Obama’s ever-growing stimulus package isn’t giving the markets a boost. Matthew Collins says the Fed’s zero-rate interest policy has created a liquidity trap, in which businesses and consumers prefer to hoard cash than make risky investments. That makes stimulating the economy very difficult, and dampens hopes of an ‘Obama rally’ in the near future.

Puru Saxena sees a historical opportunity for long-term gains amid the current financial meltdown. There is currently around $3.5 trillion sitting on the sidelines, waiting to be invested in strong sectors. Puru says natural resources and industrials still have strong fundamentals, meaning they may never again be as cheap as they are today.

Deflation is every central banker’s worst nightmare, says Justice Litle. That’s why the Fed is pumping huge sums of money into the financial system. But if none of that money moves around the economy, it won’t make much difference. And so more dollars will be printed. Justice says this strategy means either a return to inflation or an all-out collapse of the dollar-based monetary system. Either way, gold will skyrocket.

The G20 leader are wrong to blame reckless private banks for this credit crisis, says Martin Hutchinson. They were allowed to disregard risks by an overly accommodative monetary policy. Martin says this error means the focus of imminent new bank regulation will miss the key issues.

Stocks Sideways as Earnings Reports Await… Gold Shrugs off IMF Sale Report… Dire Forecast From World’s No. 2 Oil Producer… Food Riots in Africa, Caribbean…and a Worrisome Sign in New York City… Kerr’s Farmer Contacts Bring Bad Tidings on Ethanol Plants, 2008 Crops.