Here are the latest 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 JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on the renewed HELOC Bubble. (See the Economy and Finance section.)
Precious Metals:
NYMEX: Precious Metals Prices Up
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Gold price extends gains on positive global cues, jeweller-buying
Forex:
CANADA FX DEBT-C$ near flat after hitting near 1-year low on lower oil
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OMF FX update – Phillip Lindberg, 19th June 2018
Derivatives:
Brexit Update. Here is brief quote: “As also noted in our previous Delta Report Brexit update, one of the key concerns arising for derivatives documentation in light of Brexit was in relation to the governing law and jurisdiction clauses in the documents that govern the vast majority of cross-border OTC derivative transactions —the Master Agreements.”
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CFTC Issues Guidance on Listing Virtual Currency Derivatives
Economy & Finance (Renewed HELOC Bubble):
The consumer credit market is starting to look a lot like 2008, in deja vu. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) lending is expanding rapidly. Human nature being what it is, when people have the chance to use their houses like Piggy Banks or ATMs, they will do so until they get their hands slapped. Here are three articles on HELOCs that are indicative:
Bubble Watch: Home-equity loans back at pre-recession levels
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Posted back in April: How HELOCs Are Changing in 2018
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MBA: First Quarter Residential Loans Down 5%; HELOCs Up 18%
Tangibles Investing:
Collecting Antique Typewriters
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Anthony Casillo: Antique Typewriter Collecting
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. So 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 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!
Typewriters? You just jumped the shark with that link and suggestion.
They might seem impractical, but manual typewriters really do have some advantages in a grid-down situation. Just try printing out a file from your PC with your laser printer when the grid is down. And, regardless, many of the more scarce typewriters are appreciating in value, with collectors.
I’m actually old enough to remember typing on a manual typewriter. JWR has it right; they aren’t affected by modern utilities. I do believe charcoal or some type of ink made from natural products might be useful to renew the ribbon also; it wasn’t flimsy at all. In fact, if it got pulled out you could rewind it. Those manual typewriters could literally be dropped on the floor from a height and survive; try that with your laptop and you’ll be staring at a blank screen. As an added bonus, anyone familiar with a QWERTY computer keyboard could learn the manual typewriter with very little time invested. Worth taking a look at just for the preparedness and historical value as well as investing.
I LOVE manual typewriters. Learned on a very old one we had in the 1940’s, and then in high school and business college, again manual typewriters. Started at major insurance company in 1962, and there were no electric typewriters. Later, working for a Vice President, I was “allowed” to have an early IBM Ball electric typewriter as he was a VP. I was able to get my speed up to 115 words a minute, but now self-testing on line at computer keyboard, speed only 90 wpm. The one negative thing about manual typewriters and making multiple carbon copies, was correcting the original and ALL the carbon copies with WhiteOut and special erasers! Time consuming, so accuracy was paramount. Worked two months as a temporary for 5 lawyers in the state DA’s office typing legal briefs, and NO corrections were allowed! That was a challenge! They wanted to hire me, but I did not and do not approve of the “seniority” system for getting ahead. Nor did I ever want to be part of a Union. If I wanted a raised, I can speak for myself, and rise to level of MY competence!
There was NO spell check, but was fortunate that my early grades were taught by a very elderly teacher who emphasized phonics and SPELLING! Spell check will NOT indicate the correct word if you use a word that sounds the same, but is not spelled the same. I tell my 29 year old Grand Nephew that spell check is NOT infallible. However, knowledge and a good dictionary can be.