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CLSA's Chris Wood "In Five Years The US Dollar Paper Standard Will Collapse"

Tyler Durden's picture




Chris Wood, who publishes the famous Fear and Greed newsletter, which Zero Hedge has republished on many occasions in the past (and whose latest edition can be found here), has some very scary things to say about the dollar in his interview by the CNBC lunch brigade. While Wood is still optimistic on Asia, and specifically China, due to lack of deflation in the region (for now), and expects an appreciation of the yuan soon, he is about as pessimistic on the dollar and "developed" economies as they come. 

My view is that there is an inevitable endgame as a result of all this massive spending of taxpayer money in the West and Japan to bail out bankrupt banking systems, so in my view unfortunately the end game will be systemic government debt crisis in the western world. It will probably happen in Europe and will climax in the US, and i am expecting on a five year view the collapse of the US Dollar paper standard...The key reason why that is the endgame is that this credit crisis we
saw in the west in 2008 and 2009 has simply been deferred, because 95%
of the so-called government policy solutions to deal with this crisis
have simply been to extend government guarantees. So the problem has
been transferreWd from the private sector to the public sector. It is just a matter of time before investors revolt against these sovereign guarantees...The crisis is going to happen first in Europe, the US will be the endgame. 

Wood is more optimistic on Japan and its 200% debt/GDP as the bulk of the debt is held by Japanese investors, which is not a new topic and has been discussed previously by SocGen's Dylan Grice, who however comes to the opposite conclusion. And to be sure, Chris' optimism on China has recently met with some stern opposition, including some of the most respected hedge funds, who see a simmering crisis in the world's most populous country which will make all existing bubble seem tame in comparison.




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Mon, 03/01/2010 - 15:58 | Link to Comment Internet Tough Guy
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Five years? I can't see this shell game going on more than two years.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:03 | Link to Comment Don Smith
Don Smith's picture

"The Market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent."

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:45 | Link to Comment macfly
macfly's picture

often said, but boy am I finding it true now, my shorts are killing me!!

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:15 | Link to Comment VegasBD
VegasBD's picture

Dont underestimate the people in power's ability to stay there.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:21 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

And do not underestimate the power of these people to rapidly screw things up while touting that the collapse is years off. It might get put off but it's going to become really apparent this year that it's going to happen and nobody can stop it.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:45 | Link to Comment tpberg7
tpberg7's picture

Indeed, the end is nearer than we think.  There is so much deception and misinformation in our society it is difficult to get a clear picture of reality.  I have a strong belief that the leaders of finance are running and scared witless.  They are working hard to hide this from us, but there plans will be shortly revealed.  The pride and arrogance of the elite is beyond belief.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 19:46 | Link to Comment ElvisDog
ElvisDog's picture

I disagree. Those in power are not scared out of their wits. They're trying to keep the game going a little longer so they can build up their personal fortunes and set up their escape plans. You would only be scared if you cared about the outcome. I think most of the powers-that-be are planning to profit from the outcome.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:23 | Link to Comment A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Given all the politicians "retiring", I would say the rats are jumping ship

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 01:24 | Link to Comment Squid-puppets a...
Squid-puppets a-go-go's picture

i also disagree. i saw the subprime collapse coming years before , and month aftermonth i was wondering 'why hasnt this shit collapsed yet?'

the oligarchs probably have a few more cards to deal in extend&pretend than the Fed Reserve's efforts alone

 

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 19:27 | Link to Comment Rainman
Rainman's picture

Number 2 guy at the Fed " retired " today....Fed Vice Chairman. And BB's good buddy and swami.

One rat jumps the sinking ship and the rest follow. We'll see.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:24 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

Make sure the captain isn't on one of the lifeboats - it's against the rules.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:06 | Link to Comment jongreen
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Consider the risk that if things fall off and shorts are set to make tons of money, it will happen at the same time at which there are no functioning banks or ATMs to remove your paper bills from?

