Stock Market Investing: The Dubai Implications, Investment Strategy: Generational Move Unfolding For Gold and Silver Prices

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The news that the sovereign wealth fund of Dubai requested a postponement of billions of dollars of debt this week could pose a big problem for U.S. banks...

...Bove said the underlying problem is that there is a lot of uncertainty floating around. For example, there's little information available about counterparty derivatives, guarantees that transfer default risk from lenders to other financial institutions. And it's unknown how much of Dubai World's debt guarantee is held by U.S. banks. Read More...

Stock Market Investing: The above story along with many others have filled the airwaves and blogosphere over the last 4 days. I will refrain from adding my voice to the din. Moreover, endeavoring to postulate on the repercussions seems to me a fool's errand. The sheer plethora of moving parts and back room deals makes a supposition worthless.

I will, however, offer some insight to a more pressing question: How will this event effect the US$, the equity markets and the price of Gold?

An avid reader of this blog will find the answer both simple and familiar. Bad news on the global economic front equates to good news for the U.S. equity markets and the price of precious metals, Gold and Silver.

Investment Strategy: The legend for deciphering this market environment:

Neg.Eco.News = Con't.Q.E.; (Q.E. = Quantitative Easing; catchall for liquidity creation)

Con't.Q.E. = Con't.US$.Dval.; (US$. Dval = US$ devaluation)

Con't. US$.Dval = Exponential Gold and Silver price increases + higher US equity prices

This legend, in all likelihood, will remain in force until major policy changes occur within the White House, U.S. Treasury and Fed. Never in history has the systematic devaluation of a currency led to sustained economic recovery and long-term growth. However, without fail, said devaluation leads to inflation, often hyperinflation, and a flight out of the currency into hard assets. The move unfolding in the price of Gold and Silver will be for most unimaginable, but for the few, the proud, the aware, it will be a move of a lifetime.

Happy Turkey Day, White House Evaluates Growth Measures, How Geithner Got His Nickname

I'd like to say on behalf of the entire staff here at RCM, Happy Turkey Day.

Speaking of turkeys, I'd like to offer some food for thought on this holiday of epicurean indulgence.

You will find at the top of the menu, an appetizer prepared by the White House. As usual, this chef offers up fare that looks good upon presentation but falls short on execution. I find today's offering has subtle hints of desperation and longing that are overwhelmed buy strong tones of oxymoronic balderdash....

White House says evaluating "sensible and reasonable" measures to spur US growth - Reuters

As a main course, we are, in fact, serving turkey. This particular turkey you will know by another name, Pinocchio. A few have wondered why I anointed Tim Geithner, Pinocchio. Some have even questioned my motives. To the simple son, I say read the following account of Pinocchio's behavior and learn. To the wicked son, I will continue on this biblical vein and say, "With all thy getting, get understanding."....

A brutal report issued Monday by a government watchdog holds Timothy Geithner -- then the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and now the nation's Treasury Secretary -- responsible for overpayments that put billions of extra tax dollars in the coffers of major Wall Street firms, most notably Goldman Sachs. Read More...

Stock Market Investing: Warning Signs, Credit Risk Increases, Precious Metals Investment Thesis Redux

Stock Market Investing: The warning signs are multiplying. Blood is in the water and the sharks are circling so beware. US$ weakness still keeps the equity markets aloft but the technical picture grows more ominous. Meanwhile, precious metals continue to outperform:
COMEX Metals Closing Prices : Gold ended the day higher by $6.50 to $1148.40, silver gained 3 cents to $18.485. Gold closes the week at a new high and adds strength to our thesis that precious metals offer the best life raft in this dangerous ocean. A little more on this thesis later...

Warning signs:

The major averages continue to make new highs on weak volume and experience sell offs on rising volume. We have witnessed this disturbing behavior for three months now and eventually it will overwhelm the market.

The major averages are making new highs but non confirmations abound. The small and mid cap indices have not reached new highs and the all important transportation index also lags behind.

Over the last year or so a phenomenal correlation between credit spreads and the equity markets has developed. Credit market health or lack there of has consistently been a leading indicator for the overall direction of the stock market. Long before the collapse of the stock market last fall, the credit markets were in disarray and signaling trouble for stocks. This correlation even foretold the equity rally that began in March of this year as credit spreads narrowed aggressively during all the government support in Jan. and Feb.. As credits have continued to improved, equity has flourished.

Obviously we must monitor the credit markets closely. We have not seen anything recently from the credit space that would suggest trouble ahead. However, we received this message from one of our sources earlier today:

CDR Counterparty Risk Index @ Midday Nov 20, 2009
By Dave Klein
The CRI continues to deteriorate today as eleven members trade wider (more risky) and only one (HSBC) trades tighter. All index members trade with greater risk now than a week ago. Bank of America is the worst performer on the week, widening by over ten percent.
So, credit was a little shaky this week which resulted in the equity markets attempting a new high and failing. This type of behavior along with numerous technical concerns compels us to defend the portfolio.

More evidence to support our Precious Metals investment thesis:

Peter Bernholz (Economics Prof, Basel) studied the world’s 12 most important periods of hyperinflation & discovered the tipping point occurs when deficits amounted to 40% of the expenditures. For the USA, we have arrived at exactly that point. The deficit of $1.5 trillion amounts to 41. 7% of the $3.6 trillion in expenses."

Meanwhile, the tide of evidence against an economic recovery rises...

WASHINGTON - A rising proportion of fixed-rate home loans made to people with good credit are sinking into foreclosure, adding to concerns about the strength of the economic recovery. Driven by rising unemployment, such loans accounted for nearly 33 percent of new foreclosures last quarter. That compares with just 21 percent a year ago, when high-risk subprime loans made during the housing boom were the main reason for default. Read More...

...and so the Fed and Treasury must continue to follow their playbook and add liquidity...

Ben Bernanke and the US Treasury are going to revalue gold against the dollar. The mechanism is the US dollar carry trade, not a confiscation of gold. Joe Public doesn't have any gold, he sold his 2 carat ring to the pawnshop months ago. Read More...

...Which leads us to the following discussion about Gold....

David Rosenberg (former chief economist at Merrill Lynch)..Buying physical gold may soon become impossible:
90% of the world’s gold supply has already been mined. We all have a good idea as to how much gold is above ground, and we know how much there is below ground and the marginal cost of pulling the yellow metal out, says David Rosenberg of Gluskin Sheff.

“There is an estimated 165,000 tons of gold above ground, and around 20,000 tons in reserves below. So, nearly 90% of the world’s gold supply has been mined and equates to roughly $4.5 trillion.

To put that in perspective, the total amount of US$’s in circulation globally is estimated at $8 trillion, and the total size of the global money supply is around $30 trillion. The size of the world stock market is around $40 trillion. At last count, the total size of the global bond market was north of $80 trillion. The total world derivatives market has been estimated at about $800 trillion, face or nominal value.”

The impending financial “seizure” will trigger a global buying panic cum flight-to-safety goldnami of uncontrolled proportions. Buying physical gold may soon become impossible. We again ask: have U got enough?