investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--When We Teach Our Kids That Life Has No Value, This Is How They Act…

The endless chaos in our streets is directly related to how we have been raising our children for the past couple of decades .
Bad beliefs lead to bad actions , and we have been teaching our kids values that are fundamentally flawed .
In particular , our children are endlessly taught that life has no value in a multitude of ways .
They view thousands of murders on television and in the movies as they grow up , the news glorifies politicians that tell them that it is a good thing to slaughter the unborn , and western nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people should be willing to ask for the “ plug to be pulled ” once their “ usefulness ” is over .
Throughout their lives , our kids are trained to believe that they evolved from animals and that there is nothingness after they die , and the logical conclusion of such a worldview is that the period of time between birth and death is rather meaningless .
If life has no value and our existence is essentially meaningless , you might as well do whatever you feel like doing because tomorrow is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sadly , millions upon millions of our young people have adopted such an outlook at this point , and so we shouldn ’ t be surprised that many of them are completely out of control .
Yesterday , I wrote about how murder rates are absolutely skyrocketing all over the nation .
You might think that this is a bad thing , but if life has no value , what is the big deal ?
Today , many Americans were absolutely shocked when dozens of wild youths stopped a BMW on Fifth Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking it… Max Torgovnick , 36 , was driving in the BMW with his mom when they encountered the large group of youngsters biking up Fifth Avenue near 21st Street .
The pair had just dropped off a holiday donation to a local charity when their vehicle was viciously set upon .
According to eyewitnesses , the teens began blocking traffic and started to attack the luxury car .
Shocking video shows several teens punching the BMW ’ s windows and stomping on its hood .
That account really doesn ’ t capture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To really appreciate what happened , you really need to watch video footage of the incident .
If those young people valued the lives of the two people inside that BMW , they would have not attacked them like that .
But they don ’ t , and the reason they don ’ t is because the system raised them to not have any respect for life .
This kind of thing doesn ’ t happen everywhere on the planet .
For example , in Belarus young people are dressing up in formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of torching buildings and terrorizing their fellow citizens .
So who is more civilized , them or us ?
Of course we have been trying to undermine the government of Belarus for years , and our stated goal is to replace it with a form of government that is more similar to our own because we want them to be more like us .
But maybe our goal should be to become more like them .
And the chaos in our streets is only going to intensify as our economy continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we just witnessed the largest one year increase in poverty in this country that has ever been recorded… Sadly , as our system continues to melt down it is going to fuel even more civil unrest .
The more desperate people become , the worse the violence in the streets is going to get .
Honestly , I don ’ t want to be anywhere around the hordes of young people that have been rioting , looting and burning buildings almost all year long .
If our founders could see us today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have possibly gone so wrong .
Of course there are still people out there that have solid values and that are trying to do the right thing .
For instance , I was greatly encouraged when I came across a news story about a homeless man that ran into a burning animal shelter to save the cats and dogs that were trapped inside… I wish that our society would produce more people like Keith Walker , but it doesn ’ t because the way that we raise kids these days is completely and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are producing lots of self-centered idiots like this well-known divorce lawyer… John Liquori probably believed that suicide would be an easy way out because he was taught from a very young age to believe that there is nothing after death .
But instead , he quickly found out that he had a date with the big divorce court in the sky .
What we teach our kids when they are young really matters , because it will heavily influence the decisions that they make for the rest of their lives .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children for a very long time , and now there is chaos in our streets as a result .

by Michael Snyder
The endless chaos in our streets is directly related to how we have been raising our children for the past couple of decades. Bad beliefs lead to bad actions, and we have been teaching our kids values that are fundamentally flawed. In particular, our children are endlessly taught that life has no value in a multitude of ways. They view thousands of murders on television and in the movies as they grow up, the news glorifies politicians that tell them that it is a good thing to slaughter the unborn, and western nations are increasingly embracing the idea that older people should be willing to ask for the “plug to be pulled” once their “usefulness” is over. Throughout their lives, our kids are trained to believe that they evolved from animals and that there is nothingness after they die, and the logical conclusion of such a worldview is that the period of time between birth and death is rather meaningless.
