On Tuesday the price of gold soared to a new all-time record of $1,657 an ounce as investors worldwide sought protection from volatile stock, bond and currency markets. Contrary to many market watchers who thought there would be a relief rally in equities after a debt-cieling agreement, stocks tumbled 266 points on Tuesday. The economy is clearly contracting at an alarming rate and another financial crisis may be right around the corner. Technically, the U.S. stock market has broken key support levels and looks very dangerous at this time.
The U.S. government has become an embarrassment and is totally dysfunctional. The much celebrated debt ceiling agreement is a farce and does nothing to reign in meaningful spending. Although the government now can borrow $600 billion immediately, spending cuts won’t happen until 2013 at the earliest. The typical Washington game of “kicking the can”. There is no doubt in my mind that we have entered an uncertain and dangerous time. The Federal Reserve will have no choice but to continue Quantitative Easing (money printing), who else is going to buy the next $2.4 trillion in U.S. debt? It’s not going to be the Chinese based on recent anti-American statements by Chinese economic officials. Gold and silver are a must in any financial portfolio given the precarious times in which we are now living.-Lou