Friday, July 29, 2011

LEADERSHIP IS NOT PROPOSING A PLAN

Since I'm on the subject of leadership as I just posted in FAMOUS FOR NOTHING..... Love the line "Leadership is not proposing a plan".  Well, if that is the criteria for great leadership, I've been wrong for some time and the Senate and the President are great leaders.  Pretty funny.  Enjoy the video.  Personally, I'm not so convinced that a balanced budget saves us because we still haven't addressed the run away entitlement spending and defense spending.  Yes, it caps deficit spending, but at the end of the day the goal is not to max out our government size, it is to have a small government.  We already know that what the government does, it doesn't do well - except in the case of our military.







GOATMUG



Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

FAMOUS FOR DOING NOTHING



In the last week or so I've had to continue rereading my own posts to ensure that I am clear as to where I think we are heading.  As I stated last week this whole debt ceiling is an odd affair that is more like theater rather than an exercise in leadership, although this is exactly the kind of result I was looking for, going through it is frustrating.  As readers know I suggested that the drama would unfold and the participants would use the tension to drive markets lower and add to the urgency to get "any" deal done. 

Unfortunately we received the exact prescription I ordered.  The market for its part has handled the mess pretty well as it has been conditioned to believe that any close call will be met with the not-so invisible hand of the Fed, Treasury, or President Teleprompter each time.  I hate to admit it, but the President and the Democrats have this game of politics quite in hand and they have managed to make the Republicans negotiate against themselves and the RINOS have looked fragmented, unpolished, and inept.  While I don't believe the US should default and feel like a deal could have been cobbled together in a better manner, the Republicans have simply looked like amateurs.  Reading this you may feel like I'm bashing the "Tea Party Faction" of Congress, but you'd be wrong.  These are the only folks that have stood for a reasonable approach through this entire mess.  They have clearly laid out their expectations and have continually restated their demands.  As usual the press and everyone else has blasted them as unreasonable and part of a fringe, however they are the folks that have been on the leading edge emphasizing their position from the beginning.  I think Boehner and the President and the Democrats simply assumed that they would come in line just like all politicians do.  I think what all of the power players are finding is that the rookies are actually principled and mean what they say.

Remember, the Republicans got burned during the last set of negotiations, so it isn't so weird to think that they remember passing a bill with the expectations that billions were to be saved only to find out that nothing was actually cut.  If I was embarrassed like that, I would be demanding a pound of flesh this time.  My point in describing this issue is that I think it is the miscalculation by the Republican leadership, Democrats, and the President that has gotten us to the brink of a "default".  They expected a different outcome and therefore played their hand.  Now I will praise Boehner in all of this because he is a classic politician and he is weaker than previous Speakers because he promised that the Republicans would not add any earmarks to bills, in other words he'd stop the process of bribery that we've seen all too often.  (Remember Obama and his promises to the Nebraska leadership on healthcare?).  Because he isn't using this tool, he doesn't have the carrot to get our dirty little congressmen to come along with his crummy deal. 

As a final update on this, it looks like Boehner and Cantor have added the tea-party requirement that there must be a balanced budget, and it appears like this will pass the house.  It is absolutely necessary to send this over to the Senate because this puts Senator Reid and the President back on the hot seat.  They have talked about not passing this bill, but will they actually kill the bill knowing that THEY caused the default?  Who knows, but it will be interesting and it puts pressure on them.  At this point Boehner and Obama are famous for doing nothing on this issue.  Essentially they are non-leaders and that is clearly my feeling about the President.  While he likes to talk a lot on TV and use that teleprompter, he has little substance.  He postures and relates how things should be done, but never follows through.  Where is the President's plan to cut spending?  He has none.  If he doesn't get his way he vocalizes how its not fair.  At this point the President, Reid, Pelosi, and Boehner remind me of the world's most famous tennis player, who by the way never did anything.  She wasn't any good, never won a tournament, and never competed strongly at the highest levels, but she clearly was the most famous tennis player for years.


 Photo by www.eltiempo.com -

These times demand that our leadership reign in spending and come up with real solutions that are lasting.  Cutting $100 Billion each year for 10 years is a complete waste of time.  S&P told us we needed to cut $4 Trillion in spending, where is the disconnect between this dire circumstance and what these hacks are producing?  The Keynesian experiment where we blow out all budgets to stimulate the economy with massive government spending has failed, today's GDP revision has proved that.  If deficit spending failed there is only one solution left, to cut spending.  Our leaders need to get to work on their craft and stop working on being "famous".

GOATMUG


Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

UNCOMMON INDICATORS - SAME RESULTS

I found an interesting video on CNBC (yes, all fluff and they try to make all things positive).  The CNBC gang interviews Nick Colas who tracks internet searches on Google to attempt to find trends that might indicate where companies and the economy are going.

Clearly everything in the economy is not roses as he responded several times, "that's a tough one" meaning that because the search term was showing up more and more that didn't mean that things were getting better.  Essentially this interview highlights one of my issues with the CNBC hosts, they enter into the interview with the thought that these indicators are to reveal bullish information, hence the panelist is in a position to defend the data and almost apologize if the data is negative.  Truthfully, it isn't hard to figure it out, you just examine the results, question it, and then accept it.




Here are the search trends he follows;

GOOGLE SEARCHES FOR HOME BUYING - I get this one, I hadn't thought about that.  I would state though that I'm hearing more and more complaints from realtors and mortgage lenders that they can't get buyers that can get financing.  In my city this is really blowing up potential deals and causing slow sales. 

SEARCHES FOR USED CARS  - He doesn't share with us the numbers for used cars, but this would be useful to see if folks are going to try to buy new cars or buying used.  I keep hearing lots of optimism from the auto industry about their growth prospects and how things have changed.  I wanted to examine these indicators for myself and so I used the Google Automotive Search Index results as a high level "smell" test.  Interestingly the index values show a couple of striking things.  First, we are currently at a level that is much higher than last year, which was horrible.  This is wonderful and you can see how the executives at the manufacturers are excited that things are looking up.  Despite the good news, we see that this is also a level that is similar to 2007, which wasn't exactly awesome.  On top of that you must account for a growing number of searches as people are using media and search more, much more than they did 4 years ago, so this too should make us pause a little.  Finally, we have just exited the typical peak point in sales and searches in terms of seasonality.  Last week I posted a chart on GM, I'm not getting long anytime soon. - GM CHART FROM 7/22/11.  Take a look at the Google Search Index for Autos below.



SEARCHES FOR GUNS -
I'm not exactly sure that guns are a great indicator of improving financial health as Nick tried to spin this.  His angle is that guns are a $300 to $500 durable good like a washing machine or refrigerator.  Somehow I'm not thinking that gun searches are a marker that citizens feel confidence in an improving economy.  I believe that folks feel like the system is breaking down and the government cannot protect them.  Perhaps folks aren't looking to prepare for Mad Max times, but their search for the best gun for them may mean that they are concerned about the increasing risk of break-ins and their security.  Oh yes, if you are in the market for guns you might consider the Mossberg 500 or 590 and the Glock 23 as a starting point in your research.

