The S&P 500 correction

By Colin Twiggs
November 16th, 2012 9:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p:m AET)

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The S&P 500 correction continues despite the index finding short-term support at 1350. A rally would test the descending trendline around 1400 but a close below 1350 would signal another down-swing. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero would indicate a test of primary support at 1275 (the index tends to move in increments of 25).

Of course, in nominal terms a dollar is always worth a dollar. But in real terms, the value or purchasing power of a dollar falls in half each time the cost of living doubles. During the period since the United States left the gold standard in 1933, the price level has gone up nearly 18 fold; a dollar in 2012 has less purchasing power than 6 cents in 1933. That sort of currency depreciation is almost impossible under a gold standard regime. Indeed, the cost of living in 1933 was not much different from what it was in the late 1700s. This is the most powerful argument in favor of the gold standard.

~ Scott Sumner: The Case For Nominal GDP Targeting