 

Or in a less severe case, that governments will totally muck up the ability to withdrawl funds earned on shorts, requiring a clawback period, high tax, or other?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 19:48 | Link to Comment ElvisDog
ElvisDog's picture

And that's the fundamental problem with being short in a disintegrating market. It's like having an insurance policy, but everyone's house burns down at once, and the insurance company goes bankrupt. You might say "pay off my short" and the counterparty might say "too bad, so sad, no money left".

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:55 | Link to Comment Windemup
Windemup's picture

Then change your underwear.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:28 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:28 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

That was my thought as well.

I guess there are a few more tricks we have yet to see or imagine?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:38 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:53 | Link to Comment JohnG
JohnG's picture

Let O'Bummer feel the stress like we (I) do. 

 

(He wrote while pouring vat of Scotch....)

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 22:17 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 22:44 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:47 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Never underestimate the power of denial and the capacity of the average person to manufacture denial. It's more addictive than heroin and you make it yourself for free. Unlimited supply usually means total addiction.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:26 | Link to Comment A Nanny Moose
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Hopium

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:01 | Link to Comment Mongo
Mongo's picture

Why are the bozos always ballooning as soon as "collapse of the dollar" is mentioned. I mean PLZ, even retard understands this "endgame".

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:22 | Link to Comment truont
truont's picture

Because they are about to be whipped by management for letting Chris Wood get any airtime.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:59 | Link to Comment Assetman
Assetman's picture

But his hair looks so nice...

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:09 | Link to Comment Noah Vail
Noah Vail's picture

Ah, but of course, a buying opportunity. Always. He looks like a hippy caught in the headlights, but I will say he's pretty good with a teleprompter. I especially like the darting eyes and the stylish scripting.

 

I've had enough of video ads. No mas, por favor.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:38 | Link to Comment Pedro
Pedro's picture

I agree.  This is not even news anymore.  Wonder if he thinks he is being bold with this prediction?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:02 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:06 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:11 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:06 | Link to Comment chet
chet's picture

I love his George Washington hair.  Or is he the Sphinx?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:07 | Link to Comment zerofaith
zerofaith's picture

A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way :D

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:16 | Link to Comment Gimp
Gimp's picture

His hair is distracting the listeners from the message.

Five years sounds very optimistic but  three card monty can be played as long as there are suckers ready to pay.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:17 | Link to Comment ETF-Trader
ETF-Trader's picture

It's carrot top's dad.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:18 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:23 | Link to Comment dumpster
dumpster's picture

well his hair is fine .. its the mouths that need a clip..

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:30 | Link to Comment ETF-Trader
ETF-Trader's picture

ok...BTW, is it dumpster or cumdumpster?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:39 | Link to Comment dumpster
dumpster's picture

etf  ,, the merkin .. with a mouth of a 5  year old ,, living with mother

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 20:30 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

he is a bit much. It happens when we are insecure about using daddys computer to mess with the big boys and see if you can piss them off. He is best off ignored.

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 00:26 | Link to Comment dumpster
dumpster's picture

mouths that need a clip   ergo   The ETF guy

7 flags as junk on his hair is okay,,but the etf guy is okay.// what are you guy smoking

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:25 | Link to Comment Scarecrow
Scarecrow's picture

Everyone is still in denial about what he is trying to say. They would rather live in denial and be in bliss than face reality and be depressed.

 

 

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:34 | Link to Comment ETF-Trader
ETF-Trader's picture

yeah, just like merehuman would rather stuff dick in his mouth all day while calling everyone else gay, rather than look at robo's pic's.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:39 | Link to Comment Internet Tough Guy
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Master Bates, I presume?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:45 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
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are you going to spam all over the website?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:21 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:36 | Link to Comment dumpster
dumpster's picture

ETF-Trader=dickweed loser=potty mouthed masterbates= low class merkin in shabby hotel 

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:37 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:26 | Link to Comment hambone
hambone's picture

Guy gets cut off before he finishes a single thought or sentence by argumentative pin heads.  I guess the other 55 minutes of the hour the hosts get isn't enough...feel the need to shout 'em down and dismiss their guests.

No wonder their ratings suck...they just can't stand to even acknowledge the coin has two sides.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:46 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 20:03 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

He sounds like he just hit the bong.....

