|
As the abysmal investment and
economic year of 2008 draws to a close the following represent the 10 most
popular financial markets analysis articles out of a pool of 5000 published
during the year. For my financial markets outlook and forecasts special for
2009, subscribe to our always free newsletter.
1. The Great Depression 2008 - It can't happen to us....can it?9th
Feb 2008 By Andy Sutton - Views 319,369
Webster's defines
complacency as “1.satisfaction or contentment 2. smug
self-satisfaction” There is probably not a better word to describe the
current state of perception with regard to economic and financial malady. I
had an interesting conversation the other night about exactly this topic and
the individual I was speaking with had an overriding belief that we cannot
suffer economically simply because the current generation is not prepared to
deal with it. While I certainly agree with the latter assertion, the former
continues to baffle me.
2. The Battle for America Has Begun- Strategic Forecasts14th
May 2008 By Richard_C_Cook - Views 216,594
This article contains
several forecasts, including the possible start of a major war with
unforeseeable consequences, if the U.S. should happen to attack Iran . Of course it is in the nature of forecasts to be speculative. There are also
forecasts that are intended to serve as warnings and thereby contribute to
preventing the events under analysis from ever taking place.
3.UK House Prices Plunge Over the Cliff8th
April 2008 By Nadeem Walayat - Views 211,597
UK house prices plunged
by 2.5% in March (Halifax seasonally adjusted), the fall was far bigger than
estimates and points to an acceleration in the pace of house price falls
across the UK. The credit crisis is continuing to lead to a much tighter
mortgage lending environment as highlighted in December's article . Mortgages continue to vanish from
lenders shelves, with the total number of products having been reduced from
11,000 in May 2007 to just over 3000 today. The tightening is as a
consequence of risk averse lenders seeking to repair their balance sheets
from US mortgage related losses and batton down the hatches in advance of a
surge in repossessions and mortgage defaults amongst UK borrowers.
4. Stock Market Trends for 20081st Jan 2008 By Clif_Droke - Views 208,753
The year 2007 was
marked by pessimism, doom and gloom, and a never-ending fusillade of fear. The
mainstream press never tired of hypnotizing into believing the stock market
would collapse, a downfall which never materialized. With all the talk of the
weak dollar and the predictions of a worsening liquidity crisis,
prognosticators have all but written off the prospects for a bullish 2008. Calls
for a recession in the year ahead are also on the rise. What these analysts
have failed to grasp is that there never was a liquidity crisis to begin
with. By definition, tight money is reflected by rising interest rates and
falling money supply indicators. Just the opposite is the case today.
5. US Economy Forecast 2008 - First Recession then Recovery5th
Jan 2008 By John_Mauldin - Views 202,830
It's that time of
year, when I throw caution to the wind and present my annual forecast issue. Jumping
to the conclusion, I think a recession has begun, so the relevant question is
to ask when the recovery will begin. We will look at the housing market, the
continued implosion of the credit markets, and the deteriorating employment
picture. Will the Fed worry more about employment and recession or about the
very real inflation pressures? Oil? Gold? Which way the dollar? I am going to
make some unusual calls, as well as highlight what I think will be the next
looming problem in the growing credit crisis. We'll try to cover it all in
just a few pages.
6. US Banking System Teetering on the Brink of Collapse1st
Feb 2008 By Mike_Whitney - Views 200,943
Somebody goofed. When
Fed chairman Ben Bernanke cut interest rates to 3% yesterday, the price
of a new mortgage went up. How does that help the flagging housing industry?
About an hour after Bernanke made the announcement that the Fed Funds rate
would be cut by 50 basis points the yield on the 30-year Treasury nudged up a
tenth of a percent to 4.42%. The same thing happened to the 10 year Treasury
which surged from a low of 3.28% to 3.73% in less than a week. That means
that mortgages which are priced off long-term government bonds---will be
going up, too.
7. How Safe is My FDIC-Insured Bank Account?14th
Apr 2008 By Dr_Martenson - Views 192,873
Your bank account may
not be as safe as you think (or hope). Taking a deeper look at the legal
details and the financial depth of the FDIC reveals several troubling details
that call into question how the FDIC would fare during a true banking
crisis. The US is coming out of a period of unusually low banking
stress and failures. Since it is typical human behavior to let one's guard
down during tranquil periods, we might legitimately ask if this has happened
with respect to the FDIC.
8. Rising Risk of a Systemic Financial Meltdown:The 12 Steps to
Financial Disaster12th Feb 2008 By Nouriel Roubini-
Views 185,991
Why did the Fed ease
the Fed Funds rate by a whopping 125bps in eight days this past January? It
is true that most macro indicators are heading south and suggesting a deep
and severe recession that has already started. But the flow of bad macro news
in mid-January did not justify, by itself, such a radical inter-meeting
emergency Fed action followed by another cut at the formal FOMC meeting.
9. The Real Reason for the Global Financial Crisis…the Story No
One's Talking About 18th Sept 2008 By Shah Gilani - Views 151,903
Are you
shell-shocked? Are you wondering what's really going on in the market? The
truth is probably more frightening than even your worst fears. And yet, you
won't hear about it anywhere else because “they” can't tell you. “They”
are the U.S. Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury Department, and they can't
tell you what's really going on because there's nothing they can do about it,
except what they've been trying to do – add liquidity.
10. Experts: Global Food Shortages Could ‘Continue for Decades' 22nd
Feb 2008 By Joseph_Dancy- Views 140,859
Global inventories of
grains are nearing historic lows, while twenty percent of the U.S. corn crop this coming year will be used for ethanol production. Meanwhile wheat, rice
and soybean prices have reached all-time highs and corn prices have jumped to
a 12-year high.
For my financial
markets outlook and forecasts special for 2009, subscribe to our always free newsletter.
A happy and
prosperous New Year to all!
Nadeem Walayat
Market Oracle.com.uk
Nadeem Walayat is the editor of MarketOracle.co.uk.and
has over 20 years experience in trading and investing.
| 
