2009-11-13 22:15:00
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Marc-Faber-bats-for-gold-silver-against-US-dollar-22901-2-1.html
Dr.Marc Faber
The United States is dedicated to debasing its currency, the US Dollar. Are you ready? There is a risk in holding cash in an environment of asset price inflation – a condition that usually occurs when governments create large fiscal deficits and inflate the money supply. The practice is endemic to banana republics and declining empires...and it is happening in the US at this very moment.
The global recession and financial crisis have refocused attention on government stimulus packages. These packages typically emphasize spending, predicated on the view that the expenditure 'multipliers' are greater than one – so that gross domestic product expands by more than government spending itself. Stimulus packages typically also feature tax reductions, designed partly to boost consumer demand (by raising disposable income) and partly to stimulate work effort, production and investment (by lowering rates).
The existing empirical evidence on the response of real gross domestic product to added government spending and tax changes is thin. But the evidence is quite strong that these policy responses usually trigger inflation.
Get historical quotes on India gold, silver futures
I suppose that even someone without any common sense might understand that a "strong currency" over longer periods of time reflects a high degree of prosperity and economic success, whereas a chronically weak currency is symptomatic of economic imbalances, such as a lack of competitiveness or overconsumption, arising usually from excessive supply of money and credit.
I would also suppose that even if someone never travels overseas, he would understand that if the US Dollar loses 50% of its value against all the other world currencies (everything else being equal), it means the US is 50% poorer relative to the rest of the world. (Now, this is not entirely correct, since the US has overseas assets that would appreciate in value in USD terms).
Moreover, stock price movements become extremely volatile and erratic in countries with a depreciating currency. In the long run, the depreciation of the currency will usually more than eliminate the gains in local currency terms. So, whereas in 2007 both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 exceeded their previous highs reached in 2000 in US Dollar terms, these indices failed to make new highs in Euro terms. In addition, whereas the US economy expanded in US Dollar terms between 2001 and 2007, in Euro terms it actually contracted!
Even with the S&P 500 having shot up since the beginning of the year by over 25%, it has merely kept pace with the price of Gold. And during the last 10 years, the S&P has lagged behind the official US inflation rate...while lagging VERY far behind both the Euro and gold. Since the end of 1999, the S&P 500 has delivered a total return after inflation of about minus 25%.Unfortunately, the US is not the only country that is busily debasing its currency. "Everyone" is doing it. Because of the current collective debasement of all paper currencies by central bankers, I believe that precious metals and mining companies will maintain their purchasing power.
In the 1980s the US Dollar was a very strong paper currency compared to the Mexican Peso. Today, there is no paper currency that is as strong relative to the US Dollar as the US Dollar was relative to the Peso in the 1980s! The only "currencies" that have a chance of becoming as strong against the US Dollar as the US Dollar was against the Peso between 1979 and 1988 are precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
Also, I should add that precious metals could appreciate even if the US Dollar miraculously recovered strongly against foreign currencies for an extended period of time. Such Dollar strength would probably be a symptom of some horrible economic or political problems around the world, which could be friendly to precious metals.
Central bankers and pundits seem to believe that they have averted the second Great Depression, while ignoring the fact that more and more debt produces less and less GDP and fewer and fewer jobs.
For now, though, the low ten-year bond yield is the lifeline from which all support flows. Much of the investment universe holds together because money can still be had for cheap – not by the volition of a cooperative private sector, rather induced by a US government that simply distributes money for free. Such an ill-conceived idea could only have been born in the test tube of a central banker.
Private lenders comprehend the difficulty of making profits when being forced to lend for nothing, so the government increasingly finds itself to be the interest-free lender of last resort.
Ultimately, if central bankers continue this process for long enough, it is the Dollar, and any currency or economy still pegged to it, that could eventually crash. Therefore, we investors find ourselves in the precarious position of having to maintain sufficient liquidity, but not too much in case the real value of these liquid reserves is wiped out by politicians and central bankers gone mad.
