[meteorite-list] Effect of fall of dollar against Euro/ dirham's

From: Rob Matson <mojave_meteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 10:16:28 -0700
Message-ID: <GOEDJOCBMMEHLEFDHGMMCEKJDIAA.mojave_meteorites_at_cox.net>

At least at the present time, the U.S. drives the meteorite
market, which is why sales are slow. From a collecting
standpoint, meteorites are and have always been a luxury
item. Despite their rarity and scientific value, they do
not have the liquidity of other commodities, so they cannot
be used as a reliable hedge against inflation. (Wouldn't
it be interesting if there was a futures market for
meteorites? That would add some price stability.)

If I was a dealer that depended on sales for my livelihood,
I might consider making advertising inroads into emerging
markets -- specifically China. Effective marketing there
is likely to be quite different from that which works for
Western consumers.

Dave and Michael both mentioned the rise in the U.S. national
debt which certainly has a negative effect on the purchasing
power of the dollar. (As a humorous aside, I'm reminded of
Saturday Night Live's Dennis Miller once asking, "Who do we
owe this debt to? I say, 'let's just not pay it.' What are
they going to do?" As for oil/gasoline, the real price is
no higher than it was in the 1970s. Frankly, I don't quite
understand how gasoline isn't over $6/gallon when you consider
the comparative cost of a barrel of oil today (over $100) vs.
say five years ago (less than $30).

Dave wrote: "I think big oil is probably a good business to
invest in at the moment...", to which I would say it's probably
better than meteorites! But the truth is, anyone who owns
mutual funds is already invested in oil. That's not to say you
wouldn't want to press your position (I have been). As for the
outcome of the fall elections having an impact on oil prices,
I'd say it will be minimal. Oil is a global commodity whose
price is fixed largely by demand, not U.S. politics.

Cheers,
Rob
Received on Tue 08 Apr 2008 01:16:28 PM PDT