Chris Martenson Blogs

Daily Digest - November 7

DailyDigest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:41:36 +0000

Metals And Currencies: A Long-Term Dynamic Strategically Used To Preserve Wealth
Mauldin: The Glide Path Option
Dollar Will be "Utterly Destroyed": Strategist (Video)
Fannie Mae...up to $200 billion needed
The Commercial Loan Nightmare Facing U.S. Banks
Moody’s: Pension Strains Put Pressure on Ratings
(D.C.) Metro to appeal arbitrators' pay decision
Auditor: Lorain will have trouble meeting December payroll

Market Recap - Ridiculous Productivity

cmartenson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:12:48 +0000

Practically every day I post my observations about what is happening in the markets and larger world for enrolled members in the "Martenson Insider" area and then we discuss it.

Here is yesterday's post (11/5/09).

I'd be delighted if you would consider joining.

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After digging around and sifting through the things both said and not said, I have come to the conclusion that what we are seeing are the likely effects of a rescue operation.

By this I mean a large injection of stabilizing cash to one or more parties, possibly related to the recent large bankruptcies. Two of my friends, who have been actively trading for more than 20 years between them, threw in the towel this week, as their patterns and methods are no longer working.

Their conclusion is the same as mine; this market is not trading like it used to. It is trading chaotically, counterintuitively, and as if there's some sort of distorting influence involved.

First, we might just wonder if this isn't the impact of a rogue firm with entirely too much power moving the market for its own benefit. read more »

Daily Digest - November 6

DailyDigest — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:48:04 +0000

Peter Schiff Vlog-Web Site Sabotage-Government Stupidity (Video)
State and Local Pension Gap May Be $1 Trillion, Kramer Says
N.Y. state 3-year deficit may top governor's forecast
New Monetary Base number goes even higher
Dollar shortage in China's foreign exchange market
Junk Default Rate Is Highest Since Great Depression
CMBS Delinquencies Swell to 5.5% in October, says BarCap
Social Security inundated by new disability claims
Zombie Banks

read more »

Daily Digest - November 5

DailyDigest — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:54:23 +0000

Crisis Compels Economists To Reach For New Paradigm
State Budgets: How Bad Will It Get?
Why Dilbert Is Doomed
FED Gives Banks Deadline To Submit Exec Pay Proposals
States Are Pondering Fraud Lawsuits Against Banks
New Role For Goldman: Taking Away People's Homes
Risks And Rewards On China's New Stock Board
Small Banks Move In As Giants Falter
Call It A Smart Thermostat
Toxic Waste Threatens Vital Water Source In The Southwest

read more »

Decoding the Fed (Again)

cmartenson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:57:51 +0000

Once again, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (waggishly referred to as the Open Mouth Committee during the Greenspan era, for its tendency to try and talk up a good response in the markets) has delivered a widely anticipated "non-event" from its most recent meeting.

That is, interest rates were left untouched at a level indistinguishable from zero.

As expected.

Once again I will try and provide translation services for the overly obtuse and meandering language preferred by the FOMC staff writers. read more »

Daily Digest - November 4

saxplayer00o1 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:46:49 +0000

U.S. Cuts Borrowing Need 43% for October to December
More walk away from homes, mortgages
33 percent of LA employers in poll will lay off workers in 2010
Small-Business Bankruptcy Filings Up 44% Year-over-year, Equifax Data Show
More Muni woes on the horizon (San Francisco)
Vallejo Voters To Consider Tax On Text Messages
UC's retirement plan (costs)
G20 Drive to Rebalance World Economy (a few quotes)
Default Swaps Contracts Over $3B Triggered By CIT Bankruptcy
October Personal Bankruptcies Highest Since 2005 Law Changes
Treasury invites bloggers (Posted by Davos)
Melt value of old and new coins

read more »

Daily Digest - November 3

DailyDigest — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:50:35 +0000

The Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex
Geithner "Burned Billions," Shafted Taxpayers on CIT Loan, Prof. Bill Black Says
The Social Management of Foreclosures
IMF Sells Gold to India, First Sale in Nine Years
It is Japan We Should Be Worrying About, Not America
$2.3 Billion CIT Loss Is Just The Tip Of The Iceberg
FHA Will Be The Next Giant To Tumble
Treasury May Block Goldman Sachs, Fannie Mae Deal
Monthly Business Bankruptcy Filings Rise 7%
House Health Bill Totals $1.2 Trillion
What Are The Stakes In The U.S.-China Yuan Tussle?
Fed's Path To Higher Interest Rates Begins To Take Shape
Vladmir Putin's Deputy Visits London Seeking Financial Relief For Russia
Powering a Green Planet: Sustainable Energy
Energy Seminar (2008-2009) from Stanford University (Video)
Meeting The Energy Crisis With Potatoes
Everybody In The Pool Of Green Innovation
Snow Cap Disappearing From Mount Kilimanjaro

read more »