SILVER AND GOLD -
We've discussed this at great length, people across the world are buying gold and silver as the un-currency and as an inflation hedge.  If "investors" are looking to buy gold and silver, they don't have a lot of confidence in traditional investments. 


FOOD STAMPS -
The Goatmug Blog tracks food stamp usage every month, but I like the idea of watching these trends to see how many searches are being performed in real time. This approach may give us insight into what numbers will look like several months in advance.  Regular readers know that we report these dismal figures in the monthly update and last month's figures show that almost 45 million people are on the roles and as the panelist described one in five families receive food stamps.  How disgusting!

GOOGLE TRENDS

If you have a desire to check out some of these you can look at Google Trends to examine word searches and also you can use this link in Google Finance - http://www.google.com/finance?q=GOOGLEINDEX_US:AUTO

I did searches for durable goods and other items and many of the results show how poor the us consumer is right now in terms of discretionary spending.  Durable goods searches are at 7 years lows, but it is beginning to tick up compared to last year's horrible totals in year over year trend!  Wow! 

At the end of the day I like this approach it may give us a view of coming changes in trend in a real time format.  At least Google's spying is good for something right?

GOATMUG

 
Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/




Sunday, July 24, 2011

WELCOME TO THE THEATHER - 1984 STYLE

WORLD MARKETS ARE THE FOCUS
I heard today that the President and CONgress were rushing to try to get some type of debt ceiling done (temporary or not) before Asian stock markets opened for the week (Sunday evening in USA time).  I'm struck by this because I'm simply floored by the fact that these politicians are spending any time focused on what equity markets are doing rather than focusing on the task at hand.  What I'm getting at is the notion that they are scurrying around to avoid a fall in markets shows me that this is all just a big show for the markets! 

Yes, this isn't some new revelation since the timing for all major announcements seem oddly planned EVERY single time to coincide with a Sunday night bombshell or options expiration Friday.  As I've noticed these events I've pinched myself saying, "no, it's just a coincidence".  However, after having an entire arm covered with red whelps, I am finally of the mindset that a game is being played to juice markets and keep them elevated. 

The story here - http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/24/leaders-seek-debt-deal-before-asian-markets-open/
"White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley warned Sunday that the financial markets are starting to have doubts about the ability of Washington to strike a debt deal, as lawmakers scramble to come up with a plan before Asian stock markets open.



The Asian markets will start to open Sunday evening Washington time, ahead of the Dow opening in the U.S. Monday morning. U.S. officials are cognizant of the possibility that a failure to outline a path forward by then on how to raise the debt ceiling could roil the markets."
Now give me a break!  We have several days until this deal needs to be done, and rest assured that our friend Ben Bernanke is quite willing to buy up all the debt in the world to keep us from having an interest rate problem.  I saw Tim Geithner on tv telling us how irresponsible those Republican politicians are being and how the apocalypse will be unleashed if something isn't agreed to immediately.  While the warnings are grave we can retain a sense of confidence in our financial overlords as every other problem we've faced in the last two years has been met with a change of the rules, a bending of all reality, twisting of economic paradigms, and a moratorium on basic math.  Forgive my tongue and cheek approach to the drama, but I personally don't think there is any chance of a deal not getting done, and with hours to spare they'll unveil another monstrosity that will solve nothing and only ensure that Amerika's future is just a bit dimmer. 

WASHINGTON GENERALS WOULD MAKE GREAT REPRESENTATIVES
Have you been to a Harlem Globetrotters game?  I love them and go every time I have a chance.  Those guys are funny and entertaining and the kids think they are a blast.  My kids haven't figured out that the Washington Generals (the perennial opponent of the Globetrotters) are laying down so the Globetrotters can win.  My kids don't realize that the entire game is a show and there is no competition going on down on the field of play.  Likewise, I think the entire drama unfolding in CONgress is simply a ruse where each side of the isle is attempting to make the most out of the situation.  They are all on the same team, they are just wearing different jerseys to keep up the facade that a competitive game is under way.

So, with that realization, I want to give you the opportunity to watch a movie you may have seen a long time ago.  You may have read it in high school back when they actually tried to teach you important ideas and challenge you to think.  The entire theater that is Washington relies on all of us buying into the divisions of a two party system where one can be good or one can be bad based on our frame of reference.  Let's face it, we all like to be on a team!  The problem sets in when you discern that neither one of these teams is good. 



I will leave you with these thoughts and questions from the movie.

Ignorance is strength!

The party gives them exactly what they want.

How do you know what exists?

I encourage you to watch it.  How Orwell would have ever imagined the things he did when writing it is amazing.  I am awed by the idea of the screen in every home and building monitoring every action.  It is very much like today.

GOATMUG

Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 23, 2011

ARE RARE EARTHS A GOOD BUY HERE?

I had a discussion about the rare earth elements and the ETF for those firms (REMX).  These firms have all clearly had great bounces and REMX is actually now in an upward channel.  Upper resistance in the upper channel is $26.40, if we charge through there we could see $27.00 quite easily. 

If REMX bounces around the channel top and heads back down we could see a move to $25.00.
While the purchase of REMX gives you exposure to many rare earth metal miners, most folks that are in this trade aren't in it for a 5% move, they want more potential for upside and don't mind the volatility.  Let's look at another option here for some rare earth dynamite.

REMX



MCP
While REMX looks like a fine set up that is still bullish, please view MCP (Molycorp).  MCP has rocketed off a low around $51.50 that was posted almost 10 days ago!  Wow!  Just observing this move makes we want to hold off on buying into that, expecting some sort of slow down and retracement.  The bulls will need to observe $62.00 closely.  If MCP can powerfully move through that resistance level then a move to $66 or even $71 could be at hand.  Those that feel like the stock needs a breather could take a short here and work for a move back down to $57.50.

The bottom line here is that if the overall macro picture continues in the same vein of a stronger Euro and weaker dollar, we'll have the underpinnings of a sizable move in MCP.  If for some reason reality wakes from its 2 year slumber and the USD drives higher, MCP could face substantial headwinds along with the rest of the equity markets and commodity markets.   



GOATMUG



Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Friday, July 22, 2011

I THOUGHT WE MADE MONEY ON THE BAILOUTS....

More great news from our government!

Chrysler bailout hands the US $1.4 Billion in losses.

We are now getting details about the cost of the bailouts from the last several years that were made to various industries.  As I think through this, I am still torn regarding the use of taxpayer money to attempt to save private industry.  It doesn't escape me that these businesses are huge employers and these firms are in the manufacturing area of the economy.  Yes, this is the exact area that I continually say we need, however I would feel better about the entire mess if the recipients of the government help were truly made clean and whole.  In addition, I'd feel better if these firms were non-union firms because the existence of these unions simply means that these companies will be broke again in a few years.  Interestingly, most of the firms that did receive most of the bailouts (outside of banks of course) were all unionized firms.  Further, my feeling is that we essentially stepped in to help extend the life of failing businesses that were uncompetitive, not creative, and not managed to remain in business. 

