Category: Economics & Investing

Only Chuck Schumer could dream up legislation so repugnant: Schumer Introduces Ex-PATRIOT Act: Will Banish Those Who Renounce US Citizenship. Greg P. sent this news from Europe: The Next Money: As the Big Economies Falter, Micro-Currencies Rise Matt C. sent us this: JPMorgan Fiasco Means Higher Interest Rates Ahead JPMorgan, a counterparty to itself Over at Alt-Market: How The U.S. Dollar Will Be Replaced Items from The Economatrix: The Curious Calculus of the US Employment Numbers April Retail Sales Hint at Slower Spending Pace Here’s How the Whole Eurozone Could Unravel in Just a Few Months Oil Price Still Falling …

Those #&%*#^@ derivatives! JPMorgan exec disregarded warnings on portfolio risk MC in Florida suggested this Zero Hedge article: Japanese Pension Fund Switches to Gold for the First Time Ever B.B. sent this: U.S. has Two to Five Years Before Financial Meltdown. Items from The Economatrix: Bank Runs Hit Greece. (Another news article quotes Greek President Karolos Papoulias: “[Greek Central Bank chairman] Provopoulos told me that of course there’s no panic but there’s great fear which can evolve into panic.”) As Europe’s Economic Outlook Darkens, US Risks Grow Oil Drops a Fourth Day on Rising U.S. Supplies, Greek Elections S&P in …

The latest coinage debasement news, this time from The Philippines: Coin hoarding soon a crime? JWR’s Comment: With orchestrated currency inflation there comes the inevitable day when seigniorage costs advance to unacceptable levels, and the metallic value of any given coin greatly exceeds its face value. Rather than doing the honest thing–knocking a few zeroes off their paper currency–governments often resort to bans on coin melting and coin exportation. Anti-hoarding laws are much less common in First World countries as there are typically no limitations on the amount of a currency that someone holds in an ostensibly “sound” currency regime. …

Several readers sent this: Merkel tells Greece to back cuts or face euro exit Here is a sobering quote: “What will prevail are armed gangs with Kalashnikovs and which one has the greatest number of Kalashnikovs will count … we will end up in civil war.” G.G. sent this: 49% of Americans saving zilch for retirement Also from G.G.: 50-State Small Business Tax Friendliness Survey Michael H. spotted this: California facing higher $16 billion shortfall. Items from The Economatrix: Stocks Close Down 1% on Bank, Europe Worries Gold Drops to 4.5-month Low as Euro Sinks Oil Falls as Greece, China …

G.G. sent this: ‘High Inflation Causes Societies to Disintegrate’ Thanks to Jeff W. for this one: Greece Exit, Euro-Zone Collapse, Spain and Portugal Will Follow Within Six Months Facebook Co-Founder Saverin Gives Up U.S. Citizenship Before IPO. (OBTW , the earlier report of Michelle Bachmann earning Swiss citizenship has already been overcome by events. She has declined it.) Chartist analyst Willem Weytjens predicts: 20 Years From Now: Gold @ $12,000 & Silver @ $1,000? Another from G.G.: Regulators Close Florida Bank; Failure Toll Rises to 23 in 2012 Items from The Economatrix: Drop In Jobless Claims Eases Labor Market Fears …

G.G. flagged this: One in Three Young U.S. Workers Are Underemployed John Williams: The Real Unemployment Rate: 22%?Not 8.1%–The coming fiscal cliff: hyperinflation on track for 2014 The wrecking ball of hidden inflation and Fed based strategies – food inflation far outpacing overall inflation and eating away at the purchasing power of 46,000,000 Americans on food stamps. Jim Willie: Gold Cover Clause Guidance Items from The Economatrix: Anti-Gold Propaganda Push, Gold Cover Clause For Enabling Competing New Currencies The Fed, Wall Street Prepare To Unleash Crisis 2.0 Faber Sees Crash Like in 1987 if US Stocks Climb Higher The Economy …

Kevin S. sent this: Fed clears China’s first US bank takeover Faber Sees ’87-Type Crash if U.S. Stocks Rise Without QE3 Andre sent this: Banks prepare for the return of the drachma From G.G.: Postal Service quarterly loss widens to $3.2 billion Items from The Economatrix: Housing Bottom?  Fannie Mae Won’t Seek Tax Dollars Wages Bolster Spending as Americans as Americans Extend Hours US March Wholesale Inventories Rise 0.3%, Sales Climb 0.5% Home Prices Rise in Half of U.S. Cities as Markets Stabilize

F.G. sent this: Postal Service: Will keep rural post offices open Michael A. sent this: Liberty Dollars may be subject to seizure. | AmEx (American Expat) spotted this: Dutch With Food Aid Shows New Economic Reality Engulfing Europe Items from The Economatrix: The Countdown To The Break Up Of The Euro Has Officially Begun Economic Alert:  If You’re Not Worried Yet, You Should Be Analyst:  US Still Headed For Recession Oil Falls To Near $97 Amid Weak US, Europe Demand

A.K.H. sent this: Testimony cites savings from using steel: House holds hearing on future of coin production. JWR Urges: Get your nickels, soon! Michele Bachmann claims Swiss citizenship. It is always nice to have a Plan B. Mayo downgrades JPMorgan Items from The Economatrix: Baby Boomers:  “A Gray Wave,” Now Permanently Jobless Gas Prices Falling:  Next Stop $3 A Gallon? Oil Falls For 5th Day, Down 2%

Americans Pay More in Taxes than for Food, Clothing, and Shelter Combined. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) G.G. sent this: Two Charts Exposing America’s Record Shadow Welfare State Grace sent us this sobering video: United States Budget Dilemma. Jim Rogers: Central Banks are Unleashing an Inflationary Holocaust

Several readers wrote to send this: Canada Stops Making Cents as Flaherty Lets Penny Drop. JWR’s Comment: Don’t miss the last line of the article: “The penny, with two maple leaves on one side and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the other, has lost 95 percent of its purchasing power since it was first produced by the mint.” If journalist Quinn were more discerning and incisive, he could and should have written: “Since 1902, the citizenry of Canada has been slowly robbed of 95% of the purchasing power of their currency, through insidious inflation. The worthlessness of the …

Mr. Rawles, The following paragraph is excerpted from John Mauldin’s excellent FrontLineThoughts.com newsletter this week: “The longer-term picture of labor force withdrawal is kind of shocking. Total household employment is down by 4.4 million since the Great Recession began in December 2007, and the number of unemployed is up by 4.9 million. The civilian population is up 9.6 million – but the labor force is up just 447,000. The number classed as not in the labor force is up by 9.2 million – and those not in the labor force and wanting a job is up 1.7 million. In other …