In One Paragraph, Ben Bernanke Explains Why The Future Is Going To Be So Amazing – Business Insider 05-18-13

Salient to Investors: Ben Bernanke says: Between 1700 and 1970 worker productivity jumped 30 times, and in the last 50 years, life expectancy increased 8 years from 70 to 78, versus 53 years in 1913 when 60-hour work weeks at manufacturing jobs were the norm. In the long-run we will

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The Cautionary Tale of Lord Grantham – Bloomberg 05-15-13

Salient to Investors: Never put too much of your portfolio in a few investments, or in one country or industry. The employee with a significant chunk of his 401(k) in his employer’s stock, or gets his contribution matched in company stock, risks both job and  retirement plans if a setback for

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Investors Expecting U.S. Markets With Best Return in Poll – Bloomberg 05-15-13

Salient to Investors: Bloomberg Global Poll: International investors are the most bullish on the US and Japanese markets in more than 3.5 years as both economies are seen to be improving. Over 40% will reduce gold exposure over the next 6 months, close to 3 times more than those who

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JEREMY GRANTHAM: We Are In A Race To Prevent The Collapse Of Civilization – Business Insider 04-29-13

Salient to Investors: Jeremy Grantham at GMO says: The global economy is reckless in its use of all resources and natural systems and is showing many of the indicators of potential failure that brought down so many civilizations. Civilizations have an average lifespan of around 250 years. Failing civilizations suffered

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The Race of Our Lives – GMO Quarterly Letter 04-26-13

Salient to Investors: Jeremy Grantham writes: The world, in its reckless use of resources and natural systems, shows many of the indicators of potential failure that brought down many prior civilizations. However, we have two saving graces that may save us – declining fertility rates and progress in alternative energy.

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Japans’s Scary Lesson on Slashing Interest Rates – Bloomberg 04-25-13

Salient to Investors: William Pesek writes: Japan has taught us that slashing interest rates to zero and beyond is much easier than returning them to normalcy. In Japan, credit spreads mean little, the underlying assets on which they are based are drugged up on monetary stimulants, bank balance sheets get muddied, it

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China Hot Market Without Profit Seen in Pretty Lady Card – Bloomberg 04-22-13

Salient to Investors: China is the world’s fastest-growing market for credit cards, even as delinquencies have tripled in the past 4 years and profit remains elusive. Debit cards outnumber credit cards 10-to-1 in China. Rainy Yuan at Masterlink Securities said credit cards are the ultimate growth area and also the battlefield for banks in China. China’s $7

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