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. 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 look at how the Swedish government is urging citizens toward  hoarding cash. (See the Economy & Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

We’ll start of today’s E&I column with this from Zero Hedge: More Trouble in Mexico: Second Largest Silver Mine Suspends Operations.
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Gold Jewellery Demand Peaks Four-Year High in Q1, 2019

Economy & Finance:

The Times (of London) reports: Sweden, nation that pioneered living without cash, warns: Hoard your banknotes. Here is an interesting quote:

“Everyone in Sweden has been urged to stockpile coins and banknotes in case the country’s move towards a cashless society leaves them without money in a cyber-crisis. In a move that will sound alarm bells in the UK, Sweden — one of the most advanced nations for digital payments — has warned that its people could be unable to buy anything if its computer networks were put out of action.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, an arm of the government, has sent guidance to every home telling residents to squirrel away “cash in small denominations” in case of emergencies ranging from power cuts or technology glitches to terrorism, cyber-attacks by a rogue government or war.”

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Federal Reserve Vetoes Cain and Moore. The article begins with words that echo my own assessment of the Federal Reserve banking cartel:

“If you ever had doubts just who is squarely in charge of the finances for the debt created U.S. Dollar currency, the nixing of Herman Cain and Stephen Moore for the Federal Reserve Board confirms that the Banksters are the real power. The Shadow Government is truly the elitists behind monetary hegemony that rules over government and economic policies.”

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Leftist Activists Force Mastercard to Vote On Blacklisting The “Far Right

Commodities:

Reader D.S. suggested this: Europe Vows To Continue Buying Iranian Oil As US Revokes Export Waivers. Here is a pericope:

“The US turned the screws on Iran last week by cancelling all of the waivers on Iranian crude exports it had issued after reimposing sanctions back in November – effectively leaving $1 billion in Iranian crude stranded outside a Chinese port – while also cancelling two of the seven waivers granted to businesses working with Iran’s civilian nuclear program.

Despite the US’s decision to brand Iran’s revolutionary guard as a “terrorist organization,” the Europeans continued to “encourage all countries” to make their “best efforts” to engage in legitimate trade with Iran.

It’s also possible that the Europeans’ statement was intended to calm global oil markets, as the US’s decision to crack down on remaining Iranian oil  exports, combined with the turmoil in Venezuela and Libya, could send oil prices higher (though the Trump administration has sought to offset this by recruiting Iran’s regional rivals to increase their output). The rising tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have prompted Iran to warn that the collapse of OPEC could be imminent (should that happen, it’s very likely that a new organization led by Saudi Arabia and Russia could emerge in its place).”

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Venezuelan Oil Production Could Plunge To Zero

Cryptos:

Bitcoin Could Badly Spoil Australia’s Cash Payment Crackdown Plan

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$100,000 Bitcoin Price Will Kill Every Other Cryptocurrency by 2021: Major Crypto Fund

Tangibles Investing:

Astute collectors often search for “low population” examples of everything from rare coins, to guns, to numbered fine art prints, to Swiss watches.  If a highly-valued item is no longer produced and was only produced in very small numbers, then it is a good candidate to be tucked away as an investment collectible. Ideally, you’ll want to find truly “minty” condition examples that are still in their original factory packaging.  The term “limited edition’ is now a bit over-used in marketing circles, but with some collectible items, it really means something.

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!




9 Comments

  1. Whenever there is another financial crisis all the banks will be temporarily closed. This will probably last for 2-3 months. ATM’s may or may not work; credit cards may or may not work. If the Federal Reserve enacts negative interest rates, the same thing would happen to keep people from taking their money out of the banks. Thus, everyone should have enough cash on hand for at least 3 months of basic living expenses. Forget about mortgages and car payments — no one will be making them. No bills larger than a 20, and no new bills. You will then be able to buy food and gas. Do not tell your friends or neighbors — just as you shouldn’t violate OPSEC and discuss your stored food. Get a safe. preferable bolted to something permanent.

