 |
Tomorrow morning, Elisabeth and I will set off on a 6-week trip around the world — both for our own education and, we trust, yours as well.
My primary goal is to explore some of the world’s most important regions (whether troubled or not), meet with everyday citizens in each country, absorb what’s really happening on the ground, explore how and why they’re moving their wealth … and then report my findings back home to you.
Elisabeth’s primary goal is a bit different: She wants us to enjoy ourselves! So, if there’s a work-fun conflict, you can bet Elisabeth will win most of the time.
 |
First stop: Milan, Italy … and then three days with old friends in the Italian Alps.
Italy could be the financial epicenter of the next global debt crisis.
It’s the home of the largest troubled banks in the world today, including UniCredit S.p.A. (meriting a Weiss Safety Rating of D), Intesa Sanpaolo bank S.p.A. (D+), Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A. (D-) and others.
Except for Greece, it also has the worst public debt burden in the European Union.
And for reasons I’ll tell you more about next week from Milan, it’s on the brink of a political disaster that could come to a head in October.
 |
Our second stop is Istanbul, Turkey. Right now, all my contacts there tell me it’s calm and safe, even more so than before the recent attempted coup. But the caldron for future explosions and shocks is hotter than ever.
In fact, right now the country is engulfed in a massive purge of the military, the courts, the universities and the media.
Turkey is also the primary gateway for Jihadists on their way from Europe to join ISIS in Syria AND for Jihadists on their way back from Syria to launch terrorist attacks in Europe. Plus, it’s the primary gateway for over a million war refugees and migrants who have fled the Middle East.
I’ll sort through all this with my update from Turkey early next month.
 |
Stop #3 is the Arabian Peninsula, the largest and richest in the world, with 500 billion barrels of proven oil reserves in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Oman.
While Saudi Arabia is, by far, the biggest among them, it also harbors some of the greatest political and economic risks. I’ll tell you more about these — and the consequences for U.S. investors — when I’m there.
From the Middle East, we go to East Asia to visit our son Anthony, who lives in Tokyo. We haven’t seen him since late last year. So we’re looking forward to some quality time together.
Before we fly back to North America, I also hope to submit another report from there.
And in between each of these reports, I’ll gather your questions or comments, providing the best responses I can.
In the meantime, feel free to comment here.
Good luck and God bless!
Martin
Dr. Weiss founded Weiss Research in 1971 and has dedicated his entire career to helping millions of average investors find truly safe havens and investments. He is Chairman of the Weiss Group, which includes Weiss Research and Weiss Ratings, the nation’s leading independent rating agency accepting no fees from rated companies. His last three books have all been New York Times Bestsellers and his most recent title is The Ultimate Money Guide for Bubbles, Busts, Recession and Depression.
{ 61 comments }
The age deceptions
Martin, I’m surprised your first landfall isn’t London before you fly on to Milan!
Can and will this economic bubble pop without the federal reserve raising rates? Will
the pensions of retirees be lost to the government low interest rate policies?
Dr Weiss wish you and the family the best good trip
Sounds great stay out of Venezuela.
Martin, in Milan watch out for pickpockets! Alps are beautiful. Bon Voyage!
Well I truly wish you a good trip and a safe one.
How come that you coming to Milano and not visiting Croatia?
Ah well I supposed you don’t know what you are missing.
some other time perhaps
God bless you both.
Safe return
Je vous souhaite de passer de très belles vacances tout en travaillant mais faites bien attention à vous et que Dieu vous bénisse et surtout vous protèges Martyne Poirier.
South Korea is an economically bouncing country. A land approximately 1.5 times of State of New Jersey and population of 50 Millions, its economic power is the 10th greatest in the world. The number of Rio-Olimpic Metals won up to date are 14, the 10th in metal counts.
But, the confrontation between the South and the North is the most intensive. The North possesses many nuclear bombs and keeps shooting its missiles capable to reach Hawaii regardless of UN Economic sanctions. Now, the South is processing installation of US Thaad Missiles Defense System against the North’s threats.
Still, it maintains the most advanced technology industry and distribution of internet system and the economy is advancing in high rates. What do you think for investment to that country?
May you both enjoy yourself and find opportunities to bless others on this trip.
Blessings and peace.
P & P
Dear Mr. Weiss,
I wish you Bon Voyage! I value the comments of your whole group but particularly yours.
God Bless you and give you safe keeping.
Hi
Great places to visit indeed.
Bon Voyage with Elizabeth.
AJ
I know for you a safe and rewarding journey.
Nancy
Have a great and safe tourney Martin and enjoy the time with Elizabeth. Looking very forward to your account of your observations and experiences.
Enjoy yourself,you can take me,I dont eat much
Have a good trip Martin. Its to bad your not going to China to unravel the Silk Road and of course drill down into the less than stellar numbers they are throwing off. It never fails to be the land of financial mystery.
I am very excited to hear about your trip.
A year ago I would have chided you for leaving U.S.A. Now, I fear what is happening here.
Good luck and stay safe.
Hope you have a great time ! be safe GOD bless do as Elisabeth says
Hi Martin,
I wish you & your spouse everything of the best during your 6 weeks abroad.
You will have a great time, if you forget about work for most of the time!
Kind regards
Sayed.
Dear Martin,
Have a great exploratory journey for all of us who may not be able to travel. I find your personal observations most useful of all. Think you should also recommend reading. Most investors are underinformed about the world and its history. To that end and with your trip in mind I would recommend Peter Frankopan’s The Silk Roads which displaces conventional history from West to East, just the way money flows are going. A bit circuitous but very well done. Best regards and thank to your whole team. Dan.
