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The decline of a nation’s money often parallels the decline of the nation. Rome’s money stands as the classic example; Great Britain’s pound is the contemporary example.
New York Fed President William Dudley said that he supports another rate hike this year if the economy “evolves as he expects.” He also thinks it’s reasonable for the Fed to start selling part of its $4.5 trillion portfolio, which it accumulated through several quantitative easing programs.
For only the second time in 44 years, I’m recommending old US gold coins. The other time was in the 1990s.
Just looking at the increased number of “HELP WANTED” signs hanging in business windows and the rising prices on restaurant menus, I suspected that inflationary pressures were building. Then I validated my suspicions by looking at Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The biggest problem with paper money is that it can be created at will; and history shows that whenever paper money is disconnected from gold, it is eventually printed until it is worthless. Sometimes its destruction comes quickly, some over decades. The second biggest problem with paper money is that it can be cancelled by
Central bank actions and expectations of central bank actions are driving investment markets: the bond markets, the equity markets and the metals markets. Economic news does not move the markets, except that markets move on how investors think that central banks will react to economic news.
According to Symantec, North Korea probably is responsible for the $81 million theft from Bangladesh’s central bank. Researchers at the digital security firm uncovered “a rare piece of code” that had been seen in previous hacking cases by North Korea. The theft is believed to be the first by a nation for purely financial gain.
In what is being reported as an effort to impede criminal activity and terrorism, the European Central Bank announced that it will discontinue issuing €500 notes around the end of 2018. However, the ECB was quick to affirm that the €500 notes already in circulation “will remain legal tender and . . . always retain
Gold haters–think Paul Krugman–are fond of attacking gold and advocates of gold as money. They prefer digital monies that reside in computers. Nothing physical, such as coins that can jingle in your pockets, just a statement showing how many digital dollars you have “in the bank,” which is really not a bank but a computer.
A former head of the UK’s Standard Charter bank proposes that the war on cash be ratcheted up. ln a paper published Sunday, Peter Sands demonized large banknotes, saying they are “king among terrorists, drug lords and tax cheats.” According to him, Illicit money flows are estimated to run up to $2 trillion a year.
