China has the world’s largest debt at $40 trillion from 30 years of deficit financing its industrial growth. According to some analysts, China’s banks cannot withstand a downturn because it would expose trillions of dollars in bad debt. Now China is being prompted (Wall Street Journal) to return to stimulative policies because of slowing rates
The Fed (specifically, FOMC: federal open market committee) has been manipulating interest rates for decades. David Stockman says since 1973, which was only two years after Nixon “closed the gold window.” With the Treasury no longer having to redeem dollars in gold, massive dollar printing began, first in small amounts (millions) but by 2008 in
“If you asked me to look across the commodity landscape and pick what I liked best, it would be gold. Literally, just this morning I saw that central banks are buying lots of gold. Sam Zell is buying lots of gold. You can try to fade this (bet against it) if you want, but it’s
Worldwide demand for gold rose 6.2 tons year-over-year in Q3, led by robust central bank buying of 148.4 tons, the highest level of quarterly new purchases since 2015, reports the World Gold Council. Bar and coin demand by individual investors climbed 298 tons.
The housing market is one of the leading indicators of economic activity, and the US market is suffering its longest slump in four years. Sales of previously owned homes fell 3.4% in September from August and were down 4.1% from last year, for the seventh straight month of declines.
David Stockman, Budget Director (1977-1981) under Ronald Reagan, offers unique analyses on today’s economic and political developments. Unlike a lot of analysts, Stockman has a grasp of the economic situation and political developments. He is a bear on stocks and on the economy. Below are links to recent Bloomberg interviews with him.
The stock markets seem oblivious to the Fed’s stated objective of higher interest rates, with some major averages making new highs and other just shy of new highs. However, some segments of the economy are already being impacted by higher rates, namely the housing market. Across the nation, home sales have declined four months in
. . . so writes Ben St. Clair in a recent issue of The Wall Street Journal. The essence of St. Clair’s argument is that gold is down 4% this year and that lower prices have not generated buying. But, has gold lost favor as a safe haven? No, and here is one reason why
“The great financial crisis of 2007/08 will be eclipsed. In a nutshell, this time the quantity of new money required will likely lead to the destruction of the “full faith and credit” in the currencies themselves, which until now has been broadly unquestioned by ordinary members of the public.” — Alasdair Macleod
But, a repeal of Dodd-Frank is not without its downside risks and upside benefits for gold and silver investors. The 2010 enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) will be eviscerated when the House passes an amendment to the law. Because the Senate passed the amendment with a bipartisan vote, the House