The Rise Of Protectionism

"Conflicts over trade liberalisation have recently pitted the United States, the European Union, Brazil, China, India, and other emerging economies against one another as each government looks to protect its own workers and industries, often at the expense of outsiders. Officials in many European countries have complained that Ireland's corporate tax rate is too low and last year pushed the Irish government to accept a bailout it needed but did not want. German voters are grousing about the need to bail out poorer European countries, and the citizens of southern European nations are attacking their governments' unwillingness to continue spending beyond their means." in www.cpifinancial.net

Related: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Indx (ETF) (NYSE:EEM), iShares MSCI Brazil Index (ETF) (NYSE:EWZ), SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:SPY)

Oil Price Shocks Have Led To Recessions Before

"Oil price shocks have led to US recessions in 1974-75, 1980, 1990, 2001 and 2008-2009. 3 of these were caused by Mid East political shocks" - in Twitter

Oil Was Rising Even Before The Recent Political Shocks In The Middle East

"Even before the recent political shocks in the Middle East, oil prices had increased above 90 dollars a barrel, driven not only by the fundamentals of a global economic recovery but also by non-fundamental factors:

- a wall of liquidity chasing assets and commodities in emerging markets amid near-zero policy rates and quantitative easing in advanced economies;
- momentum and herding behaviour (as in 2007-08);
- and limited and inelastic supply of new oil capacity"

in The Globe And Mail

Related: United States Oil Fund LP (ETF) (NYSE:USO), iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return (NYSE:OIL), Energy Select Sector SPDR (ETF) (Public, NYSE:XLE), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL), Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB), Repsol YPF, S.A. (ADR) (NYSE:REP)

Libya, Oil Prices And Stagflation Risks

"Gaddafi's regime is collapsing, Mid East revolutions spreading and oil prices are sharply up again. Stagflationary risks are rising" - in Twitter

Related ETFs: SPDR Gold Trust (ETF) (NYSE:GLD), iShares Silver Trust (ETF) (NYSE:SLV), United States Oil Fund LP (ETF) (NYSE:USO), SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:SPY) , ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (ETF) (NYSE:SDS), iShares Russell 2000 Index (ETF) (NYSE:IWM) , SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:DIA), PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (ETF) (NASDAQ:QQQQ), ProShares UltraShort QQQ (ETF) (NYSE:QID)

Middle East Political Turmoil And Oil Prices

"Even regional political turmoil that does not disrupt oil supplies directly can increase prices" - in seeking alpha

CNBC Video: Roubini On Squawk Box

There Are A Significant Number Of Downside Risks

"Usually there is not a 1-to-1 relationship between the stock market and the economy. This year some things are going well. The economy is improving, emerging markets are doing well, the corporates are doing well so far. But there are a significant number of downside risks."

in CNBC.com

Related ETFs: iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSE:VXX), SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:SPY), ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (ETF) (NYSE:SDS), iShares Russell 2000 Index (ETF) (NYSE:IWM), PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (ETF) (NASDAQ:QQQQ), ProShares UltraShort QQQ (ETF) (NYSE:QID), Financial Select Sector SPDR (ETF) (NYSE:XLF), Direxion Daily Finan. Bear 3X Shs(ETF) (NYSE:FAZ)

The Path Of Least Resistance Until After 2012 Are Going To Be Budget Deficits Above A Trillion Dollars

"Democrats are against reforming entitlements. The Republicans are against raising any taxes. The path of least resistance until after 2012 are going to be budget deficits above a trillion dollars." in CNBC.com

So Much For The Eurozone Crisis Being Contained

"Portugal on verge of losing market access; Irish bailout in trouble; WestLB rescue in trouble. So much for Eurozone crisis being contained" - in Twitter

Could Egypt Turn Into A Turkey?

"Could Egypt turn into a Turkey (stable democracy run by moderate islamists)? It took decades of secular rule to get current state in Turkey" - in Twitter

Related: iShares MSCI Turkey Index Fund (NYSE:TUR) and Market Vectors Egypt Index ETF (NYSE:EGPT)