Sunday, July 31, 2011
Stalemate in Washington as clock ticks
Less than 24 hours after the US Senate rejected a Republican plan to end the country's debt stalemate, the House has returned the favour, throwing out a Democrat bill.
Optimists say this opens the way for real negotiations to avoid a catastrophic default.
But frustration is clearly growing.
Democratic Representative Sander Levin commented to the House: "This is a disgraceful moment. What you're doing with this bill is to undermine thew chances for compromise. That's what you're doing."
Optimists say this opens the way for real negotiations to avoid a catastrophic default.
But frustration is clearly growing.
Democratic Representative Sander Levin commented to the House: "This is a disgraceful moment. What you're doing with this bill is to undermine thew chances for compromise. That's what you're doing."
On The Edge - The Pan Asian Gold Exchange
by PressTVGlobalNews on Jul 30, 2011
http://www.presstv.com/Program/191483.html
In this edition of On the Edge, Max Keiser interviews Ned Naylor-Leyland from Cheviot Asset Management about the new Pan Asian Gold Exchange (PAGE), and what it means for global currency and commodities markets.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
US House OKs, Senate Nixes 11th-hour Debt Plan
Shrugging off warnings from President Barack Obama that it won't resolve the crisis, House Republicans muscled through a new plan to raise the debt limit, but the Senate promptly scuttled it.
Stupid is as stupid does
Why most Americans will never own gold is that they can't count to 1600, let alone 5000.
A sign at a Walmart checkout
Europe, the US debt ceiling and the fundamentals of gold demand - HSBC
HSBC precious metals analyst, James Steel looks at the likelihood of increased volatility in the gold market and the continued growth in emerging market demand in the wake of the macro economic turmoil with Geoff Candy of Mineweb.com..........listen here
Gold showers over all other asset classes
Gold has just hit a new all time intraday high north of $1630/oz in early trade in New York.
Robin Griffiths on Gold and Liquidity
Robin Griffiths discusses Gold, markets and liquidity with Eric King of King World News....listen here
Friday, July 29, 2011
Weekend Chillout
This weekend's chillout is inspired by the carnival of the US debt ceiling talks, hopefully as in the song the carnival is over very soon.
The Seekers ~ 'The Carnival Is Over' 1967
Silver in Your Bandages and Copper in Your Pillow
By Dr. Jeffrey Lewis:The value of industrial commodities to human health is well documented. Silver is used in medical settings where its anti-microbial benefits prevent illness from spreading. It can be found in creams, catheters, and even bed sheets. Copper, the metal which leads to most silver production, is found in anti-wrinkle creams, and even new pillows meant to curb signs of aging while you sleep.
As the health benefits of industrial benefits become more mainstream, the use of both silver and copper in every day products will trend linearly. Already, several companies have created new products which play on the benefits of industrial metals. New socks contain trace amounts of copper, which has proven to be excellent at reducing odors and relieving sufferers of athlete’s foot.
In medical settings, silver is growing in usefulness in bandages. According to the Wall Street Journal, Argentum Medical LLC created a new product which is proven to kill MRSA. Its anti-bacterial properties are, of course, powered by silver. The bandages are naturally more expensive - $.75 vs. $.07 for regular bandages - but the advantages are numerous. Most importantly, MRSA is expensive to treat, but bandages which cost only 75 cents are not expensive in the least.
Niche products aren’t just for the active or hospitalized; a new company promises that their silver-infused mattresses can kill dust mites, reduce allergens, and improve your quality of sleep.
The Emerging Trends
Whether or not new copper and silver products will catch on with consumers and find a special place in every home remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: a small increase in demand for silver does result in exponential price growth.
Additionally, there is no real way to make worthwhile the time it takes to recycle silver used in textiles for socks, mattresses, and bandages. Once used, the silver will be left to rest in a landfill, not in a recycling facility. Each ounce of silver consumed for disposable purposes is one less that can be purchased by producers or investors, and one more checkbox ticked for higher silver prices.
Each product is in its infancy, and there are plenty of technologies that present higher consumption potential, and thus better growth opportunities for silver. However, few industrial applications allow for the raw destruction of silver. Most silver used today can be recycled, and much of it is. New applications for silver only temporarily take each gram of the metal off the market. But textiles, medical treatments, and creams are the perfect drain on silver, even if each makes up a minute percentage of total consumption.
Seeing as each product is confined to a niche market with thick profit margins and low total silver costs, each silver-infused product is just as profitable at $40 silver as it would be at $100 silver. If technology has proven anything, it is that it has become far more costly to the world’s limited resources. Silver, being one of the most demanded products in technology sectors, still has a long way to run.
Dr. Jeffrey Lewis
China dives deeper into resource race
A Chinese undersea vessel has completed the country's deepest dive, putting China a step closer to the vast resources on the ocean floor.
Oh the irony
The ongoing debt crisis in the US is a painful reminder of Argentina's past when in 2001 the Latin American country defaulted on its debts.
For years, it was the US and developed nations who closely watched as Latin American economies struggled with their debt crises, and in many cases lectured them on what they should do about it.
But now it is the other way around, as this region is enjoying years of economic prosperity.
Economists in Argentina say a potential US default could spark a domino effect in the Americas and they think governments in Latin American countries should be ready.
Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo reports from the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires.
For years, it was the US and developed nations who closely watched as Latin American economies struggled with their debt crises, and in many cases lectured them on what they should do about it.
But now it is the other way around, as this region is enjoying years of economic prosperity.
Economists in Argentina say a potential US default could spark a domino effect in the Americas and they think governments in Latin American countries should be ready.
Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo reports from the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires.
Keiser Report: Ghettofication of America
by RussiaToday on Jul 28, 2011
This week Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, look at gold's standing ovation for the Obama-Boehner debt ceiling theater. In the second half of the show, Max talks to Stefan Molyneux about the Fed audit and the debt ceiling.
This week Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, look at gold's standing ovation for the Obama-Boehner debt ceiling theater. In the second half of the show, Max talks to Stefan Molyneux about the Fed audit and the debt ceiling.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
U.S. is Losing Economic Cold War with China
http://bit.ly/psPcTE Sign up for your weekly Conversation with Casey.
This week Stefan Molyneux (our video host) interviews Casey Research Chief Economist Bud Conrad on the current state of the U.S. and global economy, with a specific emphasis on investment implications.
Bud has a more bearish view on nuclear power than Casey Energy Strategist Marin Katusa, so we'll have to interview him soon as well. It's okay that their opinions differ; creative thinking can't occur where different views are not allowed. And Bud's basic analysis is highly consistent with the way Doug himself views things -- which is, in technical economic terms, "pretty darned scary."
This week Stefan Molyneux (our video host) interviews Casey Research Chief Economist Bud Conrad on the current state of the U.S. and global economy, with a specific emphasis on investment implications.
