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Nation's economy hits the brakes
Seattle PI ^ | April 27, 2007 | PI Staff

Posted on 04/28/2007 2:32:45 PM PDT by Sleeping Beauty

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To: Riodacat; All
Okay, here's my theory:

Because we have a fiat economy (the Feds stopped telling the world how much money we print in March 2006, for the first time since 1914);

Because our national spending deficit has reached such a high level of GDP that it has set off international monetary alarms;

Because Iran has started selling oil denominated in Euros and other currencies (bypassing the dollar as the international reserve currency) and may soon insist that the US exchange into Euros before we can buy oil;

And because China, Europe, Russia, and South America backs Iran on this, gleefully, I might add;

Because the US must borrow $10 million each and every day from China to keep our government running

Because the Feds are going to be forced soon to start lowering interest rates, which will further devalue the dollar in the global money market --

-- The dollar has crashed against 13 out of 16 of the world's leading currencies over the past 90 days.

Now let's bring this down to the Dow going up to 13,000 and rising. Most of the companies leading their sectors are making the profits from the rapidly weakening dollar.

Take Apple for instance. In January, they sell 50,000 i-pods in Europe. They accept payment in March in Euros. They exchange the back into dollars -- and they end up with 30 percent more money than they expected! Conversely, When Apple receives an order for i-pods payable immediately -- the order tends to be MUCH higher than Apple expected -- because in the country buying, i-pods are now cheaper than a couple of CDs.

Ipso facto -- outrageously explosive 1st quarter profit reports -- driving the stock market to record highs.

Have at it...

41 posted on 04/28/2007 4:27:42 PM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
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To: Chode
who the hell puts their money in a bank??? i put mine into the stock market!!! if you want to call that negative saving, so be it.

No. That counts as savings. But when we put you into a pool with the rest of America -- and add the pluses and minuses together -- the final number is a minus. In most other countries, including Mexico, it's a plus.

42 posted on 04/28/2007 4:31:06 PM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
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To: Sleeping Beauty
"What's your theory?"

My theory is that if this were a democrat president Wall Street would be paved with confetti and there would be suggestions about allowing a third term.

43 posted on 04/28/2007 4:31:48 PM PDT by norton
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To: Sleeping Beauty

“The earnings of certain sector leaders are historically high — outrageously high.”

I don’t know exactly who you are referring to, but I’d love to see some names. I don’t understand the concept of “outrageous earnings.” We are Capitalists, the more lawful profit earned, the better.

Earnings in general are not as high as last year, we are dropping below double-digit earnings growth for the first time in a while. The FED is having an effect. If a company can still make higher profits in these conditions, more power to them. If you can make more money this year than last, good for you too! I hope you make “outrageous money!”

The only thing the FED is still worried about: Inflation remains above their preferred target.

I have to go out for a while, so I will probably miss the rest of the conversation. I’l check in later to see what other comments come in. It’s a good subject.


44 posted on 04/28/2007 4:53:27 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods ("We're the government, and we're here to hurt.")
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To: SaxxonWoods

Thanks SaxxonWoods.

I mean’t outrageous in a good way. I should have said “awesome.” Like Apple’s 88 percent.

Hope to see you around on other economic threads. You know your stuff.


45 posted on 04/28/2007 4:57:21 PM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
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To: Sleeping Beauty

Getting rid of SarbOx would probably give the economy a shot in the arm.


46 posted on 04/28/2007 4:59:25 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (G*d bless and heal Virginia Tech!)
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To: Sleeping Beauty

Suggest you remember that the decline started in the first quarter of 2007. Do you remember when the DemoCRAPS took over the house and senate? H’mmm, do you suppose the public is wary of the “new” leader of the USA?


47 posted on 04/28/2007 5:15:44 PM PDT by supermop
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To: supermop
Suggest you remember that the decline started in the first quarter of 2007. Do you remember when the DemoCRAPS took over the house and senate? H’mmm, do you suppose the public is wary of the “new” leader of the USA?

