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kleinbl00  ·  4719 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What are your predictions for 2012? Presidential elections, protests, the EU...
1) Euro goes two-tier (Germany, France, Scandinavia in upper tier; Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain in lower tier) at substantial expense. Increased volatility as money leaves PIGS in favor of other markets.

2) UK experiences unrest and volatility as its banking sector implodes under its own weight.

3) Volatility increases in US market, but dollar strengthens against Euro as a shelter currency.

4) Doubts about robustness of the Chinese market continue and increase but nothing shakes out.

5) US and Iranian saber-rattling continues until at some point a empty treaty is reached that allows both sides to pretend they won concessions from the other.

6) Economic growth continues to stagnate but economists find some way to spin any number as a victory. Expect to hear the phrase "structural unemployment" a lot.

7) US re-elects Obama but gives House and Senate to the Republicans. Gridlock continues.

8) "Occupy" movement branches out into squatting in foreclosed homes, which becomes a sticky issue for all sides.

9) Gold bubble bursts as the world recognizes that it ends not with a bang but a whimper.

10) Rupert Murdoch forced to resign as chairman of News Corporation.

11) Another major paper goes online-only or under.

12) Warren Buffett loses a raft of money.