    On a different topic, I see cars with lots of firearm-related decals on them. There are the cute ones: “Protected by 45 ACP,” etc. In addition to making it more likely that you will be put in jail or lose the civil suit if you ever do have to shoot in self-defense, this is like putting a big sign on your car/home saying “guns inside, please come to steal them.” Also, you should consider a good firearm-related insurance policy so that defending yourself legally won’t result in your financial death.

      1. To “Gal:” It’s better to not be the person with a handful of brand new bills. Others will see them and conclude that you have a stash at home. You will increase the chance of becoming a target. Better to hae new ones than none at all, of course, but avoid them is you can. If you must have 50’s or 100’s, this becomes even more important, but you really don’t want to be seen as the person spending large bills, whether new or not. You will be out there in a situation where law enforcement will be weaker than usual and where people will be more desperate than usual. It’s not paranoia if people really are out to get you!

    1. Agreed on both points.

      Cash will never die. Power outages, cyber attacks, telephony equipment failures, etc. Keep a three-month supply of tangibles and sundries, plus a fair amount of cash to extend it further if necessary. I myself used to set aside any brand new uncirculated bills in an envelope as a fun way of supplementing my stash, but when I one day needed $1000 to take advantage of a sudden buying opportunity, I grabbed one of the envelopes out of storage and found that the seller was suspicious of being presented with brand new bills that looked like they might have just come off the counterfeit printing press. Lesson learned.

      As for the firearm-related decals and bumper stickers, here in CA we have two completely opposite cultures. In NorCal above Sacramento, the “State of Jefferson” mindset will welcome them, but in SoCal to speak openly of guns and 2A rights is to invite the crosshairs by Leftists, and we have plenty of them here. I do see the occasional truck covered with NRA and 3-Percenters stickers, but they REALLY stick out and draw attention. To protect my home and family, I keep my own vehicle decal-free. Not out of any fear of engaging in a political discussion, but because of the potential of burglary. When I was a child, I witnessed a burglar hold my father at knifepoint in our home, and I never want that same image (or one of me shooting the intruder) in my wife’s mind.

      It’s all about responsible OPSEC.

  2. “Federal Reserve Vetoes Cain and Moore.”

    The congress shall coin the money? What a joke. Name the so called ‘clause’ of the now extinct constitution that isn’t toilet paper. No, you can’t have your country back, except by force at arms.

    1. After 40 years of fighting for constitutional government I finally realize that Lysander Spooner was absolutely correct. He stated, “But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain – that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case, it is unfit to exist.”

      Americans enjoyed their greatest freedom under common law and the Articles of Confederation. They also defeated the mightiest military in the world before the tyrannical federal government was birthed.

      States don’t need no stinkin federal government.

  3. The Federal Reserve banksters certainly do control the entire country, if not the world . What part of our lives are not involved with money?
    A very interesting read is the book , The Creature From Jekyll Island , by G. Edward Griffin. It seems to be a good history of where our money system came from.

  4. If there is in the future a bank holiday that closes banks for a week that event would send an epic shock wave bigger than a EMP or limited nuclear war in my humble opinion.

    If government froze individual accounts the markets would implode around the world. Who would ever put one thin dime in any account.

    That is why I do not see that happing. The present strategy from the Fed’s to our government is to tax via inflation. It’s a stealth tax and most people do not see it or can do a thing about it.

  5. Don’t fool yourself. The feds will close the banks in a heartbeat if they think the system as a whole is threatened. It will be for our own good, of course. They’lll call it a “bank holiday” as they did in the 1930’s. Perhaps it will support a negative interest rate on deposits (read: theft of our money). They don’t even have to actually close them — just forbid any withdrawals larger than, say, $200/week, whether in person or by ATM. No one will accept checks at such a time, and credit cards may or may not be accepted either. Cash, folks! Also, it will take a long time for people to start accepting junk silver or gold/silver coins as a medium of exchange. If you’re quick, you might be able to get to a coin shop and get cash for some of you precious metals to add to your stash, but it’s better to have the cash beforehand. In these crises, the less time you spend outside the better.

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