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 Gold Summer Doldrums. (See the Precious Metals section.)
Precious Metals (Gold Summer Doldrums):
Typically, the spot and futures price of gold go into doldrums, every summer. But this summer gold is particularly weak–at least when priced in Dollars. The other precious metals have mostly followed suit. Low points like this are usually a good time to buy. Here are few telling headlines:
Gold Prices Down As Fed’s Powell Stays The Course On Economy Interest Rate Outlook
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Gold Prices Sink To New 1-Year Low Ahead Of Powell Testimony
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Amplats, PIC invest R2.6bn in platinum venture funds
Commodities:
Natural gas-power to hit near record highs as coal-use hovers lower
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Record Oil Production Doesn’t Free U.S. From Global Market
Stocks:
BofA: Excluding FAANG Stocks, The S&P Would Be Negative
Forex and Cryptos:
CNBC: FOREX-Dollar gains sustained by trade war risk, rising inflation
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AUD Going Slightly Up: Market Review, July 17, 2018
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Bitcoin’s Road Back to $7K (And the Chart Hurdles In the Way)
Economy & Finance:
Next, over at Zero Hedge: Hyperinflation Avoidance Advice For Turkish Citizens As Fitch Cuts Ratings
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There Is Now Officially Three Times More Debt In The World Than Money. (A hat tip to H.L for the link.)
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Reuters: Traders keep bets on Fed interest rate rises
Tangibles Investing:
Collector’s Corner: No more DIY if you can sell antique tools
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Is Collecting “Stuff” an Investment?
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!
So many ways to invest, gold, silver, cryptos, stocks,bonds,forex,commodities, etc, etc,etc.
The base economy in any situation is food, period. If you don’t have enough for your family for a year at least why are you investing in anything else? If I’m down to my last few day’s food for my family how excited do you think I’d be to trade some of it for anything we can’t eat !
My parents got married in 1933 at the height of the depression. My grandparents shephered the extended family through the depression on an acre or so of land. My fathers adult sisters and brothers and numerous of my cousins gardened, worked and foraged for things to get them through tough times. Consequently the great depression was commonly discussed around the dinner table as I was growing up. Many things I learned were contrary to what you might expect. One is that there was no shortage of food and necessities, the shortage was of money to buy what was needed. If we have another great depression caused by debt or other mismanagement cash will be king. Food will be a good thing but money can buy food and it can buy all the other things you will need.
There is always naysayers when it comes to collectibles, but I have never met a “knowledgeable” collector who was poor or hungry! A serious collection requires time and discipline – which is exactly what success in any field requires!
I have a rather large collection, that would bring in the high six figures or more in today’s market. It has cost me exactly nothing except many great hours of doing something I enjoy. I know many collector – dealers who could say the same thing!
That is the key to real knowledge of any collectible – buying and selling!
Some people expect a mad max or complete economic collapse scenario and the phrase “you can’t eat gold” completely disregards the more realistic outcome – another global depression. If you don’t diversify your savings and investments into several asset classes then you may very well find yourself in a situation where people with gold, silver, cash,cryptos, high value collectibles, land or homes on desirable land and in-demand skills are the ones able to eat. Not all of their assets will hold their value but some will outperform and make up the loss. Those that limit their preparedness to just beans, bullets and bandaids may find themselves very unprepared for living through challenging years ahead.