This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Did Today's Stock Plunge Give The QEeen Light?

Tyler Durden's picture




 

From mid-November last year,  S&P 500 futures fell from a high of 1259 to a low of 1136 in around 9 days - 123 points (or 9.7%). This was enough, it seemed, for the Central Banks of the world to get on the phone and press the big green 'print' button in a coordinated response to markets waking up to the dismal reality hidden under the covers. From May 1st highs at 1412 to today's 1300.5 lows is a 112point drop in around 13 days (or a drop of around 7.8%). While the most recent move is slower and smaller so far - today's action in stocks (and even more so in Gold) perhaps reflects the reality that QE3 is inevitable (gold) but not until stocks have fallen enough to warrant 'extraordinary actions' by the Fed. Do we have another 2-3% drop before the Fed picks up the phone?

 

and as we noted earlier, perhaps it is worth considering how the 'USD-fiat-based unit of account that the S&P 500 is priced in' is now dramatically different from the 'non-fiat-currency unit of 'risk' that credit is priced in'. Critically, credit markets remain a far more effective indication of the business cycle or credit demand/supply to put it another way, than the USD-devalued unreality of US equities...

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:10 | 2437339 kahunabear
kahunabear's picture

Most likely.

All Uncle Sugar needs to do is issue debt at these low rates and buy FB to get us out of this mess.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:12 | 2437363 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

I was just noticing on the Treasury article how the charts are looking all QEasy.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:23 | 2437405 Crisismode
Crisismode's picture

At 1266 Benny hits ctrl-P.

At 1166 Benny calls Obama.

At 1066 England is invaded by Normandy.

At 966 Obama gets down on his knees in prayer.

At 666 God says to Obama "It's lights out time for you, buddy"

 

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:31 | 2437434 gmrpeabody
gmrpeabody's picture

They have already said they're not doing anymore QE....

.... right?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:36 | 2437452 Rainman
Rainman's picture

yeah and I'm a dictionary salesman.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:34 | 2437660 BigJim
BigJim's picture

Hey Tyler, saw this over at TFMetalsReport.com ...

"IMHO, QE3 is presently being implemented via the Chartering of NEW Bank Holding Companies in the United States which will utilize Chinese held U.S. Treasuries as their base Capital.
-The Chinese held US Treasuries will be utilized as base capital upon which to create trillions of digital FRN via fractional reserve.
While these Treasuries were held outside of the U.S. Banking System, FRN could not be created via fractional reserve; -but, now these Treasuries WILL be used as a basis to generate digital FRN out of thin air.
IF China holds $1.2 Trillion of U.S. Treasuries....
...Then $1.2 Trillion in U.S. Treasuries = the possible creation of $10.8 Trillion new digital FRN via fractional reserve banking.
This is exactly how the U.S. Banks Counterfeited [sic] FRN and ramped up inflation during the housing bubble.
-It is going to be done again with the help of the Chinese.
The Chinese ARE NOT going to 'dump' their Treasuries: the Chinese are going to print Trillions of digital FRN and go on an unprecedented .GOV/FED sponsored Leveraged Domestic Buying Binge!"

This rather interesting idea seems to have been generated by this little-noticed story from last week.

http://www.thedeal.com/content/regulatory/fed-allows-china-wealth-fund-to-buy-us-bank.php

 

any comment?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:43 | 2437685 The Big Ching-aso
The Big Ching-aso's picture

 

 

If stocks keep dropping like this they're gonna have to hand out free money to people who can't afford to gamble.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:36 | 2437846 Cdad
Cdad's picture

Long silver futures here...'nough said.

Cdad

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 20:39 | 2437971 AldousHuxley
AldousHuxley's picture

time to load up on gold silver

 

are gold futures taxed as collectibles?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:14 | 2438199 The trend is yo...
The trend is your friend's picture

qe after a 7.6% pullback?  That's hard to sell.  I think it needs to be close to 12-16% before the call is made

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 23:40 | 2438404 luztrella
luztrella's picture

Spoke to my local coin dealer and he said it has to issue a 1099 for any sale of FOREIGN coins totally $25,000 or more.  American coins do not require the 1099.  I have read elsewhere that they are taxed as collectibles but you can carry a capital loss over.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:54 | 2437868 jus_lite_reading
jus_lite_reading's picture

I heard the same thing from someone who sounds like that wrote that article... they are working every way to Sunday to circumvent the "laws" preventing "monetizing" more debt... this will end well!! LMAO

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:04 | 2438024 AustriAnnie
AustriAnnie's picture

What would have happened if the Fed told them no to buying the bank?  China made them an offer they couldnt refuse, perhaps: Either A) we dump your treasuries, or B) all your banks are belong to us. 

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 00:08 | 2438459 mammoth mo
mammoth mo's picture

Just my opinion.

QE has never stopped.  The low volume rally has all been QE or Twist or something that begins with printing money.

The problem they are having now is too many rats biting the same hot dog.

JP Morgan's failed hedge bet comes to mind.

 

Figure this one out.  JP Morgan knows before anyone exactly where money is going and when.  Yet they tried to hedge to make even more money.  I can't tell you how absurd this is.  If you break down how much money they get from the U S government by the number of employees they have it's well over a million per employee.  Yet, even in a fat guilded ship someone always wants to be top dog.  In order to become top dog they all try to make a little extra on the side.  They do this by keeping information from each other.  No one is the wiser until something blows up.

