Raise Cash Now, Market is Repeating 2001, Gold, and Credit Flashing Alarms
Raise Cash Now, Market is Repeating 2001, Gold, and Credit Flashing Alarms
Kitco News: 5-23-2025
While markets continue to rally, veteran trader and founder of The Bear Traps Report, Larry McDonald, is urging investors to raise cash, issuing a “HIGH” cash alert fueled by concerns of an impending recession.
In a recent interview with Kitco News, McDonald, a former Lehman Brothers trader and New York Times bestselling author, drew parallels between the current market surge and the short-covering blowoffs of 2000-2001, signaling a potential downturn on the horizon.
McDonald paints a grim picture of the U.S. economy, suggesting it’s heading towards a rare “two-terms, two-recessions” scenario. He points to mounting credit stress, tightening tariffs, and alarmingly high consumer delinquencies as key indicators. He believes these factors, coupled with the potential for a policy-induced recession, are cause for significant concern.
His warnings extend beyond just the U.S. economy, highlighting potential cracks in the $1.8 trillion private credit market and anxieties surrounding the debt ceiling, Treasury auctions, and impending Fed policy inflection points.
These interwoven stresses, according to McDonald, paint a concerning picture of the global financial system.
McDonald highlighted Warren Buffett’s massive $348 billion cash pile as a potential signal of deeper cracks within the market. He suggests that Buffett’s conservative approach may indicate a lack of attractive investment opportunities amidst growing uncertainty.
He also keeps a watchful eye on AI infrastructure names, viewing them as a tactical opportunity for the next market pullback.
The interview touches upon the performance of various assets during a credit shock. While acknowledging the potential for all three to hold value to some extent, McDonald emphasized the importance of understanding their specific characteristics and risk profiles.
McDonald believes the market is currently overexposed to the U.S. dollar and advocates for a global rotation into hard assets and emerging markets to mitigate risk and potentially capitalize on future growth opportunities.
Despite the bleak overall outlook, McDonald sees potential for growth in specific sectors and regions. He believes that uranium and Brazil are poised to lead the next bull cycle, driven by growing demand for nuclear energy and the potential for economic growth in the South American nation.
In conclusion, Larry McDonald’s “HIGH” cash alert serves as a stark reminder of the potential challenges facing the market.
While he doesn’t advocate for complete withdrawal, his insights offer valuable guidance for investors seeking to navigate the complexities of the current economic landscape by raising cash, diversifying their portfolios, and strategically positioning themselves for potential opportunities.