| Stock | 1983-2006 | Post-2007 |
| General Motors | 25,316% | -100% |
| Fannie Mae | 8,531% | -99% |
| Citigroup | 5,519% | -90% |
| Bear Stearns | 4,691% | -100% |
| American Intl. Group | 3,974% | -98% |
It seems improbable, but in just the three years since 2007, three of the biggest, most widely held WINNERS from the Blackstar universe went to zero -- yes, BANKRUPT. The other two coughed up 90% of their market value or more. Amazing as it sounds, this is business as usual.
Consider...
In 1989, 14 of the 20 largest companies by market value in the world were from Japan. Ten years later only three Japanese companies ranked in the top 20. By 2007, there were a grand total of zero Japanese companies in the Top 20.
In 1979, Eastman Kodak, Bethlehem Steel, General Motors, Polaroid, Xerox, and General Electric were the "indestructible" businesses. Thirty years later, every one is either bankrupt, has been bailed out by the government, cut its dividend to next to nothing, or is trading for less than it was in 1970!
Remember, these weren't just any companies plucked randomly from an index. These were THE leaders of their time, the best of the so-called "Nifty Fifty" stocks. Stocks you could buy and lock away forever!
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