Category: Economics & Investing

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the prices of pre-1899 cartridge guns. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Gold, silver up as the bulls stabilize markets o  o  o H.L. sent us this: How Effective Is Gold As a Hedge? History Has an Empirical Answer Economy & Finance: 2019 US Productivity Rises Most In …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 3, 2020

Pardon the pun, but we’ve “started off with a bang.” My web-based mail order business was launched on Saturday morning, selling carefully selected pre-1899 guns. It is called Elk Creek Company. The ElkCreekCompany.net web site is up and running, and the attached credit card processing system is taking orders. Consult your state and local laws before ordering, but in most cases these Federally-exempt antiques can be mailed right to your door with no paperwork!  We started with more than 74 antique guns listed, but at least eight have already sold or are now on hold for individual customers. (A few …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the wide-reaching economic implications of the Coronavirus outbreak in China. Precious Metals: News of the spread of the Wuhan Pneumonia virus put a scare into the industrial side of the precious metals market — with silver, platinum, and palladium all turning down. If the outbreak gets any worse, then …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at pre-1899 antique guns. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Silver, Platinum Missed Much of the Commodities Rally. Prices May Catch Up in 2020 o  o  o Craig Hemke, over at Gold-Eagle: Real Gold vs Pretend Gold Economy & Finance: At Zero Hedge: The ‘Golden Age Of Plastic’? Banks Are …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at land investing. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Radomski (a chartist) posted this analysis: Gold Price Forecast: Tops, Reversals And Timing o  o  o South Africa: Gold has finally climbed out of its 25-month black hole o  o  o Platinum (PL) Price Forecast, “PL” to USD price prediction: …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the recent spike in spot palladium. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals: Lyn Alden: Silver Price Forecast: Most Likely A Strong Decade Ahead o  o  o Palladium Hits New Record; Gold’s Gains Continue to Chip Away. Here is a pericope: “Spot palladium was up $53.36, or 2.5%, at $2,185.63 …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the astounding auction price of the recent record-breaking auction of the Bullitt Mustang Fastback. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Precious Metals: Owners of Orlando gold coin company get prison time for defrauding customers out of $9 million o  o  o Demand For Gold Coins and Bars At Perth Mint …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the Not QE phenomenon. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Silver Price Forecast 2020 o  o  o I see that Perpetual Assets has re-launched their business web site, with the phrase: “Americas First Cryptocurrency and Precious Metals Dealer.” They are headquartered in Sheridan, Wyoming. Economy & Finance: …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the housing market in 2020. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Economy & Finance: “Party Like It’s 1998”: A Quarter Of $3.2 Trillion In BBB-Rated Bonds May Be Junk o  o  o At Zero Hedge: Mauldin: A Crisis Has Already Begun… We Just Don’t Know It Yet Here is an …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at natural gas production (and waste.) The photo at the top of this column is a satellite photo montage of the lights of North America, at night. The swarm of dots seen in western North Dakota are not city lights. That is actually light created by extensive natural gas flaring. …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the heavy truck market, as an economic indicator. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: A fascinating piece by Lyn Alden, over at Gold-Eagle: Gold Price Forecast: A Weaker Dollar Is The Easiest Path To $2,000 Gold o  o  o Gold Price Forecast: Gold To Rise On Fed …


Why Trade Deficits Matter, by Lyn Alden

Editor’s Introductory Note: This article is a guest post that I selected from a contrarian economist and investment advisor. It first appeared at the Lyn Alden Investment Strategy web site. — Due to the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China, as well as between certain other nations, the concept of a trade deficit is now front and center in financial media. This article takes a look at why trade deficits (eventually) matter, and how they can factor into an investment strategy. Key Terms Defined Trade Deficit Simple Example Modern Trade Deficit Explanation Why I’m Cautious About the …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

This is my last Economics & Investing column post for calendar year 2019, so today I’m posting my 2020 recommendations: Stocks: Minimize. The unprecedented 11+ year U.S. economic expansion cannot continue indefinitely. So far, the banksters have kept “the everything bubble” expanding by means of artificially low interest rates. At some point in the near future, the bubble will deflate, and possibly pop spectacularly. Keep in mind that 2020 is a presidential election year. If The Powers That Be (TPTB) want to see President DJT ousted, then they can do so with an orchestrated crash. If they merely allow interest …


Blowing Bubbles for Fun and Profit, by Gary Christenson

Editor’s Note: This article by Gary Christenson of The Deviant Investor first appeared in the Miles Franklin blog, and is re-posted with permission.  It was selected by JWR — not solicited. Miles Franklin can be contacted at: 1-800-822-8080. — Bubbles, like a cocaine high, are fun while they last. History confirms that bubbles and cocaine are enjoyable, because central banks blow many bubbles and the U.S. imports a large quantity of cocaine. Bubbles are fun, but they extract a price. There is no free lunch. Examples: 2019: The Everything Bubble. It hasn’t crashed yet, but there are many bubble piercing objects …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the corporate debt bubble. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Allen Sykora: Palladium may lose some altitude but expected to remain at lofty heights o  o  o Kitco: Asset allocation tips to prepare for more volatility in 2020 Economy & Finance: Reader Mark J. was the first …