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 American retail giant Walmart.
Precious Metals:
Kitco News Gold Survey: Dollar’s Pain To Mean Gold’s Gain
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Rich Dad Author Says The Next Financial Crash Will be Like an “Avalanche”. Kiyosaki is predicting huge losses and a “half off sale” for stocks. For many years he has suggested gold as a safe haven.
Stock Markets:
Next, over at MarketWatch: This epic stock-market rally will get a second wind from stellar earnings
Commodities:
Will Surging U.S. Shale Kill Off The Oil Rally? “The incredible growth of U.S. shale production is showing no sign of slowing, with the EIA projecting that the industry will hit 10 million barrels per day in February”
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Cold Snap Leads To Biggest U.S. Natural Gas Draw Ever.
Economy and Finance (Walmart):
Reader D.B. spotted this at Breitbart: Walmart Raises Wages, Gives Bonuses to Over One Million Employees Thanks to Tax Reform
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But for counterbalance, SurvivalBlog reader T J. sent us this contemporaneous news story: Walmart is abruptly closing 63 Sam’s Club stores and laying off thousands of workers
Tangibles Investing:
This article is dated but still quite useful: Auctioned Houses Are the Secret to Scoring a Great Deal on a Home
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!
I just keep seeing the market as gambling.There has been so little to support the numbers.For those who disagree.Look at the fake unemployment numbers that we have had for years.Every person who stops receiving unemployment is considered”employed”
Our debt is my biggest worry.Of course, our representatives continue to spend more. I am speaking to the choir when I say to be prepared.
http://www.srsroccoreoort.com makes a great argument that the shale boom is a scam. Read down through his past articles on the subject. He is also a supporter of gold and silver.
As for our current markets, we’re seeing a lot of positive news via moves by the Trump administration. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have another few months of gains before a correction. I’m certainly seeing it in my company stock – cutting the corporate tax rate is forcing a lot of companies to examine their growth and hiring.
I actually have a short placed on silver at this time (thicker symbol DSLV). The reason: It’s currently hitting it’s head once again on its 50-month moving average. Is this where Deutche Bank manipulates its price? Maybe. All I know is that every time it hits its head on that line, it comes back down.
However, this is the season for gold and silver. If it breaks above the 50-month (something that hasn’t happened in years), then I was wrong and something is definitely going on with silver.
Shale is real. Yesterday, I listened to an archived World War II radio program which assured the public that if oil supplies for America faltered, oil shale would easily make up the difference. It also recounted the history of oil shale back to about 1840. The program noted that shale oil was more expensive than oil prices at the time (1943 or 1944), but if prices rose enough, and they certainly have since then, the price of shale oil would male it feasible for production.
Another idiot light just came on for the U.S. dollar. China has downgraded the U.S. credit rating and is warning against “insolvency”. Since they hold over a trillion dollars of our debt and are furiously working to collapse the petrodollar, is this one of the pre-Crunch warning sirens?
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-16/china-downgrades-us-credit-rating-bbb-warns-us-insolvency-would-detonate-next