Basically Dimon could have cared less as long as his profits were coming in.  The problem with one greedy rat is it ignites the greedy gene in all of them.  Now many are selling out of their own positions just in case things go south.  You don't want to be the last rat holding inequality when Greece goes totally bust.  Once the selling starts you can't correct human mob behavior in the moment. 

All QE will be a signal to sell out of gifted positions to the U S taxpayer or sucker du jour. 

 

They can QE all they want from here out - saturation has been reached and it can't save Greece or Spain or Italy.  It can only inflate the cost of current goods.

 

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:37 | 2437458 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

Crisismode said:

At 1266 Benny hits ctrl-P.

At 1166 Benny calls Obama.

At 1066 England is invaded by Normandy.

At 966 Obama gets down on his knees in prayer.

At 666 God says to Obama "It's lights out time for you, buddy"

At 555 crazy shit happens at regular intervals, as if controlled by a timer.

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:46 | 2437509 DCFusor
DCFusor's picture

Only two people got the joke so far?  I thought there were plenty of EE's here.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 23:28 | 2437577 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

 

 

All the new EE's are 'model jocks' (alternatively: schematic entry clerks) who program FPGAs and make sure all the vendor's timing models are available or they simply utlize SOC ('System On Chip' or alternately various 'chip sets') from the major silicon vendors (implementation or 'problem solving' is done with the help of the vendor's various app engs which is where the 'expertise' is for RF signal modulation and demodulation chips e.g. used for WiMAX/LTE, WiFi etc), and/or don't read/write native English and have never seen an 8-pin DIP through-hole package ...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:21 | 2437634 A82EBA
A82EBA's picture

Im no EE but I get the 555 Timer lol

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:04 | 2437755 Strider52
Strider52's picture

I believe you are referring to a NE555 timer chip?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 23:12 | 2438291 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

 

 

Signetics termed it the NE555 whereas National Semiconductor termed it LM555 (for Linear Monolithic (process fabrication on the usual wafer in layered form) as opposed to "LH" e.g. LH0002 (a high-current linear buffer chip) for Linear Hybrid technology (actual construction of a multi-component 'chip' via very small components interconnected with bond wires) back in the day ...)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC

 

I "teethed" on the National Semiconductor for linear stuff (still have my 1st NS linear databook I think!), and TI for the digital (7400 series) stuff. At one time I had an original issue (simple brown cover version) of Don Lancaster's "TTL Cookbook" too, but that has been lost (or thieved) somewhere back in time ...

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:55 | 2437548 Navymugsy
Navymugsy's picture

The 555 is THE classic timer

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:35 | 2437666 Handyman
Handyman's picture

Oh.....to be back in high school electronics again. A simpler time with simpler toys. The shit you could do with a 555.....If we could just breadboard a circuit to blink when it's time to buy silver at the bottom.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:59 | 2437565 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

 

 

I am LM555 liking it ...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 20:38 | 2437967 TraitorsHang
TraitorsHang's picture

Somehow, you just raised my opinion of everyone on this board.

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 03:42 | 2438773 Nage42
Nage42's picture

At 444 everyone is dead -- it's a Japanese thing.

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:52 | 2437713 John Law Lives
John Law Lives's picture

That was damn funny, Crisismode.  Good stuff!

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:33 | 2437442 johngaltfla
johngaltfla's picture

I don't think so. The Bernank and the administration would love to bring oil back to the $70's range and gold into the $1250-$1350 range. Plus a summer time announcement in coordination with the usually seasonally strong August time period should provide an election boost to the markets and put the S&P 500 over $1400 easily. The other consideration is to keep their powder dry until Israel hits Iran with U.S. help.

 

Thus I think they'll let the traders twist, the LIESman whine, and goldbugs groaning until the very last possible moment. Look for the S&P 500 to level off around $1100, with $1016 as a probable floor.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:58 | 2437556 CrashisOptimistic
CrashisOptimistic's picture

None of that matters.

QE is done to lower rates.  Each occasion he did it he said that was the purpose.

At 1.7% 10 year and 2.8% 30 year, there's no need for measures to lower rates.  

And he dares not have politicians declare he is acting to influence the election or he will lose Fed independence, which has always been every Chairman's number 1 priority.

I suspect no QE til November, and with the fiscal cliff, maybe not then.  Why QE?  It's not helping.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:59 | 2437568 johngaltfla
johngaltfla's picture

Open QE to provide liquidity to a very illiquid EU.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:09 | 2437601 Bay of Pigs
Bay of Pigs's picture

Huh? They don't need QE to do that. 7.7T went out the back door to banks worldwide in 2008/9.

None of that was disclosed (aside from the 700B TARP).

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:24 | 2437648 CrashisOptimistic
CrashisOptimistic's picture

That can't possibly fly.  All Chairmen have been terrified of losing independence to Congressionally imposed regulation, and sending US money to Europe would trigger that.

Nope, it's an election year.  Fed Independence is priorty 1.  He won't move at all until after the election, and with the fiscal cliff looming, maybe not then.