Bud has a more bearish view on nuclear power than Casey Energy Strategist Marin Katusa, so we'll have to interview him soon as well. It's okay that their opinions differ; creative thinking can't occur where different views are not allowed. And Bud's basic analysis is highly consistent with the way Doug himself views things -- which is, in technical economic terms, "pretty darned scary."
Louise Yamada on Gold & Silver
Louise Yamada discusses the technicals for gold, silver, commodities and the US$ with Eric King of King World News.....listen here
Hotspots: Greece
Max & Stacy's documentary on the finanical crisis in Greece, part funded by ABC Bullion via PirateMyfilm.com
Part I
Part II
Part II
Australian shares slide
From The Sydney Morning Herald:Australian shares have fallen 1.3 per cent with investors jittery about the US's political standoff that could force a default or downgrade of sovereign debt.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 59.6 points, or 1.31 per cent, at 4477.8, while the broader All Ordinaries index had dropped 59 points, or 1.28 per cent, to 4553.6.
US stocks fell sharply overnight, in the third consecutive day of losses, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging 1.59 per cent and the broader S&P 500 tumbling 2.03 per cent.....read on
China’s Stocks Decline
From Bloomberg:China’s stocks fell for the first time in three days as a drop in U.S. durable-goods orders and a stalemate over raising the nation’s debt limit boosted concerns global economic growth will falter.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. sank to a five-month low after banking regulators reiterated controls on loans to local financing vehicles. China Shipping Container Lines Co. dropped 1.2 percent after saying it expects a first- half loss. China Shipbuilding Industry Co. advanced 2 percent after Xinhua News Agency said China is refitting an aircraft carrier for research.....read on
First gold-based emissions control technology in commercial production
First gold-based emissions control technology in commercial production with potential to reduce emissions by up to 30% From the World Gold Council:
Nanostellar Inc., a Silicon Valley developer of advanced materials, has completed the commercialisation of a gold-based catalyst, NS Gold™, which is now in production with one of the four largest European diesel car manufacturers. The World Gold Council has provided an additional investment which will help the company to accelerate wider commercial adoption of NS Gold™.
The inclusion of gold in this technology provides significant benefits for diesel vehicle manufacturers, providing emission reductions of up to 30%, manufacturing cost reductions, or alternatively improved fuel economy. Catalytic converters in cars and trucks use precious metals, such as platinum, to catalyse the oxidation of harmful by-products in the engine exhaust, and thereby reduce noxious emissions. The potential to use gold in this type of application has long been considered by the industry, but until Nanostellar’s breakthrough the technical challenges concerning catalyst durability prevented its use. Following rigorous performance and durability testing, the NS Gold™ catalyst has proven to be fully compliant with the current European vehicle emissions standards (Euro-5).....read on
Jim Rogers - 'Prepare for a lost decade or more'
There are 5 days until the default date of August 2nd. How will this affect everyday Americans? While Obama and Boehner play chicken Jim Rogers, co-founder of Quantum fund, sounds off on the economic issue. Is this a political charade?
US debt ceiling talks become a carnival
White House press secretary Jay Carney says that time is running out to strike a deal to prevent the first government default in the nation's history. He urged Congress to do what they were elected to do, come together to get a deal done.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Marc Farber - 'The ultimate currency is Gold & Silver'
Marc Faber discusses gold, silver, the US$, Euro and increasing demand for all commodities in Asia with Eric King of King World News......listen here
Investing Under Cloud of U.S. Default
They have one eye on Washington and the other on Wall Street. Investors are paying close attention because the contentious debate in Congress could have very serious implications for their 401(k) accounts.
Clock Keeps Ticking During Debt Limit Debate
The clock is ticking down to next week's deadline to raise the government's debt limit and avoid defaulting on U.S. loans. Late Tuesday, the House Speaker pushed off a vote on a debt-ceiling measure that is opposed by tea party conservatives.
Keiser Report: Mass Psychosis
by RussiaToday on Jul 26, 2011
This week Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, look at the one in 66 Americans now classified as psychotic and the matter of 'selective default' as the over prescribed anti-psychotic medication for financial marketss. In the second half of the show, Max talks to Adrian Salbuchi about the similarities between the financial attack on Greece and what happened to Argentina in 2001/2002.
This week Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, look at the one in 66 Americans now classified as psychotic and the matter of 'selective default' as the over prescribed anti-psychotic medication for financial marketss. In the second half of the show, Max talks to Adrian Salbuchi about the similarities between the financial attack on Greece and what happened to Argentina in 2001/2002.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Dancing with Default
This past weekend President Obama called for a mandatory meeting to try to come to a resolve to raising the debt ceiling. Top lawmakers met with the president, but was anything settled upon? Are we any closer to a solution? Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, former Reagan Administration Official, sheds some light on the situation.
House Speaker Says Obama Won't Get 'blank Check'
House Speaker John Boehner says Pres. Barack Obama wants a blank check from Congress to raise the debt ceiling, but that he's not going to get one. In his response to Obama's televised address, Boehner gave no indication of compromise.
Obama: Default Would Be Reckless, Irresponsible
President Barack Obama says the only ones standing in the way of a balanced compromise to the nation's debt crisis are those Republicans in Congress who are insisting only on spending cuts.
'Germany will turn out light on euro'
While the EU struggles to keep the euro afloat with bailouts for Portugal and Greece, and Spain looks to be next in line for a rescue package, financial journalist Johan Van Overtveldt believes the limit of what the EU can do for the euro is close. Johan Van Overtveldt believes that the EU will keep throwing cash into the failing economies until the Germany reaches its limits.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Obama hosts last-ditch debt talks
US President Barack Obama held emergency talks with top lawmakers on Saturday in an attempt to prevent the country from defaulting on its debt.
Obama financially lynched by racist GOP
by RussiaToday on Jul 24, 2011
Greece let out a sigh of relief this week as - after long talks - EU leaders finally agreed on how to help the country avoid defaulting on its debt. Athens will now receive a new bailout worth an estimated 109 billion euros. The plan was agreed after Greece approved severe austerity measures, sending thousands onto the streets in protest. The rescue will also involve lowering interest rates on Greek debt and extending the repayment period. The package also doubles the time given to bankrupt Portugal and Ireland to pay back their own loans. Meanwhile, Spain - which has the highest unemployment rate in the Eurozone - saw thousands of protestors converge on Madrid on Saturday. They camped out in the city centre, after marching from across the country. For more on where the Eurozone is headed RT talks to financial analyst and host of the 'Keiser Report' here on RT, Max Keiser.
Greece let out a sigh of relief this week as - after long talks - EU leaders finally agreed on how to help the country avoid defaulting on its debt. Athens will now receive a new bailout worth an estimated 109 billion euros. The plan was agreed after Greece approved severe austerity measures, sending thousands onto the streets in protest. The rescue will also involve lowering interest rates on Greek debt and extending the repayment period. The package also doubles the time given to bankrupt Portugal and Ireland to pay back their own loans. Meanwhile, Spain - which has the highest unemployment rate in the Eurozone - saw thousands of protestors converge on Madrid on Saturday. They camped out in the city centre, after marching from across the country. For more on where the Eurozone is headed RT talks to financial analyst and host of the 'Keiser Report' here on RT, Max Keiser.
