Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on the potential for an orchestrated market crash. (See the Economy and Finance section.)
Precious Metals:
BMO’s Top Long-Term Silver Play As Market Heads To $20
o o o
New Gold-Backed Debit Card Launched In Partnership With MasterCard
Commodities:
Is The LNG Glut Real?
o o o
Lies And Distractions Surrounding The Diminishing Petrodollar
Forex:
Dollar rises as euro drops after Germany fails to form coalition
Troubling Trends:
This television news report from 2016 is thought-provoking: When Wal-Mart leaves small towns behind. JWR’s Comments: The great unspoken here is that Wal-Mart pulled out of some poor, predominately black communities. They are building many of their newest generation of “Super Centers” in wealthy suburbs. Here is a key quote: “90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Wal-Mart.” Following their little-publicized 2016 restructuring, Wal-Mart is now back up to more than 5,000 stores, including 3,552 Super Centers. An aside: There are just 12 Super Centers in Wyoming, but 386 in Texas. But oddly, Wal-Mart if the biggest employer in Wyoming. That shows you just how low the population density is, there.
Economy and Finance (Orchestrated Market Crash):
Moving on to this at The Los Angeles Times: Strong economy boosts Trump among otherwise skeptical voters. JWR’s Comment: That sort of political psychology works both ways. The Powers That Be probably want to use the inverse to this situation, to push Trump out of office, or at least to orchestrate a One Term Presidency for DJT. They also want to see the Republican Party lose its majorities in the House and Senate. So the chances are high of an orchestrated market crash followed by a very deep recession or even a Depression, to begin sometime in the next two years. (Plan accordingly, folks!) This crash can be triggered just by manipulation of interest rates by the Federal Reserve Open Rate Committee (FOMC). Remember: The Federal Reserve is not a government agency. It is private banking cartel.
Tangibles Investing:
Vacant Property Rates Soar In Over Half Of U.S. Local Housing Markets. (See the included map. Notice how the American Redoubt shows lower vacancies than the coastal regions!)
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. So please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.
News Tips:
Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who particularly watch individual markets. And due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” investing news. We often “get the scoop” on economic and investing news that is probably ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
It should be noted that when Walmart left the poor community just 15 miles from my house it was because the local community stole over 80% of the product within months of opening. Employee theft was staff wide even 2 of the managers were indicted in the thieving. Walmart doesn’t shut down a store without the numbers telling them to. And yes, a big swath of irreparable damage is done when Wally World leaves town.
Carney,the damage is done to local communities when Wallyworld comes to town (huge subsidies/tax breaks) and pillages the economy(small business exterminated with loss of decent paying jobs and standard of living(permanant underclass with no hope of recovery))
I could care less if Wally Mart completely collapses, I only set foot in those places a couple times shortly after they invaded here, nothing but mind numbed dullards shopping there. The place creeps me out.
Must be nice being an aristocrat.
I’m hardly an aristocrat. LOL!
There are lots of things I don’t participate in, Walmart is only one of them.
My main issue is with Wallymart is the people that shop there, one of the few stores that I feel I need to be armed in, not that I go to many stores anyway. Now, not all people are bad at Wallymart, but it’s that certain % that keeps me away.
I do not like Walmart but if all of them close I can’t imagine how many people will be without a job and probably getting on the welfare merry-go-round which affects all taxpayers.
About 5 years ago a Walmart opened quite near me. Love it. Couldn’t hardly wait for it to open. Convenient, low prices and they have everything. In my travels I have been to Walmarts in rough neighborhoods and I have seen shoplifting, police arrests, arguments and fights and combative unhelpful employees. It seems to me the problem in these Walmarts that close is the crime and the local population and not the company.
Our nearest Walmart in Wyoming, may be closing.
This one store, NOT a superstore mind you, suffered about 5 MILLION in theft over one year alone.
It’s near/on the reservation.
Ned2: Interesting. We must both be close to the store in Riverton but I haven’t heard anything about it possibly closing. The theft amount doesn’t surprise me, much. It would be very typical Walmart behavior though, and not really a bad decision from a business standpoint looking at the losses from theft, but like their local hospital (that can’t stop stepping on themselves) they probably won’t leave because they have ZERO competition in the marketplace for reasonably priced goods.
It should also be noted that Wal-Mart is starting to stock up on the higher end and more expensive goods to cater to people that have the money in these wealthy suburbs. So it is starting to leave the poor and eventually the middle class behind.
Kmart tried the same tactic. Now look at the condition of Kmart. Seems like 75% of their stores are already closed, more to follow.
Local Wallyworld closed(local police had to staff a sub station in the store and crime numbers were effecting real estate ratings)due to local pressure. Two more were built in 5mile radius one in a upperclass area and one in a lower class area(one always has police when I go past). Now another big empty retail space in an area with a glut(watch the retail apocalypse happen after Newyears)
There is a police car at Walmart (Reno) just about every time I go in there, I suppose its for theft. It is handy, close by and all the mom pop hardware, automotive, and paint stores have closed up. If Walmarts all closed there be nowhere to buy all that Chinese c**p.
Have your looked at almost any dollar store lately? It doesn’t matter which dollar store, or for that matter, Harbor Freight. Mostly cheap Chinese junk.