It wouldn't matter if he did.  It has no effect.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:32 | 2437840 itstippy
itstippy's picture

Plus the member banks are holding $1.5T in excess reserves.  Kinda hard to claim you're "providing liquidity to unclog the credit markets" with a situation like that. 

QE would be pushing on a string and everyone knows it (except perhaps Krugman and Cramer).  Bernanke's in a bind.  His "unorthadox tools" have caused severe market dislocations and he knows it.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:58 | 2438312 Dingleberry
Dingleberry's picture

He doesn't need to QE quite yet as there is a deflationary conflagration happeneing across both ponds. Flight to (relative) "safety"....bitchez. But he will eventually do QE3.   Neg real yields can only go on for so long.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:49 | 2438135 Elmer Fudd
Elmer Fudd's picture

How do you come up with your numbers?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:02 | 2438163 Buck Johnson
Buck Johnson's picture

I think before Sunday night/Monday morning at the open of the markets, they will do QE3 or some type of money injection along with other countries.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:14 | 2437346 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

 

All right, we're gonna be displacing and falling back like crazy sons of bitches.  So you got to be Johnny on the spot with the ammo, or we're dead.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:10 | 2437349 Comay Mierda
Comay Mierda's picture

nah it will fall lower.  bernank wants everyone begging for more qe before he hits ctrl+p

crash is in the works

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:30 | 2437431 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

No ones even the least bit disturbed right now, 9 out of 10 people around me when asked had no idea what stock markets are even doing they dont even give a shit anymore. 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:36 | 2437454 bdc63
bdc63's picture

most people don't pay any attention utill they get their quarterly 401k statement in the mail

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:09 | 2437602 UP Forester
UP Forester's picture

Except the smart ones who took out all they can, to buy shit they actually need, and are no longer contributing to the fund.

 

The really smart ones took out the max in loans and bought PMs.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:43 | 2437495 HelluvaEngineer
HelluvaEngineer's picture

That's because if you just contribute to your 401k on a regular basis, and don't pay any attention to it, you'll be rich.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:47 | 2437506 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

You'll be rich...in nominal terms.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:09 | 2437605 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Youll be rich until you suddenly have nothing....FED plan to bankrupt all pensioners on schedule.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:11 | 2438035 AustriAnnie
AustriAnnie's picture

"That's because if you just contribute to your 401k on a regular basis, and don't pay any attention to it, you'll be rich."

I'm going to hope that was sarcasm.

If not, well, I hope you like the taste of dogfood.  Happy retirement!

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:06 | 2437588 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

Something happened in the stock market?  I was too busy feeding my sheep in Farmville, its hard work but someone's got to do it...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:10 | 2437351 jkjacksonhole
jkjacksonhole's picture

The fed has spent billions on QE programs and it has done nothing overall.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:29 | 2437429 HelluvaEngineer
HelluvaEngineer's picture

...and your point is?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:31 | 2437433 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Billions? More like $30 trillion.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:13 | 2437621 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

...so far.

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:44 | 2437496 Jacque Itch
Jacque Itch's picture

I respectfully disagree.  He wanted to launch the stock market into orbit and it worked.  The S&P was over 1400!  Hard to believe. 

Anyway, Benny found out he can't control housing or create jobs but he could jolt stocks.  So all the folks with big money in stocks have seen their wealth explode, which has led to them spending and giving us positive GDP for 3 years.  Without QE the Dow is lucky to see 10K.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:50 | 2437526 EscapeKey
EscapeKey's picture

And who by a disproportionate margin own equities?

QE is nothing but a stealth bailout of the upper class.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:41 | 2437683 Rainman
Rainman's picture

actually a twofer.....add public pension funds

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 20:57 | 2438008 WonderDawg
WonderDawg's picture

Good point, and one I don't hear many people talking about. The public pension funds are in a world of shit, and there are many trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of people expecting their dough. I wonder if this isn't one of the Fed's strongest motivations for ramping the stock markets.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:28 | 2438231 Cthonic
Cthonic's picture

Threefer, insurance companies (not equity holdings directly, but corporate credit).

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:53 | 2437865 GeorgeHayduke
GeorgeHayduke's picture

The upper 10% are the only ones they care about bailing out anyway.

The owners know most of the sheople are either too stupid, too apathetic, or consider themselves temporarily embarrassed millionaires and future big time players who will get their mother lode one day even though that day never comes. That's how they get them to consistently vote against their own self interest election after election. The owners know most sheople will focus 100% on the carrot while never seeing the stick, the present reality. or the harness strapped around them. The sheople are like horses flat out running back to the burning barn.

QE will readily return if the upper 10% starts to feel pinched. That's the only group they will respond to. The bottom 50-60% could be homeless and starving and they wouldn't do a single thing unless those people threaten the upper 10%.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:28 | 2438064 newengland
newengland's picture

George,

You seem to misunderstand the 'upper class' when you put it at 10% of the population. You seem to misunderstand the 'upper class' if you think that noblesse oblige is dead just because money grubbing statists in Washington and the Fed failed in their duty of care toward the majority.

You seem to misunderstand the bond between the American born and bred 'upper class' and every other 'class' who share values, hopes, dreams and fears. One step at a time. This is our land, for better or worse. The Constitution and Declaration of Independence tells us so.