LOSERS ARE HAPPY ABOUT LOSING
The story I've highlighted draws out that the Chrysler bailout will end up costing Americans $1.34 billion.  At the end of the day, Chrysler was sold to Fiat and now control of the firm in not in US hands any more.  Below are a few quotes from the story above;  
"As part of the loan agreement, Chrysler was given until 2017 to return the bailout funds. If it had taken the full term, the interest accrued on the loans could have significantly reduced the government's losses.  (BUT IT DIDN'T DID IT?!)

Overall, $1.3 billion will not be recovered from the bankrupt Old Chrysler, but Massad still called it a "major accomplishment."
That's because the government originally expected it would lose much more on the auto bailout. Initial estimates from the Congressional Budget Office in 2009, predicted the government would lose $40 billion on the overall auto bailout.
Now it estimates, by the time the $80 billion program is completely wrapped up, taxpayers will have lost $14 billion."
I don't know about you, but I don't recall any Treasury official or any politician telling me we would lose money on any bailout.  I certainly don't recall hearing President Obama telling us that we were going to lose $40 Billion!  Only a government worker can be happy about losing $1.3 billion and consider it a success.

While we didn't lose $40 Billion we are probably going to lose $14 billion.  In government circles, that is nothing, but isn't that the problem with Washington?  Part of the Patient Protection Act of 2009 implemented a requirement to force business owners to produce 1099's for any purchases they made that were over the amount of $600.  The purpose of this legislation was to try to catch small business owners that did not recognize cash income.  Thankfully, this facet of the legislation was removed as lawmakers heard from businesses about the trouble and hardship it would place on them.  Guess how much that was going to raise in IRS revenue?  $17 billion!  So think about it, we are happy about losing $14 billion while in a blink of an eye the government was going to create a nightmare for small business, essentially creating piles of paperwork, and putting a strain on EVERY business in the USA for almost the same amount as we are happy to lose on the auto bailouts. 
GM'S A SUCCESS ISN'T IT?
Of course we are not done with the losses.  Remember GM?  We were planning on unloading the stock we received from that IPO as a result of their bailout, but since going public, GM stock has traded under it's IPO price.
"Treasury Department is now likely to wait until mid-August or September to hold a secondary offering for the company’s stock, people with knowledge of the matter said previously. At the initial public offering price of $33, Treasury must now sell the remainder of its shares at an average of $53 to break even."

 
Hmmm.  I'm not sure if we're going to see $53 any time soon.  What about you?

GOATMUG


Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 21, 2011

MR. ROBINSON MOVES TO A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD

Remember Mr. Robinson?  This brings back childhood memories doesn't it?




While it is fun to go back and watch those SNL episodes a real life Mr. Robinson is taking advantage of the real estate crisis in Flower Mound, Tx.  It seems like his neighbors aren't too happy, but I applaud his ability to do great research and use the system to his advantage.  I'm not really sure why his neighbors don't support his action other than the fact that it seems as though he may have the ability to get a better deal than they did.  Ultimately this could be a win-win for them and him.  I normally wouldn't play the race card, but it does seem as though that may be a factor as well.



Personally I'd rather see people take advantage of a bad situation versus have the asset waste away.  Think about how our government went out handing out the "bail outs" to our banks and industries.  What if they would have simply paid a check to each family for $100,000 or $200,000 but made the requirement that each person had to pay off outstanding debts with that newly printed money.  Essentially this is what happened, but the money skipped you and me and went to banks while they were able to keep your obligation as a liability on the books.  Isn't that simply a travesty? 

No, I'm no communist or socialist, but think about it.  Your government printed and borrowed money through huge deficit spending to "create" jobs that were green jobs or were going to be stimulative.  We've learned that the creation of those jobs cost more than $200,000 each and those jobs did  not last.  Have you forgotten all of the programs that have failed?  TARP, Cash for Clunkers, homebuyer tax credits, and Shovel Ready Jobs were just a few.  While the government was spewing money to huge multi-national firms that pay little or no taxes (GE) folks like the original owner of the house in Flower Mound were laid off and lost their homes to foreclosure.  In this case the mortgage company that actually wrote the loan (and kept it) also blew up.  Where were their bailouts?

Good for this guy, I hope he gets the property and I hope that he maintains the home and I hope the neighbors grow up.

GOATMUG

Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

JAMES GRANT SAYS THE DEBT CEILING IS A JOKE

James Grant tells us the Debt Ceiling Crisis is a completely made up farce.



James Grant, publisher of Grant's Interest Rate Observer, talks about negotiations between U.S. lawmakers over raising the federal debt ceiling and reducing the budget deficit. Grant also discusses the Treasury market, the gold standard and Europe's sovereign debt crisis. - http://www.bloomberg.com/video/72621750/
GOATMUG

Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Monday, July 18, 2011

HOW GOLD & SILVER MAY COLLAPSE IN A SOVEREIGN CREDIT APOCALYPSE

TRADITION
As readers know, I've expressed a fondness for gold and silver as an asset class for a couple of years now since August of 2009.  The reasons for this affinity is that our Federal Reserve has had little concern for preserving the value of the US dollar and therefore gold and silver have become a safe-haven as an inflation hedge.  Europeans also like the glittery stuff and have favored it because the sovereign debt issues in the Eurozone have forced them to use gold and silver as the un-currency of choice.  Individuals in emerging countries also have looked to gold as a store of value in an effort to fight inflation in their nations.  In other words, Americans, Europeans, Brazilians, Indians, and Chinese have all purchased gold because in a way it is a store of value for their assets.  The question remains though, why do central banks own gold? 





DESPITE HEIR BERNANKE'S ASSERTION THAT GOLD IS NOT MONEY, EUROPEANS THINK IT IS -
After the Greek debt crisis and the Italian sovereign credit rating issue, Europeans are not messing around with their assets and hoping for the best, they are planning for the worst.  While Ben Bernanke suggests that gold is not money, Germans certainly think it is valuable (whatever you call it).  Please see the following article; I've used Google Translate since the original source that is linked is in German. (WELT ONLINE -)

The buyers of gold are driven by worries about the future of the euro zone and the euro. After the doubts about the creditworthiness of Portugal and Ireland now also come to doubt on Italy's creditworthiness.  In the past five days Pro Aurum has sold gold worth more than € 21 million - three times as much as in "quiet times".



Gold is much more than a commodity," said Barbara Lambrecht at Commerzbank Rohstoffanalystin. The present development shows that gold is not only a hedge against inflation but an anti-anxiety indicator against the dollar. "Gold is a currency that is currently benefiting from the weakness of the two key currencies, the dollar and euro."

NO BRAINER BUY GOLD HUH? 
Well, maybe.  As you recall I made a confession that I've been trying to buy gold since $1475, but never got an entry that I had targeted (regret is dripping off of me).  Although I haven't added to positions I am still going through my normal process of wondering how this trade could blow up and I believe I've found one.  Margin calls.