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:27 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:30 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:13 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 19:02 | Link to Comment Big Red
Big Red's picture

Agreed, not a site I can promote whatsoever.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:37 | Link to Comment Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

Boy this clip has the CNBC All Star Fuckwid team all wired up at once!

Its just sewage. Raw fucking sewage.

 

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:42 | Link to Comment A Man without Q...
A Man without Qualities's picture

It is impossible to explain complex ideas to idiots if they all keep interrupting.

"The US has the most stable government in the world."

and the Titanic had the most stable crew in the world....

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:43 | Link to Comment BobPaulson
BobPaulson's picture

Saying five years is just like saying "n" years. Some number, whatever. 

Wanting it to happen doesn't make it happen faster. I am starting to believe they'll just pass some laws resetting the debt and just keep going. There needs to be a stable alternative and right now I don't see it. To fail this system would have to be unable to provide a means to trade for basics like food and gasoline before people will abandon it.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:04 | Link to Comment Internet Tough Guy
Internet Tough Guy's picture

All that is needed for the system to fail is for people to have an expectation that the longer they hold their USD the less it is worth. That belief starts the inflation spiral. You will still get paid in USD, buy things in USD, but you won't want to hold wealth in USD. And that's the end.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:16 | Link to Comment twotraps
twotraps's picture

agree.  where will all that cash go?  Bazillions of dollars worth of crap will get sold and go somewhere.  As an interim, maybe Japan....maybe better there than China where there are still no basics like rule of law, property ownership etc. to speak of.    The US Govt has a chance now to blow the best game ever pushed on so many people at once on the planet....to trade in dollars!  Pathetic. 

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:44 | Link to Comment Stuart
Stuart's picture

Inflate or Die!

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:48 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:53 | Link to Comment Harbourcity
Harbourcity's picture

How the hell does Beaker still have a job at MSNBC?  Everyone knows that the US is the end game because of the reserve currency.  Everyone knows that when things hit the fan in Europe people move into the US dollar - it doesn't mean that the US dollar is strong.  Why is he still asking these kinds of questions?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:15 | Link to Comment B9K9
B9K9's picture

The irony is that the LA Times, a bankrupt newspaper (along with the Chicago Tribune and some other choice fish wraps), is reporting on cut-backs in the broadcast media.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:56 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:56 | Link to Comment Postal
Postal's picture

No, no, no! Who the hell screwed up at CNBC? If I wanted reality, I'd read ZH......

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:56 | Link to Comment pocomotion
pocomotion's picture

Gold, Asian and Emerging markets was his hype but WHEN???  We have many roads to travel in 5 years.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:00 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:29 | Link to Comment MarketTruth
MarketTruth's picture

Why wait. April 15 to 18...

**********************

NATIONAL STRIKE
April 15 to April 18TH
Tell Everyone You Know
POST THIS ON EVERY DISCUSSION BOARD
www.taxfree15.com

+++ Also ++++

Join The Civil Revolution
Watch and FWD THIS LINK
www.REVOLTstartsNOW.com

**********************

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 07:32 | Link to Comment Rick64
Rick64's picture

I want to encourage you to keep posting this. We need to wake up.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:15 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:16 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:30 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:38 | Link to Comment Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now's picture

To put this in perspective, this would be like believing that we would see the end of the world when the debt clock could no longer count the national debt - they just added another digit.  Adapt the game to suit if you have control of the social structure when the way forward becomes difficult.  The US has everything it needs except rare earth metals and oil.  But the game is not just nation against nation, central banks are collectively conspiring against nations (Toxic CDOs) for the World Bank, IMF, and BIS.

One of the best articles I have read in a long time on the big picture and the transition.  I highly recommend it:

Crashing Towards a New Social Order: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article17568.html

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:58 | Link to Comment Bob
Bob's picture

Only halfway through it, but must thank you for the link.  The author's relentlessly rational yet unpressured progress in his analysis is quite different from what I've come to expect from the "NWO" crowd (which, though I expect this piece to lead there, may prove to be a misattribution on my part.)  

