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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we turn our attention to collectible cars. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)
Precious Metals:
Gold Stays Cold; Silver Gets Sold; Their Ratio Behold!
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What Does The New Fed’s Regime Imply For The Gold Price?
Economy & Finance:
The poseurs running the Federal Reserve banking cartel seem to be running out of arrows in their quiver. They’ve essentially promised no interest rate hikes until 2020. They are hoping that he economy keeps chugging along. But what if there is a global crisis? They’d have to dramatically lower rates. But they no longer have room to do so. Watch closely folks, as they try to pull a rabbit out of a hat.
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Fox News reports: America’s largest cities drowning in debt, with Chicago leading the way, study finds
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Toomey: ‘Absolutely painful’ China tariffs may be ‘worth the price’
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Next, at Seeking Alpha: U.S. Recession Predictor Sends Warning Signal
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And at Wolf Street: Trucking & Rail Shipments Sink as US Goods-Based Sector Slows
Commodities:
Grain outlook: Morning Market Review for May 17, 2019
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Can The U.S. Steal Gas Market Share From Russia?
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Soybeans: Why the Trade War Is Hitting a Trump-Country Commodity Hardest
Forex & Cryptos:
Dollar gains as European concerns hurt euro, sterling
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Barclays, Citigroup and JP Morgan among banks fined $1.2 billion for Forex rigging
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I see that Bitcoin (BTC) is now solidly back in the $7,000 to $8,000 range. This may be the beginning of a bull market.
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Bitcoin No Threat Yet but Crypto ‘Phenomenon’ Needs Monitoring: European Central Bank
Tangibles Investing:
18 Rare Collectible Cars That Are Actually Pretty Cheap
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25 Cars People Should Collect ASAP (Before Their Value Skyrockets)
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The HK91 magazines, parts, and accessories that I’m liquidating over at the FALFiles are selling out rapidly. If you are an HK rifle owner, then please take a look.
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!
The Fed has a long history of not messing with things in the runup to a presidential election. Granted, we’re not in 2020 yet, but… If a crisis comes, they will almost certainly have to take interest rates negative, which will require limiting access to everyone’s bank accounts since people would otherwise take all their money out (read: massive run on every bank in America). Imagine getting a rate of -.5% on your bank deposits.
The first thing that will happen as the pension crisis hits both the federal government and all state governments (to different extents) is that taxes will have to rise dramatically. There will also be a move to put on a Value-Added Tax (VAT) as they have in Europe. There will be rising sales taxes on everything, and also use taxes (tolls, etc.)
The Fed will also try to induce inflation, since that will help with the crisis. Everyday folks will of course be the losers.
The last remedy for the pension crisis will be means testing and then benefit cuts. Don’t think you are entitled to those benefits, folks — or that your kids will automatically get theirs. Plan accordingly.
She’s real fine, my 4-0-9
She’s real fine, my 4-0-9………
(tangibles! gotta love ’em)
https://www.halffaceblades.com/collections/available-knives
I have been fortunate enough to have been gifted two of these highly collectable and limited run knives made by retired Navy SEALs, a custom karambit, and a crow scout. there is a cult following much like for the Winkler knives.
another tangible collectable is the Resco line of watches made in limited runs and highly collectable, another US Made, SEAL retired business
https://rescoinstruments.com/
This is not a criticism, just a suggestion. I can’t tell the situation of all families’ economies, but at least in ours, we are at crash stage, the S has hit, and we are needing ways to save/make money, not ways to invest money. I still read this column with great interest to try to see what the economic situation is for others.
@Rose,
Yep, I’ve been eaten alive by inflation during the last 10 years, a period in which the goobermint says there has been no inflation. Free cash flow is ridiculously tight, and I know because I actually do a written zero based household budget to the penny.
I would suggest, if I might, that you run a budget each month BEFORE the month begins, writing down each projected expense. It will take 2 to 4 months to get the hang of it and you’ll have to make adjustments on the fly until you get a handle on all of your outflows. I suspect that, if you don’t run a zero based budget already, you will find much waste in your spending. This isn’t a personal statement, everybody finds out where the waste is when they budget. I was spending 40 plus bucks a month on gas station coffee. This won’t help the macro economic outlook but it will help your household. This is what grandma and grandpa did before the Fed and easy credit; budget, never take on debt, work, save, home economics. The old ways are the best ways. You can do it!
Aye excel is a life saver! Making a budget like that helped me to pay off college (while I was in it) and still had a little left over to spend on preparations. Always plan out trips to the store before hand as well; look at the weekly adds they put out and print out any coupons for the items you’re going yo get aswell. Never ever deviate from your plan once you’re on the store. Impulse buying kills budgets. I take the difference between what was budgeted for groceries and what was actually spent and put it in the emergency fund.
Whew. JimK. and Fred, you speak wisdom. Cutting back on expenses allowed me to buy my house from the bank some years back. No mortgage.
Carry on
Many people are feeling the crunch, sad to say. Cut expenses to the bone. No tv, internet, alcohol, tobacco, eating out, ready-made foods, sweets, etc. Grow a
“victory garden” with some healthy summer vegetables. To make money- babysitting,
house cleaning, lawn mowing, pet care, etc. Look around in your area to see what
services people are needing. Maybe some older people or those after surgery need
a reliable driver, shopper, assistant? Check at your house of worship and see if anyone
is willing to pay for help. Good luck and don’t give up!
Rose. been where you say you are now. I am not worried much about now or near future finances, because for 34 years I worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to save and earn retirement benefits. And then I worked more, and still work to get side income.
If you are sinking, the only sure remedy is to get earning more than spending.
I made many financial mistakes in my life but overall made more wise commitments than foolish ones.