We shall overcome every oppressive government, every money master, every aggressor. Together we stand. Divided, we fall.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:10 | 2437610 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Ben only goosed stocks to create cover for monetizing the debt....people will soon learn what a real crash is.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:19 | 2437800 EclecticParrot
EclecticParrot's picture

As always, you're absolutely correct SheepDog. 

Animals inevitably sense an impending storm and take cover before humans (just watch the birds 4 hours before the next thunderstorm). 

Interestingly, as I look out my window, I see animals gathering 2 by 2,  heading to Home Depot for 2 x 4s . . .

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:11 | 2437354 Soda Popinski
Soda Popinski's picture

When did the QE's ever stop? Ben prefers the stealth QE approach.  That way he can convince the sheeple that gold is a bubble. 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:38 | 2437463 markettime
markettime's picture

QE to infinity while short selling commodities and precious metals all the way. This is Ben's version of "Sterilized QE"

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:36 | 2438099 newengland
newengland's picture

Yep. Naked short selling of gold and silver allows the Fed and its agents like JP Morgue to lower the price, and stock up on the physical gold and silver. They are truly evil, the usurious money masters of old who hated the Republic in its infancy, and they hate us now even more.

I say NO to their aggression. A peaceful and wise person buys physical gold and silver, all the better to defend our country when the corporatists trigger the collapse which they plot in order to oppress the majority, be you ordinary Joe or ordinary millionaire in devalued paper money.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:13 | 2437356 midgetrannyporn
midgetrannyporn's picture

the bernank has the (upward sloping) siegfried line drawn on his chart of the s&p, that much is an absolute certainty.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:11 | 2437357 catacl1sm
catacl1sm's picture

Here it comes! BOHICA, bitchez!

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:14 | 2437359 walküre
walküre's picture

Europe w/o Germany is in RECESSION

US in recession by June.

China technically in recession.

Printing more of the same won't change those facts and they know it. More easing is a pipe dream at this point because demand for just about anything is down despite cheap money.

Put me in the "no further easing" camp.

UNLESS the unthinkable happened and easing meant to slash debt burdens via jubilee and reset.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:39 | 2437467 Landrew
Landrew's picture

I hate to burst your BUBBLE (the one you live in)! .05% GDP print for Germany is recession! The U.S. has been in recession for several months now. At least go with the none tinted limo windows. When you roll down the windows you see whats really happening in the world.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:30 | 2437655 BeetleBailey
BeetleBailey's picture

but...but....Joe Biden just said that things are improving......he damn near screamed it......his face all all contorted and everything.....and he clenched his teefus and all.....the crowd started clapping.....he went on and on....mesmerizing......he meant it.....it must be true....it must.

(heavy, dripping like molasses sarcasm, off the tips of my fangs........)

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:14 | 2437782 Acorn10012
Acorn10012's picture

Bocephus' teefus.

On the other hand, Biden is a tool.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:13 | 2438040 newengland
newengland's picture

Biden his time...that money grubbing career politico from a state of tax relief, whilst foisting more tax and unemployment among other states?

THAT Joe Biden his time? 

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 00:47 | 2438547 HungrySeagull
HungrySeagull's picture

Joe Biden means well, but I think I can do a better job as VP.....

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:40 | 2437476 bdc63
bdc63's picture

Obummer needs a positive GDP number for November, and the surest way to get that is to ask Ben to "print" one for him.

"QE to infinity" camp here, as much as it pains me to say that ...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:51 | 2437532 EscapeKey
EscapeKey's picture

I don't trust a single "official" number out of China.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:25 | 2437649 UP Forester
UP Forester's picture

...nor from any other entity that is captialized.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:26 | 2437826 Ted Baker
Ted Baker's picture

GLAD TO SEE SOMEONE HERE GOT IR RIGHT ABOUT US DOUBLE DIP RECESSION IN JUNE - TO BE PRECISE THE 15TH

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 00:49 | 2438551 HungrySeagull
HungrySeagull's picture

You cannot be sure of the 15th.

If you are, I like to flap over your way and take a look at your stuff...

From where I am sitting, Israel is about ready to attack... and they will do it.

The result may very well be a hot shooting war with Loyds of London counting up the losses world wide.

I am already positioning in metals for keeps now. The recent year and half or so was just a sandbox and baby talk while I learned.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:12 | 2437361 realtick
realtick's picture

There is no QE3 on the water, and there will not be one on land.

They're done with Operation Reflation. Get ready for Operation Depression.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:14 | 2437376 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

That's just election rhetoric. The day they stop easing, is the day they fall from power.

IDNJY (I did not junk you)

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:32 | 2437439 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Exactly realtick. I know all the equity junkies are Jonezin' bad for more free crack, but theyll soon find out theyre all on their own.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:44 | 2437498 realtick
realtick's picture

Thank you, SheepDog.

Wake up people - the Fed is not going to destroy the dollar's reserve currency status in order to keep propping up the stock market.

