Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the looming threat of full-capacity magazine bans. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)
Precious Metals:
Emerging market central banks represent new demand for gold as they de-dollarize – Société Générale.
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The Month Of June: A Gold Price Swoon.
Economy & Finance:
Global leaders warn of economic dangers as crises multiply.
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Gas prices surge again and hit new record highs as they get closer to $5 a gallon.
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Cracks in US Economy Start to Show as Recession Warnings Mount.
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At Wolf Street: The Most Splendid Housing Bubbles in America, May Update: Mania at the Eve of Holy-Moly Mortgage Rates.
Commodities:
The global WTI Crude oil market closed yesterday (June 2nd) at $117.55 per barrel. Stand by for even higher gas prices, at the pump.
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Weak China demand won’t hold back oil prices.
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David Messler, at OilPrice News: Where Are Oil Prices Headed?
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Gas prices soar past $8 per gallon at California gas station.
Derivatives:
At Investment Executive: Global OTC derivatives markets see second-half shift.
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Benchmark Reform and Transition from LIBOR InfoHub.
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An overview, from a University of Oxford academic: The Global Derivatives Market.
Forex & Cryptos:
Reported on Wednesday: Dollar edges up against euro, hits two-week high versus yen.
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At Currency Thoughts: Many Central Banks Raised Their Key Interest Rate During May — Here’s a Tally.
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Bitcoin Observes Longest Stretch Of Extreme Fear Since April 2020.
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How Early LUNA Holders, Founders Made Off With $6 Billion.
Tangibles Investing:
Do you remember when I used to sell new-in-wrapper 15-round M1 Carbine magazines via mailorder for $2.75 to $4 each? Let’s just chalk up this recent price jump to $99 each to Bidenflation. But, seriously, please consider that any scarce and /or discontinued full-capacity magazines are a good investment. New bans (with grandfather clauses) are likely. And even if so-called “high capacity” magazines aren’t banned from production for civilian sale, then an import ban by Executive Order is still quite likely. So I recommend that you do your best to lay in your lifetime supply of magazines soon — especially any imported ones. Take a look at your needs for AK, FAL, L1A1, Beretta, CZ, HK, Walther, SIG, Valmet, and Galil magazines, among others. Keep in mind that all of the magazines for some “American” pistols such as the Springfield Armory XD series are still made in Croatia. And Mec-Gar magazines are mostly made in Italy. A new magazine import ban would slam that door shut, in a hurry. So stack them deeply!
Just to hedge my bets, I recently bought more than $2,000 worth of magazines from GunMagWarehouse — one of our affiliate advertisers. You might want to consider doing likewise. If another Federal magazine ban is enacted the price of grandfathered magazines will surely soar.
Because I unexpectedly came across a sizable stash of scarce factory ammo for older pistols and revolvers at reasonable prices, I’ve added two more revolver types to our Want List, at Elk Creek Company:
- Nagant M1895 7.62×38mmR revolvers dated 1898 or earlier on the frame.
- Swiss M1882 Ordnance 7.5mm Revolvers with serial numbers below 8008. (The last number for production in 1898.)
If you have either of these models available in good mechanical condition with nice shootable bores, then I’m a buyer. But I only buy ones that are federally antique. I’d also be willing to do a trade for any of my long gun inventory.
Oh, and since there were also 20+ boxes of 7.63mm Mauser in that big batch of ammo, I’d also like to reiterate that I’m an eager buyer of original Mauser Model 1896 pistols with serial numbers below 15000.
I love to trade!
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. 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 or via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant because they come from folks who closely watch specific markets. If you spot any news that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, then please send it in. News items from local news outlets that are missed by the news wire services are especially appreciated. And it need not be only about commodities and precious metals. Thanks!