Greece Credit Rating Cut Three Levels by Moody’s
From Bloomberg.com:Greece’s sovereign credit rating was cut three steps by Moody’s Investors Service, which said the European Union’s financing package for the debt-laden nation implies “substantial economic losses” for private creditors.
Greece’s long-term foreign currency debt was downgraded to Ca from Caa1, the ratings company said in a statement in London today. Moody’s assigned a developing outlook to the ratings and said it will re-assess the credit risk profile of any outstanding or new securities issued by the Greek government after Greece’s debt exchange has been completed.
“The announced EU program along with the Institute of International Finance’s statement representing major financial institutions implies that the probability of a distressed exchange, and hence a default, on Greek government bonds is virtually 100 percent,” Moody’s said.....read onThe early gold bug gets the worm
image from goldprice.orgBernie's Bombshell
From Urban Survival:(Snowflake, AZ) Oh oh, Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont's lucky) has issued a major statement on how the Fed engineered $16 trillion to bail our not only US but also foreign banks. His website reports in part:
"The first top-to-bottom audit of the Federal Reserve uncovered eye-popping new details about how the U.S. provided a whopping $16 trillion in secret loans to bail out American and foreign banks and businesses during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. An amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders to the Wall Street reform law passed one year ago this week directed the Government Accountability Office to conduct the study.
"As a result of this audit, we now know that the Federal Reserve provided more than $16 trillion in total financial assistance to some of the largest financial institutions and corporations in the United States and throughout the world," said Sanders. "This is a clear case of socialism for the rich and rugged, you're-on-your-own individualism for everyone else."
Among the investigation's key findings is that the Fed unilaterally provided trillions of dollars in financial assistance to foreign banks and corporations from South Korea to Scotland, according to the GAO report. "No agency of the United States government should be allowed to bailout a foreign bank or corporation without the direct approval of Congress and the president," Sanders said.
The non-partisan, investigative arm of Congress also determined that the Fed lacks a comprehensive system to deal with conflicts of interest, despite the serious potential for abuse. In fact, according to the report, the Fed provided conflict of interest waivers to employees and private contractors so they could keep investments in the same financial institutions and corporations that were given emergency loans.
For example, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase served on the New York Fed's board of directors at the same time that his bank received more than $390 billion in financial assistance from the Fed.
Moreover, JP Morgan Chase served as one of the clearing banks for the Fed's emergency lending programs. In another disturbing finding, the GAO said that on Sept. 19, 2008, William Dudley, who is now the New York Fed president, was granted a waiver to let him keep investments in AIG and General Electric at the same time AIG and GE were given bailout funds......read on
Ron Paul - 'The US has defaulted 3 times in the past '
From Bloomberg.com:The U.S. government defaulted at least three times on its obligations during the 20th century.
-- In 1934, the government banned ownership of gold and eliminated the right to exchange gold certificates for gold coins. It then immediately revalued gold from $20.67 per troy ounce to $35, thus devaluing the dollar holdings of all Americans by 40 percent. (actually 70%, a convenient typo?)
-- From 1934 to 1968, the federal government continued to issue and redeem silver certificates, notes that circulated as legal tender that could be redeemed for silver coins or silver bars. In 1968, Congress unilaterally reneged on this obligation, too.
-- From 1934 to 1971, foreign governments were permitted by the U.S. government to exchange their dollars for gold through the gold window. In 1971, President Richard Nixon severed this final link between the dollar and gold by closing the gold window, thus in effect defaulting once again on a debt obligation of the U.S. government.........read story in full
Sunday, July 24, 2011
And the hit job starts........
Haven't I seen this movie before, a single white guy takes on the world. Lee Harvey Oswald, Timothy McVeigh, Martin Bryant, now this Aryan guy. The elite really do need a new script writer.
Phoneman to the rescue
I felt the blog was getting decidedly dark and morbid, so Phoneman has come to rescue us from the darkness.
Compressing the facts
Does anyone else find the difference in the damage done to this building above in Oslo, by a suspected fuel oil/fertiliser bomb detonated in the open and the damaged done the Murrah Building in Oklahoma, again a by fuel oil/fertiliser bomb detonated in the open, a bit odd?How is it that in Oslo steel reinforced concrete can remain undamaged yet in the US it turns to dust? What doesn't the air compress in the USA? actually with all the hot air most Americans come out with you would think it would compress even more.
Interesting link re The Murrah Building
Is US already defaulting?
The clock is ticking for the country to default and the government is expected to act quickly. August 2 is the deadline for lawmakers to reach an agreement and raise the debt ceiling. People all over the US are worried of the consequences this could have on the country. Jennifer Depaul, staff writer at Fiscal Times, joins Lauren to discuss the issue.
On The Edge - with Gonzalo Lira
by PressTVGlobalNews on Jul 23, 2011
http://www.presstv.com/Program/190372.html
In this edition of On the Edge, Max Keiser interviews Gonzalo Lira from LiraSPG.com
He talks about Pentagon's "Full Spectrum Dominance" policy. As the name implies, the policy's aim is for the United States' military to control all aspects of a battlefield or as proponents of the doctrine call it, the "battlespace": Air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Eurozone debt crisis - 'They want the Gold'
Which warning is worse: the one from European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, who earlier this week said: a failure to deal with Greece's problems will have "negative consequences that will be felt in all corners of Europe and beyond, or the Greek president, who said Europe is "in danger", or how about the IMF, that a resulting crash might trigger a global recession?
This edition of News Analysis will be discussing the dire economic situation of eurozone countries as EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to do the same.
Marco Pietropoli, Max Keiser and Jeoffrey Hall have joined Kaveh Taghvai to discuss the issue.
This edition of News Analysis will be discussing the dire economic situation of eurozone countries as EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to do the same.
Marco Pietropoli, Max Keiser and Jeoffrey Hall have joined Kaveh Taghvai to discuss the issue.
Dems Flip Out At Obama For Budget Deal
The Obama White House is backpedaling after Senate Democrats expressed disbelief that that the president was poised to accept a disastrous budget deal from the Republicans. Cenk Uygur explains.
Even the Anti-Christ is bullish on Gold now
'Gold price floor to remain above $1,000 for at least the next decade' - Jeff Christian
Listen to the interview of Jeff Christian by Geoff Candy of Mineweb here
Friday, July 22, 2011
Weekend Chillout
Inspired by the News of the World phone hacking scandal, this weekend's chillout disappears down the rabbit hole to a more innocent time when only the government hacked your phone calls.
ABBA - Ring, Ring
Debt ceiling political Kabuki theater
Raising the debt ceiling has sparked the furious debate. Congress is playing games with our economic future. Sam Seder, host of The Majority Report, explains how playing chicken with politics could end in a disaster.
