ARCHIVES
03/04/2008 - Inflation Wars
Greg’s Note: The concern with the U.S. economy does not exist in just one area. There is a battle going on between inflation and recession that does not show any easy answers. Dr. Marc Faber explains how the Fed and the private sector have been here before, and why we may never find a real winner. 05/08/2007 - Of Irritations and the World's Greatest City
Greg's Note: Dr. Marc Faber returns with a discussion on personal irritations and then he turns to the question of "Is there a world's greatest city?" He's quite well traveled, so he's got a lot of experience that would help him address that question. You might be interested in some of the more contrarian places he describes near the end of today's piece. 04/16/2007 - "Relax, the Over-all Market Probably Won't Tank"
Greg's Note: Almost seven years ago, BusinessWeek told us "Relax, the Over-all Market Probably Won't Tank." Marc Faber recalls this headline and draws our attention to today's market. Should we "relax" today? Possibly not, if you ask Dr. Faber, who describes interrelated forces of credit tightening, the recent poor performance of financial stocks, and the slowing of American consumption growth. 03/09/2007 - When Too Many Investors Think Alike, Nobody is Thinking!
Greg’s Note: Dr. Marc Faber returns today to give you a comprehensive collection of the four stunning investment manias he’s witnessed in his more than 37 years in the biz. He covers the precious metals boom of the ‘70s, the Japanese asset boom of the ‘80s, the emerging markets mania of the ‘90s and, finally, the high tech boom. He then asks how these manias can lend some understanding to today’s market. 12/21/2006 - Will the U.S. Become a Banana Republic?
Greg's Note: Marc Faber returns today to ask whether America will become a banana republic. He makes a hearty attempt to answer that question - and then ties his pontifications into economic analysis and finally investment advice. 10/13/2006 - The Curmudgeon Smooches Goldilocks
Greg’s Note: Marc Faber returns to the hallowed pages of Whiskey to reflect on his trip to the IMF conference. His experience there leads him to reflect on the financial services industry as a whole. He then looks at the future prospects for hedge funds and funds of funds. Does it look good? For some funds, maybe... And finally, he turns to the optimistic Goldilocks scenario 08/30/2006 - Corporate Profits Increasingly to Disappoint!
Greg's Note: Today, Marc Faber returns with his thoughts on the chances for a coming recession. He looks specifically at corporate earnings and profits. Do we see an earnings bubble? How can corporate profit growth continue to outpace nominal GDP growth? In other words, "Is it different this time?" Dr. Faber also critiques the idea that rich nations reap the profits as poor nations grab the jobs. 08/23/2006 - Increased Recession Risks!
Greg's Note: Today Marc Faber returns to present his case for increased risks of a recession. He takes a look at consumer dining stocks and at the propensity for investors to hold on to falling stocks they've developed an irrational attachment to. Finally, he analyzes investor sentiment. He combines his take on all of the above factors into a gloomy outlook on the global economy. 07/07/2006 - Corrections or Bear Markets in Asset Prices, Part II
Greg's Note: Today, Marc Faber returns with the second half of his discussion on whether we're looking at a correction or a bear market. Today he lays out his short-term scenario and analyzes each investment sector. 07/06/2006 - Corrections or Bear Markets in Asset Prices?
