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.
"Senators disturb us by reminding us of the possibility of large numbers swarming from China; but the answer to all this is obvious and very simple. If the Chinese come here, they will come for citizenship or merely for labor. If they come for citizenship, then in this desire do they give a pledge of loyalty to our institutions; and where is the peril in such vows? They are peaceful and industrious; how can their citizenship be the occasion of solicitude?"
Senator Charles Sumner, 1870