Sick to Debt: Euro virus spreads as EU bickers in Brussels
EU leaders have gathered in Brussels for an emergency summit, on how to come up with the cash promised for a second bailout to Greece. The heads of state are said to be considering a new bank tax to payroll Athens, and stave off a looming default. But with Italy and Spain now showing the first symptoms of the debt epidemic, there are fresh tensions between the attendees. Squabbles have already broken out, with Germany pessimistic about the summit, and France calling for bloc-wide unity. But as RT's Daniel Bushell reports, the in-fighting is continuing, while the Euro's future hangs by a thread.
David Morgan on Silver market manipulation
Chris Martenson interviews Silver Guru David Morgan on the silver and the suspected manipulation of the market.......listen here
Link to Chris Martenson's website
Martin Armstrong - The Fate and Outlook for Gold
The lastest musings on Gold by cycles guru Martin Armstrong.
Click on the images to access the files.
Jul.4.2011
Click on the images to access the files.
Jul.4.2011
The Global Physical Gold & Silver Reserves Race is the New Nuclear Arms Race
By J.S Kim:The old Cold War USA-USSR nuclear arms race has been replaced by the East-West Central Bank battle to accumulate physical gold and physical silver reserves. While Western Central Banks and their puppet bullion banks have distracted and goaded private citizens with the invention of fraudulent bogus paper gold and paper silver derivative products, including ETFs more recently, and paper futures contracts for a much longer period of time, they themselves have been making sure to avoid the very fraudulent paper products they have invented and have been diving headfirst into real physical precious metals.
As Central Banks continue to significantly devalue all major global currencies through excessive creation of new supply out of thin air in a digital world where “new money” is never even printed into paper/cotton form but only is created as digital bytes that are sent across international borders, the private families that are the majority shareholders in the world’s most powerful Central Banks have engaged in heavy buying of physical gold in particular, and to a lesser degree, physical silver. In 2010, Central Banks as a group, became net buyers of physical gold after two decades as net sellers. EU Central Bankers became net buyers of physical gold for the first time during the 1st Quarter 2011 since their introduction of the heavily flawed Euro into circulation in January of 2002.
As of April 2011, China was, according to “officially reported” statistics, the sixth-largest official holder of gold, with 1,054.1 tonness, according to World Gold Council estimates. The U.S. was still reported to possess the largest gold reserves at 8,133.5 tonnes. However, all of you know by now that I believe all “officially reported” statistics, whether the statistic is GDP, unemployment, inflation, or gold reserves, to be a charade and mockery of the truth. To this day I am highly skeptical of the US reported reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes, especially since these reserves have neither been independently audited nor independently tested to ensure that they meet good-for-delivery bar status since Dwight D. Eisenhower was the US President in the 1950s. As for China’s “officially reported” holdings of only 1,054.1 tonnes, anyone that takes these reported stats at face value as the truth is a fool for any number of logical reasons. One, China reported that its “official” gold holdings were a constant 600 tonnes from 2003 to 2009 and then reported that it had increased its holdings to more than 1,000 tonnes overnight in 2009. Since China lied about its gold reserve holdings for more than 6 years, one cannot and should not assume that their “officially” announced 1,054.1 tonne level was truthful. Since China made that announcement in 2009, their “official” gold reserve level has not increased at all.
Anyone that believes that China has not accumulated more gold, and lots of it, since that time, does not understand the Chinese government and Chinese bankers. Chinese bankers have been studying the best ways to invest in gold and silver for many years now in preparation for this global monetary war and they realize that one of the best ways to invest in PMs is to own the real thing. Furthermore, there are multiple mechanisms by which China could be secretly increasing their gold reserves out of the scrutiny of the public eye. In 2008, China replaced South Africa as the largest gold producer in the world, but nobody really knows exactly how much gold China produces or how many proven/ probable reserves or how much measured/indicated resources they own. Thus, China could be increasing gold reserves significantly on in-house production alone. Certainly we know that China is increasing its silver reserves through a policy of decreasing its domestic silver exports and increasing its foreign silver imports.
For example, last month, China’s General Administration of Customs reported that its net imports of silver nearly quadrupled year-over-year in 2010 to more than 3,500 metric tons. Also of important note is the fact that in 2010, China exported 1,575 metric tons of silver, 58% less than in 2009, and imported 5,159 metric tons of the metal, 15% more than in 2009. This is a huge change if one realizes that from 2005 to 2010 China transitioned from a net exporter of 2,900 metric tonnes of silver to a net importer of 3,500 metric tonnes.
From 2005 to 2010, China increased its gold holdings in its State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) more than tenfold from a very small starting point of USD $4.2 billion to USD $48.1 billion. However, China could be increasing gold (and silver) reserves significantly through purchases in its Sovereign Wealth Fund – purchases that are not made available for public inspection or consumption. For China to publicly announce their buildup of gold and silver reserves that would drive up the price of the very commodity they wished to accumulate more of would be akin to then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown’s foolish decision to pre-announce in 1999 that the UK would be selling half of its gold reserves.
Also of important note are the following facts. China only recently deregulated gold in 2003 to allow gold prices in China to mirror international prices. The Shanghai Gold Exchange only opened in October of 2002. In late 2009, the Chinese started making gold and silver bullion easily accessible to its citizens through introducing physical sales of multiple size bars at its banks and China finally legalized ownership of 99.999% pure silver bullion. The Chinese typically have a tendency to buy PHYSICAL gold and PHYSICAL silver, not the fraudulent paper gold and paper silver derivatives invented by bankers to suppress the price of gold and silver. For the first time ever, Chinese citizens will be able to buy silver futures in Hong Kong this week and later in Shanghai; however, since the Chinese are fond of owning Physical metals, perhaps even the majority of Chinese may settle these futures contracts with physical delivery. Furthermore, even when the option to buy gold and silver ETFs in China becomes a reality, the average Chinese citizen may shy away from these products due to his or her propensity for owning real gold and real silver.
For Asians in general, gold and silver have always been money. In Thailand, the word for money “ngen” is also the word for silver. In China, the word for bank combines the characters for “silver” and “movement”. In China not only is private demand strong AND relatively young, but even in India, private ownership of gold bullion bars was not legalized until 1990. Thus, the war between East and West over gold and silver will intensify in coming months and coming years. The objective of the East will be to release the gold and silver price from the clutches of Western price suppression schemes while the objective of the West will be to hoard gold in an attempt to prevent citizens of Western nations from owning the asset that will protect them the most from their currency devaluation schemes.
The current talk in the mainstream financial media about gold being a bubble at $1,600 an ounce and of silver having already reached its top of its long-term peak at $50 an ounce is simply rubbish. A bubble is never defined by high prices, the perception of high prices or even a decade long rise in prices. What defines a bubble is a meteoric rise in price that is not supported by fundamental reasons. For example, the US NASDAQ dot.com stock market was a bubble because dot.com stocks that had zero earnings were trading at impossible valuations and sometimes double and triple digit dollar values per share. However, the fundamental reasons that have driven gold from $250 to $1,600 and silver from $4 to its current $39 – $40 range are even stronger today than they were at the beginning of this precious metals bull. Therefore, it is impossible for a bubble in gold and silver to exist at their current prices and at this current time.
