Archive for the ‘Finance and Economics’ Category

It is certainly feels like the panic selling typical of capitulation at this point, at least for the financial industry. However, I foresee more pain in the horizon. When you have financial institutions using so much leverage to support depreciating and overvalued assets, it is difficult to see the light at the end of the […]

$135 Oil: Who is the Culprit?

With oil seemingly headed straight for Goldman Sachs’ $150 new price target, there is lively debate going on right now whether or not commodities as a whole are in a speculative bubble. We may very well be at the beginning stages of a bubble much like the U.S. housing market was in a bubble during […]

“Inflation is back!” that’s what the headlines are starting to say and what I have been predicting for some time. Why is it back? The all mighty U.S. economy is slowing and the E.U. is also so how could we be in an inflationary environment? First of all, this should not be a shock to […]

What is going on with the real estate market in the U.S.? How bad will it get? When is it time to jump back in? Should sellers wait it out? These are questions frequently posed to me. My answers often disappoint people, which is no fun but I am not one to say what I […]

The Federal Reserve is one of the the most influential financial institutions. Its mandates are to maintain price stability, ensure the smooth flow of money, and act as lender of last resort in face of severe financial crisis. In order to understand the financial markets, it is important to understand the tendencies of this institution. […]

Slippery Slope

Clearly, we are at the early stages of a very significant credit crunch that will need to naturally work itself out if we are to emerge on more stable economic footing. Despite the Federal Reserve and the ECB having significant ammunition to help improve liquidity, such measures will be rather superficial in light of how […]

Drunk on Liquidity

Where are we at now? We are enjoying unprecedented global economic growth and the world is still flush with liquidity. There is a lot of cash out there looking for a home and enormous assets are being traded like baseball cards in 4th grade homeroom. The liquidity has been fueled primarily by low interest rates. […]

The purpose of this website is to share and document my views on the economy and other important trends.

About the Author

Gustaf Rounick was born and raised in Manhattan. He graduated with honors in economics from Trinity College and has worked at premier commercial real estate finance companies in New York City such as Prudential Financial and Deutsche Bank. In 2003, he undertook several successful real estate projects in Miami ranging from single condominium unit "flipping" and brokerage to entire building renovations and condominium conversions. In late 2005, he made the strategic decision to sell all his real estate assets and reinvest in Mendoza, Argentina. In 2009, Gustaf will be buying real estate in Miami and Los Angeles from banks and distressed sellers. He will be rehabilitating the structures with a strong focus on improving energy efficiency and sustainability. To request more information, use the contact link above.