Opinion & Commentary

George Soros on the Global Rebound

Billionaire investor George Soros thinks the worst of the global financial crisis is behind us.

In a June 20 interview with Polish television, the Hungarian-born Soros acknowledged that this has been the most serious crisis he’s seen in his lifetime, but said, “Definitely, the worst is behind us.”

For those that like to interpret “Soros-speak,” that’s as powerful a sign as any that one of the world’s most successful investors is “going long.”

But is he wrong?

On one hand, the World Bank is busy roiling the markets with recently updated figures that project a 2.9% decline in global economic activity this year. Then there are…

1Jul2009 | Money Morning | 0 comments | Continued

U.S. Technology Sector Plays on the Rebound

If the last three months are any indication, the U.S. tech sector has shaken off its recession-heightened late-winter doldrums, and could see its fortunes soar in the year’s second half as businesses and consumers open their wallets and the broader economy picks up speed.

The technology-laden Nasdaq Composite Index was at the forefront of the most-recent market rally, having soared more than 45% since hitting its 52-week low on March 10. That outpaced both the Dow Jones Industrial Average - up 30% in that time - and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index - up about 37%.

According to industry analysts, the technology sector -…

1Jul2009 | Money Morning | 0 comments | Continued

Future Inflation Fears Fuel Price of Gold Shares and Warrants

By: Lorimer Wilson
www.PreciousMetalsWarrants.com and www.InsidersInsights.com

The 2008 stock market meltdown brought panic and forced liquidation to all market sectors and especially junior resource shares (- 58.2% on average) and their associated warrants (-80.1%). Shares of companies that had a solid foundation for development, production and growth were unceremoniously dumped along with those more numerous juniors that had little more than hopes centered on grass roots exploration prospects. As a result of this indiscriminate selling – this throwing out the baby with the bath water – extraordinary opportunities have emerged creating once-in-a-lifetime values for discerning investors.

In spite of major rallies in the GDM,…

30Jun2009 | Lorimer Wilson | 1 comment | Continued

Fingers Point to Washington and Wall Street

It’s been in the news the last couple of days. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) bankers are headed for record bonuses. The Financial Times reports that bankers’ pay in the London market is already right back to 2007 levels and going higher. Banks are poaching each others’ best staff, and are offering huge pay packages to staffers willing to make the leap.

It’s enough to make you succumb to the Two Minutes’ Hate.

But let’s face the truth. As egregious as salary escalation seems - coming as it does on the tail of the worst U.S. banking crisis since the Great Depression…

25Jun2009 | Money Morning | 0 comments | Continued

Why Gold Mining Stocks and Warrants are Up so Dramatically

By: Lorimer Wilson
www.PreciousMetalsWarrants.com and www.InsidersInsights.com

Every investor has a wide array of asset classes and investment vehicles to consider – stocks; bonds; commodities; funds; options; LEAPS; etc. and the relatively unknown and misunderstood category called ‘warrants’. This article discusses the reasons behind the performance to date of commodity related company stocks (i.e. gold, silver and other metal miners and oil and gas operators) and their associated warrants vis-à-vis the aforementioned categories.

Week after week throughout 2009 the warrants of natural resource companies in North America have outperformed their associated common stock, the various stock market indices and gold bullion and silver even…

24Jun2009 | Lorimer Wilson | 1 comment | Continued

Jean-Claude Trichet: Debt, Stimulus & Inflation In The Eurozone…

If inflation had an arch-enemy, it would be Jean-Claude Trichet.

Since assuming his position as president of the European Central Bank (ECB) in November 2003, the Frenchman has made inflation-fighting his M.O.

Trichet and his fellow ECB board members have a steely resolve to keep the 16-nation Eurozone’s inflation rate as close to the bank’s 2% target as possible. And although inflation isn’t a problem at the moment, many believe it’s only a matter of time before it will be. So inflation-fighter Trichet has made a pre-emptive call for restraint.

In an interview with Europe 1 radio, Trichet said that with many European…

24Jun2009 | Smart Profits Report | 0 comments | Continued

Is Gold a Buy or is it “Toppy”?

A few weeks ago the gold rush was back on.

Inflation fears were rising. Yields on treasury bonds were rising. Gold was making another run at $1,000. Leading the headlines though and sparking the most interest was hedge fund manager John Paulson and his big bets on gold and gold stocks.

Since then, interest in gold has cooled quite a bit.

The latest Consumer Price Index reading quelled inflation fears and put deflationary risks back in focus. The U.S. government’s measure of inflation indicated prices fell 1.3% over the past year. It was the biggest decline since the Truman Administration.

With deflation…

23Jun2009 | Q1 Publishing | 5 comments | Continued

An Outrageous Prediction

“We are at the base building period for the next bull market. What I see happening is perhaps this continuing till the end of the year, and then a break out.”

That’s what Mark Mobius, who manages $20 billion for Templeton Asset Management and who was recognized as one of the “Ten Best Investors of the 20th Century,” told investors a few weeks ago.

An outrageous prediction, right?

Well, it is and it isn’t.

After this week, most investors would consider it pretty aggressive. After all, this week the markets fell for the three straight days to start out the week. It was only…

22Jun2009 | Q1 Publishing | 0 comments | Continued

California Collapsing

Washington and Wall Street seem to be treating California as if it were a sideshow in the financial circus of these turbulent times.

It’s not.

California is home to the largest manufacturing belt in the United States and to Silicon Valley, the nation’s largest high-tech center.

California is America’s most populous state with 38 million people. Its GDP of $1.8 trillion is the largest in the U.S. Its economy is bigger than those of Russia, Brazil, Canada, or India.