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:04 | 2437584 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

They will but if they did it right now there would be way too much backlash, they have to wait until the people are begging for it in true junky fashion.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:13 | 2437365 anyways
anyways's picture

Sell in may and go away...again.
may,2th, dow 13300, now almost 1000 points lower.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:14 | 2437374 SMG
SMG's picture

QE3 means hyperinflation, so I don't think they're going to do it unless people are begging for it.  

I have a pretty bad track record for predictions though.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:16 | 2437382 catacl1sm
catacl1sm's picture

Shenanigans. We're nowhere near hyperinflation levels and the euro getting crushed only helps to keep the dollar 'strong' (for now). QE3 will have an inflationary effect and is A step towards hyperinflation, but it is not hyperinflation outright.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:26 | 2437410 medicalstudent
medicalstudent's picture

hyperinflation is the loss of currency demand and that means there has to be an alternative medium of exchange to run to.

every other hyperinflation has had this, and that is why the global phd paper standard was so coveted by the money changers.

only way we hyperinflate to metal is someone actually using it as medium.

moral of this story is we peasant bitches will tolerate a LOT of inflation.

you dig.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:54 | 2437542 EscapeKey
EscapeKey's picture

"Hyperinflations are caused by government deficits" (Peter Bernholz, Monetary Regimes and Inflation).

Once new debt issuance to fund the continuance of government crosses 40%, you're in rough seas.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:18 | 2437388 Dixie Rect
Dixie Rect's picture

I hear helicopter rotors...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:08 | 2438178 WmMcK
WmMcK's picture

That could also be the mother of all fans awaiting something to hit it.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:16 | 2437378 gjp
gjp's picture

I really hope this time the intervention falls flat on its face.  Commodities spiking, US dollar tanking, financial assets not responding as previously as crisis of confidence grows ...

Yet there appears to be plenty of irrational exuberance tinder to light and more QE may very well cause another melt-up explosion.  Facebook pricing at high end (25x revenues, and really how much bigger can it get without pissing off its users) and look at Saleforce.com after hours today.  This company generates no cash, has good growth but for how long, and trades at nearly 100x massaged earnings.  Do we really need QE on top of this?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:10 | 2437606 LooseLee
LooseLee's picture

I'm sure you meant 'rational ignorance' of the bulltard type. A fool and his 'money' will soon be parted....Fascist thinking begets Darwinian reality...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:16 | 2437379 fonzannoon
fonzannoon's picture

There is no need for QE. All that cash on the sidelines is about to come back in. Yup.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:16 | 2437380 dwdollar
dwdollar's picture

Have the shorts piled on yet? Surely he will wait until the time is right for a short-covering rip-fest.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:17 | 2437385 Bill D. Cat
Bill D. Cat's picture

Too bad teh Bernanke painted himself into a corner with shitty ( for QE ) employment and inflation numbers .

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:18 | 2437389 max2205
max2205's picture

Run rates lower drop stocks (but not create a lower low). Run rates higher and run stocks to a higher high. Rinse / repeat. Ben you are a fucking dick!

People go to jail doing this shit. But not you. Yet

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:18 | 2437390 seek
seek's picture

You know, this might sound a little crazy, but does anyone else think the unusual takedowns in AU (just prior to the banking stuff, where it's normal to sell down to cover margin, get USD, etc) where there were guaranteed money-losing trades selling in to the nanosecond down momentum might have been to make some headroom for QE?

I'm just remember Volker saying during the late 70s/early 80s the high gold price "looked bad." And if they didn't do a pre-QE takedown, AU would have certainly had a shot of blipping over the $2K mark -- which would look bad and feed more momentum into the rise. This way they make it look like AU is just bouncing between channels and not breaking out to new (nominal) highs.

The movement just seems odd, but would make a lot of sense if you were planning on another QE and didn't want AU to look like the safety net it is.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:22 | 2437402 catacl1sm
catacl1sm's picture

Of course gold and silver had to be crushed before letting QE out of the bag again.

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 00:51 | 2438556 HungrySeagull
HungrySeagull's picture

STOP thinking CRUSHED as a bad thing.

Paper is fantasy, having physical possession is the win.

Crushed simply means to get ready to BUY more.

That's roight... get stacking.

Sheesh I dont get any respect around here...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:29 | 2437426 Crisismode
Crisismode's picture

All the commodities got trashed.

Do you think they also had to cut the knees off cocoa, pork bellies, and cotton?

 

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:06 | 2438170 WmMcK
WmMcK's picture

No, they didn't have to trash those too, but then again, why not?
Trying to reinforce that Au and Ag are just (like other) commodities.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:43 | 2437492 Landrew
Landrew's picture

Very interesting idea!

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:19 | 2437398 Money 4 Nothing
Money 4 Nothing's picture

In my opinion? not this time. Were all going down equally as planned.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:22 | 2437403 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Will not happen till after the Euro meltdown starts dragging down

the US banking system.

The Bernanke has only one shot left.

Inked himself into a corner.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:34 | 2437416 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Forget Bernank QEefing until you see a few face melting -5% days strung together. Hell the S&P is still up 3% for the year....WHAT crisis? This aint it, not yet anyway, not even close.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:02 | 2437578 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

Exactly the high before the crash was around 1370 something for the S&P and that went down to 1000 with no word from the Fed.  The fed can't step in when markets are still near all time highs...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:27 | 2437418 surf0766
surf0766's picture

It will have to be much deeper plunge to crank it up again. Gas is still 3.65 here. at 3.90 life stops.

