gordon

Nothing About This Economy Is Surprising

Government intervention, the Plunge Team of Geithner, coached still by Paulson, is buying stocks, simply put. The Chinese gov't announced the same thing a yr ago, we just followed, secretly. All those TARP funds went to the investment banks trading desks and hedgefunds of the same companies. They were told to buy US stocks, plain & simple, especially the financials on any dips, during the stress tests. Banks were given Treasuries for almost any CDOs at .25% and PAID INTEREST 2.5-3% BY THE TREASURY, right? So, there's no reason to lend or pay a SAVER any interest on CDs, why risk it? Then they buy our own Treasuries to keep rates down further. The Patriot Act makes all this legal. It's considered national security. No bank, auto co, defense contractor, telcom,has to even open their books to disclose this. Certainly not the White House Working Group! The most clandestine operation in US history is in progress, imo.

Why a Psychological Bottom Will Lag Any Real Recovery

You're taking too much risk in gold because Paulson has smacked it every time near $900, all he does is make 2 phone calls, the IMF to sell gold, and the Goldman Sachs Commodities Index Boyz, to underweight/manipulate gold. If you followed the 80-week moving average on the $SPX you would have got out of the market, just like you say the break to the upside in early 2003, plot a weekly chart, use a 52-week moving average if you like. In 2007, the $SPX needed to get above 1435 or it was doomed. Read the chart.
3-month FDIC CDs 2.5%-3.5% laddered, TIPS, if you bought them in the last couple yrs, I still have some yielding over 6%, bank CDs(Imperial Capital is good locally here in San Diego, yea, they have troubles, but they're FDIC paying 4% now), I recently bought GEGlobal bonds paying 7% thru 2011, FirstEnergy paying 7.5% thru 2012, both non-callable, AA- BBB area, all these alternatives would have keep you sleeping at night.
Better start listing to Phil Grande too (philsgang.com) before you trade-away the rest of your money.