Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn was speaking today at the 5th Value Investing Congress in New York City.
Two years ago he appeared as a highlight lecture of the show, and laid out his reasons for shorting Lehman Brothers stock. Needless to say there was quite a bit of attention to what he had to say today.
Here are some highlights:
1. A very bleak outlook for the US economy
2. US has a lack of political will to adopt needed financial reforms.
3. Right now he would like to hold gold rather than cash because "gold benefits from poor fiscal policy."
4. Buying long dated options on much higher interest rates in the US and Japan
5. Singled out GE as thwarting financial reform due to their intense lobbying efforts.
Transcript of David Einhorn's presentation.
"When you speak these things, they will not listen. When you call to them, they will not answer. 'This is the nation that would not listen to the Lord their God. Truth has perished among them. Raise up a dirge on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned them under His wrath. For the Judeans have done what is contemptible in My sight.' This is the Lord’s declaration. 'They have set up detestable things in the house that is called by My name — and defiled it.'" Jeremiah 7:27-30