Another qe will simply put the rest who are on the edge  over the cliff financially  with increased gas, food etc.

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:27 | 2437420 reload
reload's picture

Election year - lower oil price most welcome. But it seems wise to have covered some shorts and tightened stops for now. A plan to make a plan will be announced shortly. In 2008 the bankers and politicians were pretty much shoulder to shoulder, but I sense an unease between them now, but it may be for show, but who doubts that in the end THEY WILL PRINT, its just a matter of time and timing is everything!

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:31 | 2437435 Tao 4 the Show
Tao 4 the Show's picture

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your EURS:

Money creation has not, will not, stop. We are only discussing the rate of change, acceleration, and Jerk. No, not the Jerks in political office - rather the engineering type.

Soon, engineering texts will add the "Bernank" to the list. This quantity is the imaginary part of the Jerk, involves no work, yet is able to move markets.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:02 | 2438161 WmMcK
WmMcK's picture

Third derivative of a different kind, bitchez.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:35 | 2438253 newengland
newengland's picture

Ta for the show :-) 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:33 | 2437440 zorba THE GREEK
zorba THE GREEK's picture

Why do some people think the Fed is reluctant to print?

They have already said all options are on the table in the event of 

slowdown in the economy. There will be QE3 in some form and it will

come soon. Not printing and letting the economy crash before the election,

would be considered a political move by Bernanke in the eyes of the Democrats.

Bernanke's hands are tied. If the economy stalls, he has to print or be accused of

playing politics. 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:39 | 2437469 IndicaTive
IndicaTive's picture

Wouldn't printing be playing politics as well, by your reasoning?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:01 | 2437545 bdc63
bdc63's picture

When my sisters and I were little my dad took our elderly cat to the vet.  The vet said he was dying and wanted to put him to sleep, but my dad said he had promised his 3 girls he would be returning with the cat.  So, the vet shot him up with steroids and that cat ran around the house like a kitten for two solid weeks before he dropped dead.

Obummer will shoot this economy up with steroids to win this election.  He doesn't care what happens after November.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:51 | 2437528 HD
HD's picture

Right now the Fed is getting everything it wants. Commodities are falling, T-bills are supported and S&P still only off 8%...

The fed won't (and I suggest can't) print until it has a clear "no choice" crisis. It's coming but not until the EU unravels.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:57 | 2437555 bdc63
bdc63's picture

agree.  but with rumors of bank runs, that EU unraveling prediction could be happening a lot sooner than you might think.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:10 | 2437608 HD
HD's picture

I'm shocked it hasn't happened yet. Market has a bad case of normalcy bias.  Any massive QE post an EU implosion isn't going to just give the markets a bullish bounce and we all go on - I think it will be the only thing holding the markets together at all.

But it's anybody's guess.

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:34 | 2437447 pleseus
pleseus's picture

Will QE3 gas will be at 8 bucks a fuckin' gallon.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:38 | 2437464 Wm the Shrubber
Wm the Shrubber's picture

All is proceeding as per script.  We will likely see a confluence of further market retreats and deterioration in the EZ which will lead to a coordinated policy response from the Fed, ECB, BoE, BoJ, PBoC et al which will simulataneously reramp all asset markets.  In other words, don't look for the Fed to lead or act in isolation.  The next move will have to be an "all hands on deck" drill.  Only problem is that it won't be a live fire action.  They will all be shooting blanks, and the end game will have been put in motion. 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:40 | 2437482 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Let's not forget the parabolic rise in the "DXY". We needed that, so the commodity sector inflation looks contained, when helicoptor Ben starts dropping pallets of " Green Manure"!

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 00:29 | 2438508 seek
seek's picture

Wow, I just looked. I had no idea that velocity is the lowest it's ever been since the Fed started tracking it. That's crazy.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:44 | 2437499 brooklynlou
brooklynlou's picture

Theoretically he doesn't have to do a thing. If the euro implodes thanks to lack of EU leadership and Greece, Spain, Italy starting runs on the bank that Germany balks at civering, then all the paper he printed in the last few years starts getting more valuable. If the euro unravels entirely the dollar becomes even more valuable still as sole reserve currency and calm store of value in a turbulent time.

We may need to ask whether the destruction of the Euro "fixes" everything.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:55 | 2437547 markar
markar's picture

You're joking, right? With the banks all incestuously connected you would see cascading cross defaults everywhere= QE to the moon. I give the USD 3 weeks to start it's ugly freefall after the EU implodes.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 20:29 | 2437950 brooklynlou
brooklynlou's picture

No I'm not. I think everyone is looking at the problem of a EU bank run through American Dollar colored glasses. 

I've had a lot of conversation with family in Greece and it centers around the topic of "What happens if it ALL goes tits up"; not just Greece but all of Europe.  Do they take all their money out or keep it in the banks. We're talking working class people here not the rich. 

Welcome to game theory. If they empty their accounts and stuff a bunch of euros in their mattresses, and then Greece exits and the Euro survives, well they pat themselves on the back at their cleverness. They got one over on those German bastards.