Greg's Note: The inimitable Marc Faber returns today with a discussion on the recent sell-offs in various international asset markets. He asks if we're in a correction or a bear market. He takes a look at the Indian market, Saudi Arabia's and America's among others. He provides a short history of capitalism to put this boom in historical perspective. Today is the first part in a 2-piece series from Dr. Faber. 05/01/2006 - A Simpleton's Guide to Economics and Investment Markets, Part II
Greg's Note: Marc Faber returns to cap off his common sense driven "Simpleton's Guide to Economics." Today, he discusses the relationship between the dollar's value and American asset markets. How will the Fed "manage" the dollar? How will U.S. assets fare compared to foreign assets? Faber details those questions -- among others -- and then turns to the Indian market in real estate, domestic consumption and stocks. 04/27/2006 - A Simpleton's Guide to Economics and Investment Markets, Part I
Greg's Note: Today Marc Faber returns to cast some common sense on the Global and American economic pictures. Sometimes it seems that economic theories stretch -- and even rip right through -- the very fabric of any sense, common or no. First, he asks what will happen if the rate of debt growth can't reach -- and eventually overcome -- GDP growth. Then, he hits upon the potential affects of China and India's massive commodity hunger that will only continue to grow. Then, he turns to rising American debt and rocketing asset prices. And there's more...so keep reading -- unless you prefer a rosy picture. 03/15/2006 - Bull and Bear Markets in Int'l Tensions, Part II
Greg's Note: Here's the second installment of Marc Faber's analysis of how the Kondratieff long waves -- specifically in commodity prices -- affect geopolitics and conflict. Today he looks at how China has become "challenger" to the World Hegemony of America. He then discusses the possible side effects of an armed attack on Iran's nuclear sites. As you'll see, it's not a simple, linear situation. China, India, Russia, Israel, Iran and America all play complex, intertwining parts. As you might expect, resource needs play a large part in this spidery 3-dimensional puzzle. Please read on and send your opinions to your 2-dimensional managing editor here: greg@whiskeyandgunpowder.com 03/14/2006 - Bull and Bear Markets in International Tensions
Greg's Note: Today marks the return of longtime Whiskey correspondent Marc Faber. Today he connects macroeconomic trends with political events. Specifically, he employs Kodratieff's Long Wave Cycle to show how long-term up and down trends (specifically in commodity prices) correlate with periods of warlike upheaval and peaceful prosperity. So just how do rising commodity prices affect the geopolitical power balance? And how much do rising and falling general economic trends correlate to different periods in recent world history? Read on and you'll see...and please send any responses to your unwarlike managing editor here: greg@whiskeyandgunpowder.com 11/23/2005 - A ROADMAP TO FINANCIAL RUIN!
Greg's Note: It is one of my most cherished goals in life to someday pay a visit to the offices of Dr. Marc Faber in Chiangmai. If I can tear myself away from one the world's great natural wonders-beautiful Thai women-I'm sure to be party to an accurate preview of the world's economic and monetary future. But why wait! 07/19/2005 - The Rise To Ruin
Dan discusses the decline of civilization, and the conflicts occurring between the West and China. Then, Dr. Marc Faber points out that slower global growth (precipitated by a China slowdown) is not necessarily deflationary. In fact, Dr. Faber makes a compelling case for why inflation is a matter of time, regardless of low long-term bond yields and the Fed's conundrum. 06/24/2005 - Global Warming: Chronicle of a Disaster Foretold
Marc Faber discusses a heated topic, global warming. He gives a history of the science and what political leaders have done to rectify it, and suggests what needs to be done in reaction. 05/19/2005 - Consumerism: The Problem With Saturated Markets in Western Societies
Concerning the phenomenon of saturated markets, Richard Tomkins published recently a very interesting column in the Financial Times entitled, "Shop until you stop: The problem of consumer satiety" (April 12, 2005). 05/03/2005 - When a House is Not a Home
With the exception of the incorrigible optimists, most financial observers know that at some point, the excessive credit creation in the United States will backfire and lead to some sort of a crisis. But that is where our knowledge stops. We don’t know what might be the catalyst for the crisis, when it might happen, or in what form it might manifest itself. 04/13/2005 - Easy Money
What these U.S. monetary policies failed to do, however, was to lift capital spending and produce gains in private sector employment. (The U.S. government, on the other hand, has added almost a million jobs since 2000.) In fact, capital spending is still below the level of 2000 and, as a percentage of GDP, is at one of its lowest levels ever. 03/22/2005 - Stagflation Rides Again
Today's essay from Dr. Marc Faber is timely. The early market reaction to the Fed's decision to raise rates a quarter of a point is telling. Gold fell. Bonds fell. And stocks fell. The market sees inflationary pressures at a time of lukewarm economic growth, or what we call stagflation. 01/14/2005 - Dr. Doom's Forecasts
Here is an exchange of letters Marc Faber had with the economist and deflationist Gary Shilling. In Dr. Faber's reply he covers a lot of ground. It includes the prospects for a war with Iran, a military conflict with China, and the industrial infrastructure needs of Asia. | 