And for this reason, this is precisely why the global nuclear arms race has been replaced by a global physical gold race. Welcome to the new global war in precious metals.
About the author: JS Kim is the Managing Director of SmartKnowledgeU. SmartKnowledgeU now offers monthly subscriptions to our premium investment newsletter, the Crisis Investment Opportunities newsletter, an investment newsletter that has returned well over a cumulative 200% (on all opened and closed positions) since its launch in June 2007 to present day. Follow us on Twitter here.
Asian investors stricken by gold fever on record price
By Manolo Serapio Jr. and Rujun ShenReuters Thursday, July 21, 2011
SINGAPORE -- Gold fever is gripping Asian investors and could spread to central banks as global growth uncertainties tarnish the appeal of other assets, putting bullion on course for more gains but also provoking fears about supply.
Spot gold surged more than $100 in 11 straight days to Tuesday, its longest winning streak in four decades, hitting a record $1,609.51 an ounce, as debt default fears in the United States and Europe drove investors to seek safety.
Gold stayed above $1,600 on Thursday as market watchers remained cautious about the debt situation on both sides of the Atlantic.
Asian giants India and China, the world's two biggest consumers of the precious metal, expect to see demand continue to climb for the rest of the year, as growing wealth and stubbornly high inflation make bullion an attractive asset.
"Record high prices won't scare away investors," said Shi Heqing, an analyst at Antaike, a state-backed metals consultancy based in Beijing.
"Investors are likely to chase the rally and continue to buy gold because paper money feels increasingly worthless and they are worried about inflation."
Shi expects China's gold demand to rise about 20 percent to near 700 tonnes this year from 570 tonnes in 2010 as Beijing struggles to tame annual inflation that hit a three-year high of 6.4 percent in June.
In India, the wedding season in mid-August is expected to drive up sales of gold, a fixture in dowry and gifts.
"The case for gold in the longer term is still very strong. Gold may appeal to new classes of investors who previously avoided the market in favor of more mainstream investments like bank deposits, bonds and equities," said a Singapore-based trader.
"Potentially there's a whole new market for small-sized physical gold bars if these investors lose faith in paper.".....read on
Supply, demand & US dollar
By Jim Willie:
The economic theory in textbooks must be updated to account for Fiat Soft Science. An important third factor determines price. It is not demand, as most Deflationist Knuckleheads claim. It is not supply, as the moronic followers of Laffer Curve advocates insist. Instead, it is the falling USDollar since all commodities are priced in US$ terms. Lower demand will not result in lower commodity prices, since the monetary effect trumps all. The twist lies in the pricing denomination units, not in the Price Demand dynamics. An inflationary recession is deeply rooted in progress, with a depression next to occur. The price effects continue to confuse the challenged economists who have actually foreseen almost nothing in the current ongoing crisis. Their collective value is far less than garbage collectors who tend to the landfills, or landscapers who improve the appearance of home lawns. The crisis toward wreckage all occurs like a wrecked house floating over a waterfall for all to observe in sheer horror, as wealth evaporates and national sovereignty is forfeited to creditors.
What follows is my analysis of the erroneous path taken by the myopic Deflationist fools. The entire table of commodity prices is rising. Since the advent of QE, QE-Lite, and QE2, the full price structure has been rising steadily and noticeably. As the USDollar declines in value, the price of any commodity priced in US$ terms rises. The USDollar is not the constant, as they along with Wall Street mavens believe. Gold is constant, and the USDollar is falling versus Gold. This is basic science, but something that demand side Deflatinionist fools miss, and something that supply side Laffer fools miss. It is best to offer some solid evidence to these people with dull intellectual capacity, and move on without waiting for their awakening. Sadly, it is over their heads. Gold is the constant, as the USDollar moves in shifting patterns within its stable golden sphere. The commodities therefore all change in US$ terms as a result. The Knuckleheads miss utterly basic principles, spout nonsense repeatedly, remain steadfastly ignorant of their errors, learn nothing in the process, sound arrogant while on the wrong path, and continue to litter the landscape with their mental drivel. They are an annoyance, even inside the gold community.
SUPPLY & DEMAND SHIFTED IN SCALE
As the USDollar (and all major currencies) lose value from grand debasement, the vertical scale loses its price delineation markings. The entire vertical price scale itself suffers from inflation. The numbers blur, only to come into better focus with different numbers tied to the vertical tick markings. What used to be $8 is suddenly $10. What used to be $40 is suddenly $50. What used to be $120 is suddenly $150. The Deflationist Knuckleheads expect that slower economic activity will reduce demand, and thus bring about lower price. But they miss the bigger effect of price scale alteration and decay, the result of currency instability. The fiat paper monetary system, based upon denominated debt rather than sacrosanct inert metal with no counter-party risk, is decaying into a international scrap heap. All price dynamics change. It is that simple. It is that complex.
The honorable T-Ferguson pitched in with a comment that sets the tone. He said, "Remember Econ 101. Increasing the supply of an item decreases its value. More dollars equals a less valuable dollar. A declining dollar causes all things denominated in dollars (gold, oil, corn) to rise. The dollar is going to be declining farther with the advent of QE3. So the way must be prepared by smashing commodities first, so that they start their next upleg from a lower point. Thus, the fundamentals are overridden." Neither the demand siders nor supply siders can observe that the USDollar itself is subject to Supply & Demand dynamics, with the commodity prices as victims. The bad science artisans focus only upon Supply & Demand for the commodity, steeped in myopia. Note tragically that wages have not risen during the hyper-inflation episode that began with Quantitative Easing.
DEFLATIONIST KNUCKLEHEAD FOOLS
Turn to my colleague and friend Rob Kirby, who always has deep insight. The Jackass yields to Kirby as a smarter expert on monetary and bond matters. He helps to comprehend the failings of the Knucklehead gang. He said, "If those Deflationist guys had any sense at all, any economics knowledge at all, they would realize that if deflation were in progress, the interest rates would be much higher. Instead, the cost of money is near 0%, which goes hand in hand with hyper monetary inflation. If cash money was dear, then the price of money would not be free. It would instead be higher than say 8% or 10%, since it would be valuable. Today, money has been trashed in a grand debasement process, where money no longer has value. This is utterly basic." My response was thanks, but such basic points are way over the heads of Deflationist Knuckleheads who are focused only on the wrecked housing market and falling final demand generally within the USEconomy.