HOW MARGIN CALLS UNDO A GREAT TRADE
Let's think through this cataclysmic scenario that all gold and silver buyers are essentially betting on (ok, not all, but the Mad Max types).  We wake up one fine morning to find out that the Irish or Greek citizens have had enough and they have essentially overthrown their governments and ousted them through a bloodless revolution of sorts.  Let's call it a Debtor's Spring.  The New People's government renounces all claims to debt by the ECB, IMF, and foreign banks and labels it "odious debt" meaning that it was debt that was corrupt and not for the benefit of the people (google odious debt).  The revolutionaries halt all principal and interest payments.  That declaration sets off a chain of events that tears the Eurozone apart and damns the Euro as a currency.

In response, global markets tank, the Euro is trashed, the USD goes higher, and oddly, gold and silver do moonshots in the wake of the carnage.  The tremors of the collapse are felt world wide and within days fear has a firm grasp on all developed economies.  As banks work through their exposure to the worthless debt of European countries, gold and silver begin to sell off strongly.  Why the fall?  Margin calls.  As investment banks, hedge funds, insurers, and commercial banks all attempt to sort through the tangled positions (many of which are levered) they get calls from worried counterparties demanding collateral payments.  As they attempt to cough up cash they will sell as much of the remaining valuable stuff as possible, meaning that gold and silver and commodity positions are liquidated at a furious pace.  

Note, the sale of these assets are timed right at the moment when folks that are holding gold and silver are all taking a collective sigh of relief.  Now some of my readers and friends suggest that this too is the time that the USD collapses in sympathy with the implosion of the Euro fiat currency.  I don't know, perhaps that is correct.  Perhaps it implodes on the weight of its own debt or a chain reaction to the collapse of the Euro, since the Fed has extended so much to Europe in the form of USD swaps.  But needless to say, it is ugly, and that translates into a free fall in gold and silver despite the notion that they are a safe haven. 

Now our friends at http://www.fofoa.blogspot.com/ suggest that they have seen this coming in the post - FREEGOLD IN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE.  Essentially, they suggest (as I have suggested but not for this reason) that this will be the moment when a rift takes place between the trading or paper value of gold and the value of the real hard stuff.  In other words, the value of gold for GLD may be $500 an ounce but if you asked your local coin shop or friend what they'd sell you a 1 oz American Eagle coin for, they would respond with something like "$3,500 for you buddy".  This amorphous pricing is hard for me to get my head around since I've been known to buy and sell physical gold and silver and attempt to play movements in these markets.  If this perspective is correct you almost need to retain a portion that never gets sold to protect you and your family.  In these collapse situations, this will be your only asset that has any value, unless of course you have some oil storage facilities on your homestead.   
 
RIDING THE BRONCO
I think the take away is that there will be extreme volatility as we near and cross the event horizon of the Euro fiat collapse.  Essentially as the collapse begins we'll endure a face ripping off acceleration in the price of gold and then a rapid drop as banks look to stop their bleeding.  As more worries surface about the health of institutions these gyrations will be repeated over and over.  
 
I'm not sure if there is a "best" game plan for enduring this ride, but it is clear that in the aftermath of a Euro collapse and possibly a knock-on fall of the USD I'd rather have some gold than some worthless Euros or USDs in a bank account.
 
GOATMUG   
 
 
 
 
 
Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 16, 2011

BROKE EMPIRE RESORTS TO MASSIVE STORMTROOPER LAYOFFS


Stormtroopers can be found wandering the streets with all of their belongings in their Troopercarts.

 
CREDIT ATTACKS LEAD TO DOWNSIZING
Stormtroopers throughout the Empire received their pink slips this weekend and were summarily kicked to the curb with all of their belongings and a small severance stipend.  As credit problems resurfaced in Europe over the last month, the USA felt like it had dodged a "rebel assault" only to find that all of the radical rating agencies were gearing up for war.

Last week Planet Moody's launched a preliminary onslaught against the Empire's credit domination as a AAA credit by putting the country on credit watch for a downgrade.  Moody's cited the lack of fiscal cohesion on the part of the Senate and Congress and their inability to raise the debt ceiling.

Standard and Poors joined forces with Moody's in an unlikely rebel alliance by also placing the USA on credit watch, but stated that it would drop the credit rating of the Empire if significant budget and deficit cuts weren't approved.  They stated the rating will be cut within 90 days if these changes were not made.

GEONOSIANS (CHINESE) LAUGH AT THE EMPIRE'S LIES
At a high level economic summit on planet Geonosis, General Grevious (aka Tim Geithner) responded when asked how the USA could simply terminate so many of their Stormtroopers with little notice by saying, "It's expensive to run an Empire and we've got to prove that we believe in a strong dollar)."  When concluding his statement, young Geonosian students laughed at the outlandish lie.

While the spending issues in the Empire are the headline stories we are reading, the real drama is playing out in real life as Stormtroopers and Tie Fighter pilots are being furloughed without warning in an attempt to resolve the huge spending deficit.


Many wayward Stormtroopers have been attacked and killed by kangaroos on the dark side of planet Earth.  Stormtroopers without jobs are more susceptible to depression and illness and are often unable to defend themselves from vicious predators. 

DEBT CEILING AGREEMENT?
So how will this play out?  Clearly the CONgress will come to an agreement with the Administration and there will be a debt ceiling agreement.  The rating agencies are simply playing catch up here and should have don't this years ago.  They are a complete joke.

Interestingly, the only credit agency that I actually trust, Weiss, downgraded the USA to debt to C- which equates to a BBB- with Standard and Poors.  It is almost a junk rating!  http://www.thestreet.com/story/11186657/1/us-downgraded-to-near-junk-by-weiss.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN

Who do you think is really telling the truth?  I tend to side with Weiss since they are the only independent credit rating firm that earns their money from investors that pay them to look at companies and countries.  Standard and Poors and Moody's take their compensation from the companies that issue the debt, which is an obvious conflict of interest.  If one of the current rating agencies other than Weiss gives you a rating you don't like, you just stop paying them to rate it!  Don't you think they are incented to play nice and give you every chance in the world to have the best rating?  This is why the ECB and IMF's interactions with the ratings agencies are a total sham, and why now we are seeing these central banking institutions simply state that they will ignore ratings when purchasing and backing the sovereign debt of Greece and Italy. 

(Yes, I'm having fun, please read the story about Jacob French who is an Australian nut job that clearly doesn't have a job who is now walking across Australia to raise money for charity.  When I saw the pictures I simply couldn't resist; who can resist a story about a guy in a Stormtrooper costume?). 

GOATMUG




Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Friday, July 15, 2011

HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS

Just an update on some things to keep you in the loop and some reminders.

I've made quite an effort to post everyday to try to keep readers coming back.  Thank you so much for coming, we are now seeing more than 100 visitors to the site daily (yes, I come here 50 times as I've confessed), but you other 50 keep it up.  I really enjoy writing when I know someone will read it!

GOOGLE +
If you like an article, please don't be shy, click that +1 at the bottom.  I've read lots of stories on web indexing and this I guess should be quite helpful to continue to get the Goatmug Blog more exposure.  I'd do it, but for some reason they don't let me!  You'll see the +1 icon right after the post, just click it if you like it!

