With all heck breaking loose in our economy — banks and mortgage companies failing, real estate prices still falling, GM, Ford, Chrysler and virtually the entire airline industry all but officially bankrupt — can you now see why I've been a staunch advocate of gold? I'm sure you can, and if you've been following my recommendations, you should be very happy indeed. But now is not the time to sit back and kick your feet up. I have never, in my thirty years studying the markets, seen the U.S. economy in such trouble and with myriad dangers lined up one right after another to rob you of your wealth. So I'm going to get right to the bottom line and cover the major markets that I specialize in and give you my forecasts. Then, ...

Moral of the story, never, ever keep over $100K in any one bank, if you have more than that, split it up amongst a few banks.  Passing on a story from CNNMoney.com that is relevant after today's sucker punch to U.S. Financials. Via CNNMoney.com July 14, 2008: 04:19 PM EST NEW YORK (Associated Press) - The government's seizure of IndyMac Bank raises concerns for many consumers about whether their banks might be next. While it is unlikely the nation will see thousands of banks fail as they did during the savings and ...

Beazer Homes USA Inc. (BZH)I was watching the housing stocks back in August and September of 2007 when they were falling to new lows everyday but switched out of the industry in favor of banks, autos and financials. But after seeing an old name reaching a new low after-hours, I started to re-examine the old names. Still Going Lower I shouldn’t have been surprised but all the housing names that I had been short but got out of during short squeezes are pretty much all much lower now. Stocks like DR Horton (DHI), Lennar (LEN), Centex (CTX) and Beazer Homes all reached new 52 week lows today. Beazer Homes Worthless One of my favorites over 9 months ago was Beazer Homes and this stock has fallen so far that there is barely any market capital left. And the analysts that cover the company are ...

Just when you think the Banks, Brokers and Money Centers cannot go any lower the Proshares Ultrashort Financials ETF (SKF) hits a new high. New 52 Week High Currently trading up 5% as the market has taken a steep decline on news of further trouble with automobile makers General Motors and Ford, SKF has reached a new ...

By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor European stocks were gutted yesterday (Thursday) as banks took heavy losses in the face of more hawkish inflation comments from European Central Bank (ECB) President Jean-Claude Trichet that put pressure on already struggling financials. The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 closed down 2.6% to 288.48, the worst finish for the Eurozone index since October 2005. The FTSEurofirst 300 had a 2.5% drop, to close at 1,197.02 points, its largest one-day percentage drop since mid-March, Reuters reported. Regional indices faired the same, as the Paris-based CAC40, London’s FTSE 100, Madrid’s IBEX 35 and the Frankfurt-based DAX all posted declines. "Overall, there is unprecedented confusion as investors seek to weigh up credit-led deflation against commodity-led inflation – with the unknown factor being how close we are to our commodity/infrastructure constraints to growth," analysts at Credit Suisse ...

Data Call Technologies, Inc. (DCLT.OB) is a leading digital signage company in the growing market of digital advertisement. The company specializes in information feeds through their Internet-driven software for live sports, financial news, live traffic, and Amber Alerts. Data Call’s products can be found in hotels, banks, airports, and sports arenas throughout the United States.

Data Call has evolved and moved as the demand for more digital signage has increased. The company has been able to keep their digital signage fresh and in motion, as well as add real time information. Along with their innovation, Data Call continues to improve their delivery, security, and variety.

Data Call has working relationships with other signage companies that in turn make available over thirty-five live-information feeds. The company’s line of products includes up-to-minute sports and weather that is serviced by Arena Media Networks. Arena Media Networks uses

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The Nikkei had a rough go last week indeed, losing 3.6% and the 14,000-level (13,973.73); TOPIX fell to 1,371.57 after a short-lived recovery of 1,400 two weeks ago. No worries though, as Chicago Nikkei 225 futures not only held 14k, but added 140 points to the upside (14,220) setting the stage for a gap up on Monday (Osaka N225 futures: 13,980). The Bank of Japan held its benchmark rate at 0.5%, as expected; meanwhile, the yen has eased to its weakest level against the dollar, ¥108/$1, since late February. Inflation and U.S. i-bank earnings will weigh heavy on sentiment this week. Lehman (LEH: 25.81 +13.70%) leads off on Monday, 6/16, Goldman (GS: 178.29 +6.92%) is up on Tuesday, 6/17 and Morgan (MS: 41.04 +6.93%) reports on Wednesday, 6/18. Circuit City (...

Since topping out in October 2007, global stock markets have been characterized by two distinct phases: a decline through January/March this year, and then a rebound until mid-May. The predominantly weak undertone of the past few weeks has naturally again raised the question of whether the strength from January/March until three weeks ago has simply been a bear market rally, or whether it in fact was a longer-term upturn in stock markets’ fortunes.

I went on record last year calling a primary bear trend for the US (and most other developed) stock markets, and more recently described the most likely medium-term scenario as a “muddle-through” type of pattern. I briefly want to review a few graphs in this post to ascertain whether this view still makes sense, and then next

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Financials continue to feel max pain as major banks continue to be hammered by selling. The exotic forms of investment continue to haunt those firms who were careless and did not handle risk properly. Selling has spread throughout the rest of the market as Crude Oil prices race higher. We are also seeing Grains and Agriculture futures point higher as well. These markets have and continue to signal higher inflation. The markets haven’t quite seen a peak in fear, a washout of the markets is highly likely. Along the lines of a washout will more than likely be proceeded by crude oil entering in superspike mode. The market is in chaos mode and can not be trusted. Financials might continue their trend but the short trade has become so obvious a sharp covering rally could wipe you clean. So few stocks are working ...

Is it time yet? I am wondering a bit here. Is it time to sell puts on a broad base basket of bank stocks.