By David Haggith, The Great Recession Blog The question begs for conspiracy theories to satisfy it, but one might more aptly say that central banks beg for conspiracy theories to explain them, since they operate in the shadows while being given charge of all the financial systems of all the world’s greatest economies. Central bankers have the unchaperoned power … Continue reading
By Marc Chandler, Marc to Market Blog Yesterday, China announced one of the most important tax reforms of the past twenty years. It is replacing a business tax on gross revenue for non-manufacturing companies with a VAT. Manufacturing companies have been subject to a VAT approach for a few years. The reform extends it from manufacturing … Continue reading
By Egon Von Greyerz, GoldSwitzerland Investors around the world are blissfully ignorant of what will hit them in coming months and years. Virtually no one understands the risks in the world and less than ½% of investors have protected themselves against the destruction of their financial assets. It is of course wonderful to live in Shangri-La … Continue reading
By Pedro García Otero, PanAm Post Following the publication of Sabrina Martin’s article in Panampost, “Looting on the Rise as Venezuela Runs Out of Food, Electricity,” several readers have been asking how Venezuela — a country that in the 60s and 70s was regarded as a future Australia — got so bad. Hundreds of reasons help to answer this question, especially in … Continue reading
By Pepe Escobar Major turbulence seems to be the name of the game in 2016. Yet the current turbulence may be interpreted as the calm before the next, devastating geopolitical/financial storm. Let’s review the current state of play via the dilemmas afflicting the House of Saud, the EU and BRICS members Russia, Brazil and China. … Continue reading
By Egon Von Greyerz, Goldbroker.com The global economy turned down in earnest already in 2006 but with a massive worldwide printing and lending programme, the world has had a temporary stay of execution. But the effect of this fabricated money has now come to an end. And what else would you expect. To print money that … Continue reading
By David Smith, Money Metals Exchange As we move through 2016, the Horsemen of the geopolitical, economic, and social apocalypse are on the march. China burns through its currency reserves as billions in yuan flee the mainland for safe harbor. Japan prints mountains of yen debt in an effort to create inflation – and thereby … Continue reading
By Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk Economic forecasting, no matter how complex the underlying model may be, is essentially about extrapolating historical trends. We showed last week how economic models completely fail to pick up on structural shifts using Japan as an example. On the other hand, if an economy doesn’t really change much, as in the case … Continue reading
By Egon Von Greyerz, Goldbroker.com I have for quite some time warned investors to get out of the banking system. We believe that it is now becoming more urgent than ever. Bank stocks in Europe and the US are falling fast. The market is clearly sensing that things are looking extremely precarious in most financial institutions. … Continue reading
By Jeff Fitchett There are tell-tale signs of bubbles. All throughout history bubbles have been formed, popped, a depression ensued and then another bubble formed. The characteristics of bubbles are very similar. Group think is one of the key components. Rational thinking is set aside as more and more people crowd into a purchasing frenzy … Continue reading