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Written by Brad Zigler
Friday, 28 November 2008 12:13

Real-time Inflation Indicator (per annum): 8.4%

As Americans girded themselves for Thursday's gridiron and cholesterol indulgences, there were some not-to-be-thankful-for things brewing in their favorite beverage market. Bloomberg correspondent Carlos Caminada filed a Tuesday report from Brazil citing the troubles local coffee farmers faced obtaining credit.

"The collapse of global credit markets that is pushing the U.S., Europe and Japan into simultaneous recessions for the first time since World War II also threatens farmers in Brazil, the world's biggest grower of coffee, oranges and sugar cane," writes Caminada. The pinch ...

Written by Brad Zigler
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 15:20 PM

Real-time Inflation Indicator (per annum): 7.9%

According to the U.S. Energy Department's weekly inventory report, domestic crude oil supplies increased 7.3 million barrels last week, far exceeding the forecast for a 900,000-barrel build made by Oil Patch analysts. Traders opened the NYMEX futures floor session 3.4% higher ahead of the report, following a 6.7% decline on Tuesday. The United States Oil Fund (AMEX: USO), an exchange-traded portfolio that tracks oil futures, fell $2.77 in lockstep to finish at $41.36.

The inventory spike marks the tenth consecutive weekly increase. Domestic crude oil stocks are now in the upper half ...

Written by Brad Zigler
Tuesday, 25 November 2008 10:31

Real-time Inflation Indicator (per annum): 8.0%

The value of the goods and services cranked out in the United States - the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) - decreased at an annual rate of 0.5% in the third quarter of 2008. Preliminary estimates made last month called for a 0.3% downturn after real GDP increased 2.8% in the second quarter.

Consumers continue to wield a strong influence upon the U.S. economy as most of the weakness in GDP was traced to a downturn in personal consumption expenditure (PCE). In the third quarter, PCE tumbled 3.7% after rising 1.2% in the second quarter.

The new GDP stats fall in line ...

Written by Brad Zigler
Monday, 24 November 2008 12:03

Real-time Inflation Indicator (per annum): 7.6%

Friday was a good day for gold bulls. A $43, or 6%, uptick in the yellow metal's price translated into a 14% bonanza for holders of the PowerShares DB Double Long Gold ETN (NYSEArca: DGP). Meanwhile, crude oil prices remained essentially flat. The last trade in the PowerShares DB Double Short Oil ETN (NYSEArca: DTO) was a 3% downtick.

On Friday morning, we began our examination of these two exchange-traded notes as means to trade the gold/oil ratio last week in "Gold Vs. Oil: Gold Winning."

Gold/Oil Ratio

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