The Jackass has an old friend and fellow investor from 1999-2000, during the tech telecomm bubble & bust era. TomV has remained a friend, and will be served up as example of a typical misguided soul. He is constantly caught in the deflation nonsense coupled with bizarre notions of USDollar strength through USMilitay power and the lack of alternatives at the global level. So he compounds his ignorance, blind to the global revolt against the USDollar in the form of diversification, bilateral currency swap facilities, and broad energy & resource projects. TomV is a successful fellow who managed to garner a couple $million in profits from Apple stock and option transactions in the last two years. That does not make him intelligent, only shrewd and wealthy. Besides, he has a near 300-yard straight drive off the tee on golf courses. He is a great guy, still a friend. But our conversations have turned vacant and without substance on the other side of the wall. When confronted about wrong forecasts related to the USDollar or gold or crude oil, he repeats simply that "You will see. Like I have said, all countries will be forced to choose deflation." But my forecasts are 80% to 90% correct in the last three years, while his have been the opposite and lack value. He never offers any analysis of a wrong forecast, which have been many consistently. This is typical of the misguided clan. What the Jackass sees is another Deflationist Knucklehead incapable of debate, unable to comprehend the basic arguments of monetary matters and their effect on either the USEconomy or its financial markets. He sees falling values of homes, falling values of stocks, and falling prices of liquidated items at stores. TomV he does not comprehend the rising cost structure of commodities generally from the USDollar effect in impact, or broadly as all currencies decline. He sadly believes the USFed and its promise to tighten on rates, bank reserves, and drain of liquidity. He does not expect a QE3, even disguised. My belief is TomV could not detect it in disguise. He does not see the bluff.
My response has been steady over the last several months. The Jackass argues, "The key part is the second half that you constantly ignore, miss, and are blind to. QE3 will be rolled out strong firm and powerful. Gold will tell you, as it calls the USFed's bluff. It knows how to properly interpret such news. Gold is smarter than the Deflationists, and contradicts them. The gold price has risen a few hundred $$$ while Deflation Knuckleheads like you continue to have your heads lodged firmly up a nether orifice. Gold expects a brisk QE3 soon to be announced that you cannot see. When Bill Gross of PIMCO says QE3 is unlikely, he is goading the USFed. He has shown tremendous disrespect for the entire USTreasury complex recently. When QE3 starts, or better described as Global QE begins, Gross will probably not join the USTBonds again, but rather the Gold train. All nations have chosen hyper-inflation, will continue to choose hyper-inflation, or else the Elite will go broke. This is a truly dumb clueless comment. The Q3 program will not end, only its public billboards will be taken down, since they cause bad publicity. They will inflate but much more in secrecy, and try to suppress the rising prices with controls, but they will fail badly. They will blame the speculators and try to limit their attempts to protect against the falling USDollar. They will try to control the financial markets more, but fail with that also. You have shown a consistent lack of comprehension for much of anything regarding the monetary effects of the QE programs. All you see are the asset crunches in housing and products caught in liquidation. You are half blind. The Deflationist Knuckleheads are focused on housing and mortgage bond assets, plus the cost of labor, which are all distractions to the hyper monetary inflation. You do not read the creditors well. Foreigners are feeling a nightmare on US-based assets, and try to flee from them."
My favorite line with friend TomV points to how Deflation and Inflation will both continue, create a nightmare of a storm in the economy and financial sector, and continue to confuse most people. Instead of demonstrating comprehension, he constantly repeats his errant mantra and another wrong forecast after a skein of wrong forecasts. Thus the lack of intellectual acumen typical to his misguided clan. No, his crude oil forecast of $50 did not come to pass. No, his strong USDollar rally in the last six months did not come to pass. No, his gold forecasts of a 20% retreat did not come to pass. My refusal to follow his advice and sell all the gold & silver in accounts in December during the consolidation has been a good decision. Instead of awakening, he goes deeper into the wrong chamber of perceptions. He does not understand the entire price structure dynamics in US$ terms, and its separation from the Supply & Demand dynamics that move away from the product (like silver or wheat or cotton) and move toward its USDollar pricing. The blindness, stubbornness, and inability to dissect past errors makes the Deflationist clan a laughingstock. If the Deflation Knuckleheads were correct about demand serving as the key influence on price, then gasoline would not have doubled in price in the last 3 or 4 years. Gasoline demand has fallen, a contradiction gone unnoticed. It is about the USDollar which the USFed has debased. The QE and QE2 initiatives have flooded the system with increasingly debased money. One might even conclude that despite $3 trillion in fresh phony USDollars printed, they did not even notice, or gave it no importance. TomV is half blind like the others of that misguided clan. He even called the precious metals investors Gold Knuckleheads. My response was simple, that such a comment is stupid, since gold has risen from $800 to $1530 per ounce since the early months of 2009, when he began his vacant vapid empty Deflation commentary. A knucklehead by definition does not realize a near 100% profit in two years. A knucklehead misses the opportunity, and shows defiance.
TomV offered a rebuttal that lacks logic or insight. He responded to the Kirby argument about 0% cost money that contradicted the Cash is King principle implicit to the Deflationist clan. TomV recently wrote, "This is exactly what I am talking about. Again you and your cohorts are precisely correct on your theory, but your psychological brightness is leaving a lot to be desired. Expensive money is not just dictated by interest rates, which really indicates a lack of borrowing desire but most important the willingness by the bankers to lend." My response was direct and firm and quick. The Jackass replied, "Wrong again, Tom. The cost of money is always a reflection of the value of money. Banks are not lending because they are insolvent. Geez, I hope you noticed that great event as their stocks descended over 80% across the board in 2008. Geez, I hope you noticed the FASB accounting rules changes that permitted the banks to hide their insolvency. Geez, I hope you noticed the continuing load of seized homes in their foreclosure inventory (REO), which suffocate their balance sheets. Geez, I hope you noticed the new wave of Option ARMs that are resetting much higher to harm their borrowers, again. Maybe you did not notice these important things. Maybe you never read the Hat Trick Letter that you claim. Maybe you do not understand the articles and analysis. Maybe you dismiss the evidence. The Gold price confirms the 0% rate, which is far below the prevailing price inflation rate. The Gold price reflects the bank insolvency. The reluctance by bankers to lend reflects their insolvency. The inability to float corporate bonds by bank clients reflects their insolvency also. This seems to be something you choose to ignore, either from stubbornness or ignorance. You should stick with searching for the next Apple trade and seize it, and leave monetary analysis to the experts. It is a smart man who knows his limitations."
Last August 2010, TomV and the Jackass made a gentleman's bet, with full accounting to be made at the end of last year. He pounded the table with three forecasts nine months ago. 1) Crude oil would go to $100 per barrel. We agreed, but in doing so, he contradicted his silly Deflationist stance, without even realizing it, as most of their clan do. 2) The Euro would move to 100 parity. We disagreed, as the Jackass said 130 might be the lowest it goes, a couple months into the bet. A good call since 129 was the low, as the Euro went nowhere near 100 parity. He did not understand my point how the many national EuroBond yields enabled differentiation, thus taking pressure off the Euro currency. He did not respond to my point that the USFed would be last in hiking interest rates worldwide. 3) Lastly, Iran would be attacked. We disagreed, as the Jackass called this event absurd in the summer of 2005, the summer of 2006, the summer of 2007, the summer of 2008, the summer of 2009, and the summer of 2010. Not likely since patriots have a nifty Stuxnet tool for jamming the Iranian Bushehr nuclear facility. So TomV got 1/3 correct, and the Jackass 3/3 correct. He owes me a shiny pre-1964 dime, my booty.