If they empty their accounts and stuff a bunch of euros in their mattresses, Greece then exits and the Euro ceases to be a few weeks later, well, they're in deep shit cause they potentialy have a mattress full of worthless paper, that Drachma Greece doesnt really have to honor, nor Germany need accept for DM. I see planes loads of Greeks heading to Germany with Greek branded Euros then told to piss off.

What they all really want are US dollars or PM's which are immune from this catch-22. Or property in the UK. Something to save their cash and hedge against the Euro.

I understand that the banks are incestuously connected, but if the Euro gets fried, wont that leave OUR banks in the global drivers seat? Stuffed with Ctr+P dollars that suddenly soar in value and able to feast long term on everybody else. I'm not making a claim, or even stating a hunch, just positing a what if conversation starter. 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:18 | 2437790 Ted Baker
Ted Baker's picture

NO IT DOES NOT ONLY DESTROYING THE US DOLLAR WITH MORE QE AND HENCE MORE VALUABLE GOLD WILL FIX EVERYTHING

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:31 | 2438238 newengland
newengland's picture

...lou,

That's the calculated game. We'll see soon if it works.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:51 | 2437530 cameldojo
cameldojo's picture

Anyone know why the futures are always green no matter how the market closes?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:52 | 2437535 navy62802
navy62802's picture

Euro-USD just broke 1.27

Must be all of the positive economic developments from today.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:54 | 2437538 trampstamp
trampstamp's picture

dam eur/usd... looks like we have a comet tail on the 5 minute. Looks like some intervention going on.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:54 | 2437539 icanhasbailout
icanhasbailout's picture

We're getting there, but not quite yet. We have ~ 400 points to go before official "correction" territory.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:57 | 2437552 barliman
barliman's picture

 

In that case ...

... he still has a couple of hundred points for the S&P to fall before he needs to do anything.

For any of you waiting on QE3, here is a suggestion.   STOP WAITING !!!!

The markets don't mean dingleberries anymore.

The issue is what happens when the EU/euro capsizes ...

When that happens, the global economy is going to see a contraction unlike anything that has ever happened before.

Ben is going to need more powder than even he can dream of shooting his wad on WHEN that happens.  It is NOT an IF anymore.

barliman

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:01 | 2437566 EscapeKey
EscapeKey's picture

Nah, don't wait. Get some cash out of the bank, just in case they decide to announce "holidays".

I've usually got £1-2k in cash, though my fiancee tends to reduce the stack faster than I can withdraw & add to it.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 23:25 | 2438373 barliman
barliman's picture

 

No offense ...

... you need a new fiancee.

If you live in the UK and are familiar with Guy Ritchie's film "Snatch" you'll understand my reference - "With a finacee like that you are going to end up properly fucked."

barliman

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 17:58 | 2437561 God Bless The V...
God Bless The Virtuous's picture

Get over this bullshit already!

There is no way in hell you are going to get anymore QE anytime soon!

QE now would just destroy the value of the standard of living of every working slob in this country!

To all you greedy bastards who would profit from QE, F*** You!

We need to stand up, stand proud and admit this country is on the wrong path!

Cant have a lemonade stand, cant hug your friend, no bake sales?

Are you fracking serious?

Hey Cass Sunstein, you and your new O.I.A.R. can go F*** yourself, and take Bubble Blowin Ben and Tax Cheat Timmy with you!

F***ing progressives!

Leave our divinely inspired republic once and forever, I hear the "Fabian Socialist's" across the pond are looking for some more scumbag losers to help rape and pillage their citizens!

Lord have mercy!

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:00 | 2437572 EscapeKey
EscapeKey's picture

I don't think most people here WANT further (or indeed, any) QE, it's just that the realization is that it will come so we might as well just get it over with.

The monetary policy we have witnessed has not generally been condoned on ZH...

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:38 | 2437675 Crimedog
Crimedog's picture

Bullsh*t.  EVERYONE on this site is praying for new QE.  Then, their precious gold will go up in value.  Readers here want QE more than the Margin Stanly.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:11 | 2438036 newengland
newengland's picture

Crimedog,

We must agree to disagree on your point. I as many dislike QE intensely, for it marks a hateful new phase in the rise of statists: insolvent governments and insolvent banks bailing out each other, all for their personal power and profit, with no regard for the genuine rights and dignity of wo/man outside their corporatist clique. Their fans apologise for them; applaud them. Their fans hate anyone who finds a way to evade that debt slavery statist trap, whether it be by living simply off the land among a gentle community or making millions from betting against the latest fiat money dystopoia experiment.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 21:38 | 2438106 AustriAnnie
AustriAnnie's picture

I wish I could give you more than one green arrow for that.  Well said.

I resent it when people think that because I prepare for a crisis, that I somehow relish the idea of the people around me suffering.  I don't welcome QE, because I don't like to see good people lose their wealth.  But I will prepare for it, as it is inevitable, IMO.  And I will not apologize later for having been prepared, any more than I would apologize for surviving a tsunami or a fire. 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 22:20 | 2438214 newengland
newengland's picture

AustriAnnie,

The strong will survive, and that is how they will protect the weaker. We have no say over the machinations of statists and the globalist central bank cartel. We can only outwit them in our own quiet way, and live to defend our values; our values which are better than the statists and corporatists.

