Turmoil, Volatility and a Shift in Policy

Here’s a quick, executive summary of stories from this past trading week, with a link to the full articles online.

Turmoil, QE, Deflation and Terror

Martin D. Weiss and his team kick off a series of reports to help put together the pieces of the global puzzle for you, giving you a roadmap for your safety, your wealth, and your family’s destiny. Click here to read the first installment.

Market Volatility — Good or Bad?

Since Dec. 30, every single session has featured a move in the S&P 500 of greater than 1 percent. That includes any session when the day’s high is more than 1 percent higher than the previous close, the day’s low is more than 1 percent lower than the previous day’s close, or the day’s high is 1 percent higher than the day’s low. How does all the volatility play into your investment plans? Jon Markman takes a look. Click here to read more.

Granddaddy of All Cycles

The world is a mess, a sorry state of affairs that is getting worse by the day. This was all foretold by the cycles of war that Larry Edelson has been writing about for over two years now … cycles that show the world splintering apart, cycles that will not even come close to ebbing for another five years. But that doesn’t mean there are no investment possibilities. Get Larry’s views by clicking here.

A Special Update on Gold

Everyone seems to think gold has bottomed, but the fact of the matter is this: Nothing could be further from the truth. Larry Edelson presented a special update on gold — click here to get his views.

A Major Shift in Foreign Policy Coming

Is the consensus foreign policy of the United States, the establishment or default policy of the leadership of both parties, the governing classes at large, and the mainstream media, about to change? Charles Goyette has a look. Click here to read more.

Currency Wars — Can Anyone Win?

Countries around the world are using their currencies in what could be called a “Global Money War!” Nine countries eased policy in January alone, from India to Denmark to Canada. New Zealand piled on late Wednesday with a fresh round of verbal intervention. The stated or unstated goal? To weaken their currencies and gain an economic edge. Can anyone win this war? Click here to get Mike Larson’s take on the situation.

The Week’s Hot News

Money and Markets columnist Mike Larson takes a look at key financial and political events around the globe after the market close. Here are the week’s highlights:

Another Bullish Sign?

Mega-deals are back in vogue. They aren’t confined to just one industry, either. The transactions span the industrial, energy, and insurance sectors — proving that Wall Street’s deal-making drive is still in full swing! That, in turn, could be another positive force supporting stock prices as the year unfolds. Mike takes a look at some of the big deals. Click here to have a read.

Dollar’s Rally Crushes Corporate Profits

Caterpillar was just one of the companies to fall off a currency-related cliff

Earnings results from the previous week looked fairly solid. But the ones we got early this week? Not so much … and a key driver of the lousy results is one Mike has been talking about for months — the surging U.S. dollar! But is it time to look for a turnaround? Click here to see what Mike has to say on the matter.

Fed, Central Bank Speak Leaves Investors Confused

The Federal Reserve took center stage Wednesday afternoon, and for good reason! We’re seeing an intensifying brawl between the Fed and foreign central banks over the dollar, deflation, the euro-zone debt crisis, and the future direction of interest rates here and abroad … and investors were looking to policymakers for guidance. Click here to get Mike’s take.

Stocks Hostage to Oil’s Grip! Can it End?

There was a brief moment in time recently when corporate earnings actually made a difference for stocks. But not anymore! We’re back in “oil hell” again — with every wiggle in energy prices causing a corresponding move in the S&P 500. See how Mike is viewing the situation by clicking here.

Best wishes,

The Money and Markets Team