Well, inside the US -- the stock market has been doing great since the Dems took over and the WSJ has been very bullish for the past three months. People in the stock market are making BIG money since the Dems got in.

See what I saying? It doesn't really spin very well as a Dem or GOP achievement.

I don't really think politics are involved. This is much more about monetary policy. And, this is a trailing indicator many years in the making.

For folks with large equity holdings, it's a very good thing. For the middle class, it's a risky time because our imports are going to cost a lot more. Most of the stuff in Wal-Mart is an import, for example.

48 posted on 04/28/2007 5:34:06 PM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Getting rid of SarbOx would probably give the economy a shot in the arm.

What's SarbOx?

49 posted on 04/28/2007 5:36:01 PM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
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To: Sleeping Beauty
Obviously the writer did not live through this jerks administration.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

50 posted on 04/28/2007 5:38:31 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: Porterville

It’s going to pay their mortgages that have been resetting.

John


51 posted on 04/28/2007 5:42:50 PM PDT by Diggity
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To: Sleeping Beauty
I agree with much of what you say. Any American based company with foreign earnings will get a bump in earnings as a result of the deteriorating dollar. But a deteriorating dollar will mean that ultimately foreign goods will cost proportionately more and that means inflation (particularly with the high import content we have). That will see the Fed increase interest rates and you can only guess what that will do to the economy and the bubbles we have in the stock market and housing.
Maybe time to start stocking the fallout shelter. ;)
52 posted on 04/28/2007 5:43:30 PM PDT by Riodacat (Ignorance is bliss. Knowledge, truth and reality sucks....)
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To: MikeHu
You have just identified my stock market investment strategy. At times like these when everybody is bragging about how hot the stock market is, I am nowhere to be found.

When everyone is crying that the market has crashed and they will have to work ten years longer to retire--I am in!


53 posted on 04/28/2007 5:49:01 PM PDT by cgbg (Help! I am a prisoner in LKOT (Leftist Kook Occupied Territory.))
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To: Sleeping Beauty
But does anyone have a theory of why the Dow went up?

Did you read the reports as to why the stocks went up so high? The earnings reports were excellent - many beyond expectations. That's not a theory, it is a fact.

54 posted on 04/28/2007 5:50:20 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: Sleeping Beauty
Do you know why the Dow reached 13,000 while the economy is faltering? What's your theory?

In constant dollars since 2001, it's more like a 7500-7800 Dow.

Think of the Fed as a Brinks truck careening from curb to curb, shoveling out dollars like mad from every door and window, and you have the explanation for a stock bubble, followed by a real estate bubble, followed by another stock bubble.

55 posted on 04/28/2007 6:00:29 PM PDT by RexTheRunt (The MSM says "Jump, Republican pigs!" and the GOP tugs its forelock and grabs air.)
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To: Republican Wildcat

The stocks are high because there are huge pools are cash in equity funds and somewhat fewer stocks. A couple of clicks on a keyboard and the money could vanish into the european markets.


56 posted on 04/28/2007 6:03:09 PM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: Sleeping Beauty
Do you know why the Dow reached 13,000 while the economy is faltering?

Probably because the government has grown more than the economy or the Dow during W's tenure.

57 posted on 04/28/2007 6:05:58 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
In the meantime, in this worst economy of the past 2 weeks, jobs are at an all-time high, unemployment is lower than it was during the 1990’s, and both the DOW and S&P are at record highs.

The government is reaching a record size every day.

58 posted on 04/28/2007 6:07:08 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: patton

never too early to start on our retirement cottage :)


59 posted on 04/28/2007 6:28:29 PM PDT by leda (19yrs ... only 4,981yrs to go ;))
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To: cgbg

I don’t think one has to be a “contrarian” to be successful in any market. I think rather than doing the opposite of what is successful, one is better off accepting whatever IS happening in the market. Most people deny the reality — whatever is happening, in favor of their theories and explanations — and THAT is their problem.

Liberals tend to be contrarians — always doing the opposite of what reality is directing them to.


60 posted on 04/28/2007 6:47:36 PM PDT by MikeHu
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