QE2 launched to much fanfare

This was no buy the rumor, sell the news week.  This week, it was buy the rumor, buy the news...whatever you do, just buy, buy, BUY!

The Federal Reserve will create dollars out of thin air and use them to buy debt issued by our Treasury Department, and this was good news to markets.  Everything, except the U.S. dollar, rallied. 

Happy days are here again.  A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage, prosperity for all.  Print away, dear Fed!

Okay, I'm just bitter because I thought  more than 3 people might see election outcomes, quantitative easing part 2, and 9.6% unemployment as less than good news.  I was wrong.

But, the little voice of reason in my head is screaming in protest, "How can printing money with no backing create prosperity?!  I know, for a fact, it can't!!!" 

A lower dollar means a little extra business for a couple of U.S. exporters.  But, the U.S. imports vastly more than it exports, so it means higher costs for the majority of us. 

If you don't believe me, look at commodity prices--they're up 19% since August.  The rocketing price of cotton is jacking up clothing costs.  Oil at over $86 a barrel will translate into high gasoline and heating oil prices.  Copper closing in on $4 means higher prices for electronics.  Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Soon, this will translate into higher costs and lower profits for U.S. companies.  It will also mean higher prices for all U.S. consumers.

Quantitative easing will not create jobs in the U.S. or increase lending to U.S. businesses (although both of those things are occurring completely separate from and despite federal action).  The Fed's printed dollars are going to find their way into emerging markets, commodities and government bonds.  In the short run, it means "party on, Wayne"; in the long run, it means more inflation.

Oh, by the way, the last 2 times the Fed tried to create prosperity with the printing press (and the economy was not on the brink of financial collapse) ended in the dot-com crash and the housing crash. 

While the party is going, it will seem great, just like the NASDAQ and housing bubbles back in 1999 and 2006.  But, when it ends, and few will see it coming or be prepared, it's going to hurt like no hangover we've ever experienced.

In the meantime, the markets will rally and the prudent will look foolish.  And, yes, I'm looking like a fool.

Nothing in this blog should be considered investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. The opinions, estimates and projections contained herein are subject to change without notice. Information throughout this blog has been obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable, but such accuracy cannot be guaranteed.