Of course, the glib answer is, "It's the end of the 3rd quarter." But we're thinking it's time for a reassessment across the board as to where the four major economic powerhouses are headed as we enter Q4 of 2014.

Adding to uncertainty in international affairs is the situation in Hong Kong. Hong Kong occupies an unusual position in the world financial community, and in the geopolitics between communist China, the rest of Asia and the West.

With a mighty assist - a shove - from dollar strength, gold resumed its downward trend again today. The dollar was up against the euro, GB pound and the yen.