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Several Fed Officials Rally Around Bernanke's Stance NASDAQ - ‎44 minutes ago‎ NEW YORK--Several Federal Reserve officials rallied around Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's plan to press ahead with the central bank's $85 billion-a-month bond-buying effort in public comments Wednesday, although two said that the U.S.

Notanewmember is talking about the Builder's Index going parabolic: xx And I think you know what follows.

BUILDERS STOCKS are Running... and it looks like they have more running room PSN / Persimmon ... update BDEV / Barratt Dev'l ... update And the brokers are celebrating a possible resurgence in UK Home prices THE MARKET Last month was all about whether or not we had witnessed the green shoots of a housing market recovery. Since then, the good news has continued to emerge. When the Funding for Lending Scheme was first launched by the government to encourage banks to lend money, many commentators were unsure how successful it would be. At first, it appeared only to be helping house buyers with a decent deposit and not those at the opposite end of the spectrum who needed it most. Since the end of last year, this has begun to change. The scheme is now starting to deliver reductions in the cost of borrowing across the board. For the first time, this includes first time buyers. It will be interesting to see what effect this has on the market over the next few months. In theory, it should increase the volume of house sales and their prices. However, there will almost certainly be a time lag between better access to mortgage finance and completed sales. An early indicator of increased market activity can be seen in the latest figures from The NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents). According to them, their members are reporting the highest number of new buyer registrations since the last housing boom. BUY-TO-LET Statistics show us that despite recent improvements in mortgage rates for first time buyers (FTBs), home ownership is still a distant dream for many in the rental sector. Only 22% of private renters expect to take their first steps into the housing market within two years, down from 29% in 2008 (Nationwide survey). Overall home ownership has dropped from 70.9% in 2003 to 65.3% in 2012. And, in the past, FTBs typically bought their first property when they were between 25-34 years old, but in the last ten years, the number of them still in the rental sector has risen from 40% to 57%. In other news, is there a tax cut on the cards for buy to let landlords? George Osborne raised Capital Gains Tax rates from 18% to 28% in 2010, but is understood to be listening to claims by the influential Adam Smith Institute that it is too high. === /more: http://www.property-...inkworthwestend

Haha. Yes, we agree about property. (I think the foreigners buying in the UK now may get a big shock someday. We have had one in HK.) Also I think we are in a buying window now for Gold and Silver People would resist attempts by government to confiscate Gold, but that may not stop them any more than protest in Cyprus can stop what is happening there - Though I hope it does

That's a real risk... Alongside the real risk of Confiscation of Bank deposits (and other property)

To March 17th: R: "The HK property market is performing exactly as I predicted at the beginning of this year. What essentially is happening is that the "haves" are increasingly being protected as landlords, and the "have not's" are increasingly being isolated as renters. Going forward, this will make it easier for landlords to exploit renters, as the rent/own arbitrage costs makes it increasingly prohibitive for renters to become owners." Maybe this is one of those markets where transactions are so few, you can see what you want to see. I see something different. + Transactions in the secondary market have fallen to almost nothing, except in the below $5 million bracket, where prices are still rising + Developers are cutting prices on new properties, so they are more competitive with prices in the illiquid 2nd hand market. This is what I predicted: the developers would take the brunt of price cuts. And why not? The premium to secondhand had reached ridiculous levels, and developers can still do very well after the modest 5-10% price cuts that we have seen. After a while, I think we may see buyers creeping back into the secondary market, as they see low-priced properties continue to rise, and they see that sellers (except a few panicky ones) are not going to give in, and cut pices in response to the pressures of the "cooling" measures. I don't think renters are under any special pressures. They happily take advantage of the cuts in the primary market, if they like particular properties than come on the market in that sector. (from AX)

Tony C, yet another E-wave Timer, says: The market gapped down at the open today for the second time this week. The last time this market gapped down twice in one week was in late November leading to the irregular Minor wave 2 pullback. This gap down has led to the second 9+ point pullback without making a new high. Since the Minor 2 wave low in late December every 9+ point pullback has led to a higher high. Every one! The only exception was Minor wave 4. Yesterday we noted the DOW made a new bull market high. Today the DOW came within one point of retracing that entire new high rally. The market has been quite choppy this week, which is another negative after a four month uptrend. This uptrend definitely appears to be losing upside momentum again. Short term support is at the 1523 and 1499 pivots, with resistance at the 1552 and 1576 pivots. Short term momentum dropped from overbought yesterday to oversold today. The short term OEW turned negative again, they have vacillated for most of the week, with the reversal level now SPX 1552. Best to your trading! MEDIUM TERM: uptrend weakening again LONG TERM: bull market CHARTS: http://stockcharts.c...c/1269446/tenpp

