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 obsolete stock certificates. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)
Precious Metals:
Gold: If Only the ‘Smart Money’ Could Buy…
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At last glance, spot platinum was at $809 per ounce. JWR’s Comment: That is a screaming buy, in my opinion.
Commodities:
Colin First: Commodities Daily Forecast – July 19, 2018
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The FOMC’s moves and the flattening Yield Curve have pushed a lot of commodities in a new direction. For example: Lumber.
Cryptos:
Bitcoin Trading Volume Is Up 100% From Its Recent Low
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US Congressman Calls for Ban on Crypto Buying and Mining
Economy & Finance:
Zero Hedge reports: Russia Liquidates Its US Treasury Holdings
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At Wolf Street: Update on US Trucking and Rail Freight. “Many modes are reporting limited capacity or no capacity at any price shippers are willing to pay.”
Derivatives:
The value of what Buffett called ‘financial weapons of mass destruction’ is plunging
Tangibles Investing:
Not many folks collect obsolete stock certificates. And even fewer are savvy individuals who painstakingly reserch corporate histories, revealing that just a few “worthless” stock certificates are actually worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here is a good overview:
The antique detective: Collectors investing in obsolete stocks, bonds
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Video from Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons: A Brief Tour of the Rock Island Auction Company
Provisos:
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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!
Derivatives/financial weapons of mass destruction:
At the top of the article it states that the *gross market value* of the derivatives fell to $11 trillion.
The last two lines of the article state:
“Total notional value of the contracts also has fallen. That total peaked at $710 trillion in 2013, but has dropped to $532 trillion since. “
Does it surprise anyone that government employees want to ban crypto mining and currency?
The whole idea is that it breaks away from dependence on sovereign FIAT currency for a nation-less FIAT currency.
In other news, Russia has dumped nearly all (if not all) US Treasury debt. From this casual economist’s POV, this is the first of many steps, along with the Yuan based oil pricing, to isolate the US, and let it collapse under its own extravagant spending. Rumor has Russia moving to a gold based currency. Considering Russia and China continue to generally be gold buyers and not sellers, they are steps toward something big happening.
But them I’m just a casual observer, and not a highly paid government economist paid to read the tea leaves differently.
Watch for failures in logistics in the near future,the only pick up/delivery portion of the supply chain is trucking and major problems are being engineered into the system(ELDs,forcing professionals out,regulations on regulations) to force robotic trucks(you will be considered a “hazard” and not allowed on the road,except in a robot car)