Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the GENIUS Act and what will be Fed-controlled and monetized stablecoins. (See the Forex & Cryptos: section.)
Precious Metals:
On Tuesday evening (July 22, 2025), spot Gold was at $3,442 per Troy ounce, and spot silver was at $39.58. I am now fairly firmly predicting $4,000/oz. gold and $50/oz. silver by the end of November. Just by itself, the insatiable Asian market demand for silver makes this almost a certainty. Presently, I recommend buying silver and platinum, for the best potential gain. We are just in the early stages of this bull market, folks. – JWR
o o o
At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold Holds Near Highs as Geopolitical Risks and Policy Uncertainty Fuel Rally.
Economy & Finance:
From Nataxis: US dollar weakness and tariff impact surprises.
o o o
There is a big hullabaloo over whether or not DJT will “fire” Federal Reserve Chairman Powell. JWR’s Comments: Most of the American Sheeple mistakenly believe that the Federal Reserve is a government agency. It is not. It is a deeply entrenched private banking cartel that was granted extraordinary power in 1913. Whoever controls interest rates controls the economy. And, as we’ve seen many times in the past 112 years, the economy drives election outcomes.
o o o
S&P Global’s Ken Wattret: Global Economic Outlook: July 2025.
o o o
Euro Credit Market Views – July 2025 (Amundi).
o o o
And over at Zero Hedge: “No Spare Capacity”: Watchdog Warns Largest US Grid Is Maxed Out Amid Data Center Buildout.
Commodities:
H.L. sent us this: Hershey Lifts Candy Prices, Citing High Cocoa Costs.
o o o
World coal market: brief overview.
o o o
From OilPrice News:
Inflation/Deflation Watch:
Beef prices are the new egg prices. They’re soaring.
A brief excerpt:
“Cattle herd sizes are at their lowest levels in 74 years, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). Cattle ranching is not as profitable as it once was, and experts say many ranchers have given up.
‘Even with these record high prices, margins for cattle farmers and ranchers are razor thin thanks to continued elevated supply costs,’ wrote AFBF economist Bernt Nelson in a market intel report from May.
One of those supply costs: feed. Sustained drought throughout large portions of US ranchland have dried out pastures, forcing ranchers to rely on more expensive feed for cattle instead of free-grazing grass, according to the AFBF.”
o o o
END OF AN ERA: Popular sedan bites the dust as carmaker confirms model will be discontinued forever in 2026. “The model holds the title of America’s last new car under $20,000.”
Forex & Cryptos:
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Signs GENIUS Act into Law. JWR’s Comments: The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department just did a clever End-Run around their formerly planned CBDCs. By making some stablecoins “approved” (and regulated), and banning others, the need for any CBDC was obviated. I can see that “Tether” is an apt noun and verb. The transactional freedom of Americans will be tethered, starting in November, 2026. Like beasts of burden, most of the Generally Dumb Public (GDP) won’t understand the full implications of this nascent monetary system until the tether begins to chafe them. But by then, for most folks who don’t hold physical precious metals, it will be too late. Eventually, once paper currency and coinage are eliminated, there will be no more transactional privacy. The IRS will see/track every transaction. And, history has shown: Anything that a government can track, it can also tax or confiscate.
The invalidation of paper currency may occur as soon as 2027. The beauty of private cryptos is that transactions are almost fully opaque and anonymous. The total number of coins issued is fixed, so they can only deflate. But, in contrast, the horror of CBDCs (or their corporate/government-regulated stablecoin equivalents like Tether) is that they are fully transparent and they can tax individuals at every level. And, since they are pegged to a limitless currency unit, stablecoins are doomed to inflation. The Fed’s eventual end game? Mandating the conversion of Bitcoin and other private cryptos into Fed-controlled stablecoins, under penalty of law. Faced with possible felony charges, anyone living in the 50 States or U.S. Territories will run out of options.
o o o
You may recall that I have long warned that the U.S. government’s crackdown on private cryptos would begin via regulation of the crypto exchange firms. Well, here is a warning sign: IRS Form 1099-DA. Current IRS plans are that the use of the new reporting form will be mandated for exchanges and brokerages, starting in 2026.
Tangibles Investing:
June 2025 Housing Starts: Single Family Starts Fall Amid Rise in Unsold Housing Inventory.
o o o
Our featured Pre-1899 Gun Of The Week, at Elk Creek Company: Colt Black Powder Series .44 Dragoon — Engraved, Excellent, In Box.
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. 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 or via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant because they come from folks who closely watch specific markets. If you spot any news that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, then please send it in. News items from local news outlets that are missed by the news wire services are especially appreciated. Thanks!