The Global Bull Takes on Currencies Bets, and Cuts Back on Stocks and Commodities

So why the sudden shift in the greenback’s fate? As I noted in last week’s The Global Guru, the wheels are coming off of the 13-country eurozone economies, which last quarter contracted for the first time since the 1999 introduction of the euro. The U.K.’s economy also came to a grinding halt in Q2 for the first time in 16 years. For all of the doom and gloom about the U.S. economy, it grew at a rate of 1.9% in the same quarter. That makes the U.S. economy the gold medal winner in the global growth Olympics, at least among the world’s developed economies.

You’ve reacted quickly to this sudden, if long overdue, shift in the fate of the U.S. dollar through your last two Global Bull Market Alert picks: the Direxion Funds Dollar Bull 2.5x Fund (DXDBX) and the Market Vectors Double Short Euro ETN (DRR). And the continued weakening of Europe’s economies bodes well for the prospects of both of these picks.

The iShares MSCI Turkey ETF (TUR) has been hit by the surprising Russian invasion of Georgia in Turkey’s neighborhood. Yet, during the last three trading days, the Turkish market has begun to stage a recovery. As the crisis ebbs, expect the market to continue to do so. Remember, Turkey is probably the most volatile market in the world anyway. That also means it is most likely to bounce when the market turns.

The WisdomTree India Earnings (EPI) remains in positive territory, though it has lost some of its upward momentum after a particularly strong July. Inflation has accelerated in India, and upward pressures on wages are growing. George Soros picked a bottom in this market. And India remains a top-performing global stock market in an otherwise weak field.

The iPath DJ AIG Livestock TR Sub-Idx ETN (COW) remains the sole commodity play in the Global Bull Market Alert portfolio. The fundamental story for cattle remains strong. U.S. exports and tight supply due to early slaughters are driving up the cost of cattle. Tighter supply and growing demand mean higher prices in the long run.

As unnerving as financial markets can be in times like this, it’s worth remembering a couple of things to maintain perspective. First, even the top managers in the world are having a tough time. Gregg Coffey, one of London’s top global hedge fund managers, is running $6 billion with a stellar track record of 60% returns during the past two years. He turned over his portfolio 2.5 times a day in the past few months. And he is down 13% for the year.

Second, the media darlings of the previous year almost always fall to the bottom of performance charts. Think of the Chinese stock market dropping 60% since its peak in October. At the same time, the worst-performing markets also tend to perform the best once markets turn. And you don’t want to be sitting on the sidelines when that happens.

Join me in the nation’s capital for the 4th annual Money Show Washington, D.C., November 6-8, 2008, at the Wardman Park Marriott. Hear from 50+ world-class experts in more than 170 FREE workshops where they will give you every opportunity to refresh your perspective and prepare yourself for the new political landscape that lies ahead. Meet face-to-face with 125+ investment companies and evaluate the products and services designed to help you improve your market performance. Call 800.970.4355 and mention priority code 009613 or visit The Money Show Washington, D.C. Web site to register FREE today!

Nicholas Vardy

Nicholas Vardy has a unique background that has proven his knack for making money in different markets around the world. He was the Editor of The Global Guru, a free weekly e-newsletter, and also edited the trading services Momentum Trader Alert, which focused on making short-term profits in the hottest markets in the world, and The Alpha Algorithm, which was designed specifically to deliver big, fast triple-digit winners, month after month. He was also the editor of Smart Money Masters, a monthly service focused on longer term investments recommended by the brightest minds in the business. Mr. Vardy has been a regular commentator on CNN International and the Fox Business Network. He has also published articles in The New Republic, The World and I, and The Baker & McKenzie Legal Review. The Global Guru/Nicholas Vardy has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Fox Business News, CBS MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance, and MSN Money Central. Mr. Vardy graduated from Stanford with a B.A. — with honors and distinction — in both Economics and History, and he also earned an M.A in Modern European Intellectual History. After winning a Fulbright Scholarship, he earned a J.D. degree at Harvard Law School where he was an editor of the Harvard International Law Journal. When not uncovering investment opportunities for his subscribers and investors, Mr. Vardy is a keep-fit enthusiast and an avid student of classical music.  

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