Bernanke vs. Billionaires on 2014 USA economy
Ben Bernanke
The outgoing head of the US Federal Reserve made a prediction about the US economy for 2014:
January 4, 2014
US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke predicted that the US economy will fare better in coming quarters.
He was addressing the annual meeting of the American Economic Association held in Philadelphia, the US state of Pennsylvania, Xinhua reported Friday.
He said: “The combination of financial healing, greater balance in the housing market, less fiscal restraint, and, of course, continued monetary policy accommodation bodes well for US economic growth in coming quarters.”
The US economy has made “considerable progress” since the recovery officially began some four and a half years ago, said Bernanke, whose terms ends Jan 31. http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/us-economy-to-fare-better-in-coming-quarters-bernanke-114010400104_1.html
Perhaps he will be right. However, a reader sent me the following yesterday that seems to suggest a different direction:
Billionaires Dumping Stocks, Economist Knows Why
Despite the 6.5% stock market rally over the last three months, a handful of billionaires are quietly dumping their American stocks . . . and fast.
Warren Buffett, who has been a cheerleader for U.S. stocks for quite some time, is dumping shares at an alarming rate. He recently complained of “disappointing performance” in dyed-in-the-wool American companies like Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Kraft Foods…
Unfortunately Buffett isn’t alone.
Fellow billionaire John Paulson, who made a fortune betting on the subprime mortgage meltdown, is clearing out of U.S. stocks too. During the second quarter of the year, Paulson’s hedge fund, Paulson & Co., dumped 14 million shares of JPMorgan Chase. The fund also dumped its entire position in discount retailer Family Dollar and consumer-goods maker Sara Lee.
Finally, billionaire George Soros recently sold nearly all of his bank stocks, including shares of JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs. Between the three banks, Soros sold more than a million shares.
So why are these billionaires dumping their shares of U.S. companies?…
It’s very likely that these professional investors are aware of specific research that points toward a massive market correction, as much as 90%.
One such person publishing this research is Robert Wiedemer, an esteemed economist and author of the New York Times best-selling book Aftershock.
Before you dismiss the possibility of a 90% drop in the stock market as unrealistic, consider Wiedemer’s credentials.
In 2006, Wiedemer and a team of economists accurately predicted the collapse of the U.S. housing market, equity markets, and consumer spending that almost sank the United States. They published their research in the book America’s Bubble Economy…
Wiedemer calmly laid out a clear explanation of why a large drop of some sort is a virtual certainty.
It starts with the reckless strategy of the Federal Reserve to print a massive amount of money out of thin air in an attempt to stimulate the economy.
“These funds haven’t made it into the markets and the economy yet. But it is a mathematical certainty that once the dam breaks, and this money passes through the reserves and hits the markets, inflation will surge,” said Wiedemer.
“Once you hit 10% inflation, 10-year Treasury bonds lose about half their value. And by 20%, any value is all but gone. Interest rates will increase dramatically at this point, and that will cause real estate values to collapse. And the stock market will collapse as a consequence of these other problems.”
And this is where Wiedemer explains why Buffett, Paulson, and Soros could be dumping U.S. stocks:
“Companies will be spending more money on borrowing costs than business expansion costs. That means lower profit margins, lower dividends, and less hiring. Plus, more layoffs.”
No investors, let alone billionaires, will want to own stocks with falling profit margins and shrinking dividends. So if that’s why Buffett, Paulson, and Soros are dumping stocks, they have decided to cash out early and leave Main Street investors holding the bag. http://www.moneynews.com/MKTNews/billionaires-dump-economist-stock/2012/08/29/id/450265?PROMO_CODE=110D8-1&utm_source=taboola&site=nationalreview
We will see what will happen to the US stock market.
Notice also the following, also sent by the same reader:
Wall Street Journal – Jan 3, 2014In what may be the bearish call to end all bearish calls, one technician believes 2014 will be the year of “major reversals,” with the Dow Jones Industrial Average expected to start a two-year decline that could eventually take it down more than 70% to below 5000. United-ICAP chief market technician Walter Zimmerman said the Dow Industrials could still rally another 4% or so first, to a high around 17150, before the great reversal begins. And for those who thought 2008 was the worst bear market they will ever see, just wait. http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/01/03/the-bearish-call-to-end-all-bearish-calls/?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsFifth
While I will not comment about the pros and cons of the billionaire decisions or the short-term direction of the stock market of the USA, the reality is that there are structural problems in the USA and various decisions that the outgoing Fed Chairman did, such as ‘quantitative easing’ will ultimately harm the economy of the USA.
Quantitative easing is form of ‘money creation’ and is sometimes called an “asset repurchasing” program. Yet, this is mainly a sham operation that debases the value of the U.S. dollar (mainly the government prints up money electronically and the “asset” purchased is a U.S. treasury note, not a real asset like, let’s say, an oil well; yes there are also some mortgages purchased which have ties to real assets, but there are problems there as well). Calling if counterfeiting is not too far off of a description of it. If the Fed Chairman would pay more attention to scripture, he would not have proposed it.
Quantitative easing programs are a form of “dishonest profits” that the U.S.A. is improperly reaping because of its position in the world, but that is not good:
13 “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. 16 You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 22:13-16)
US debt, combined with programs such as the Federal Reserves’ quantitative easing, are sending signals to the rest of the world that the US dollar needs to be replaced as the world’s primary reserve currency. Now, the real cause of why all of this is happening to the USA is sin, but the Federal Reserve Chairman would not dare to bring much of that up. Because of it’s increasing secularism, greed, and tolerance for sexual, abortive, and other sins, the USA is getting closer to reaping more what it has sown:
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8)
One of the many cursings that were prophesied in the Bible to be reaped for disobedience was that of accumulation of debt:
43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you (Deuteronomy 28:42-45).
The USA has become the greatest debtor nation of all time. And while some do not count quantitative easing as “debt,” it is an improper “solution” to the USA’s economic woes. If the Fed Chairman would pay more attention to the Bible, he would advocate better moral policies as well as better economic ones.
Other than the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the kingdom of God, national repentance is the only real long-term hope for the USA (and it seems to be too late for that), the political leadership in the USA has largely ignored that approach. The carnal “solutions” offered and agreed to by both political parties in the USA will not get it back on track economically. Its economy may appear to do better for a while, but in the long run, the USA does not have real solutions to its economic woes. There are carnal solutions that the USA could do now (such as several related to energy production, regulatory relief, and tariff policies) that could help extend the situation, but too many of its leaders have rejected God and have the type of “reprobate mind” that allows them to approve immorality (like homosexuality and lesbianism) that prevents them from properly seeing even those “convenient” options (cf. Romans 1:18-32, KJV). In my view, most politicians and leaders like the Federal Reserve Chairman truly do not understand production, economics, job-creation, nor the Bible.
It does not matter what a few billionaires do, the reality is that ultimately, the economy of the USA will be no more.
Since legalizing abortion, the USA has gone from creditor nation to the largest debtor nation of all time (watch also the video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt). The Federal Reserve Chairman perhaps should have pointed that out, he did not.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Ending Your FINANCIAL WORRIES How can people help themselves and others financially? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. A video of related interest would be: Dealing With Financial Worries.
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it?
British and American Moral Decay Public nudity is becoming more prevalent in the Anglo-lands. What are some of the consequences?
Tithing Questions and Some Answers Addresses some non-biblical arguments against tithing. Should people tithe?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.erm-Amazon Kindle edition.
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