ADS -
If you find an interesting ad to the right, please click on it.  I'm interested to see how that works out.  I am trying to change the subject matter of the ads as usually there are a bunch of foreign exchange trading ads.  I'm not sure how many forex traders are reading this, but heck, click those ads anyway.  I think I'm up to $40 in lifetime revenue!

AMAZON.COM SEARCH BOX
Last shameless plug.  If you know you are going to buy something from Amazon, please use our search box on the top right of the blog to do it.  Someone last month downloaded a bunch of songs by searching for them through the search box, and I appreciate that.  If you own a Kindle or want to buy a computer, or anything, please start at the Goatmug Blog and then enter in a key word in the search box.  I've seen some cool and weird stuff bought through the site (and no, I can't tell who did it) so it is at least amusing to see what kind of consumers you guys are when I see the report!

Thanks again for supporting me by stopping by the blog.

GOATMUG

Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

MCP CHARTS - LONG OR SHORT?

Dr. Strangeglove asked for a perspective on MCP so here it is;

1 Yr Daily on MCP


Also here is a view of the 1 Year Weekly on MCP



GOATMUG

THE NOOSE IS TIGHTENING....


Moody's made the first assault on the beachhead just yesterday.  Shockingly, Standard and Poors reinforced the rear guard today reporting they put the USA sovereign debt on credit watch negative.

Now here is the real kick in the pants;
"The long-term rating may be lowered by one or more notches into the AA category in the next three months if SandP concludes Congress and President Barack Obama’s administration haven’t achieved a credible solution to the rising U.S. government debt burden and aren’t likely to achieve one in the foreseeable future, according to the statement. "
Note that it isn't like the Moody's warning that the debt ceiling negotiations were a reason for the potential downgrade, this explicitly states that the USA is on credit watch for its out of control spending.  In other words, EVEN Standard & Poors cannot be bought off anymore and just like several weeks ago with the Italian bonds, the rating agencies finally are stating the obvious.

Congress and the administration were just given a warning here and they better pay attention.  There are significant ramifications for downgrades and the biggest one of course is that we'll be required to by higher interest on borrowing.  We already know that the Fed (we) lose billions each time bonds trade 1 bps (basis point) higher.  We simply cannot afford an increase in borrowing costs now and rising interest expense simply adds to the problem of meeting our future obligations.

I'm increasingly repulsed by both political parties and  I only champion candidates that actually propose and support fiscal restraint and cutting EVERYTHING!  Note how I phrased that, I only care if they actually do what they say, not just say and not do.  Yes, that would include Rand Paul and Ron Paul who talk a good game and then suddenly can't get anything done.  I don't care if the program helps little old ladies, dogs, police, traders, bankers, beggars, or murderers, I want the programs and employment serving that program cut 10% tomorrow as an opening gesture.  I want Congress closed for half a year.  Finally, the department of Energy, Education, and Homeland Security need to be shuttered and all Federal Union contracts destroyed.  These should be a fine starting place to warm us up for discussions to move the retirement age for 40 year-olds and younger to 72 for Social Security.  Social Security tax caps need to disappear and benefits need to be means tested while Medicare and Medicaid outlays need to be reduced.  Finally, to cap off the blitzkrieg attack on government nanny-ness, waste, and fraud, the Patient Protection Act (Obama Care) should be thrown in the trash.

I haven't forgotten about defense spending either and that should receive a flat 15% cut and all foreign aid to all countries should cease immediately.  It is a travesty to think that Americans pay foreign aid to China so they can steal from us and rip us off and then lend to us.  It is wrong that Pakistan takes billions from us and then supports the Taliban that are killing our troops.  Once the money flows to other nations are halted we'll quickly find out if they were really our friends or not.

The rating agency actions are serious and our "representatives" in Congress and the guys in the administration better wake up.

It won't be long before the bond vigilantes come around and we'll see just how much fire power and creativity Bernanke has left.  The bond market is way bigger than the Fed balance sheet.  The Fed may be able to manipulate equity prices but he can't handle drinking from the bond market's hydrant if everyone starts selling treasuries.  He won't be able to keep rates at zero forever in the face of that kind of onslaught.  You can hear them saying, "Get a rope".

GOATMUG




Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 14, 2011

TIME TO SHORT SILVER? HOPE NOT.....

We are ramming up to significant resistance, could this be the time to bail and reload at a lower level?  Bulls simply need Ben Bernanke to say that the Fed is here to save us all and with whatever fire power he has and it will bust through.  On the other hand, if Benny seems dovish and acts like they have limited options, SLV is going to retest the $32.50 level again.

Be nimble!


GOATMUG


Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

SLAVERY THROUGH STUPIDITY, ENTITLEMENT, AND LIBERAL ARTS

I've often complained over the last two years that American kids are being sold into slavery when they buy into the notion that they MUST obtain a college education without regard to the cost or the amount of debt they must incur to earn a degree.  Recently I ranted about this in WHEN EVERYONE IS SPECIAL, NO ONE WILL BE.  The common idea that all American kids should be forced on to a track to take the college route is tone deaf to the notion that many kids just aren't "college material" and is also clearly oblivious to the fact that we actually have a big need for technical trades and skilled craftsmen. 

For the last twenty or thirty years our wonderful government has made it too easy for inexperienced adults to sign their lives away to take on massive student loan debt.  The easy money (debt) that has been made available to all applicants has also driven up demand for higher education resources, thus resulting in a never ending surge in college tuition and fees.  Basic economic fundamentals suggest that if there is more demand for a product or service, prices will move up in response.  As expected we've seen college inflation rates average around 7% per year! 
The dynamics of this situation have created several key results that have been detrimental to the quality of life for all US citizens.  These include;

  • Dumbing down the education - when more than half of college entrants aren't "college material" the universities are faced with a tough choice.  The schools can enforce their rigorous standards or they can loosen up expectations and ensure they can milk their students for a few more semesters. 

  • A by-product of a poor public primary education system is that there is more of an emphasis on careers that lean toward liberal arts and soft sciences rather than technical math and engineering.  We produce so many attorneys, social workers, and restaurant managers that we have rapidly lost our capacity to manufacture or create anything. 

  • Rising costs end up saddling everyone in the system (qualified or not) with more expense and for most, more debt.  This amounts to setting up graduates and failures alike with a lifetime of interest payments and lost opportunity cost.
The fiscal mismanagement of the US government and state governments have finally hit critical mass.  States can no longer grow their expense budgets and provide services to every special interest group they choose.  Governors are in a position where every expense item is subject to cutting and that includes state funded universities.  Things are about to change as we see the CNN Money article below. 

EXTREME TUITION HIKES AHEAD (right click your mouse and open in a new window!)
The link above gives us an idea of the changes that are coming to many of your favorite universities.  On average, many schools are planning to raise tuition costs by 22%.
Here are a few of the expected bumps in tuition in 2011.
Arizona State - +19.5%
Washington - Universities are consider a rise of 20%
Nevada schools will see an increase of 13% in tuition costs.
University of Florida plans to add more increases this year bringing the total tuition hike to 50% since 2008.