My admiration over TomV's Apple stock and option call continues to this day, a gain worth over $1 million in a brilliant investment. He has some other past big profitable trades that have sustained his wealth and comfortable retirement. The Jackass reminds him that he never attempts a big bet on his lunatic USDollar or crude oil forecasts. TomV is one shrewd guy, but not in monetary matters, just like Mike Shedlock, who has earned the Village Idiot label among Deflationists, just like Rick Ackerman, who has earned the King Deflationist label. The housing market demonstrates the systemic failure with staggering momentum in my view. The Deflationists incorrectly believe housing and a weak USEconomy will send all commodity prices down in unison, a short-sighted thoughtless call. Their position is lunatic since they do not notice its steady error. Housing will remain a chief factor for justifying more Quantitative Easing and more USGovt stimulus. The effect to force a declining USDollar exchange rate will continue to lift all costs. The Deflationist Knuckleheads (DK) are experts at focusing on the wrong things, and then making the wrong conclusion with a poor knowledge base of most important factors. So crude oil will go past $120 on the West Texas product, not back to $80 as TomV expects. It looks like oil could fall close to $90 though, as it views the gap from 90 to 95. The DK were talking three weeks ago about crude oil going down to 80. It returned over 100, precisely as the Jackass forecasted in rebuttal two weeks ago, and will climb again. The main error the DK nitwits make is to expect low demand to result in lower prices. No way!! Low demand will accompany inability to handle higher costs and deeper insolvency. Thus the result will be systemic breakdown during the hyper-inflation price process. Prices will not come down across the board in order to enable people to afford them. Rather, the entire cost structure will rise because the USDollar is being debased badly. The DK crowd seems totally blind to the monetary effect on the rising cost structure.
This week, yet another vacant clueless message came from TomV. After the miniscule drop in the gold price, despite crude oil remaining within spitting distance of the $100 mark, he continues his display of mediocrity. He said, "Gold is saying fear of deflation, not inflation." There is no end to Deflationist blindness nor lack of intellectual potency. Give them credit for consistency and persistence, even if wrong all along the way. My response, having lost patience, followed, "What another nitwit comment. Gold is taking the head fake of no continued QE, but not coming down much at all. Geez, a real crater from 1570 to 1530, a mere pittance. Gold will rise hard and fast when QE reappears in whatever form, possibly even Global QE. Please define deflation in view of $3 trillion in USFed monetary expansion. You seem a tiresome empty gong. The part you fail to comprehend is that Gold does not move hand in hand with home prices. Assets bound by debt instruments are cratering, as in DEFLATION. Assets not encumbered by debt and counter-party risk are rising, as in INFLATION. Your clan never sees both forces, and certainly not the harmful effect on commodity prices from the weak USDollar. Your commentary for the last two years is truly lacking in depth. Perhaps it is because you take a view from the third floor of the building. At higher floors more can be seen, like monetary effects."
A final volley occurred a week ago, as the full effect of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil release was felt. The comment from TomV was again shallow and evidence of learning little or nothing from the series of exchanges. He wrote, "As you saw, when the big boys whiffed a scent of deflation, your Gold price dropped. Then when they thought it was over, up it went. Now they are sniffing more deflation, the high as I have said should be 1550 and you will settle in around 1250." Try not to laugh, but the Jackass cannot tolerate more drivel and spittle on my desk. My response was impatient and dismissive, a bit harsh. It came as "The Boyz got very scared with the USGovt debt debate going nowhere, combined with the Greek and now Italian sovereign bond crackup. When the Boyz got scared, they just sold naked a few $billion worth of gold. So Gold shot back up today, Silver too, on what, no more deflation fears? Such a pathetic moronic viewpoint you put forth. The Japanese Yen shot over 126 today, my alarm level being 125. The global sovereign debt crisis is turning viral. The Deflation Knuckleheads continue to talk about deflation. They cannot define it! They cannot spot the multi-$trillion in monetary inflation. They are some of the biggest idiots I have ever encountered in my professional life. No need for any further communication. Stick with golf, as your consistent straight 280-yard drive is enviable."
CAPITAL DESTRUCTION
Hyper monetary inflation destroys capital, but low rates encourage asset speculation that leads to asset bubbles. Their inevitable busts lead to tremendous loss of additional capital in a swirl of wreckage and ruin. Hyper monetary inflation destroys capital, and only indirectly destroys liquidity over time during the pathogenesis. It produces liquidity from printed money, to be sure. But that effect is in the financial market. The tangible economic effect is the death of capital from the rising cost structure, and businesses shut down. Plant machinery and business equipment go out of service. They are sold off or simply rot like the steel mills. Profits and discretionary spending are harshly squeezed. The USFed monetary policy is destroying capital from ruined businesses and foreclosed households. The result is lost investment capital going into a death process, otherwise known as business failures and capital liquidation. The business owners invest less in everything downstream because they struggle to survive. The same is true for households, who over time have much less in discretionary spending. Their capital is tied up in the homes, which all too often have gone into foreclosure. The bank puts them in mothballs on the balance sheet or sells in liquidation similarly. The result often is an empty home. The consumers are crippled. But the hyper monetary inflation will continue with QE, if not GLOBAL QE, because they must prevent USTreasury defaults. Doing so will create more cost inflation, which must be distinguished from price inflation. The latter is more benign, since rising wages help the process. The import trade from Asia will bring the price inflation to the USEconomy. Remember the bankers and beholden politicos desperately want to avoid secondary inflation effects, namely higher wages. Therefore their desired outcome is systemic collapse, since the cities and communities will not be able to afford the higher costs.
The liquidity shock is horrendous within the USEconomy, bad for businesses, households, and the stock market. That is a big reason why the USFed produces its Quantitative Easing, to buy USTreasurys and to provide grandiose hidden support for the stock market. But no support comes for households, stuck in foreclosure, stuck with inadequate wage increases, stuck with unemployment checks. The USGovt homeowner aid programs have been a parade of charades. The place to be during the ruinous process, the grotesque deterioration, and massive liquidation phase is MONEY, as in GOLD & SILVER. The collapse of the monetary system is well along, as sovereign debt turns into toxic paper just like mortgages did. People and institutions are fleeing formerly sacred safe haven government bonds. Witness the pathogenesis process go up the ladder and attack all forms of paper wealth. Fiat funds will chase true money and struggle if not flail until it finds true money. All paper asset investors will find Gold & Silver eventually, some very late. The last round of prominent buyers will be buyers as we sell and enter retirement. The final huge challenge is to find the right yield producing investment to park all that cash from selling in a few years. Right now maybe Brazil bond or Iceland bonds, even Chinese bonds, just a guess without extensive research. That research will come in 2015.