Courtesy: www.bullionvault.com
Recent GOLD News
- Porgera Mine Working with UN and Enga Provincial Government to Provide Humanitarian Aid to Violence-Stricken Province • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/20/2024 03:35:21 PM
- Barrick Continues to Unlock Value Embedded in Its Asset Base • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/17/2024 05:00:29 PM
- Feasibility Study on Lumwana Super Pit Expansion Expected by Year-End • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/11/2024 09:00:00 PM
- Key Projects Advance as Barrick Keeps Tight Focus on Value Creation and Growth • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/12/2024 10:00:00 AM
- Barrick Declares Q2 Dividend and Buys Back Shares • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/12/2024 09:59:00 AM
- U.S. Futures Steady as Markets Await Key Inflation Data, Oil Prices Climb • IH Market News • 08/12/2024 09:47:41 AM
- Mining Plays a Vital Role in Advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, says Barrick • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/02/2024 06:45:39 PM
- Porgera Remains On Track Despite Mulitaka Landslide Challenges • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/25/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Higher Q2 Production Puts Barrick On Track to Deliver 2024 Targets • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/16/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Barrick Continues to Invest in Mali • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/09/2024 07:00:00 PM
- Exploration Success, Capital Investment and Reserve Growth to Sustain Kibali’s Production Profile • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 07/02/2024 04:00:00 PM
- Barrick and Zijin Contribute $1 Million to Support Papua New Guinea Landslide Victims • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 06/07/2024 11:18:39 AM
- Form SD - Specialized disclosure report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/29/2024 08:01:04 PM
- Barrick’s Sustainability Strategy Delivers Real Value to Stakeholders • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/15/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Barrick Announces Extensive Exploration Partnership with Geophysx Jamaica • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/01/2024 10:15:00 AM
- Barrick to Ramp Up Production As It Remains On Track to Achieve 2024 Targets • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/01/2024 10:00:00 AM
- Barrick Declares Q1 Dividend • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/01/2024 09:59:00 AM
- Barrick Announces Election of Directors • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/30/2024 08:15:55 PM
- Barrick On Track to Achieve 2024 Targets • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/16/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Notice of Release of Barrick’s First Quarter 2024 Results • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/09/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Strategy-Driven Barrick Builds on Value Foundation • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/28/2024 09:20:38 PM
- Barrick Hunts New Gold and Copper Prospects in DRC From Kibali Base • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/20/2024 02:00:00 PM
- Barrick Opens Academy at Closed Buzwagi Mine • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/18/2024 08:00:00 AM
- Barrick to Grow Production and Value on Global Asset Foundation • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/15/2024 11:53:01 AM
- Loulo-Gounkoto Delivers Another Value-Creating Performance • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/10/2024 10:00:00 AM
Lingerie Fighting Championships Signs Broadcast Deal With Maybacks Global Entertainment • BOTY • Sep 26, 2024 9:00 AM
Maybacks Global Entertainment and Lingerie Fighting Championships Enter Into Broadcast And Revenue Sharing Agreement • AHRO • Sep 26, 2024 8:30 AM
North Bay Resources Commences Operations at Bishop Gold Mill, Inyo County, California; Engages Sabean Group Management Consulting • NBRI • Sep 25, 2024 9:15 AM
CEO David B. Dorwart Anticipates a Bright Future at Good Gaming Inc. Through His Most Recent Shareholder Update • GMER • Sep 25, 2024 8:30 AM
Cannabix Technologies and Omega Laboratories Inc. Advance Marijuana Breathalyzer Technology - Dr. Bruce Goldberger to Present at Society of Forensic Toxicologists Conference • BLOZF • Sep 24, 2024 8:50 AM
Integrated Ventures, Inc Announces Strategic Partnership For GLP-1 (Semaglutide) Procurement Through MedWell USA, LLC. • INTV • Sep 24, 2024 8:45 AM