Category: Economics & Investing

Those pesky derivatives: U.S. Stocks Fall as JPMorgan Tumbles on Trading Report. (A tip of the hat to veteran content contributor Sue C. for the link.) Economy: We Are Living In The Greatest Debt Bubble In The History Of The World Mark T. sent this sad news: Nearly 3 in 10 have no savings for an emergency Study: More Than Half a Trillion Dollars Spent on Welfare – But Poverty Levels Unaffected. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Confidence in US Declines to a Five-month Low Business Bracing For Bad Summer? Home Prices Rise:  …

Mr. Rawles, To follow up on the recent posts about sorting Canadian nickels, I recently stumbled across a web site that has pictures of all Canadian nickels from 1870 until 2005. After sorting close to $100 worth of nickels, I can say the vast majority of non-debased nickels span between around 1960 to 1999.  Of those, most of the pre-1982 nickels are 99% nickel and have a melt value approximately 1.5x it’s face value. All nickels from 1982 to 1999 have a copper-nickel composition similar to that of the US nickel, and a melt value currently very close to the face value. One subtle …

Peter Schiff’s Latest Advice to Investors Reader Tom K. sent this: Stockton [California] set to become the largest US city to declare bankruptcy Discount Distortion: How Dollar Stores Actually Charge You More Allan C. sent: Is this 1931 all over again? Paul Krugman, Nouriel Roubini, Niall Ferguson and more think so Forty Million Houses in the US That No One Needs? The burden of unsupportable debt. US debt-to-GDP growing at a pace rivaling certain European nations – The dramatic problems of peak debt in 2012. From Sue C.: Euro zone Big Four confer after fifth state seeks aid Items from …

Over the last few years, since awaking from my slumber that rainbows and butterflies come from baby gnomes, I have been preparing my bean, bullets and bullion for what ever may be on the other side of the eye of the hurricane, so to speak. Whether that event is the eventual collapse of not only the US dollar but currencies globally or some apocalyptic end of society as it currently exists. In that time I have found great interest in the financial aspect of this scenario. As a project manager I find that some variables in a project are non-linear …

Reader R.B.S. sent this interesting data: Parsing U.S. Poverty at the Metropolitan Level. Once again, the American Redoubt shines. North Las Vegas declared a disaster area–economic disaster, that is. Rim R. sent this: ‘Made in the USA’ Label Will Disappear If the World Trade Organization Plan Succeeds Six charts highlighting future trends in the housing system. Silent crashing markets, command style housing controls, and Fed top sponsor of maximum leverage. Items from The Economatrix: Why Home Prices Are Better And Worse Home Sales Reach Two-Year High as U.S. Rates Fall Oil Falls As Investors Unconvinced On EU Growth Talk What’s …

Over at ETF Daily: Jim Rickards: Reveals Fed Blueprint, Gold Prices $5,000 – $7000 Range Jim Rogers: Don’t Be Fooled by the Dollar Rally Charles Goyette, over at Lew Rockwell’s site: The Depression Goes Global Items from The Economatrix: Housing Continues its Steady Rise [JWR’s Comment: Don’t fall for the rhetoric. We are still not at the bottom.] “Fiscal Dip” May Make Europe Look Like a Dip Jim Rogers: Bailouts Can’t Save Europe, Failures Must Go Bankrupt The Fed is Out of Ammo

Starting life in the negative net worth column. What the Fed does not want you to know about American net worth figures. Dr Gary North: Panic in the New World Order Yet another reason to keep a cash reserve at home: Millions affected by Natwest online glitch The USD Trap Is Closing: Dollar Exclusion Zone Crosses The Pacific As Brazil Signs China Currency Swap Forget the PIIGS, the EU as a Whole is Insolvent Items from The Economatrix: Welcome To Doomsday, Warns Wall Street Seer Why Doesn’t The Stock Market Reflect The Imminent Global Depression? Why Gas Prices Are Headed …

Reader Rhonda T. sent this: Greek citizens: ‘Family is all that is holding us together. But it can’t last, people are getting tired’ B.B. recommended this over at Zero Hedge: Guest Post: Abandoning Ship – The Eurozone Is Failing At An Accelerating Rate Also from B.B. and link to a video: Jonathan Roth of Cambridge House Live Interviews Peter Schiff at the World Resource Investment Conference in Vancouver How You’re Getting Fooled By Inflation Items from The Economatrix: Hyperinflation, Deflation, and Currency Wars Italian PM Warns: We Have A Week To Save The Eurozone Social Security In America:  Writing Off …

A reader in Wyoming wrote to ask about topping off the gas, diesel and propane tanks at his ranch. My advice: Wait until late September. I expect unleaded gasoline to be at or below $3.00per gallon by then. QE3, by any other name: Fed Extends Twist, Signals Concerns Commentary by Michael Casey: Let’s be frank, the Euro’s days are numbered. (Thanks to Joseph G. for the link.) Karl Denninger: It Didn’t Work (Again) The downgrades keep coming: 15 Major Investment Banks See Ratings Cut by Moody’s. (A hat tip to Diana V. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: US …

I am sorry. This article is not about debating the best calibers for your main battle rifle or dehydrating meat. It is not even a topic most people consider suitable for dinner conversation. It is not about any topic that I have seen on this blog, but it is crucial if you have a retreat property and want to protect it. You see, about six months in December 2011 ago it got very cold here in our rectangular state. Close to zero actually. But first, let’s go back another six months to May of 2011. While on the road traveling …

SurvivalBlog reader S.O.B. sent this: “Gary Gordon, president of Pacific Park Financial, an investment advisory firm, says he is “not buying anything at the moment until the world rights its ship.” But for investors who do want to trade on a bearish view of the global economy, he suggests the….” S.O.B. ‘s left this biting comment: “So guys in the know are holding on to their cash and not investing in intangibles like ETFs. But they are happy to advise their clients to buy stuff they wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole, how nice.” Some interesting observations at The Daily Bell: …

C.A. in Oregon mentioned a recent news story that might be a preview for American farmers that have orchards near cities or suburbs: Desperation thefts of crops from farms in Spain. Clive Maund: Heads A Deflationary Implosion – Tails A Hyperinflationary Depression… Upside Down America: The lingering problems of negative equity – Over 10 million Americans are underwater with 1 million having loan-to-value ratios of 150 percent or higher Are Bitcoins Becoming Europe’s New Safe Haven Currency? Items from The Economatrix: Weak Factories, Sentiment Show Shaky US Recovery There’s A Positive Sign For Housing V’s Response to Greek Election Facade-Just …

Hello James, I have started buying “junk” U.S. silver coins as part of my preparedness plan. I have found the valuation formula for bulk bags of the 90% silver coins, but in spite of a lot of research I have still have not been able to find the formula to value an individual coin. Would you please provide the formula to determine the value of an individual 90% silver dime, quarter, and half-dollar?   Thank You and God Bless, – Joe from Florida JWR Replies: Here is some data that you should print out and keep in your reference binder. Most of …