Brett Owens

Using the Wall Street Journal to Gauge Investor Sentiment

Uppai: Good arguments and to be honest I don't have anything overly intelligent to rebut with, at least with regards to 2 and 3. I'm of the view that the dollar is going to rally to new highs and that the stock market will take out it's former lows...but if I knew that was a certainty, I'd leverage up and be retired in 12 months :)

Re: #1 - Yes I'd like to develop this into a little bit more of a methodology. This weekend's article was a maiden voyage into this type of analysis. Biased sample set? Of course. But hopefully entertaining at the least.

Using the Wall Street Journal to Gauge Investor Sentiment

Like clockwork, the 1st comment is always from a gold bug. Of course gold will never have a down week according to them, and anyone not holding a basement full of bullion will perish in the fires of financial hell that are about to engulf us!

Also based on kind commenter feedback, we are now accepting donations from readers - so that I can save up for a WSJ subscription - please donate generously as we pass the collection plate around :)

Hyperinflation Trade Looking Crowded

Remind me never to cross you precious metal traders...you guys are nuts!

I love it that merely suggesting the possibility of an outcome other than hyperinflation gets the troops to circle the wagons and crucify the deflationary voice! Uncle!

FYI...I don't condone money printing, and I do believe that inflation is the creation of money...meaning we already have inflation. I am suggesting the possibility that it might not matter that the Fed is printing money...if they are indeed "pushing on a string".

I don't have the answers, but I'm anxious to see how this unfolds...hopefully without losing my "investment shirt" in the process!

Hyperinflation Trade Looking Crowded

CLH: Thanks, very interesting - so is it fair to say you believe that larger, sweeping societal trends (demographics, etc) are the true drivers of inflation and deflation?

I always thought demographics are something that were really overlooked during Japan's past couple of lost decades - getting older as a nation is extremely deflationary, that's one heck of a headwind no matter how much money is being printed.

One other quote - and I can't recall who said it offhand, so my apologies - that no nation with a bond market has ever experienced hyperinflation. I haven't done the research but offhand thought it was potentially very insightful.

Not Your Grandpa's Deflation

@worriedwart - I mean if you have large amounts of savings that are denominated in US dollars, you may want to consider diversifying with other currencies. For example, Everbank offers savings and CD accounts denominated in foreign currencies...a nice hedge in case the dollar tanks.

What Is Going On With Gold?

"Yes, you can certainly make the argument that the U.S. is no longer a AAA rated country, but if we're AA then"

Yep we’re AA alright – my name is the US dollar, and I’ve been a debtor nation for over 20 years.