Get busy and make an income that totals what you need. You can do it. I have faith in you.
God Almighty helps those who strive.
Best wishes and God Bless.
Running a budget doesn’t always mean cutting back. It’s just a way to allocate capital willfully, or on purpose to prevent waste. Usually people find out that they have way more money than they thought, they’re simply spending it on things that don’t fulfill them. This leads to a feeling of frustration along with the notion of the inability to ‘get ahead’. In a budget, it’s important to allocate some fun money too. It’s not all about cutting to the bone, necessarily. You can only really do 4 things with money; 1 get it (I pray we earn it). 2 give it. 3 spend it. 4 save it. That’s really it. We need a budget category for each. Keeps it simple, then you can create sub categories for each such as Tithe under giving, Food under spending or 401k or Car Fund under saving. Etc.
On the car collectables, better have a rich friend when you buy parts! And another friend who owns a machine shop for making parts you can’t get. Imagine the fun of owning a Boeing B17?
Re. the State of the US. This old coot sees China and Russia rising as the US decays. Like As Gerald Celente stated, ‘The business of China is business. The business of America is war’. Search Shanghai shipping port and you will see thousands of CONEX shipping containers full of exports. Search American ports and you’ll see tanks and Humvees. America is not bleeding out, it is being bled out.
Our collapse (financial and moral) has been underway for decades. It is in free-fall now. A hundred indicators could support this. Globalists are clever and patient. They are in the driver’s seat. Russia, China, the Fed, Congress and even Trump are controlled and complicit. Ridiculous you say? Ask yourself, ‘If you were a patient globalist, what remaining goals to usher in one-world government would you fear are in jeopardy and by whom?’
The primary goal the Globalists now need to achieve is complete civilian disarmament and they are intent on that. My fear is that 2nd Amendment patriots are going to roll over like dead fish. Comfort and convenience are far more important than those pesky morals/ethics and Constitutional rights. Sorry to be so negative, but….
Jima, yes you can see where this is going. There will be a condition attached to food, security, healthcare, employment, benefits like Social Security and Medicare etc. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) have been in effect for 20 years. Big Brother knows what modern firearms most Americans own. The pre-condition will be to turn them in.
“what remaining goals to usher in one-world government would you fear are in jeopardy and by whom?’”
In the US the long march is over. The final commie goal is the military and the SJW (commie) program is being rolled out even now down to the unit level. That’s the last remaining step to ensure nobody will fight back. The revolution is here.
Fred, I agree.
Here are some points of fact for those who think our military would not fire upon Americans:
In 1994 Commander Cunningham authored and conducted the now famous 29 Palms Survey in which more than 20% of those combat-trained Marines surveyed stated:
1. That they WOULD fire upon American citizens in order to confiscate their firearms if ordered to do so and
2. If required, they WOULD swear allegiance to the United Nations.
Imagine the responses from today’s military!
Commander Cunningham states that the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has a stranglehold over the U.S. military. He estimates that today 75% of military admirals and generals with two stars or more have been trained by the CFR. In the 25 years since the military has systematically purged many leaders flagged as oath-keepers to the US Constitution. If those same questions were asked of our Marines today, the percentage would surely be higher.
Commander Cunningham was a Green Beret, an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division, Navy pilot, mission commander and analyst. His military credentials are unassailable. When Commander Cunningham speaks, people should listen.
As a dedicated car enthusiast, I read the linked articles with great interest. I don’t own any of the cars mentioned, but I keep up on collector cars. I have no quarrel with the first article- 18 cars which are still cheap. These could be a reasonable investment- though the term ‘good investment’ rarely applies to an automobile. The term ‘Extremely lucky investment’ seems more appropriate. But as for the second article, 25 cars people should collect, many of the cars mentioned are still CHEAP because they have a reputation for unreliability and are expensive to maintain, like the Jaguar XJ-6. ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION- the Volvo 245 series wagons, which are a very good, practical and useful car at any reasonable price. If you are investing in any old car- GOOD LUCK !
Old cars. I would add the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Cherokee Chief (models from 1963 to 1991), the Ford Explorer Sport Trac (models from 2001 to 2010, I have a 2010, I love it), also the Jeep Station Wagon (produced from 1946 to 1964), any Ford Bronco of any year including the Bronco II, (1966 to 1996), finally any of the International SUV’s. Travelall and Scout . Not only are all these good investments, they are also very useful vehicles.
On the globalists. If you get the opportunity to go to a town hall for one of the Dem candidates for any office, ask the question “How many American citizens are you (Mr/Ms candidate) willing to murder to get to your goal of civilian disarmament? One hundred million gun owners, with 300 to 500 million firearms, are never ever wrong. Are you willing to murder 100 million of your fellow citizens to achieve your goals?” Make sure you use the word murder. Make sure you get the question and answer on video, preferably from more than one source.
On the coming US default. Get out of debt, get out of debt now before it’s too late. I agree with Fred, it’s possible to get out of debt and have a balanced household budget. In my case, my debt was 5 figures, not including my house or cars. It took years but we made it. I did it, so can you.
I would like to add my sweet little Rally Green 1969 Camaro to the list of collectible cars. With its original 6 cylinder 250 engine and fold down back seats, it sure gets a lot of attention at the swap meets and car shows. It is going to stay original.
I like practical cars and trucks. I previously had a Volvo 245 wagon. I currently have a 1985 Suburban, with a 4 speed manual (granny low gear) and locker rear end, not 4WD but not easy to get stuck in. And NO COMPUTER. I also have a 1989 Isuzu Trooper 4WD 5 speed manual. These can haul a LOT of cargo and go through mud and snow with ease.