Twas ever thus, my friend.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:02 | 2437576 markar
markar's picture

QE now would just destroy the value of the standard of living of every working slob in this country!

And the Fed cares about this how?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:14 | 2437624 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

FED does not give 1 shit about any useless eater peasant....and unless youre in their billionaire banksters club, youre one of the peasants. 'Standard of living for the Proles'....lol yea sure.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:05 | 2437586 markar
markar's picture

OT but another Twilight Zone moment

http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=206119

In 1991 Obama was born in Kenya. Today, not so much

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:06 | 2437590 blindman
blindman's picture

QEeen Light. nailed it right.
Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTQBAl4mtyA
.
there be the program. debt, endless debt
all the way to the grave.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:15 | 2437626 Random_Robert
Random_Robert's picture

Ben! Ben!

Fire up the choppers...it's an emergency!

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:21 | 2437631 razorthin
razorthin's picture

You call this a plunge, bichez??  What are we down, 7-8%?  Show me a  crash we can be proud of.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:22 | 2437639 CrashisOptimistic
CrashisOptimistic's picture

Absolutely correct.  The market is up 3% in the past 4.5 months.

We have about 30% to lose to get down below August lows, where we belong.  Hell, August was less than 12 months ago.  Not a big move at all.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:21 | 2437633 adr
adr's picture

When people ask me why I didn't come up with an idea like Facebook I say:

Sorry I don't know how to come up with stupid ideas that don't make any money, yet are somehow valued more than all the other great ideas in history.

I come up with brilliant ideas that actually make money, yet somehow are not valued like Facebook because you actually have to sell them to a consumer. The stock market doesn't like ideas like that. Selling a real product actually takes work.

 

In retrospect I should have patented every stupid idea I threw out in college during classes in 1995 just to make a point how easy it is to come up with simple ideas. A device that knows where you and your friends are, a radio frequency tag you can put on your kids backpack, a portable music player using the infant .mp3 format.

How many guys in college used Geocities to make an online hotlist using freshman facebook photos. I know me and my friends did.

YES FUCKERBERGS IDEA WAS NOT NEW. If he made Facebook in 1997, it wouldn't have been worth jack shit. MySpace, Friendster, and all the rest are just extensions of the social internet circa 1997-2000. Why it is worth hundreds of billions now is beyond me.

Oh yeah that's right. ZIRP allows underwriters to borrow excessive sums of money to make bets on IPOs knowing they will return billions in profit, justifying massive fraud and waste. A SCAM.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:29 | 2437654 orangegeek
orangegeek's picture

Primary wave 3 down appears well under way under the Elliott Wave principle.

 

http://bullandbearmash.com/index/djia/daily/

 

 

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:58 | 2437730 Spaceman Spiff
Spaceman Spiff's picture

Isn't technical analysis only somewhat valid when there isn't overt manipulation by the ptb?    Seems like I haven't seen a truly predictive elliot wave call since this crisis began.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 18:35 | 2437668 Crimedog
Crimedog's picture

Can anyone here legitimately explain the scenario where it pays off to have invested 20%-30% of one's savings into gold?  Everyone on this site professes a hate for fiat currency but cheers when gold goes up in value priced in dollars.  Why would you care if it goes up in price?  Are you going to sell it for the hated dollar once it gets high enough?  And if it gets ridiculously priced, such as $4-5K per ounce, that probably means the economy as a whole is ruined and the dollar is crap.  In this scenario, do you think you will be able to trade in your gold for some sort of new currency and will trade at a comparable rate to where gold was priced in dollars?  How will I profit from the fact that I own gold besides an increase in pdollar price?

 

I ask this because I still only believe gold would help in an ALL-OUT collapse - like Mad Max.  But even then, guns are more important.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:12 | 2437774 Ted Baker
Ted Baker's picture

VERY SIMPLE FACTS:-

1) USD IS NOT THE ONLY FIAT CURRENCY AROUND WHERE YOU CAN SWAP YOUR DOLLARS INTO AFTER SELLING YOUR PHYSICAL GOLD, PAPER NEEDS NOT TO APPLY.

2) IF ALL CURRENCIES ARE FIAT THEN PHYSICAL GOLD BECOMES THE NEW NORM OR THE NEW CURRENCY BEFORE YOU SWAP IT INTO ANOTHER FIAT CURRENCY OF COURSE.

3) THOSE HOLDING PHYSICAL GOLD WILL BE ABLE TO TRADE GOLD FOR REAL IN EXCHANGE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES.

4) THOSE NOT HOLDING PHYSICAL GOLD WILL BE GIVING WHATEVER LEFT FIAT CURRENCY IS IN THE SYSTEM OR A NEW FIAT CURRENCY BUT OF COURSE PRICED AT DISCOUNT COMPARED TO THE NOMINAL VALUE OF GOLD..

HOPE IT HELPS

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 19:24 | 2437813 Crimedog
Crimedog's picture

This sounds like hopium to me.

 

2)  Why do you assume physical gold becomes the new norm?  Where is this guaranteed?

 

4)  What would the nominal value of gold be?  How do you know it would not be artificially suppressed to screw average gold-holders?

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!