KEY DEVELOPMENT FACTORS
The July Gold & Currency Report is be to posted next Sunday night, as part of the Hat Trick Letter. Last Sunday the July Global Money War Report was posted to the Golden Jackass website. It featured the looming USGovt debt default, the USTreasury deep distress, the USDollar currency reserve cracks, China buying the world (like Southern Europe and the Persian Gulf), and the European contagion spreading to Italy. Here is a list of topics developed in the Gold & Currency Report due this weekend. The analysis has become interwoven with crisis events that have turned into the norm. The global money war is also called the competing currency war, but it is much bigger since a revolt is underway to survive the financial crisis. That requires breaking up the Euro Monetary Union and replacing the USDollar as the currency reserve. The list below of important topics analyzed in the Member only report is mind boggling in importance, as nothing has been fixed since the collapse of the US banking system in September 2008. The crisis has turned worse, gone viral, and mushroomed globally.
- Core Euro currency must remain after shedding the gangrene in the South, as the Latin Euro is jettisoned. The only viable solution is one cited by the Jackass a year ago. The PIGS nations are stuck until they exit the European Monetary Union and discard usage of the common Euro currency. The core nations will build around the German center. The Latin nations will revert to their old currencies, devalue by at least 30%, and recapitalize their banks. The impact on big European banks will be staggering, but more constructive than the series of bankaid bandaids. Many big banks will fail.
- Sovereign debt risk has extended to London banks, evident in Credit Default Swap activity. Watch Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Barclays, which all have some exposure to the toxic Southern European sovereign debt. It is amazing how many analysts expect the Euro currency to fall badly, wrong!! What has fallen in the sovereign bonds, which effectively differentiate the various increasingly toxic floating bonds. The Euro trades on interest rate factors.
- Euro Central Bank in a race with the USFed to be the biggest bagholder of toxic bonds. The buyers of last resort actually purchased a considerable amount of toxic swill paper that will not see recovery in their value. The EU ruin of PIGS debt and the US housing market terminal slide guarantee major losses over $1 trillion for each central bank.
- GATA Gold Rush 21 to convene in London this August. It will feature whistle blower Andrew Maguire who still has much to say about the gradual disintegration of the COMEX and LBMA metals exchanges. The last such meeting took place in the remote Canadian Northwest at Dawson Creek in August 2005, with huge impact. Expect more fireworks this August in the conference wake, like a greater awakening.
- Japanese Yen over 126 and climbing. Large financial firms have amplified their USTBond sales in order to raise reconstruction funds and meet insurance damage claims. The move over 125 flashes a surefire signal that GLOBAL QE comes, as major central banks will coordinate efforts to soak up large tranches of USTBonds during a time when debt monetization tarnishes their image.
- Pan Asian Gold Exchange launch will crush the illicit COMEX shorts. The Chinese gold futures contracts will offer competition by adding another price fix to compete with London and New York price discovery. The dominance by Anglos will change markedly. Imagine the impact of 320 million China Ag Bank clients hooked in.
- China's asset managers have been approved to raise $70 billion for gold purchases. The nation moves slowly toward investment overseas. Many firms have won approval, more lined up, as significant funds have entered their tills for investment in precious metals.
- Pathetic ploy to release strategic oil reserves has lost its impact. The West Texas crude oil price is back toward the $100 per barrel mark. The Brent spread is back to $20. What a ridiculous transparent ploy to support the USEconomy. But the release by the USGovt alone was less than two days worth of demand. The ineffective policy is matched by ineffective actions.
- Foreign central banks were net USTBond sellers in May, as they increased gold holdings. The trend is clear and growing. The main buyers of USTreasurys are Johannes Gutenberg and his many elves at the Printing Pre$$ sequested in the USDept Treasury basements. Somehow debt monetization in the shadows of hyper monetary inflation tends to discourage bond investors for investment of their hard earned foreign reserves.
- JPMorgan sidesteps rules to become COMEX vault operator, as inventory levels are in doubt. Rules do not apply to the syndicate dons. Rumors fly that COMEX silver inventory might be about 1/3 of advertised levels. Meanwhile, the SLV exchange traded fund managed by JPMorgan is believed to be illicitly satisfying COMEX short positions. Rumors fly that SLV inventory might be about 1/3 of advertised levels. At least there is symmetry amidst the smoke.
- US GDP on a year/year basis stands at minus 8% recession, with proper inflation adjustment used. The best CPI index is produced by John Williams at the Shadow Govt Statistics offices. They measure the true CPI at between 9% and 10% annually. Again, as forecasted in December and January, most supposed increase in USEconomic activity is actually inflation mislabeled as growth.
- Ben Davies, John Embry, Jim Sinclair, John Hathaway, and James Turk share their aggressive price forecasts for Gold & Silver. They have been amazingly accurate so far during this historic bull market. Contrast their correct insightful views with the hapless compromised Nouriel Roubini, who said in December 2009 that deflation forces would keep the gold price down and that gold bulls had it all wrong expecting a global financial crisis. The gold price was $1125 back then. Nouriel needs a new job!
- Sprott Physical Silver Trust sourced and bought $340 million in silver, adding to its excellent legitimate fund. The placement complements the $360 million sourced and bought by the Central Exchange Fund (roughly half gold, half silver). The pressure is on in a major way in the physical market. The paper driven game is being unmasked.
SILVER TARGET OVER $100
A powerful dynamic has been at work for a few years. A Silver deficit remains a boon to investors but a plague to central bankers. The USGovt silver stockpile was depleted in 2005. Gold will continue to fight the political battles in the open fields. But Silver will run through the broken battle lines on a white horse to take triple the price gains. The march toward $100 Silver sounded like lunatic forecasts two years ago, but are more realistic with each passing month nowadays. Silver is growing in investment demand, the object of purchase by central banks as a reserve asset in allocations. Some unique traits are known to silver, which is often mined as a byproduct. When demand for industrial usage of base metals like zinc, lead, tin, and others goes into decline, the actual mined output of silver enters a decline even though investment demand grows radically from systemic monetary risk. So as the global monetary system crumbles, and economies slow from cost shock, the silver supply struggles to keep pace at a time when investment demand skyrockets. The deficit in silver, the amount by which demand exceeds supply, has been chronic for over a decade. It is a wonder that analysts do not recognize this basic fact, but many are paid to be wrong with precious metals, in support of the Great Paper Chase. The silver price is heading over the $100 level in the next couple years. The price rise will continue in a powerful way. The naysayers are consistently being proved wrong and trampled by the multitudes. Thanks to the Casey gang for a great chart. The next few months will bring great entertainment on stage, as the many misguided analysts calling an end to the Gold & Silver bull market in May will be forced to explain why the gold price is moving on the $1700 level and the silver price is moving on the $60 level. The autumn months will be the timeframe.
Jim Willie CB is a statistical analyst in marketing research and retail forecasting. He holds a Ph.D. in Statistics. His career has stretched over 22 years. He aspires to one day join the financial editor world, unencumbered by the limitations of economic credentials. Visit his free website to find articles from topflight authors at www.GoldenJackass.com
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