MY DEGREE ISN'T WORTH THE DEBT
We see that tuition costs have risen and will go even farther into the stratosphere, but we've got to ask ourselves is the college experience really worth it?  I've blasted students that go to private universities that end up with teaching degrees, social working credentials, or psychology degrees because they are often the kids that have racked up $80,000 or more in debt and earn $20,000 a year in compensation.  The universities should prohibit students from these degree tracks if they don't have cash to pay up front.  The ROI just isn't there to justify the cost.  Think I'm over the top?  Read the following stories from  6 "winners" that state they wish things were different. (right click and open a new window!)

I was just going to let the link go without making comments but I made the mistake of re-opening the story and I simply was disgusted by the absolute stupidity of three or four of them.  I want to feel sorry for them, but this is freaking ridiculous!  (Yes, I know, I'm sure they are really nice people.)

BIGGEST LOSER #5
Here is the money quote from dummy #5 who owes $80,000 and has a journalism degree

"Because of my debt, I can't afford to marry my girlfriend of five years (she's still in school herself, on loans). I don't want to buy a cheap engagement ring -- I want to be able to do it right.  I take full responsibility for my decisions, and believe me, I'd like nothing more than to "grow up" and pay my debts, but the truth is -- I feel like I spent my loans on a future that I simply did not receive."

This guy is absolutely correct in everything he says, but he still has this attitude of "doing it right" that he probably had when he was racking up all of this debt.  He probably thought about taking a job and paying for school over time, but no, "he wanted to do it right" and live on campus and just take loans out.  Where were his parents and counselors saying, "You won't make $20,000 a year as a journalist"?  If his girl friend has any sense she'll run away from this guy like he has the plague.  $80,000 in debt, why would you ever marry into this mess?

THE BIGGEST LOSER #4
Finally candidate #4 makes me want to go nuts.  She went to Tulane and owes $140,000 in debt and has a political science degree.  Wow!  She works for a non-profit now and is living off her credit cards.  Ummmm she hasn't learned a thing, perhaps she can work in Congress.  She is a disaster.

FINALLY, THE WINNER OF THE BIGGEST LOSERS - #3
The couple has $240,000 in student loan debt and they are both social workers? REALLY? Where are these people's parents? Who lets kids do this to themselves? Where is the financial aid counselor? These people don't have any future, none, zippo, they are condemned forever as a result of this burden. And yes, it is their fault and there is NO WAY out of it other than death. You cannot escape student loan debt through bankruptcy or anything, these guys are stuck.

So, when you think you are having a rough day or your life is pretty crappy, just bookmark this page so you can come back and read a reminder of what our best and brightest have to look forward to and you'll quickly realize that whatever mess you are in is simply better than the life of slavery they have signed up for; for their entire lives.


Right now, the average tuition cost across America is $6,500 a year (excluding living expenses and books) at a public university.  We are getting to the point where that is going to be unaffordable to many.  Something has got to give, and we are going to see some changes as a result of these out of control costs.

WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT?
Community colleges will become cool again -
Students that can't cut a 4 year degree and aren't really "college material" are going to increasingly opt for training and jobs that require an Associates degree only.  These students may be a radiology tech, dental hygienist, or something else that will help them find a decent job.  In some cases, this will be a shame because some of these kids really are college material, but the cost of a 4 year degree will simply be prohibitive to attend a regular university.

Second, we'll see more parents demand that kids go to community colleges to knock out all of their pre-requisite classes and essentially finish their first two years on the cheap.  Personally, I am a huge advocate of this approach and hope my kids listen to my wise counsel to try this.  The kid can stay free at home, earn money to save for their last two years, and finish maturing so they can make the most of their final two years at "the big school". 

Online - Here we come!
Major universities will begin conferring degrees that are 100% online.  Currently many schools still retain the "snob appeal" of requiring that a minimum number of hours are done in classroom.  A governor will require these "snobby" universities to deliver an affordable education to their state citizens soon.  Texas Governor Rick Perry had made requests to state universities in Texas to create a 4 year program that would cost $10,000 or less and it was met with stiff resistance from a number of factions.  My only question is why would you resist this, are there special interests involved?  Of course.  An online version of college for these students also would help them reduce the cost of living expenses.
The notion that everyone is entitled to a college education will finally die.  You are not entitled to a college education simply because you finished high school or because you can sign a loan document to receive funding and federal education assistance.  These criteria have resulted in massive fraud by for-profit colleges, but also have created billions of dollars of wasted resources, huge amounts of student loan debt, and ultimately a greater price paid by all kids that go to a university.  No one should be denied access, but we must recognize the damage that the easy access to these student loans is causing in the lives our poor and middle class youth.

Last, I know this will be unpopular, but the financing method of my university experience will finally come back in style.  When I went to school I worked and saved and then signed up for classes when I had enough money to pay the cost.  Yes, it took me a while longer to get through, but I was able to pay for 4 years of undergrad and 2 years of graduate school with no debt on my personal balance sheet.  It did take 8 years to complete that process.  Did finishing school this way seem tough?  Not really, I didn't know any better.  Did paying for the school with cash make me more serious?  Not at first, but once I failed a class and I realized it was costing me time and money, I was absolutely serious.  Any regrets?  I should have gone to a top 20 business school for graduate school, otherwise, no.

Please note, I am not calling for all sorts of government subsidies and interference to save our college system, in fact I'd like to see federal loans abolished.  I believe that colleges simply added infrastructure and headcount because they knew they had a greater and greater pool of students.  They never needed to constrain themselves or tuition expense because there was always demand there.  Of course the demand was driven by debt and that always leads to a bubble.  It seems we are at a crossroads where prices have increased so much it may finally reduce demand.  It can't come quick enough because we are witnessing an entire generation being enslaved by their stupidity, sense of entitlement, and their decisions to major in liberal arts.

GOATMUG

Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

IT'S THE END OF THE LINE KID


I don't know about you, but I've had just about enough.  I can only say that my frustration level in the last two weeks has been the highest in well, ever.  I basically hit the tipping point where I was ready to do many drastic things because I was tired and exasperated that reality had been suspended longer than any time period I would have expected or imagined.  What am I talking about?  Well, you see I have been brought to the breaking point by the fact that our markets have rallied and rallied and rallied while our world financial system has addressed absolutely none of the issues that created the original financial crisis in the first place.  Despite my many long purchases over the last two years, I have never once believed that things were all better and truthfully I still wake almost every morning and check the markets immediately to see that our futures markets would show us down 500 or 1000 Dow points or more.  Well, those days haven't materialized very often lately and I've had to say too often, I'm going to hold my nose and buy. Why am I writing this now?



RATINGS AGENCIES DO A HIT JOB (ITALIAN STYLE)
I'm writing this bearish confession I guess because I can't hold it in anymore.  Although it is obvious to readers that I've had a bearish leaning, I just can't express enough how badly we have attempted to paper over our mess.  Central bankers around the world have simply traded all the excessive credit on company balance sheets and transferred them to government or sovereign debt issues.  In the world monetary system the only thing we accomplished two years ago was to move the ticking debt bomb from the left pocket (private) to the right pocket (public tax-payer obligations).  While the USA has been the largest player in the use of that strategy, the ECB has been at work simply hiding and ignoring excessive debt problems within the EU zone.  We all know that Greece has received all the blame, but the reality is that all of these countries have created ponzi-schemes that were doomed to fail from the beginning.  Greece is simply the country that has reached there first.

