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If I were a Rich ManRichard Russell snippet May 4, 2012 It's difficult to make people believe that there's a difference between an investment for a possible profit and a store of wealth. But rich people know the difference. When a man has made as much money as he can, he starts worrying about losing that money. That's the time when he wants to own "eternal stores of wealth." Yesterday "The Scream", a painting by Munch, sold at auction for a record $119 million. I doubt if the buyer cares whether that painting will be worth $100 million, $50 million or $200 million ten years from now. The buyer knows that he owns a priceless work of art, something that will double in value in case of wild inflation or something that will be worth $60 million during the worst deflation. Even if the dollar becomes worthless as a unit of exchange, the Munch painting will still be worth a fortune in what ever unit of money is in favor ten or fifty years from now. All of which tells us something about gold. For over five thousand years, gold has represented purchasing power. No matter what form of money was in existence at the time, gold possessed purchasing power. Which is why many wise men own gold. If I asked you to leave something for your great grandkids in a package to be opened one hundred years from now, would you leave them a wad of hundred dollar bills or one hundred gold coins? If you had any brains you would pick the gold coins. I'd venture that Warren Buffet would also pick the coins. Why? Because we know that one hundred years from now the gold coins would represent value and purchasing power and the dollar might not exist. End of story. La Jolla is a wealthy town. Walking around La Jolla you note that this town is unlike most of the country. La Jolla is an isolated town built on wealth. But I have a secret barometer. I often call out to a local deli to order a sandwich. In normal times it takes 20 minutes from the time I call the order in until the time the sandwich is delivered. But lately I note that I call in my order, and five minutes later the order is delivered here. Evidently, business is very slow at the deli and my order goes out immediately. I also hear that the La Jolla restaurants have slowed down in April -- for the first time in this recession. Evidently, what's happening in the rest of the country is finally hitting La Jolla. As I write the Dow is down 180 points. This is the first decisive move out of the Dow in weeks. The Transports are also down 60 points. The sharp decline in the two D-J Averages tells me that the recession is due to deepen during the months ahead -- in late-summer and fall. The Averages have been sitting almost motionless for weeks. Now they have moved, and the move is downward. I am writing this three hours into today's session. Today is Friday. I'm most interested to see whether we have a rally at the close of today's session. If the market closes weak today, I will take it as a bearish omen. I don't like dull markets that turn southward when the action finally appears. ### Richard Russell
© Copyright 1958-2014 Dow Theory Letters, Inc. Richard Russell began publishing Dow Theory Letters in 1958, and he has been writing the Letters ever since (never once having skipped a Letter). Dow Theory Letters is the oldest service continuously written by one person in the business. He offers a TRIAL (two consecutive up-to-date issues) for $1.00 (same price that was originally charged in 1958). Trials, please one time only. Mail your $1.00 check to: Dow Theory Letters, PO Box 1759, La Jolla, CA 92038 (annual cost of a subscription is $300, tax deductible if ordered through your business). 321gold Ltd |
