Tag: inflation

The Next Country To Collapse Isn't In Europe

Posted on by admin

From Street Authority

Despite the recent market correction threatening the four-year bull market, investors should be partying like it's 2006.

Easy-money programs from the world's central banks and a recovering global economy could push stocks and other assets higher. So why is the comparison to 2006 relevant?

September 2006 was two years before the collapse of Lehman Brothers and a 28% drop in the markets in the span of less than a month. And two years is about the amount of time we may have until the next great market crash.

So what will be the proverbial straw that breaks the market's back? Europe? China? Market contagion from a collapse in commodities prices? Continue reading "The Next Country To Collapse Isn't In Europe" →

Will Obama's Chained CPI Help Keep Inflation from Eating into Your Savings?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

This week we examine ways in which inflation nibbles away at your retirement income, especially in light of the President’s proposal for Chained CPI adjustments to Social Security. The formal title is Chain-weighted Consumer Price Index and it’s a variation of how the government figures out what is what we would call "inflation." Either way, with the low rates on offer from CDs and other "safe" investments, investors who don’t take action fall behind every year.

Unfortunately, the numbers show what most people don’t want to face: the days of relying on Social Security plus a few stable bonds and CDs are long over. To earn decent and sustainable returns, investors must search beyond traditional safe havens. Continue reading "Will Obama's Chained CPI Help Keep Inflation from Eating into Your Savings?" →

The Real Inflation Rate and What to Do About It

Posted on by The INO.com Team

A little over a month ago we did a quick poll on what our readers thought the real rate of inflation was. The idea for polling our readers came from the disconnect between the official government rate of around 1% and what some had told me they were experiencing first hand.

Thank you to everyone who participated, particularly those who shared frustrating examples of the ever-increasing cost of living. There were close to 100 pages of reader comments, and I read them all... every single word.

This week's column is primarily written by you, our loyal readers. You will recognize the reader comments as they are indented. Here is one example to get us started: Continue reading "The Real Inflation Rate and What to Do About It" →

Why TIPS Won't Protect You from Inflation... and Other Government Lies

Posted on by The INO.com Team

If the "World Snake Oil Salesperson Society" had a hall of fame, good old Uncle Sam would be a charter member. When it comes to smooth-talking folks into buying debt instruments, he's the slickest around.

And Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are one of his slickest gimmicks.

Here's how the federal government describes TIPS:

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are marketable securities whose principal is adjusted by changes in the Consumer Price Index. With inflation (a rise in the index), the principal increases. With deflation (a drop in the index), the principal decreases. Continue reading "Why TIPS Won't Protect You from Inflation... and Other Government Lies" →

The US Dollar and Inflation!

Posted on by The INO.com Team

The US Dollar Index is a measure of the value of the United States Dollar compared to a basket of currencies weighted accordingly:

  • Euro 57.6 % weight
  • Japanese yen 13.6 % weight
  • Pound sterling 11.9 % weight
  • Canadian dollar 9.1 % weight
  • Swedish krona 4.2 % weight
  • Swiss franc 3.6 % weight

The US Dollar typically has an inverse relationship to the other currencies and is traded at the ICE exchange. Post WWII, the US Dollar was tied to the Gold Standard, but today, the dollar is without intrinsic value. It is only valuable in that the US states its value. In recent years the value of the US Dollar may be decreasing due to oversaturation of the currency, low interest rates and the increasing debt in the US. The weaker dollar does typically help boost US exports as the foreign buyers may garnish more for their money when the dollar is undervalued. The US Dollar may also act as a safe-haven product that investors may flock to during times of uncertainty. The investment community may often reference the CFTC Commitment of Traders (COT) report to see the net longs or shorts in the market that week to determine any trends. It is typical to follow the big money in trading. Last week, for example, traders held a net short position in the dollar of $11.4 billion as of September 18th which was one of the largest short position in some time. The allocations shift and traders may follow the allocations. The US Dollar also may trade inversely to Gold which is actually another (hard) currency as well. Continue reading "The US Dollar and Inflation!" →