Greece's small size has been one of the key reasons that the ECB and IMF have been able to extend and pretend and push these debt issues out farther than I anticipated.  If Greece were a bit larger or actually created something besides more pensioners we'd already been hitting critical mass.  However, last year during the first warning shot, the Europeans were able to play like the problems had been addressed and everyone gratefully carried on and witnessed an amazing comeback in equity markets as the world celebrated the genius of our financial maestros.  Unfortunately, there are larger Greece's that we've been talking about for some time.  I've often mentioned Portugal, Spain, and Italy since Feb 2010 and now it seems like the problem is just too big to ignore.  Just as the ECB and EU are struggling to get the Greek situation all taken care of, Italy has come under significant pressure from the one place we hadn't expected any real responsible analysis.....the rating agencies.  A couple of weeks ago Moody's announced that it was putting Italian sovereign bonds on the list for potential downgrade, (please note you of course wouldn't want to actually downgrade them).  While the warning was bad enough, what really rocked the financial world was that because of the large amounts of domestically held Italian bonds, 16 Italian banks that held those bonds were also subject to potential downgrade.  A couple of these banks are systematically important and connected with others in the EU to cause serious problems.  Uh oh. 


So, once again we are back to square one where this bank could face trouble and if it goes down another goes down which kills this other one.  Through the use of extraordinary measures and suspension of rules and lack of regulation of the CDS markets we have managed to find ourselves and the world right back in the midst of another event.  The central bank leadership including the IMF don't have enough money to begin bankrolling a fix for an issue the size of Italy. Having said all of that, we are very close to the end of the line.  The end of the line is the place where EU membership falls apart, heroic measures are instituted and they fail, and our financial systems are blasted.  We have done nothing to slow down this train and we have only done more to harm ourselves in the process and made the inevitable collision more traumatic. 

SO IS THE COLLAPSE HERE?
Of course it isn't the end, but you can put a big "X" on your calendar on Friday, June 23rd to mark the day where the wheels began to fall off again.  We've already seen the ECB float the idea that it would buy back bonds from troubled countries, also that it would ignore rating agency ratings, and we've seen Italy demand lists of investors that are short Italian bonds.  We will see liquidity injections by the IMF (17% by the USA of course), we'll see suspension of laws, and we'll see the FED send out emergency swap lines and liquidity to save the world.  We'll even see Europe's heroic knight, the Chinese, kick in substantial funds to buy bonds outright.  Unfortunately, it won't work; the jig is up - sort of.
 
EUROPEAN DRAMA ON A GLOBAL STAGE
Crazy as this may seem I'm more afraid to trade now than I was when I was freaked out and near the point of hanging up my options trading account password.  The reason I say this is that now we can be certain that there will be no rules left standing in the way of the end result of sweeping these messes under the carpet, no matter the cost.  Threatening and bribery of rating agencies, suspension of laws, and outright theft of public funds are actions that I can guarantee that we'll see over the course of the next months.  We will see massive printing of funds to create enough money to buy these troubled assets.  This all means that we will see scary dives and euphoric rocket launches and volatility like we haven't seen in quite a while.  Oddly enough, we are going to see all of this theater against the backdrop of US earnings which will probably be better than most bears think.  I think companies posting decent results will make this such an interesting reporting period yet it may be overshadowed by the drama playing out across the pond, this will make it difficult to trade longs or short.

VALUE-LESS PAPER CAN BE VALUED AT ANY AMOUNT
Remember, our currencies are simply made up things. In the past, Indians traded hides because they had value.  The Euro has value because we all agree there is value there.  Back in the midst of the financial meltdown, our Fed and the FASB simply stated that all the worthless mortgages on bank's balance sheets were going to classified as "held to maturity" relieving them of the obligation to find a real price for these bonds.  How could they do this?  Because these debts are made up pieces of paper based on a fictional value of made up paper.  Essentially everyone with financial power in the world colluded and came to an understanding that the mortgage paper had a new value of par and with the wave of an imaginary wand, all things were made whole.  Now in reality we know this isn't true, but it doesn't matter.  I remind you of all of these steps because if you don't understand this and if you don't remember this you will end up frustrated and near the breaking point just like I was a week or two ago. 

Does it change the fact that the exponential growth of world debt is beyond the control of anyone?  Does it mean that there won't be some sort of breakdown in the future where the Euro implodes or the dollar falls apart?  No, not at all.  But it does mean that we need to keep in mind that no matter how bad it gets there will be only one response by those in charge of managing the mess, it will be to press on!  European leaders will buy loads of debt issued by insolvent countries, the Fed will buy US treasuries, China will keep making loans that ultimately will never be paid back, and all of it doesn't matter.  They must do these things because if they don't continue, power and wealth will shift out of their control.  I don't know if you've ever been in a position as executive, but typically it is very hard for those that have position power and decision making power to simply leave it and lose it.  Why would we expect anything different from those making economic and financial decisions for their countries?

TRADING APPROACH
As this mess continues to heat up, I think gold will again be the un-currency.  I have been trying to buy some gold in the last couple of weeks and I had a target of $1475.  I haven't been able to get it there and we probably won't for a while.  Eurozone depositors in the PIIGS have largely shunned depositing money in domestic banks and it is believable that many of those former depositors are trusting in the anti-currency gold instead of the Euro.  Like them, I believe that gold is probably a good play here (due to fundamental issues with the debt crisis).

While there may be a big temptation to hop on to any other commodity-like hard assets, remember, a collapse of the Euro will lead to a strong dollar temporarily, meaning that if you are in the US, the dollar will rise significantly and commodities priced in dollars should also drop.  I'd stay clear.

A strong dollar probably also means dropping stocks, I enjoyed my BRK.B short (here's to you Warren) from Friday, but remember each day will be met with a huge and focused media blitz PR campaign telling us how everything is under control and how amazing the business climate is for companies and how great the earnings numbers have been.  Great company results could have an impact to really jam the indices higher and this is what makes this such a dangerous game for shorts.  We know we will have good numbers and positive conference calls AND announcement after announcement by EU officials stating that everything has been fixed.  While the longer term story may be dark, the heroin junkie stock market can only be focused on the real story for a day or two and then it is back to reaching for that drug induced high.  As I have stated, the driverless train will have a fiery and awful crash when it comes to the end of the line, the frustration is simply that we don't know when.      

BE CAREFUL! 

GOATMUG

Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/





Sunday, July 10, 2011

DISTURBING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REAL ESTATE

I had an interesting conversation with an old acquaintance the other day and it reminded me that people make money related decisions without examining costs and benefits and they never look out farther than a few months.  In addition, I heard a radio program today that reinforced my view of the NAR folks (and their local associates) and realtors in general.  The conversation and the radio program have a lot in common so bear with me. 

While I'm sure writing this post will be therapeutic for me, my hope is that readers will lock in on the absolute concern I have for this economy and the need for us to make meaningful, thoughtful, and hard financial decisions quickly, and now before our options and our cash stores have been wasted.  Before we get too detailed, let's have a little background discussion first.

