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Alerts
May 2013 Newsletter Release Schedule
Securities Update & Analysis for Intelligent Investor on Video
Stock Market, Commodities, Currencies & Precious Metals Forecasts
Mike Stathis' Track Record on the Economic Collapse
Extension of the $100,000 Challenge
Predictions & Insights from America's Financial Apocalypse
Intelligent Investor Special Promotion - EXTENDED
Special Dividend Gems Promotion
ARE YOU SICK OF HEARING LIARS AND IDIOTS?
Another Stock Collapses as We Predicted
April 2013 Dow Jones & Nasdaq Forecast
April 2013 Emerging Markets Forecast
April 2013 Commodities, Currencies & Precious Metals
Gold Analysis & Forecast. March 25, 2013
March 2013 Dow Jones & Nasdaq Forecast
March 2013 Emerging Markets Forecast
March 2013 Commodities, Currencies & Precious Metals Forecast
February 2013 Commodities, Currencies & Precious Metals Forecast
February 2013 Emerging Markets Forecast
February 2013 Dow Jones & Nasdaq Forecast |
| U.S. Treasuries Worse Than The Dollar |
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That’s right. You read it correctly. Now why would I say something that even most “experts” would laugh at? Because I want to point out once again how so many out there are in the dark, even the so-called experts; you remember, the guys who missed this entire meltdown. Of course, now with so many banks in a dangerous position, I’ve seen many advisers change face and jump on the doom bandwagon. Some have advised investors to remove their money from banks and buy U.S. Treasuries as a safer investment. The rational goes as follows. “U.S. Treasuries are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and they have never defaulted.”
The first point I’d like to make is this….there’s always a first time. Prior to the present, the MBS market never blew up either. And it’s obvious to any sophisticated investor that the credit risk for U.S. Treasuries continues to increase. While it could take some time, the fact is that the FDIC will cover all bank deposits that do not exceed the $100,000 limit. After all, the FDIC is a government agency. So can we not say that it too is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government? Sure we can because it’s a fact. So as far as safety of principal, the FDIC is equal to U.S. Treasury securities.
Now let’s look at the disadvantages of buying U.S. Treasuries. First you are dealing with interest rate risk…a very big risk given the fact that coupons on U.S. Treasuries are very low and are almost certain to rise much higher in the coming years. When rates go up, those holding bonds will see the value go down. This will force them to hold the bonds longer, perhaps even until duration. Therefore, I would not consider U.S. Treasuries to be particularly liquid for individual investors.
The next point I want to make is that bonds get hammered during rising inflation due to purchasing power declines. Bond values also decline in value when rates rise as a result of rising inflation. So you get a double-whammy. While the dollar also gets hit with diminished buying power seen during rising inflation, you don’t get the double-whammy seen in bonds. Most important, your dollar deposits are liquid. If your bank fails, you will lose some temporary liquidity, but nowhere near what you could see from U.S. Treasuries. While waiting for rates to go back down, those in U.S. Treasuries might be stuck holding them for many years.
Finally, as the credit risk of the U.S. government continues to increase, U.S. Treasury bonds will decrease in price, causing investors to hold them longer – i.e. even less liquidity. So as far as my bank money, I’m sticking with my dollar deposits because I want liquidity. If liquidity is important to you, you should do the same.
The real problem is trying to save your money from the damaging effects of inflation. One solution to this would be to invest in foreign currencies like the Yen and Swiss Franc. Sure, you may not have the liquidity of a U.S. bank deposit (although you might depending, on how you invest in these currencies) but at least your buying power will be preserved and will most likely increase. Always question the advice of those who write about investments for which they try to sell you, because most of the time the only interests being served are theirs.
Copyright © 2008. Mike Stathis. All Rights Reserved.
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