In any case, thanks for the link.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 17:59 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Nice to see you post AN. Always enjoy your commentary.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:30 | Link to Comment mrgneiss
mrgneiss's picture

I think comments like this undermine the credibility of the article:

"China and Russia would like to see a stable, multi-polar world; it is only our elite bankers who are obsessed with world domination."

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:40 | Link to Comment Bob
Bob's picture

Perhaps an oversimplification, perhaps a reflection of where geopolitical "evolution" has led us/them. 

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 19:03 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Both good comments. Thought provoking. This is an old argument: Structure vs. Agency. This article overtly attributes a great deal to multi-generational agents (why I have trouble with the NWO stuff). It could still be pretty accurate, but be more a product of structure/evolution presenting individual agents with choices that look "natural" to them, but viewed through the macro lens, are in fact a product that is more out of their hands than we would suppose. Another way to say this is the players are replicating their evolving cultures more than they are studying for, planning, and executing a big conspiracy.

Good article. The author has an overview that is impressive at first glance. A few of the things he found and labeled as precursors to his predictions were grasps at straws, but the over all map was compelling.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 19:10 | Link to Comment Bob
Bob's picture

My thoughts exactly (including the "agency" issue, which tends to smack of an operationally unecessary paranoia . . . I hope!)

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:46 | Link to Comment sneering nihilist
sneering nihilist's picture

i had to listen to that argument a few times myself.

"the panic selling during a dollar collapse would cause a self-healing rush to buy the dollar."

yes, of course.  btw, i really like the "spitting up blood" visual.  i'm going to find a way to use that at least five times at work tomorrow. thanks.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:46 | Link to Comment THE DORK OF CORK
THE DORK OF CORK's picture

This monetarist madness must end now - this capital is unproductive at the moment and when/if banks release these reserves they will fuel further malinvestment in consumer sectors that do not increase the capacity of economies  to generate true wealth.

Massive fiscal spending on long term structural projects will increase price inflation also but will provide some wage inflation to counter the inevitable.

After a decade of this necessary investment in will provide a baseline of infrastructure that will sustain at least some wealth for the long term

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:46 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:56 | Link to Comment Shameful
Shameful's picture

If this takes 5 years to blow up I will be mad with glee and joy.  I'm praying it's not within 2 years!  Every year is another year I can get ready for whatever fallout happens, and being a dumb kid it's not like I was really sitting around with a lot of resources to prepare.

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 18:58 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:26 | Link to Comment williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Don't worry folks, the dollar is "self healing"

These interviewers remind me of the Skoobidoo show.

 

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:51 | Link to Comment BlackBeard
BlackBeard's picture

Shit, Dennis Kneel still has a job?  I thought he was sucking cock for tens in Harlem!

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:52 | Link to Comment Captain Willard
Captain Willard's picture

So if there's to be a dollar crisis, what will China do with all those dollar reserves?

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 22:09 | Link to Comment THE DORK OF CORK
THE DORK OF CORK's picture

I guess they could use all those FRNs to insulate their homes against the coming Ice Age - oh shit those dollars are in the form of electrons so they are going to have to find something else to keep warm - cow dung comes to mind

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:18 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 05:59 | Link to Comment chindit13
chindit13's picture

Perhaps someone a lot smarter than me can explain why so many folks downplay Japan's massive federal debt because "95% if held by domestic investors".  I can understand if a country's debt is external and in a currency other than the home currency, but how is Japan better off than the US, where 100% of the debt is held by terrestrial investors, and like the yen, all of it is in the currency which the US retains the right---and exercises it regularly---to print the currency?

In addition, in a pinch the US has the nuclear option, that is, default on non-domestic held Treasury paper.

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 07:29 | Link to Comment Rick64
Rick64's picture

Chris woods in 2007 said that gold would be $3,400 oz. in 3 yrs. well there is still time but these guys are usually early on their calls. The problem is applying logic to the markets when they operate more on confidence, and hype which increases confidence.

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 07:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 10:00 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 10:01 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 12:56 | Link to Comment Anonymous
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