Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, a further examination of Mainland China’s economic trouble. (See the Mainland China Economy Update section.)
Precious Metals:
Online Auction Features Hoard of 1,700 Morgan Silver Dollars from Single-Owner Collection.
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Silver Demand Expected to Hit Second-Highest Level on Record in 2024.
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At Gold-Eagle.com: Central Bank Gold Buying in 2023 Topped 1,000 Tons – Just Shy of 2022 Record.
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Online Auction Features Hoard of 1,700 Morgan Silver Dollars from Single-Owner Collection.
Economy & Finance:
At American Thinker: We are in a depression and do not even know it.
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CBS: Credit card in the U.S. debt just soared to a new record. Here’s what it means.
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Biden Makes Claims About Wages and Snickers Bars That Are Raising Eyebrows.
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Credit-Card & Auto Delinquencies Soar, Especially Age Group 18-39.
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Tapped out: Consumer Borrowing Screeches To A Halt.
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At Zero Hedge: Bidenomics Failing Farmers As Expected Incomes Crash The Most Since 2006.
Commodities:
Diesel Prices Primed To Rise Sharply In 2024.
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How the Russian invasion of Ukraine has impacted the global wheat market.
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Over at OilPrice News: Copper Prices Stagnate Amid Global Uncertainty.
Mainland China Economy Update:
China’s tumbling prices push some exporters to the brink.
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A China-U.S. Decoupling? You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.
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Forbes: China’s $7 Trillion Crash Masks The Really Bad News. The article begins:
“Economists are struggling to put China’s epic $7 trillion stock crash in perspective. The best size and scope may be that, since 2021, the market has lost the combined gross domestic product of Japan and France.
And that’s not even the worst news emanating from Asia’s biggest economy. No, the reference here isn’t to Chinese deflation deepening at the fastest pace in decades. Or that “China Evergrande” is trending again. The reference is to the war that Xi Jinping’s inner circle seems to be waging against bad news itself.
In recent week, the state security ministry has reportedly made clear Beijing is on the lookout for those disseminating negative views on China’s economic and market prospects. This chilling warning not to “denigrate China’s economy” via “false narratives” is Mao Zedong, not Adam Smith. And it raises troubling questions as China’s influence soars.”
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IMF expects new housing demand in China to drop by around 50% in the next decade.
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I warned you, folks: China’s Property Crisis Is Starting to Ripple Across the World.
Forex & Cryptos:
J.P. Morgan: Global inflation forecast: Will prices come down in 2024?
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At Currency Thoughts: Czech National Bank’s 50-Basis Point Interest Rate Cut Above Expectations, But Policy Still Deemed Restrictive.
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As Sam Bankman-Fried awaits prison sentence, FTX customers await a surprise: full repayment.
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Crypto industry pushes back on ‘unworkable’ SEC transaction rules.
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Bitcoin Bears Brewing: Analyst Predicts A Pullback Before Halving.
Tangibles Investing:
Moneywise: 8 popular collectible investments and how to start investing.
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And, lastly, there is this from reader D.S.V.: One major manufacturer resisted EV mania. Now, it’s raking in the cash while competitors take losses.
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 or via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant because they come from folks who closely watch specific markets. If you spot any news that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, then please send it in. News items from local news outlets that are missed by the news wire services are especially appreciated. Thanks!