Using 'The Art of Contrary Thinking' to Consider Dollar Sentiment

A few weeks ago my wife sent me to a used book store to attempt to sell back some old books at our place. While browsing the investing section (of course), I came across The Art of Contrary Thinking - a book written in 1954 by Humphrey B. Neill.

Neill was editor of Neill Letters of Contrary Opinion, a newsletter that reviewed investment themes and ideas that were contrary to public sentiment. So being an "aspiring contrarian" myself, I had to pick up a copy! (My wife rolled her eyes when I brought it in the door...)

It was an entertaining, insightful, and fast read - I'd recommend it. There is one part in particular I'd like to share.

Let me start by saying that I've come to enjoy reading old books, because they reflect the sentiment of the day. I now prefer reading books that are "dated", and thus not tainted with the biases of today - I'd rather experience the biases of yesterday!

Regular readers know that I'm a flip flopper when it comes to the inflation/deflation debate. I previously believed we were destined for inflation/hyperinflation - and recently changed my outlook when I realized that EVERYONE believed just about the same thing!

Even if that view is correct - it will be very difficult to make money off of "deflation now, inflation soon" - because it's already priced into the market.

Many inflationists become quite livid when you suggest the possibility that inflation could take longer than most believe. The common belief is that inflation is baked in the cards, because Ben Bernanke and Co are determined not to repeat the "mistakes" of The Great Depression. Thus, they will err on the side of caution, which will result in high inflation, possibly hyperinflation.

For some historical context, I'm going to quote Neill on page 59...and remember, these words were written in 1954:

It seems evident that the psychology of inflation is fully as important to study as the economic factors.

In the early 1930's when former President Roosevelt took us off the free gold standard and commenced to experiment with a different price for gold each morning, printing presses commenced to hum with books and pamphlets pertaining to inflation. Any modern bibliography on inflation contains numerous articles and pamphlets dated in the 1930's. We were all warned time and again that inflation would soon overtake us and ruin us. Yet a contrary psychology prevailed.

The public went serenely on its way, paying little heed to the dreaded fears and maintaining confidence in the dollar. The fact the dollar had been clipped in gold value meant nothing to the average person. The paper dollar in his pocket was still good. That was all he cared about. Result: no ruinous inflation. Indeed, dollars remained dormant. Turnover of money remained quiet. Inflation did not "take".

Is it possible that a contrary psychology prevails again - with the average person more worried about paying down their debts, which are denominated in dollars, than the price of gold? Perhaps.

I've learned that contrary thinking is not about figuring out common wisdom and doing the opposite. Rather, it's about considering ALL possible scenarios in your thought process - no matter how outlandish they may sound!

Again, the book was a great read. And we'll continue to increase our focus on public sentiment, because I'm really starting to believe it's something that most investors do not rely upon nearly enough (myself especially included!)

Which brings me to my next topic:

How Low Is Dollar Sentiment?

Not as low as I expected, according to an ad hoc reader survey we conducted this week.

Earlier in the week, I read that the percentage of dollar bulls was reported to be under 10%, indicating that the dollar may be setup for another long, powerful rally - with sentiment readings resembling those recorded at previous dollar bottoms.

So, I decided to conduct a little experiment, and asked readers if they were bullish or bearish on the dollar - here are the results:

• 44% dollar bulls
• 56% dollar bears

Incoming results had a slightly bearish slant throughout the voting period. What can we conclude? Possibly that:

A - Dollar sentiments is not as bearish as believed

B - Many of our readers are contrarian in nature

C - Some combination of A and B

Care to weigh in on this topic before we turn it over to the final arbiter, the market? Please do!

Comments

[Poborsky:]

In the 1930´s the US still had a manufacturing economy and manageable debt levels. It is not public sentiment that will decide the fate of the dollar but market sentiment.

Aug 04 03:17 AM

[John Bowman:]

and when the economy recovered, there were fewer bodies sucking off of the system.

Aug 04 09:17 AM

[Mad Hedge F...:]

What ever works. The chickens are finally coming home to roost for the dollar, which has gapped since Thursday from $1.40 down to $1.4450 against the euro, and done even worse again the Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand currencies. Crude traders tell me that the weak buck is making oil go up, while currency traders inform me that it is strong crude that is causing the dollar collapse. It’s like an Agatha Christie murder mystery where all of the suspects are guilty. If we are on the eve of an economic recovery, many fear that the US will return to its old, evil, high consuming, high importing ways, and that the trade deficit will skyrocket. If is doesn’t, then you can count on burgeoning government borrowing to knock the stuffing out of the greenback. It sounds like a heads I will, tails you lose bet. This is not exactly a new trend. The chart below shows the purchasing power of the dollar since the Revolutionary War, and it has been mostly downhill since 1929. No, I have not been trading the market that long. Better to take your pay in Euros, American double Eagle gold coins, bushels of wheat, or barrels of crude.

Aug 04 12:12 PM