What's in store for 2012?

[Trimalchio]

Complete economic meltdown? 30% inflation? 2% inflation? Gold at $2500? $1500? Unemployment up or down?

Will this be the year that the SHTF officially?

Post your predictions here.

I think FHA will go tits up in 2012 (not a very bold prediction). Along with Fannie and Freddie's unwinding, this may engender a, um, "frank" discussion about the govt's involvement in the housing market. Lots of bad things happen when the housing market can't be propped up anymore, but we're running out of options.

[EweTupper]

I'm sensing from your initial post that you already have an opinion where 2012 is going based on your political leanings. So this will just be a political debate using finance/economic terms. Maybe I'm reading too much into your comments.

[Dismal Science]

I predict the ECB will finally face the music and pledge to prevent sovereign yields from exceeding a certain threshold (ex. 6%).

China growth will continue to slow and many Euro countries will officially enter a second recession. US unemployment falls to 7.5% by end of the year and Barry gets reelected.

[Trimalchio]

Originally Posted by EweTupper

I'm sensing from your initial post that you already have an opinion where 2012 is going based on your political leanings. So this will just be a political debate using finance/economic terms. Maybe I'm reading too much into your comments.

FHA failing isn't a political issue.. Look at their leverage ratio.

What are your thoughts? I don't care if this gets moved to political.

I totally forgot about Europe. They're screwed.

[Permadonk]

ECB solves nothing, high market volatility continues

Inflation stays in the 1-3% range

U.S. Banking sector down 20%

Gold & Housing down 10%

S&P relatively flat

10-year Treasury stays under 2.5% for most of the year

[Jack]

Low inflation 0-2%, low growth, continued trouble in Europe, new trouble in China, continued low rates

[Devil's Advocate]

After making a good mint in 2008, my general approach of assuming markets will "muddle through" worked well for 2009, 2010, and 2011. I guess I will make the same assumption. I will stick with my mix of gold, Ts, and foriegn dividend stocks. Currentely everything is in the green so as long as I don't sell I don't have to deal with taxes or anything.

I recentely half my gold at $1,750.

[DixieFlyer]

if the economy continues to go south and if things start to fall apart domestically, you can count on a false flag event caused by some external "threat" so as to distract the ignorant masses

[d123454321]

Euro near 1:1 with dollar.

[The President]

Euro crash.
Gold, near 1k.
S&P 1500.
Obama second term.