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. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we return to the topic of custom knives. (See the Tangibles Investing section.) Pictured is a famed Randall Knife–a production knife that–because of its reputation–often sells for more than many custom knives.
Precious Metals:
Gary Tanashian: Hurdles For Gold Stocks
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At Kitco: Commerzbank Sees $1,400 Gold, $16.50 Silver By Year-End
Economy & Finance:
Global Slowdown Exposing Outgunned Central Banks
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The Most Splendid Housing Bubbles in Canada Deflate
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Housing Bubble Predictions: Will Housing Market Crash Soon?
Stocks:
Solar Stocks Get Their Power Back
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Two recent essays from market analyst Avi Gilburt, posted over at Seeking Alpha: Sentiment Speaks: Is The Brexit Debacle Going To Crash The Market… Again? And also this: Is The Stock Market Finally Topping? Here is a quote from the second one:
“The main argument by Fed watchers is that the Fed’s easy money drives the stock market. Yet, the Fed’s balance sheet peaked at $4.52 trillion in January of 2015 and is down over 12% from that peak. Yet, the stock market has added over 40% since the Fed’s balance sheet peaked. Remember how often we were told by the Fed watchers that a shrinking Fed balance sheet would lead to a stock market crash? Well, it certainly did, but not in the direction most expected.
But, the stock market is clearly not going to top based upon the Fed’s balance sheet. Nor will it top based upon stock earnings. Nor will it top based upon the economic fundamentals. Rather, the stock market will top when the bulls run out of money.
You see, stock markets top due to a lack of buying. When market sentiment is at extreme bullishness, then it means the bulls are “all-in” and there is no more money that is going to push the market marginally higher. And, when the there is nothing left in the bull’s tank, there is only one direction for the market to go – and that is down. At this point, the market seems to be approaching such a point.”
Commodities:
The futures market for aluminum is still looking weak. JWR’s Comment: Can you spell recession?
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Talking Copper: This Star Metal Has The Best Long-Term Potential
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The flooding in Nebraska and adjoining states is clearly already having an effect on markets: Corn futures rise on delayed planting concerns
Forex & Cryptos:
Three Moments in History that Explain the ICO Bubble
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Over at Hacker Moon: Surviving Crypto Winter — Part Three: Why Privacy Coins Will Rule the Next Bull Run. (Parts 1 and 2 are also worth backtracking, to read.)
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The Week Ahead – Brexit, the FED, the Stats, and Trade Talks in Focus
Tangibles Investing:
10 Common Mistakes Knife Collectors Make Part 1 — and Part 2
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A Short Guide To Collecting Beautiful Custom Knives
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The upper stratosphere of the knife collecting world is in what are called “Art knives.” Most of these are very pricey, but with the requisite market research, they can be profitable to collect. I’d be remiss not to mention: As with any other collectible, the best way to buy them is at a time of the seller’s weakness. These time can include: a layoff, a divorce, a major medical expense, or of course in the liquidation of an estate collection.
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 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!
Nice info on the knives. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been gifted a Randall No.1 fighter during the mid 70’s from my uncle who was a diesel mechanic on board a sub. I was given the knife upon graduating high school. The knife looks as good as the day it was given to me. I believe it took almost a year for him to receive it after he ordered it due to backlog.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-03-22/russia-buys-1-million-ounces-gold-february-become-your-own-central-bank
Perhaps Russia is working on backing its currency with gold. Is it time to start buying rubles (and Chinese yuan) with US dollars?
Take a moment to listen to this song if you have the time. Guy Clark’s “Randall Knife”
https://youtu.be/KY5MOUO464Q
When my Dad died i got his old knife collection . Many are from overseas when he was in the navy . Lots of Nazi knives and European too . You had to take great care not to cut yourself when handling any of his knives . He would sit for hours with a whetstone until he could drop a piece of paper on it and it cut itself falling .