Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, six months into Donald Trump’s second term in office, a special look at Trumponomics 2.0.
Precious Metals:
Rep. Massie Introduces Bill to Audit U.S. Gold Reserves.
o o o
Gold Price Forecast June 2025: What’s Driving Gold Prices Right Now? JWR’s Comments: In the past week, gold rose 3% and silver was up about 10%, in Dollar terms. We should never lose sight of the fact that the value of gold never changes much. But the “price” of precious metals, as quoted in fiat currencies, is actually a measure of the relative and gradual worthlessness of the world’s currencies. As I’ve written before, I prefer to analogize the global currency milieu as a Leper Colony. The fiat currencies are all lepers. They are all dying slow, painful deaths. Some of them are just dying more slowly than others. The Swiss Franc and the U.S. Dollar are two of the healthier lepers, with a few more fingers and toes than their neighbors. But inevitably they will also die. The shed skin and digits that litter the leper colony are coinage. The dead that are carried away are the heavily redenominated, worthless and repudiated currencies. These currences are almost forgotten, though they now have descendants — sometimes using the same name — who are also infected: the Continental, the Weimar Germany Papiermark, the Georgian Kuponi, the Hungarian Pengo, the Greek Drachma, the Yugoslavian Dinar, the Zimbabwean Dollar, the Bolivian Peso, the Turkish Lira, and the Nicaraguan Cordoba. (Most of these had replacement currencies at rates of 1 million-to-1, or higher.) Some immortals visit the leper colony, but they are immune to leprosy. They have names like Mr. Gold and Mr. Silver. The lepers may soon have another generation of offspring who will be born infected. These popular but doomed kids will be called CBDCs.
Economy & Finance:
Reuters: Trump’s economic ‘golden age’ meets Fed’s brass tacks.
o o o
Audio, at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: “No One’s Ready For What’s Coming To The Middle Class…” – Victor Davis Hanson. (Note: Ignore their inane and distracting A.I.-selected stock footage video. I suggest just listening to the audio.)
o o o
Trump Opens Waitlist for $5M Investor Visa.
o o o
Deloitte: United States Economic Forecast.
o o o
Reported on Monday: Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq rise as momentum builds for Trump trade deals, tax bill.
Trade and Tariffs:
The Aggregate, Charted: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, May 2025. JWR’s Comments: The recent three-month spike in imports can be attributed to companies and individuals rushing to place orders before the tariffs took effect. By this time next year, there may be some trade surpluses.
o o o
Country by country: U.S. Trade Deficit, by country.
o o o
From the strongly leftist/globalist biased Politico: Trump won’t let other countries score big ‘wins’ in trade talks. Both sides could lose.
o o o
As reported by the leftist Yahoo Finance: Trump tariffs live updates: Trump sees no need to extend July 9 deadline; Canada scraps tech tax.
o o o
From JPMorgan: US tariffs: What’s the impact on global trade and the economy?
Forex & Cryptos:
Trump says he’ll expect next Fed chair to cut rates.
o o o
At Currency Thoughts: Quarter-End Ushers in Crunch Time for U.S. Budget Bill and Trade Talks as Well as A Flood of Data.
o o o
Forbes: This Is How Much Trump Has Made From Crypto—So Far.
o o o
US Vice President Vance touts Trump’s crypto record at Bitcoin conference.
Tangibles Investing:
The Zillow Blacklist is officially here. JWR’s Comment: If you are selling a house or land and your listing agent runs into trouble with Zillow, then consider advertising it with SurvivalRealty.com. The company is owned and operated by my #1 Son, Jonathan Rawles.
o o o
Our featured Pre-1899 Gun Of The Week, at Elk Creek Company: an Antique English Double Barrel 12 Gauge made by Westley Richards. With the price of silver now topping $37 per Troy ounce, we have increased our pre-1965 silver division to an unprecedented 27.2 times face value. So that $495 shotgun would cost just $20 face value if you pay in 90% silver coins. This is an advantageous time buy diversify into antique guns, if you are holding a sizable stash of silver.
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. Thanks!