Although it would seem that the Goldman-linked SEC case single-handedly killed the price of gold, it was only a catalyst to a technical correction that was overdue. Furthermore, gold’s long term outlook is further solidified by a couple of new “China factors.”
Russia and China have also formed alliance to help each other increase their clout in global affairs. Underneath the geopolitical and trade pacts, this newly elevated Sino-Russian alliance seems to also suggest the beginning of an economic paradigm shift for both countries.
Reports from the Labor Department today showed companies in the U.S. created more jobs in March than at any time in the past three years. Nevertheless, behind the rosy headlines, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also give a grim side of the employment picture.
Over the last ten years, the Renminbi (RMB) or yuan, has been slowly gaining influence in the markets that surround mainland China. And about one year ago Hong Kong introduced a new trade settlement that allowed Hong Kong business’ to use the RMB as a trading currency. In a China Daily interview, Dr. Billy Mak, Associate Professor in Finance at Hong Kong Baptist University believes the yuan overtaking the dollar will happen in three phases.
The yuan-induced heated debates prompted two prominent economists--Paul Krugman and Jeffrey Frankel--to come up with two versions of swan songs for China. Ironically, the two, however diverging, could still lead to the same "next black swan" scenario warned by Albert Edwards at SocGen last November.
A summary of two Jim Rogers interviews with Bloomberg & BNN regarding Greece, euro and how he would invest $100,000 now. Also included: a quick eruo technical analysis from yours truly.
My take on views expressed by Jim Rogers at a BBN interview on Mar. 18 about the recent currency and trade confrontation between the US and China, the Canadian loonie and the U.S. bond market.
The euro could be in an over-sold situation, says Goldman Sachs and Dr. Feldstein. However, a potential correction can not disguise the elephant in the champagne room - the political and structural weakness in the single currency union.
In contrast to the cheery mood of the markets, the latest readings from consumers and small business owners indicate economic sentiment isn’t improving. This divergence has got the Wall Street scratching its collective head. In short, the disparity may be deciphered in one word – liquidity - which Wall Street has plenty of, while main street remains strapped.
New York crude has been trading in the $69-$83 range since late September as uncertainty over the global economy has contributed to several failed rallies. The close above $81 last Friday sparked speculation that oil could be targeting $85 in the near term. Now, some traders and analysts say currency movements may play an important role in pushing prices beyond those limits.... or will they?
The dollar’s status as the world's preferred reserve currency has come into question amid a ballooning budget deficit that keeps the U.S. dependent on foreign financing. It is now a matter of "when" rather than "if" the Chinese yuan will replace the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency.
Gold typically has the strongest inverse correlation with the US Dollar. In the last month, however, the trend has broken with gold trending inversely with Euro and positively with Dollar. Will this new trend hold and for how long?
Famous short seller Jim Chanos characterized China as "Dubai times 1,000, or worse.” While talking his books, Chanos could stand to lose big on his China shorts by basing his view on flawed analogies with the US real estate market.