“Round up” of Glenn Neely’s Standings in Timer Digest In the first quarter of 2013, Timer Digest recognized Glenn Neely with multiple listings as a Top 10 Timer. Rankings for the 1st quarter of 2013 include: • #1 Bond Timer for the entire year of 2012 (Special Annual Report) • Top 5 Bond Timer for the last 12 months (January issue of Timer Digest) • #1 Bond Timer for the last 12 months (February issue) • Top 5 Bond Timer for the last 12 months (March issue) • Top 10 S&P Timer (March 16 “hotline” report) Plus, Timer Digest’s Special Annual Report, published in January, showed Mr. Neely’s rankings as a Top 10 Timer for the S&P, Gold, and Bond markets for the last 14 years. Here are Mr. Neely’s S&P rankings: • Top 5 Timer for last 3 years • Top 5 Timer for last 5 years • Top 10 Timer for last 8 years In addition, he is recognized in the “Honor Roll” as a: • Top 10 S&P Timer for 2001 and 2011 • Top 5 Gold Timer for 1999, 2000, and 2004 • Top 5 Bond Timer for 2003 View the complete list of Mr. Neely’s Timer Digest rankings.

Yeah: Right to Default, or maybe Right to Speculate (using govt money) This is bad policy. It will not make property more affordable to more people, it will only make it more expensive.

London drives yearly UK house price growth of 2.2pc Telegraph.co.uk-19 Mar 2013 Monthly movements can be volatile and the ONS said house price growth remains “relatively stable” across most of the UK. House prices are ... UK property market prices rise but still cheaper to buy than rent The Sun-19 Mar 2013 But along with rising house prices, rents are also on the up — meaning in most places it's still cheaper to buy a home than rent one. . . . Budget 2013: House price bubble fears as 600000 homeowners to ... Telegraph.co.uk-20 Mar 2013 The new help-to-buy scheme for those struggling to find mortgage deposits will see the Government take equity stakes in new-build homes, ... The new help-to-buy scheme for those struggling to find mortgage deposits will see the Government take equity stakes in new-build homes, or underwrite the cost of their mortgages if they want to move house. Official figures suggested that around 200,000 people a year will be benefit from the schemes, although several campaigners and lobby groups warned that they could create another unsustainable housing bubble. Chancellor George Osborne told MPs he wanted to help people "who can't turn to their parents for a contribution" to buy a new home. The two schemes will be available to anyone who wants to buy a home worth less than £600,000. Under the equity loan scheme, which is open to people looking to buy new build properties and runs for three years from April 1, a buyer need only offer to put in a 5 per cent deposit. The Government will lend up to 20 per cent of the property’s value through a loan, leaving the buyer having to find a 75 per cent mortgage to fund the purchase. == == Is it stupid, or just reckless?? Why does the government want to add this extra pressure to the London bubble?

And there's More to come, I reckon BDEV / Barratt Developments ... update The weak currency is helping too: FXB-chart

And there's More to come, I reckon BDEV / Barratt Developments ... update The weak currency is helping too: FXB-chart

Why Eric Sprott likes Silver

Maybe he knows what the Russian gangsters think about it

Russia attacks Cyprus bailout plan Financial Times - ‎1 hour ago‎ Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders lashed out at an EU-led proposal to impose a levy on all Cyprus-based bank accounts as part of a €10bn bailout for the Mediterranean island.

Just wait. The UK government will find a way to also tax that money pouring into UK property. Property is harder to move that money in a bank account

Er... umm. Who is the real mug here?: predicting the price of gold is essentially a mug's game – Gordon Brown famously lost out by selling large chunks of the UK's gold reserve between 1999 and 2002, getting a lowly price of between just $250 and $300 an ounce.

