. Then, all of a sudden, people realize that there dollars are losing value…suddenly, they are eager to send them on their way. Velocity increases – fast. It is as if they had put cash in a particle accelerator. Instead of 6% inflation, the CPI goes to 12%…or 25%…or 100%.
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Buying Gold in Uncertain Times
Dow down slightly yesterday. Oil falling further below $100. And gold still going up.
What is most interesting is the movement in the price of gold. It seems to be heading up again — almost no matter what else is happening.
So, let’s look at what might be going on…
If investors sensed a recovery…they would expect banks to lend more freely…people to shop more freely…and prices to rise.
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