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 examine investing in Ruger 77 International stainless steel rifles. (See the Tangibles Investing section near the end of this column.)
Precious Metals:
Italy Is Latest Country Seeking To Bring Their People’s Gold Home
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Johann Wiebe interview: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Give Up On Silver Prices
Economy & Finance:
Nomura: The Fed Will Go Large; Expect A 50bp Cut Out Of The Gate… And Soon
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Charles Hugh Smith: There Are Two Little Problems with “Taxing the Rich” to Pay for “Free Everything”
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The Chicago Tribune reports: Farmers wash up ‘in a fragile place’ after historic Midwest floods
Commodities:
Next, at Zero Hedge: Restaurants Roasted By Rising Meat Prices. Here is a quote:
“Just hours after IMF Director Christine Lagarde got done telling the world that “everybody” would like a little more inflation, McDonald’s warned investors on Tuesday that it could be under pressure from commodity costs in the U.S. rising as much as 3% – higher than the 1% to 2% inflation that it had forecast just three months ago. In fact, the dining industry as a whole is reeling under the same pricing pressure, according to Bloomberg.
BJ’s Restaurants Inc. is expecting higher pork prices and Yum China Holdings Inc. told investors that rising poultry costs will hit their margins for the rest of the year. These worries come on top of a cost concerns about a rise in the minimum wage.
The rise in meat prices has been largely driven by the swine fever that is decimating China’s hog population. Processors around the world have been trying to make up for the shortages caused by the outbreak, but prices have spiked nonetheless. As companies look to substitute pork with more chicken and beef, those prices have also risen.”
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And at Wolf Street: Did Someone Turn Off the Spigot? Global Semiconductor Sales Plunge Most Since the Financial Crisis. A snippet:
“According to chip makers, the plunge isn’t over yet. Now hoping it won’t turn into the mess as in 2001 when the last tech bubble became the dotcom bust.
Global semiconductor sales dropped 15.5% in the first quarter, from the fourth quarter last year, to $96.8 billion, the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization reported Monday afternoon. The three-month moving average in March has now plunged 25% from the three-month moving average at the peak last October, the deepest plunge since the Financial Crisis:”
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Oil Soars On Venezuela Coup Attempt
Cryptos:
Tether Scandal Sparks Bitcoin Price Gains; Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash Up 4%-11%
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Bitfinex Covered $850 Million Loss Using Tether Funds, NY Prosecutors Allege
Tangibles Investing:
The limited edition “KR77SI” stainless steel variants of the Ruger 77 International rifles (with Mannlicher-style full length stocks) have each almost immediately sold out to become scarce and collectible. The International style is not everyone’s “Cuppa Tea”. But, if you do like their lines and if you can find any of these in a practical chambering (such as .308 Winchester or perhaps .243 Winchester) that are either new in box (NIB) for under $900 or like new in box (LNIB) for under $825, then jump on them!
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!
A number of years ago, I bought a brand new Ruger 77RSI in 308. I had to special order the rifle and waited about a month for delivery. It was an absolutely beautiful rifle. When I took it to the range it shot better than I could. Unfortunately, it was so good looking that I didn’t want to chance scratching it up. Consequently, it lived for several years in my gunrack without being used. Eventually I traded it for a new Remington 1187 and some boot. Wish I still had it.
Guess that’s the basis for collectabilty… Now i want one again….
“From the moment the opening-bell rang for US cash equity markets, a buying-panic ensued, lifting Dow futures 300 points off their lows…”–Zerohedge
I include myself in a group who, at one point, mistakenly believed there was going to be a stock market collapse. Today’s market action is just another sign that this will never be allowed to happen. More rigged than a WWE match (whose stock is up 112% over the past year, by the way), there could be total anarchy in the streets, and all we will see in the markets are new all-time highs. If you are over 62 years of age, I suggest you spend your kid’s inheritance and whatever else you have before it is all inflated away. The printing will never stop.
Joel Skousen is the only one who has ever called it correctly. Until there are mushroom clouds over US cities, the markets will never crash.
Given that the entire Government is oriented toward forcing the markets ever higher — and those invested in them have made out like bandits for quite a while now — spending down might not be the best strategyn. Ideed, I’ve made literally hundreds of % increase (in numerical value)
Instead, one might view this as a “golden goose” or “milking cow” and as your stocks move ever higher [bonds, of course, being disfavored by the Fed actions suppressing interest rates] Periodically re-balance into cold hard cash some of the incredible gains, and then push those into tangibles — particularly tangible that do not generate a new taxation on yourself….which might be different in various locales.
At some point, the stocks may (will?) crash — and at that point one can choose whether to re-enter [which I’ve done twice, with remarkable gains as a result]. But Solomon’s advice not to put all your eggs in one basket (even TANGIBLES) might be the best choice. Make sense?