Gold is bound to shoot up now. My March GLD calls just expired ! == == One big bank is getting out (of a derivatives business) while it still can: Rabobank to Close its Equity Derivatives Business Forex Magnates - 21 Hours ago Dutch banking giant Rabobank has announced its exit from the equity derivatives business, the bank feels the service does not constitute a core role in its overall strategy and its contribution to the

What on Earth....? How very, very strange. That Video is: + Not something I had seen, or recommended + Is for a different book, than his new one, Exo-Vaticana It is very possible that Tom Horn himself had nothing at all to do with the creation of the video, which looks like a promotion piece from a publisher, a distributor, or mere reseller* of the book. Why would you post in in reaction to my comment at all?? It seems irrelevant. "Retreat" into ignorance if you like, and be prepared to issue an apology, if-and-when ... I suppose this should not surprise me - By now, I am accustomed to my posts being responded to with exaggeration, and misinformation whenever I deviate from the comfortable ground encircled by mainstream propaganda. === === *From the About page of that website: SurvivorMall.com is one of the foremost discount suppliers of Emergency Survival Kits, Military Gear, Food & Water Rations, Search & Rescue Supplies, Terrorism & Self Defense products and related Print & Media materials.

PJP, The thing is: Tom Horn provides MUCH evidence from contacts in the Vatican to suggest that the church is preparing an announcement that there is an ET presence. Did I ever say "the Vatican is doing business with ETs"? That is possible, but such statement goes way beyond anything that I have said. SO: + You are either intentionally exaggerating what I did say, to ridcule it (Which is a rather shabby rhetorical technique - so let's assume that was not your intent), or: + You haven't bothered to listen to Tom Horn, or examine any of his evidence. I suggest you take a look at his book when it comes, out and even consider buying a copy. If he is right about the Vatican making ET Disclosure, you'd better believe it is going to have some genuine impact on your "line of business", don't you think? I have listened to several interviews with Tom Horn, and posted links to more in the Fringe section. I would be happy to discuss one of the recent videos. Or maybe we can discuss the book after it comes out.

Look, I am engaged in a search for the Truth here - since the Mainstream media is so full of spin. (Do you disagree?) GEI has gotten to the truth, time and time again: + Before The global financial crash, + Before the US housing bust, + Before the Jimmy Saville pedophile scandal hit + Before the pope resigned In other areas, we are still waiting, and in some we were wrong or misled. But I did not shy from exposing concensus lies. I find it weird that instead of praising those on GEI who want to expose lies, some folks here are seem eager to hide anything, or not see anything, that might challenge the mainstream. Have you see the latest shocker in the WSJ? Karzei has comeout saying the US is working with the Taliban as a Ally? /see: http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showtopic=17567 Why do you suppose that is? Do you think that a crumbling of the power structure will have no impact on the markets we invest in? Somehow, they have helped to hold up Western currencies, and assets like London housing prices. So discussing these bigger picture issues is a critical part of understanding what drives asset prices.

Thanks. However: WE need quite a few more comments that a split-decision from two folks, before I will move it. == == == We seem to be in a strange time right now, as if the world is waiting for some sort of important trigger event, before a drama "boiling away behind the scenes" will be played out. This seems to be true in many areas, including: the house price arena, the gold arena, the stock arena, ... even the religious arena. Does anyone else feel like that? You could call it pre-emena times.

Could be sooner too, if Gold has a big jump higher in the immediate. My real point is, we can rely on a rapid drop, and last time, there was quite a decent rally before it got crushed. BTW, I am not sure that GF reads many posts here anymore. But he does seem to be happy to post updates. (Perhaps he is still smarting about not being a Mod anymore. Though I think he over-reacted, since many Mods were dropped at the same time. Anyway, I have learned by now that emotions are easily inflamed on the web, in ways that would not happen, if people were interacting face-to-face.) I am now very easygoing about his participation. He can access and use the site in either way. I think the new 3-Main-Section style may suit his interests better, since I have agreed to keep all controversial topics off the Traders section. Does anyone think we should move THIS THREAD to the Trader's Section? BTW, have you seen this thread in the Private section ?: Measured in Gold / Charts by G0ldfinger

If we do go into the Green circle, it might also take a little longer than show - as the last time did