In the area of the country I live we have been blessed economically.  Despite the US recession, our region suffered very mildly, and now have largely come back to the same employment or even grown since the last set of highs in 2007 and early 2008.  Because this area is in the energy corridor we've have been insulated.  Having said that, the suburban areas in our city did not enjoy such luck.  Lower income areas surrounding the city did get hurt and home values fell some 10% to 20%.  Still, compared to areas like Arizona, Nevada, and Michigan, this is great.  Specifically, the person I had coffee with lamented that their home value had fallen 5% below what they purchased the home for 10 years ago.  In this case, that paper loss is about $10,000 assuming all closing costs and a recent market valuation by a realtor.

As I chatted with my friend I asked a few more questions about their situation and found that the family is really struggling.  After all of their paychecks and bills each month they need about $2,000 additional cash to be able to meet their expenses.  Needless to say, I was shocked.  When I hear that kind of talk and I think of that kind of situation I feel like we should be in crisis or battle mode, not enjoying a coffee at a Starbucks!  It seems that the major issue creating a hole in their finances is their home.  Fortunately for them they had about $70,000 in emergency reserves to draw on to help cover this shortfall.  I was happy to hear that they met with several realtors and had received estimates of their home's value and the found that they would probably end up with a $10,000 loss due to falling home values in their area.

I asked when they were going to list the home for sale and I was met with silence.  It seems like it was a hassle to sell their home right now (during the summer busy season when there are a lot of buyers)  and they were planning on putting the house on the market next June.  I said, "WHAT?" and she mentioned that it was just too much trouble to try to get things ready all the time and next year would be better and they could de-clutter their home between now and then.  Additionally, by waiting another year, the home values would come back a bit. 

I could see how committed to this line of thinking she was so I didn't go much further.  I proposed a couple of scenarios for her about selling earlier and tried to highlight how her cash position might be different yet there was no movement.  This is when I realized that I was not there at the Starbucks as a male Mr. Fix-it goat, I was supposed to be playing the role of the sympathetic "listening only, no fixing" goat.  Like a Phil Jackson having a total Zen moment, this powerful realization hit me and I suddenly found peace.  There was not a chance this person was going to listen to the words she might hear, so I simply stopped, changed the subject, and finished my coffee.  I hugged my old friend goodbye and wished her family well, knowing that she was only deferring her trouble and hurting her family's longer term position.

In my youth I would have pulled out some paper and charted scenarios to try to show and convince my friend that a move now was needed, but I've aged and learned and know better.  So here's the frustration.  Assuming that these guys do put their home on the market next June and their $2000 a month shortfall remains they will be at least $24,000 poorer as their cash reserves will be liquidated. (12 months till listing).

In addition to that, they then must hope that the home actually sells and it is sold in a reasonable time of 90 day or so.  That is another $6,000!  We must also hope that their loss on their home is only $10,000.  As I mentioned in the July update, we are getting indications that banks are not beginning to release underwater inventory and breaking up the log jam of non-foreclosed properties.  In other words, these banks are increasing the flow of supply on the market and that may be bad for future sales prices.  No matter what, let's just assume that they sell the home for a loss next year of $5,000. 

Here's how it could work out;

SCENARIO 1
$5,000 loss on the property
$24,000 income drain for 12 months before listing
$6,000 income drain while waiting to sell the property.
In total, these guys suffered a $35,000 loss but a net cash loss of $30,000 by staying in this home!
They have $70,000 in cash reserves and would end up with $40,000 in remaining emergency funds.  If they were able to trade down to a home that needed only $1,000 additional income from their reserves, they could live a little over 3 years in this situation.

SCENARIO 2
On the flip side, they could list the home this month and face this situation.
$6,000 income drain while waiting to sell the property.
$10,000 loss on the home.
A total of $16,000 in losses but only a $6,000 cash loss. 
Let's assume they buy a home or rent and can drop the out of pocket needs to $1,000 a month to be very conservative. That results in a $9,000 cash drain.
At the beginning they had $70,000 but suffered a $6,000 cash drain and then a $9,000 drop due to still falling short of their expense needs.  Their total cash remaining would be $55,000.  While not optimal, they could still live in this situation for more than 4 years.

The family would probably be better off in the second scenario as well as many of their other expenses like air conditioning and heating would drop because they would be in a much smaller home. 

The point of this is simply that while it would be an inconvenience to move now, it is still going to be a hassle that must be endured.  Why not go through the pain now and come out the other side with a larger war chest for the future?  Why not cut your losses on the home instead of gambling that things work out for the best?  What if things actually get worse and the home value drops? 

KEY POINTS
CONSERVATIVE IS GOOD!
In this economic environment with all of the uncertainty isn't it best to attempt to have the smallest amount of debt and largest amount of savings to ensure that you can stay solvent as long as possible?  I love how this family had a pretty big store of savings, I hate how they plan to destroy their cash by taking too long to act on an important decision.

YOUR HOME IS SHELTER, NOT AN INVESTMENT
Have you noticed that the "Flip This House" and Carlton Sheets infomercials are no longer on TV?  This is happening because people are still getting killed in real estate.  As home-buyers we need to get rid of the notion that we'll be able to sell our home in 3 year or 5 years for a mint, it just isn't going to happen again.  We need to buy affordable homes that provide for our needs.  We don't need a home or a mortgage that fits the description that my mortgage broker and realtor told me when buying our first residence.  They stated, "Buy a home that is big enough and costs as much as you can possibly get even though it is uncomfortable now, with raises you'll be able to grow into it ."  What happens if you lose your job or those bonuses and raises don't materialize?  What if the economy takes a nasty turn and we enter a double-dip?

RADIO, REALTORS, AND NAR ASSOCIATES ARE SALESMEN
When is the last time a realtor told you it was a horrible time to buy?  Exactly.  As I mentioned in the introduction, I heard a radio show here locally that interviewed the local version of the Chairman of NAR.  He explained that home values were increasing and that is might be a good time to get out there a buy a home.  The realtor that was interviewing him continued to hammer home the idea that investment rentals were such a good deal because rents were up and that first home buyers should get out there and buy.  While that all may be true we just don't know and these guys didn't reference once that values could easily go down.  I wonder what my friend's realtor told them 10 years ago?  Probably the same thing they are saying now and everyday..... Buy! Buy! Buy!.

Financial decisions can be tough and they can be scary.  We always need to seek wise counsel and also remember that many times doing nothing is a decision.  Inaction due to fear, uncertainty, or over-analysis can sometimes be very costly.

GOATMUG



Goatmug is an investor that cares about you and your family. Goatmug's Blog - Financial Perspectives From The Mountain Top is a collection of thoughts on our economy and how it impacts the lives of investors and average people. While several specific investments are named in many of his posts, these articles are simply invitations for you to do your own research and reference to these securities does not constitute financial advice. Your situation is complex and unique and you should seek professional assistance with your trading and investing. Please visit Goatmug and share your comments at http://www.goatmug.blogspot.com/