Daily Digest - November 2

DailyDigest — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:49:17 +0000

How Goldman secretly bet on the U.S. housing crash
Commercial Lending Giant CIT Files Bankruptcy
The Biggest Trade Deal Of The 21st Century
Japan May Be Worse Off Than America
Is Catastrophic The New Normal?
US, EU Urged To Find Common Ground On "Too Big To Fail"
Madoff Documents Reveal Incredulous, Unfocused SEC
Credit Card Issuers In Support Of Debt Repayment Program
How Moody's sold its ratings - and sold out investors
California's New Gold Rush
Getting Hotter: Geothermal Power Is Attracting The Big Boys
A New Tool For Wind Power

read more »

Market Shift - Something Is Coming

cmartenson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:02:30 +0000

A new Martenson Report is ready for enrolled members.

Link: Market Shift - Something Is Coming

A snippet:

As you know, I spend a great deal of time combing the available market information for clues about what is happening in the economy and where it may be leading us. This past week (October 24 - October 31, 2009) showed some amazing developments indicating that a major turning point is once again upon us.

This assessment is based on several key events, including the bankruptcy of Capmark Financial, which kicked off the week, the return of volatility to the stock market (reminiscent of past tops), and the bizarre strength in the price of gold on Friday, even as the Dow peeled off nearly 250 points.

Click the above link to read this report. Please note that the full report is available only to enrolled members. To enroll, please click here.

[Note: Comments are disabled here; see the Martenson Report content box on the main page for comments.] read more »

Daily Digest - November 1

DailyDigest — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:48:16 +0000

US Economic Growth Deconstructed
Catching Argentinian Disease
Burden of Safety Law Imperils Small Toymakers
Spotlight on Eastern European Currencies and Gold
The Grim Reality Is That America Is Not Out Of Recession
Federal Debt: What Happens If Governments Can't Repay?
FED Held Retreats At Luxury Resorts After Blasting AIG For The Same
Inflation 'Supply Shock' Inferno
How And Why China Will Flood the Gold Market
Tuna ban 'justified' by science
Solar Hybrid Ferries To Set Sail

read more »

Daily Digest - October 31

DailyDigest — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:57:18 +0000

Data Likely to Credit Stimulus for 650,000 Jobs
Energy-savings project leaves Army in the cold
Dead Government Walking
Stocks Sizzle As China Debuts Nasdaq- Style Stock Market
Americans Becoming Increasingly Disheartened
650,000 Jobs Created/Saved By Stimulus? There’s No Way to Know
California To Withhold A Bigger Chunk Of Paychecks Starting Sunday
Nine U.S. Banks Seized In Largest One-Day Haul
Do Banks Have Something To Hide?

read more »

Daily Digest - October 30

DailyDigest — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:53:28 +0000

The Odd Couple
Dangerous Side Effects of Ultra-Easy Money
Gold Market Reaching The Breaking Point
China and Brazil trade in yuan
U.S. Home Vacancies Rise to 18.8 Million on Defaults (Update1)
Malpass Says U.S. Economy Will Slow, Enter ‘Gloomy Period’
Ravitch Says States Face Total Deficits of $500 Billion in 2011
Moody’s May Downgrade Mortgage Bonds With New Outlook
Common Currency Weighs on Airbus
Why The Foreclosure Crisis Is Unsalvagable
Long Live The Gold Basis
The Right Way To Break Up With Your Credit Card
China-U.S. Group Announces Plans to Build Massive Wind Farm In Texas
Northeast Renewable Energy Projects Are A Growing Trend
Cheaper Desalination- A Fresh Way To Take Salt Out Of Seawater

read more »

Daily Digest - October 29

DailyDigest — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:51:47 +0000

Few senior traders or bankers believe that fundamentals explain this pattern
Why Asia must eventually ditch the Dollar
Urban Wastelands for Sale
GMAC And Treasury In Advanced Talks For $2.8 Billion More From Taxpayers
Proposed Legislation Would Put Bank Rescue Cost on Big Companies
First Amex And Visa, Now Bartercard- Yes It's For Real
Largest Growing Economic Force Is Women
Gravity Of Global Power Moving From West To East
Roubini: 'We are planting the seeds of the next financial crisis'
Chicagoans Could Get Paid For Turning In Tax Cheats
Geithner sees dollar's reign lasting 'long time'
Tax refugees staging escape from New York
Former Chairman of Citigroup: Restore Glass-Steagall
Financial Services Committee and Treasury Department Release Draft Legislation to Address Systemic Risk, “Too Big to Fail” Institutions
Goldman Lobbies Senate, Says Full Transparency Sucks
The 500-lb Gorilla In The Room: The Bogus Ratings of Moodys, Fitch, et al...
Reasons For Optimism In The Face Of A Future Economic Crisis
Living Out The Austrian Economic Forecast: Hyperinflation As A Consequence of Money Printing
China: The Next Alternative Energy Powerhouse
The Victory of the Commons

read more »

The Crash Course in 45 Minutes (or less)

cmartenson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:05:05 +0000

To commemorate our one-year anniversary, I'm pleased to announce that I am posting a free, condensed, 45-minute version of the Crash Course for your viewing enjoyment.

