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 the importance of growing U.S. natural gas exports to European Union (EU) countries. (See the Commodities section.)
Precious Metals:
We’ll begin with: Seven Laws of Investing (as they relate to gold investing.)
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David Lin: Finally, Silver Prices May Have Bottomed, But What Happens Next?
Economy & Finance:
WSJ video: Why Amazon Is Gobbling Up Failed Malls
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Eric Peters: The Glut Cometh
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Zero Hedge reports: Why Trump Has All The Leverage In China Trade Negotiations, In 3 Charts
Stocks:
Next, at Seeking Alpha: Spring Crash Signs Grow. A snippet for you:
“The tech sector has led the market rally in 2019 but it looks like the trend is about to change if it hasn’t already. Revenue slowdowns and weak guidance from some of the group’s bigger names coupled with tepid wage growth has led to some rotation out of the sector. Tech is still the best performing sector year-to-date but investors are starting to show a preference for safer shores.”
From The New York Times: Fear of Intensifying Trade War Ricochets Through Economy
Commodities:
EU Promises To Double U.S. LNG Imports Within Five Years. Irina Slav’s OilPrice.com article begins:
“The European Union has promised to double its intake of U.S. liquefied natural gas over the next five years with the annual total reaching the equivalent of 8 billion cubic meters in 2023, double the current annual rate of imports, Forbes’ Dave Keating reported last week, citing an announcement by the European Commission.
The news is good for both sides. For U.S. LNG producers, a growing export market is always good news. For the European Union, this pledge to buy more U.S. LNG will defuse a tariff bomb that President Trump threatened to blow up last year: he said he would slap import tariffs on German cars if the EU did not play nice. With few options available, this is exactly what the EU has done.
But the increase in U.S. LNG imports is good news for the European Union in more than one way. It will also reduce its reliance on Russian gas—something that has been a thorn in the side of several central European EU members, most notably Poland and the Baltic States. These, by the way, are already the chief buyers of U.S. LNG and builders of import terminals. However, they are small potatoes compared with Germany, the EU’s largest energy consumer and gas importer.
At a recent meeting in Brussels when the import doubling pledge was made, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry praised the EU for its decision saying U.S. LNG imports were more secure than Russia deliveries. European Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, however, emphasized the price component in the LNG import dynamics: ‘Given our heavy dependence on imports, U.S. liquefied natural gas, if priced competitively, could play an increasing and strategic role in EU gas supply,’ he said.”
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BP Bets Big On Gulf Of Mexico While Rivals Chase Shale
Forex & Cryptos:
Reuters: Pound slides to one-week low as Brexit talks falter
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Bitcoin Dips As World’s Biggest Crypto Exchange Reveals $41 Million Hack
Tangibles Investing:
Looking for investment grade vintage wristwatches? The HODINKEE Guide To Buying Watches On eBay. (Note: This article is several years old, but the advice it contains is just like a great watch: timeless.)
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!
Concerning the Zero Hedge report.
The Chinese people most likely have a higher pain threshold than people in the US.
The Chinese are the ones playing the long game. Americans have become addicted to low priced stuff made in China.
Money managers have become addicted to the Chinese government buying our 10 year treasuries (debt). China did not participate in the last auction for these instruments for the first time in many years. We do not want the Chinese to cash in their chips.
The rest of the world is biding their time.
Even if the President is given a second term the Chinese will wait him out. There might be a face saving “deal” but the frog is in the water and the heat is on.
I know that I am not the brightest bulb in the barn but I can see this coming from the freeway.
I have been speculating for years (to the sufferance of my relatives and friends) about what will happen to all the failing malls and smaller retail complexes.
One theory was that the space could be purchased by a large company with government ties for use as warehouse space. For example, for warehousing dissenters or radicals that might threaten a government.
The empty retail spaces could be converted to housing for incoming immigrants.
Far fetched I guess and just speculation.
RE: ~”Zero Hedge reports: Why Trump Has All The Leverage In China Trade Negotiations, In 3 Charts.”~
+Trump recently sent a ‘Tweet to America, on his Twitter account.” =
“We are right where we want to be with China. … Buyers of product can make it themselves in the USA (ideal), or ~~buy it from >non-Tariffed (Trump-Sp) countries.”
According to the Internet, Trump has been working to develop more trading possibilities with Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines. Plus, Trump is working with India as an off set to China’s economic and military ambitions.
For years, President Trump and a lot of other people have been planning, on how to counter China’s economic threat to the USA and the world. … China ‘owns’ many USA politicians in both political parties. Many politicians and people in the US ‘Deep State’ are working to get rid of Trump.
(Me) = We shouldn’t be lulled into thinking Trump will successfully take care of all potential problems. I follow SurvivalBlog, as I believe, the USA and its citizens still face an ‘iffy’ future. Our future peace and prosperity is not guaranteed.
Palmetto State Armory has the Smith & Wesson Shield 9 mm on sale for $249 until noon tomorrow!!! That’s both economics and investing!
Im no fan of Bezos’ politics, but you have to applaud the economic effect to this region that these projects bring. Thousands of jobs to build them, thousands of jobs to staff them, and increased tax revenue while revitalizing unused and blighted properties. The buildings themselves have a snazzy appearance. I was driving by the Euclid one when they were setting rooftop units with a helicopter! That was a sight.
re:
European people selling their gases
I see that as the equivalent of pawning The Crown Jewels… selling their only asset for what? A few handsful of fiat currency.
Does Europe get cold? Do European people occasionally use gases to heat their homes and businesses, and for cooking? Selling their gases cannot end well.
Who benefits. Follow the money.
re:
shopping mauls
One reason shopping malls fail == crowds.
*** Crowds attract lunatics with suicide vests and nasty germs. And people I wouldn’t associate with on a dare.
*** Crowds are also handy for false flag events.
*** Crowds are particularly handy for a “…gun man…” with abysmal ability for zeroing a “…high caliber salt rifle with high capacity clips…” seeking a high casualty count.
*** Crowds probably read, or know readers of, BisonPrepper and WoodpileReport, so they heed their advice:
Avoid crowds.