Archive - Oct 26, 2009 - Blog entry

The rally in global stock markets has helped fuel the partial recovery in OECD pension assets but it will take years before these assets fully recover. Why? Because given the low bond yields throughout the developed world, it is unrealistic to expect stocks to continue rising at this blistering pace. Moreover, the fundamentals suggest the recovery will be more modest than what is currently priced in.

My criticism of the "public option" proposal urged by MoveOn spokesperson Heather Graham drew some jeers from the pack, so I thought I'd expound on the topic of national health care. This first article is about the experience of other countries. To come up with the best system possible, why not take a look at systems around the world that are run or sponsored by governments. Do some research and find out what works and what doesn’t. Also, we should be very skeptical of cost estimates for the proposed system.

In crazy times like today, all one could and actually should ask for is sanity. Yes, sanity – a clear mind free of noise to deal with the insanity that is thrust upon us by a volatile and noise-making machine also known as the stock market. We find ourselves glued to the computer screens or CNBC waiting to find out what the Dow’s next tick is going to be. Unfortunately, we are left with only a headache and wasted time. OK, what’s next? Here is my advice: read. Read books that will bring you sanity, the ones that will snap you back into the shell of investor and out of the sorry shell of nervous observer of the daily stock market melodrama. The following books are excellent choices and come with plenty of sanity and sage advice.

What economic system do we really have in America right now?

Project Mayhem, professor of Oligopoly Studies at NYU, sorts through the various squid tentacles of the past week.

Definitely some interesting articles in my weekly link fest. We’ve got inflation, deflation, oil, jobs and of course plenty of Goldman barbs. What more could you ask for?