Martin,
I hope you’ve been following Jeff Cantor’s timely advice before you head overseas. Jeff has convinced me that the enemy is always at large and that I must be vigilant 24/7.
I trust you will employ some bodyguards to bring with you, maybe even Jeff ?
Best
I am very interested in your comments. Trust you have extra security. Enjoy before the magma flows. Actually I am envious.
MARTIN,
HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP. STAY SAFE, HAVE SOME FUN & ENJOY THE FAMILY.
KINDEST REGARDS,
JIM GOFFI
Martin, safe travels and God bless from a longtime subscriber!
Hope and pray that you will be safe and enjoy your whole trip.
In the short term the supply of road space is relatively fixed and thus beyond a certain point marginal congestion costs increase. The classic problem with road congestion is the free rider problem.
1. What is going to be the impact on gold from a “cashless” economy?
2. What is going to be the impact on the Dollar from promised IMF actions in September?
Thank you!
Ron
I wish you were going to safer destinations. Be safe. I have family in Tokyo area. It will be very hot and muggy. Stay cool.
Martin – Enjoy Italy and the Alps. It ought to be really good up there, this time of year. – John P.
Have a great trip, both Italy and Turkey are beautiful! Thank you for all the valuable information you put in the newsletters you send out.
Once from “the other side” (subscriber): Good luck and God bless for your journey!
Sounds like a wonderful trip; enjoyable as well as being educational; don’t forget to duck.
Bon Voyage!
Our world is in great danger from Man’s imprudence. I’m very worried our leaders will involve us in a ‘great’ war to cancel out today’s impossible problems.
Keep this in mind as you explore the world. Do you sense such issue.
Keep safe.
Hello Martin, congrats on being brave enough to take such a tour. My question is: will you have time to check out what is happening on the ground with Britain and France related to staying within the Euro…????
Be safe and happy trails.
walter
Why not Israel?
Have a very worthful trip. Looking forward to your ciments.
Safe travels!
Hi Martin,Enjoy your trip and I look forward to your summaries as you proceed.Your column and two others are the ones I most read.Have a great trip,Cheers,Paul-Australia
I just want to wish you and Elisabeth a safe trip.
Weisses enjoy yourselves !! Be safe and don’t take any chances, because we want you to come back home safely!!
I wish you both a very happy trip and a safe return
Hi Martin
When you get to Milan, hold onto your wallet. It is a brilliant place for wives to go shopping. On a more constructive note you may want to see an important piece of history while there. The original painting of ‘The Last Supper’ by Leonardo Da Vinci takes up the entire wall at the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It was painted by him and preserved till this day. Just a thought though and have fun trying to keep Elizabeth out of the expensive shops.
Have a save trip!!
With the possible exceptions of Italy and Japan, it’s going to be a rather risky and ultimately exhausting trip, although highly exciting, superbly educational and above all, first-hand informative.
Plus fun galore of course, especially when you reunite with your far away son !
Meanwhile I ( and a multitude of others ) will be looking forward to receiving your reports and enjoy their valuable contents.
Last but not least: STAY SAFE !
Best Regards
Luciano Salvati
Please have a wonderful trip. The world is a beautiful , deceptive and exciting place. I hope you and ELIZABETH enjoy your son and all the inspirations . I will look forward to more interesting reports. Best to you both, Deena
Really interested in the stability of Turkey….and their military capabilites.
It’s only a matter of time before ISIS gets greedy for Turkeys wealth.
Wish we were there….have a great trip.
Safe journey, Martin. Looking forward to your comments at each stop!
Dr. Weiss, hope you and your wife will have a most wonderful trip with lots of good memories – most of all stay safe! We’ll will value your impressions from the other side of the world.
God bless,
Elfriede
try to pass by israel, it is vibrant, seems economically sound, and you can learn a lot about the east/ west , and maybe a window on where the world is heading, apart from all that we have great watermelons and a wailing wall.
You can send me an email about your trip in Istanbul
I am a local and can help you if needed
Martin– YOU take care, and have a wonderful and memorable trip! I’ll look forward to hearing from you and all your “boots on the ground” insights. I bet your wife has her hands full trying to get you to stop working and have some fun… but please do!!!
Best, Lynn :-)
What about all…….all of your holdings in BRAZIL…..??????l
Martin and Elizabeth
Best wishes on the trip of a lifetime. I have visited Italy but none of the other places that you will be visiting. At a large garden or park out of Rome, I heard someone calling my name–I was shocked. It was one of my high school students who was traveling with a group of MN kids. So, be on your best behavior as one never knows who you might run into. HA!
Blessings and “Happy Trails to You” Marcy J.
Dear Dr. Martin,
I’m a reader of your website since long time ago. It’ll be my pleasure to meet you her in Cairo if you’ll include Egypt in your program.
Keep Well & GOD Bless You always
Mohab Hashem
Here instead of her!
Crispin Odey ,Hedge Fund Manager, of Odey European,fund predicts a mother of all crashes.because of the debt that is building up in the system.
This I believe is also your position.
1 From your trip do you find evidence to endorse the probability of a crash?
2 If so when and what evidence have you seen.
Martin,
before anyone in Italy tells you fairy tales about the (relative ) strenght of the italian banking system, have somebody compute for you the “Texas ratio” of the 5 largest italian banks. Then, once you are in Italy, ask for the total amount of national debt during the 2012-2016 period. I am mentioning 2012 as this is the year in which the EU commission decided that Italy needed a “swich in government “. Keep in mind that the italian 2016 GDP is some 7 % lower than the one of 2012 and as a consequence even with unchanged debt the DEBT/GDP ratio would be higher. But that’s not he case…
Enjoy the Alps.
Safe fun travels Martin. Enjoy. Look forward to your observations and comments.
All the best, Paul Koch