specks

2009 Economic Forecasts Ignore Demographic Shift

You know, it seems to me the problem is one of government fraud. This article is just another smoke screen of what's really going on. Hans Sennholz in his book, "Age of Inflation," talks about the dollar being worth, I believe, something like 8 cents. But guess what.... that was in 1979!!
What do you think it's really worth today?
It's like the media asking, when referring to the auto bailout, "Is X number of dollars enough?
Wrong question. What we should be asking is, " Which of these politicians should we hang FIRST?
We don't know whether to spend, save or just burn our money because we don't know what the incompetants are going to do next. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm telling you, we may be headed for a serious revolution when people figure out how they've been, and are, being duped.

Banks' Problem Loans Keep Growing

I've just finished Friedman/Schwartz and a follow-up by an author who's name escapes me. The banks that collapsed in the 30's did so late in the cycle. Don't forget that the bank "HOLIDAYS" largely took place in '33. And the latter author wrote, "Banking unrest in Pittsburg, Philadelphia, and especially Chicago was directly related to depreciated real estate values in 1931." Also, "The absence of statistics on the default rate on real estate loans, both farm and non-farm, prevents any assessment of the risks involved in real estate lending."
So I keep in mind the 'dustbowl' and the farmers out west losing their crops. Plus we know there was high unemployment and you need a job to pay for a house. 1 in 3 without a job!! Moreover, if you want to keep something secret, don't write about it in the papers!

The Banking Sector Isn't Out of the Woods

Nice to have found you again. I respect your insights and opinions and will look forward to more of your views in future.

More on Declining Canadian House Prices

I don't know if Canada will resemble the USA or not. I do know a party that purchased a small bungalow for around 250k in Toronto around 2001 and sold it late in 2006 for 750k to a supposed developer for "LOT VALUE." So if the lot is worth that much, how much would a McMansion built on it be worth?
And in the "Beaches" area houses that had sold around 300k were commonly selling well over 1 mil. I'm an old farm boy and there are stories of many farmers, just north of the city, who became instant millionaires by selling their farms to "foreign investors." A bubble? Here in Canada? No way! Our houses were just too cheap compared to other major cities of the world!
That's the "honest to God's truth". So There!!

Expecting a Sell-Off: 35 Ways to Protect for Less

I've had similar problems also and thought my system was being attacked by the worm as I use a local library internet service.
FYI.

The Good, The Bad, And the Inaccurate Oil Forecasts

I read your article... You're just like me... I too keep telling myself that I was right when wrong. Still, the truth did will out. I WAS WRONG!!

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Emerging Markets

You know... that picture of the little girl puts everything into perspective!!
Doesn't she just seem to be thinking..." I wonder what the fed will do tomorrow?"

Royal Bank Upgraded on Q3 Results

You know, if I were able to show my southern California house at the price I paid for it at the peak rather than at the market price, I would be extremely profitable also!
However, the bank expects, and demands, a different calculation from me than from itself!!
Fair?? Hell no!
But who's in control?

The Real Price of Crude Oil

Phil Erlager, professor out of U of Calgary, says we are short term out of storage and, with use declining, there will be no place to store crude. We are out of storage space, apparently, and with seasonal price declines, the rate of price decline will accelerate.
How many ships off-shore??
I don't know!

U.S. vs. Canada: Banking Edition

Last autumn, the sales valve was shut off for a few months only. Just enough time to replenish the bubbly! Now, when the USA decline finally gives our bottle a good shaking, what do you think will happen when our cork pops?

Comparing Today's Bank Crisis to the Past

For all you historians, the Great Depression of the 30's was preceded by two former Great Depressions going back to around 1790!!
Et tu Brutus and Caesar .......?

Housing Market Bottom Talk Intensifies

Insiders at Toll still selling!
Caveat emptor!!!

Good News for TD, CIBC in Bank of Montreal Earnings

where is Dan Amoss now Agora Financial???

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

I just want to comment that there is so much noise as information available today that it's tough to sort out trash from truth.
Honestly?
I'm totally confused as to what's really happening!

Canadian Real Estate Braces for Continuing Losses

I am outside of Toronto now but when I was there it absolutely amazed me how many big-box, self-standing, mono-occupant, individual stores had been created especially in the burbs! Just a normal over-expansion, as always.
I'd stay away from all of them; especially with the falling CAD$.