Recent events in Cyprus show just how far banks and governments may be willing to go to justify their policies -- and at whose expense.
The distortions created by the misguided policies of central bankers have inverted the investing world and hurt the precious metals. But investors will wake up.
While most eyes are focused on Italy, France may be the bellwether for Europe's prospects, with implications for our own economic future.
If it all weren't so absurdly familiar, the money-printing-fueled rally in stocks underwritten by faith the Fed will fix the economy would be unbelievable. And yet many doubt more-tangible assets.
The global economy is suffering from a third massive misallocation of capital. And when each stage means a larger and larger distortion of our financial system, the third time is definitely not the charm.
The most recent Barron's Roundtable shows that while the market is celebrating, smart money folks who've been right about past busts see the next breakdown dead ahead.
The stock market's strong start to the year tells us more about the investing crowd's need to believe that all the big problems are behind us than it does about the potential for a strong economy.
Why so many put so much trust in our central bank's central planners is a mystery, given how out of touch they seem to be. So don't be lured in because it seems like everything is under control.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
DATA PROVIDERS
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.
Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.
TOP STOCKS
Try as the bears might, they couldn't break US stocks. But investors still face frothy prices and considerable headwinds.
MARKET DISPATCHES
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
FRUGAL COOL
Starting Monday, this site is joining forces with MSN Money Smart Spending. Here's why.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
SMART SPENDING
A new federal safety report shows toddlers and minority children make up a disproportionate number of drowning victims.
SMART TAXES
The IRS is struggling to combat identify thieves who file fraudulent tax returns in the names of older residents who don't need to file.

