http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/http://mediaserver.fxstreet.com/images/fxstreet-provider-logo1-en.gif7http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-07-02.htmlOver the past several months it has become clear that there is a cauldron of regulation brewing in Washington. The bursting of the subprime bubble and dislocation in the financial sector has brought with it, in its aftermath, the risk of overregulation. Members of the political class are brimming with confidence that the political, economic and social considerations have aligned to finally tame the market. Serious consideration is being given to policies that would curb the ability ofWed, 02 Jul 2008 15:29:24 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights@merkinvestments.com (Merk Hard Currency Fund)http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-07-02.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-06-27.htmlAlong the frontier between Southern California and Baja California it has always been a tradition for consumers to engage in a bit of arbitrage due to the temporary differences in prices for basic goods. Normally, this has been confined to non-durables and foodstuffs. But, beyond Mexican “cerveza” and other spirits, the changing price of oil has jump-started black market activity north of the border. While an open secret in California, this activity became national news due to a recent WallFri, 27 Jun 2008 15:25:03 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights@merkinvestments.com (Merk Hard Currency Fund)http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-06-27.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-06-20.htmlLost amidst recent data on inflation, the rise in oil prices, a deepening crisis in the housing market and the uncanny ability of Goldman-Sachs to outperform market expectations was the deterioration of the current account balance in Q1'08. The U.S. current-account deficit increased to $176.4 billion in the first quarter of 2008 vs. the $167.2 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007. The primary catalyst for the increase was a decline in earnings from foreign investments and the sharpFri, 20 Jun 2008 14:45:39 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights@merkinvestments.com (Merk Hard Currency Fund)http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-06-20.htmlhttp://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-06-06.htmlWith the economy caught somewhere in the purple haze between recession and anemic growth, many market prognosticators have been making the case that the worst is behind us. With respect to the credit crisis, I do think that with the exception of a few nerve-rattling write-offs still to come, that is true. Credit spreads have begun to narrow, volatility measures seem to have settled down in recent weeks and the very unorthodox liquidity measures taken by the Fed appear to have calmed the nervesFri, 06 Jun 2008 08:46:41 GMThttp://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights@merkinvestments.com (Merk Hard Currency Fund)http://www.fxstreet.com/fundamental/market-view/insights-market-outlook/2008-06-06.html