Here’s a quick, executive summary of stories from this week, with a link to the full articles online.
Two OTHER Places to Watch in 2015
The year 2014 brought shocking surprises from overseas — such as the horrors of ISIS, the land grabs by Russia, the cyber-attacks by North Korea — and you’d better brace yourself for major new wars that could explode in 2015. Martin D. Weiss takes a look at two conflicts that are likely to heat up further in 2015. Read more by clicking here.
One Company That is Branching Out
With the increased volatility as of late, it is easy to get caught up in the minutia of the daily market machinations. Yet be sure to set aside time for finding and studying new public companies that are carving out their own niche during difficult times. Jon Markman takes a look at one. Click here to get the story.
Four More Key Forecasts for 2015 …
If you think 2014 was relatively calm and peaceful in the markets, fasten your seatbelts. 2015 is going to be anything but calm! The previous week, Larry Edelson gave you some insight into what gold and silver will do this year. They will bottom! And he also promised to give you more forecasts for the New Year. So here they are — click here to read more.
It’s (Almost) All Greek to the World Economy.
Why is an election at the fringe of the European Union important to the global economy? For one thing, it’s the last thing Europe needs now — something else to create uncertainty on the Continent. Click here to get a primer on the situation.
From $108 to $47 — Quite a Discount!
Can you imagine? $47? That’s where benchmark U.S. crude oil futures were trading earlier this week. Just seven months earlier, they traded around $108. It means cheaper prices at the pump, but what does it mean for the economy, and the Fed’s interest–rate policy? Mike Larson takes a look. Click here to read more.
The Week’s Hot News
Money and Markets columnists take a look at key financial and political events around the globe after the market close. Here are the week’s highlights:
A Continuation of Things …
It was a bad start to the week for the equity and oil markets. The calendar may have flipped. But it looks like investors didn’t notice … because they’re selling the same darn things in 2015 that they dumped like mad in 2014. Click here to get Mike’s view on how the first full week of trading started.
A Bit of Their Own Medicine
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| Many Harvard professors are upset about the Affordable Care Act. |
The hallowed halls of Harvard University. That’s where many of the best minds in the world meet, and where future leaders are molded and shaped. It’s also where many of today’s health-care policies were cooked up, championed, and (increasingly) defended. That includes Obamacare, or if you prefer, the Affordable Care Act. Read Mike’s view on the situation by clicking here.
Readers Take on Obamacare
Mike’s column the previous day (see above) set many Money and Markets readers off and they responded in heavy numbers. Mike takes a look at some of the comments and responds himself to the viewpoints. Click here to read more.
Terror Strikes Europe!
The headlines out of France were downright horrific, as are the amateur videos posted online. Terrorist attackers shot their way into the offices of French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo. They gunned down editors, cartoonists and police officers in cold blood, praising Allah in the process. Then they fled as quickly as they arrived, leaving a nation in a state of shock and mourning. Mike Larson had some thoughts on the tragedy. Click here to read more and add in your thoughts on this fast-developing story.
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
{ 2 comments }
Hi all
One of the components that seems to be most ignored in the commentaries is working capital. Investment capital is always looking for a home where it is wanted. Where the climate is stable, predictable and rewarded. No one is going to commit large amounts of new money to a system that is work force manipulated, benefit controlled and with uncertain rewards. We can bleat all we like about rights and fairness and how everyone else should pay for our supper. However, if the instruments of government cannot create a climate for working capital to come then some of us don’t work or we don’t eat or our kids fall behind others in going to school. What sort of America do we want. What sort of America do you want?
Don’t fear for America. Her problem was solved at her origin.
Jefferson said, “We have already given, in example one effectual check to the Dog of war, by transferring the power of letting him loose from the Executive to the Legislative body; from those who are to spend to those who are to pay.†Let me paraphrase that, “The Power to declare War moves from the Executive who is to spend, to the Legislators who are to pay.” Spending is an Executive Power. Revenue paying is a Legislative Power.
All Legislative Powers are ‘here in listed’ in Article 7. Congress is to pass Bills to Raise Revenue. That is like sending out invoices so they can get paid for services rendered. That would imply that the Government is supposed to do useful work, for pay.