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Nouriel Roubini Sounds, GASP, Positive About Economy!

Posted Mar 31, 2009 10:50am EDT by Henry Blodget in Investing, Recession, Banking

Okay, not "positive," exactly, but certainly less negative than he's sounded over the past 18 months. 

NYU professor Nouriel Roubini, you'll recall, is known as "Dr. Doom," the most famous of the handful of economists who actually predicted the current debacle. A few days ago, after a speech in Italy, he was quoted as saying he might see some "light at the end of the tunnel."  And he repeats a similiarly non-apocalyptic outlook on TechTicker in our interview here.

To be clear: Roubini is NOT predicting an imminent recovery. He thinks that most economists are still way too bullish, that the stock market will retest its lows, and that unemployment will eventually rise over 10%. He just thinks that the quarter that is now ending, Q1, will be the worst rate of decline in the economy and that things will gradually stop deteriorating and then get better from here.

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101 Comments

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 10:57AM EDT

Yep, he has already made his money on the bottoming market. Now it's time to make money on a rising market. I think I understand what he is doing. One month talk doom and gloom about the market. The next month pimp it up a bit. Make money up and down!!!

Minh
Minh - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:01AM EDT

Money money money!!

Minh
Minh - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:02AM EDT

Money money money!!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:03AM EDT

Is the light at the end of the tunnel a train?

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:03AM EDT

He did not mention the wild cards. What is the world political climate? The G-20 and Global Currency? How many homes and cars are going to sell during a time that Unemployment grows? If your in Ca. your looking at 10 percent Unemployment now, taxes going up and property values falling... I like N. R. but now I am in this ecomomy I am scared.

John
John - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:04AM EDT

What a joke! This is why you don't listen to ANYONE pushed by the mainstream media. It is always a trap. Roubini's job was obviously to rope in as many realistic investors as possible so that he could trick them back into the market right before it crashes again. Most investors still haven't sold the stocks in their retirement funds. Why would the robbers give them back their losses? Don't be a fool!

KH
KH - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:05AM EDT

i wish someone would keep a scorecard of all these pointy-headed economists and their lousy calls. Almost all of them have long said this recession will NOT BE OVER UNTIL WELL INTO 2010 !!!!! Then little by little they ease up, well ok they say, maybe early 2010. then well ok they say maybe end of 2009....on and on until finally they get it "right" The only thing worse than economists are...well....can't think of any right now.

Hater
Hater - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:05AM EDT

I think everyone should invest in catfood. Cats like it, my cat likes it. Besides that's about all we will be able to afford in the future anyway. Look at the fundamentals and explain to me why it is such a wonderful time to jump in. Market overpriced!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:05AM EDT

It is all a farce look behind the scenes. The Democrats have fleeced the taxpayer as much as they can with out a revolt. So where is the gain in the market heading south. It is bound to go higher the deed is done.

Jim,MtnViewCA,USA
Jim,MtnViewCA,USA - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:06AM EDT

"..One month talk doom and gloom about the market. The next month pimp it up a bit..." Nope. He's been consistently bearish. And people laugh at him because his personal investments are "buy and hold" in index funds and have declined a LOT. I guess a lot of ignorant morons read and comment on this blog....No offense!

Dave
Dave - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:06AM EDT

Though certainly not the cause of this mess, he certainly was one of the problems making it worse. And I told him he was, though don't think he cared.

Pat G
Pat G - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:09AM EDT

Dow was 1000 in 1982. How did it get to 14000 and now 7800 ? How is it that the real quality of life was better before 1980 (and atleast people had real jobs then)? The stock market scam was propagated by the 401k programs. End them now...

Wehrmeister2000
Wehrmeister2000 - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:09AM EDT

(heh)

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:10AM EDT

After your comments a few weeks ago suggesting that Roubini personally was invested long in equities, I hope you will ask him about his investment strategy given his negative views over the last several years.

Kurt
Kurt - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:11AM EDT

Phony shill and utterly untrustworthy to be behind the curve so much.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:11AM EDT

This man has been wrong so often, I don't understand why some in the news media keep treating him like a soothsayer. Nouriel Roubini Was Wrong, Again!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:15AM EDT

Although things may seem better, I think they are much worse... It seems that Mr. Roubini is talking more about the world economy as opposed to just the US economy. I think the situation for the US is much worse. Why? Because we are printing money at an astronomical rate. At some point, inflation is going to take hold and we could end up in a very bad situation where the Fed is going to have to raise interest rates to hold inflation in check and we will still be in a recession. high interest rates + recession = bad news. In addition, our overseas investors (China, etc.) are getting really nervous regarding the amount of money we are printing. If our overseas investors decide to cash in their T-bills, game over – we are done.

chubby
chubby - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:20AM EDT

He just missed a 20% pop by taking his own advice. Clearly a genius.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:21AM EDT

Invest in toilet paper, everyone has to wipe their ass, that's what our currency will be worth soon.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday March 31, 2009 11:25AM EDT

Looks like Blodget gave him a spare tie.... they dressed like the Bobsie twins.

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