The presentation it contains is part of a public talk delivered in Boulder, Colorado, this past summer filmed by Dave Gardner (who is working on a documentary called GrowthBusters, check it out - he deserves and would appreciate support for his project).

If it has been a while since you watched the Crash Course, please take the time to experience this new format.

You can watch all six parts here on this page. read more »

New Martenson Report on Personal Preparation

cmartenson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:13:10 +0000

A new Martenson Report is ready for enrolled members.

Link: Personal Preparation - Where to Begin

I am continuing with my thoughts and advice on preparation for a very different future. This time we focus on personal preparation. In this report I discuss many of the changes and actions that we have personally undertaken in my household.

A snippet:

In a recent report entitled It's Time to Prepare, I walked through the financial preparations that one might take to add greater resilience to one's holdings and where they are located.

But there is more to preparation that just financial savvy. I have been asked repeatedly to provide some guidance on personal preparation. In this report, I will begin the process of sharing my thoughts and experiences about this subject. read more »

Daily Digest - October 28

saxplayer00o1 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:50:10 +0000

Costco plans to accept food stamps nationally
Back-Door Taxes Hit U.S. With Financing in the Dark
New York Fed’s Secret Choice to Pay for Swaps Hits Taxpayers
U.S. Imposes Preliminary Tariffs on Two Chinese Steel Imports
Commission to rein in federal entitlement costs is proposed
Once Lucrative Commercial Real Estate Industry Faces 50% Job Cuts Nationally
MBA puts new headquarters up for sale
Plan Puts Cost of Bailout on Rivals
GMAC Asks for Fresh Lifeline (posted by joemanc)
Economic Collapse in America - Victorville Part (Video)
Housing slump hits California timber industry like a buzz saw

read more »

Daily Digest - October 27

DailyDigest — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:50:56 +0000

Death of 'Soul of Capitalism'
An Overview Of The Fed's Intervention In Equity Markets Via The Primary Dealer Credit Facility
Iceland Says Goodbye to the Big Mac
Ex-A.I.G. Chief Is Back In Business With A New Venture
U.S. Bank Charge-off Rate Exceeds Great Depression
Dollar Hits 14-Month Low Against The Euro
Doubling Down At America's Biggest Pension Fund
Our Drunken Uncle Sam
Grayson calls Fed adviser 'K Street Whore'
China Expert Urges FX Reserves Shift; Dollar Falls
$13 an Hour? 500 Sign Up, 1 Wins a Job
The Future of Solar Power
Plants for the Future
Lasagna Gardening

read more »

Daily Digest - October 26

DailyDigest — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:42:48 +0000

The US - The Real Economy and the False Economy
Food Will Never Be So Cheap Again
Do not ignore the need for financial reform
Russia to sell 20-50 T Gold in 2009
More Stress Test Shenanigans
Fair Game - If the Lender Can't Find the Mortgage
Volcker: Bernanke Didn't Go Far Enough
Experts see rebounding economy shedding jobs
Philippines sold $1 billion of dollar-denominated bonds
State of Alabama Grapples With Cost Of Benefits (Graph)
Dollar Falls Vs Euro,Yen On China Reserves Report

read more »

Daily Digest - October 25

DailyDigest — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:54:32 +0000

TARP chief: Banks possibly 'in more danger now'
Even the Fed Doesn't Want to Hold U.S. Dollars
Herding the Sheep
China to use ASEAN meet to make Yuan an international currency
Lazard Asset Management Fund Dumps The Dollar
The Future Of Warfare
French Official Says U.S. Trying to Inflate Away Debt
The Number of Job Hunters 65 or Older Skyrockets
Freddie Mac’s Secrecy Pacts Face Court Test
Mauldin For The Week (JRB)

read more »

Daily Digest - October 24

DailyDigest — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:49:11 +0000

US Treasury sets record $123 billion bond auction next week
Death of the Soul of Capitalism
Credit Card companies up to more tricks Citi to cardholders: Your new interest rate is 29.99%
Holding Banks Accountable:Showdown in Chicago
Doom and Gloom for Britain
Former Prime Minister of Singapore on the current situation
Peter Schiff covers government intervention and hyperinflation (Video)
The American Bankers Association (ABA) Exposed
Rutgers University Economists say it Could Take Seven Years to Recover from Recession
How Uncle Sam is killing your savings
The Greatest Depression Is Coming

read more »