The Difference Between Market and Government Swindles

What’s going on in the markets?

Well, a gloriously strong chávena de café at one of this city’s many colorful, street side vendors (not Starbucks) will set you back one Brazilian real, or around fifty cents. In other words, pretty cheap. A Caipirinha on the deck of what is surely the most unique hotel bar your editor has recently visited, however, will cost you the equivalent of maybe forty chávenas de café — about twenty dollars. Still, you pay for the view…and for the city skyline in the background.

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The Difference Between Market and Government Swindles

What’s going on in the markets?

Well, a gloriously strong chávena de café at one of this city’s many colorful, street side vendors (not Starbucks) will set you back one Brazilian real, or around fifty cents. In other words, pretty cheap. A Caipirinha on the deck of what is surely the most unique hotel bar your editor has recently visited, however, will cost you the equivalent of maybe forty chávenas de café — about twenty dollars. Still, you pay for the view…and for the city skyline in the background.

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How Market Sentiment Moves With the Greek Debt Crisis

A couple of hours south of Kaikoura — and the most famous crayfish picnic tables on the South Island’s east coast (Nin’s Bin) — you’ll discover the fastest growing wine region in New Zealand; 80 vineyards sprawling across more than 1,200 hectares of picturesque plantings…

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Tracing the Path of Social Upheaval Across the Middle East and North Africa

Are you watching all this, Fellow Reckoner? Now it’s Syria’s turn on the hotplate. Has the world gone mad? More to the point, was it ever sane to begin with? In any case, it is a breathtaking show put on for all the world to watch. Who would want to miss it? What a time to be alive!

But before we get too carried away, before we get into the juicy details, let’s just take a step back for a moment. This period of history is so brimming with events to inspire laughter and sorrow and everything in between. We want to be sure we give each case their just deserts.

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How to be a Successful Investor in an Immutable Marketplace

As the Labor Day holiday ended, so did the stock market's holiday from underlying economic trends. Last week, the stock market was all about “better than expected.� On the first day this new week, however, the market was all about “worse than hoped.�

Last week, for example, the stock market celebrated a loss of 54,000 jobs in August because the private sector added 67,000 jobs. Interpretation: the private sector is recovering. Earlier in the week, some “better than expected� reports on manufacturing and consumer sentiment inspired investors to add a few hundred points to the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

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The Economy and Market Don’t Always Agree

I don’t think the US economy is in good shape.

I am most discouraged when I consider the bloated and out-of-control federal and state governments. They spend too much. They are in too much debt. They are far too powerful. And I think it is fair to say that current administration is hostile to business. I think the US dollar is a sick currency.

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Mr. Market Beats the Bailouts

Well, the fans are getting their money’s worth. After staggering through the last four or five rounds, the Dow suddenly came back to life yesterday.

It got up off the mat. Straightened its shorts. Did a little dance. And then wham… By the time the bell sounded, it was up 284 points.

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Getting On With the Depression to Make Way for Growth

“I can’t stand it anymore. I have to say something. You act like you actually want a depression. What’s wrong with you?”

The above letter came from a dear reader who has missed the point. We are as generous and warm…as caring and sharing…as anyone outside a mental institution. We only want the best for our fellow countrymen…really.

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Global Energy Outlook: Getting Worse Before It Gets Better

Markets in the US ended yesterday’s session in the red. The Dow was off by 100 points, or around 1%. The broader S&P 500 fell a bit harder, down 1.3% at the close. Gold slipped, too. The yellow metal sunk below the $1,100 mark and now trades for about $1,095 per ounce. Oil gained a smidge, to just shy of $80 a barrel.

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