If life has no value and our existence is essentially meaningless, you might as well do whatever you feel like doing because tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us.
Sadly, millions upon millions of our young people have adopted such an outlook at this point, and so we shouldn’t be surprised that many of them are completely out of control.
Yesterday, I wrote about how murder rates are absolutely skyrocketing all over the nation. You might think that this is a bad thing, but if life has no value, what is the big deal?
Today, many Americans were absolutely shocked when dozens of wild youths stopped a BMW on Fifth Avenue in New York City and began brutally attacking it…
Max Torgovnick, 36, was driving in the BMW with his mom when they encountered the large group of youngsters biking up Fifth Avenue near 21st Street. The pair had just dropped off a holiday donation to a local charity when their vehicle was viciously set upon. According to eyewitnesses, the teens began blocking traffic and started to attack the luxury car. Shocking video shows several teens punching the BMW’s windows and stomping on its hood.
That account really doesn’t capture the true horror of the assault.
To really appreciate what happened, you really need to watch video footage of the incident.
NYC is magical this time of year. pic.twitter.com/vRchtTnmmj — GrantB911 (@GrantB911) December 30, 2020
If those young people valued the lives of the two people inside that BMW, they would have not attacked them like that.
But they don’t, and the reason they don’t is because the system raised them to not have any respect for life.
This kind of thing doesn’t happen everywhere on the planet.
For example, in Belarus young people are dressing up in formal attire and are attending extremely elaborate balls instead of torching buildings and terrorizing their fellow citizens.
So who is more civilized, them or us?
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
After months of protests and a year of pandemic, Lukashenko held "a ball for the youth" last night in Minsk. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/iJUwV61Rom — Scott Rose (@rprose) December 30, 2020
Of course we have been trying to undermine the government of Belarus for years, and our stated goal is to replace it with a form of government that is more similar to our own because we want them to be more like us.
But maybe our goal should be to become more like them.
And the chaos in our streets is only going to intensify as our economy continues to deteriorate. According to one recent report, we just witnessed the largest one year increase in poverty in this country that has ever been recorded…
Due to the coronavirus pandemic’s decimation of the labor market and the months-long expiration of benefits from the government relief package keeping families afloat, the poverty rate in the United States surged from 9.3% in June to 11.7% in November, according to a report released Wednesday by analysts at the University of Chicago and the University of Notre Dame, creating the biggest increase in a single year since the government began tracking poverty in 1960.
Sadly, as our system continues to melt down it is going to fuel even more civil unrest. The more desperate people become, the worse the violence in the streets is going to get.
Honestly, I don’t want to be anywhere around the hordes of young people that have been rioting, looting and burning buildings almost all year long.
If our founders could see us today, they would wonder how things could have possibly gone so wrong.
Of course there are still people out there that have solid values and that are trying to do the right thing. For instance, I was greatly encouraged when I came across a news story about a homeless man that ran into a burning animal shelter to save the cats and dogs that were trapped inside…
A homeless man is being hailed as a hero after he risked his life to rescue several dogs and cats from a fire at an animal shelter. The man, Keith Walker, rushed inside the W-Underdogs shelter after a fire broke out Dec. 18, the facility said in a Facebook post. “Tonight we thank our guardian angels. The homeless man that ran into our burning house and rescued our animals,” it said. “Our animals are safe and thanks to the incredible response from the community, everyone is settled and safe warm and secure.”
I wish that our society would produce more people like Keith Walker, but it doesn’t because the way that we raise kids these days is completely and totally messed up.
Instead, we are producing lots of self-centered idiots like this well-known divorce lawyer…
Cindy Liquori, 55, was dog-sitting at her mother’s home in Windsor Locks on Friday when her husband, 59-year-old John Liquori, gunned her down in her sleep, police sources told the Hartford Courant. John Liquori then lay next to his wife and shot himself to death, according to the source.
John Liquori probably believed that suicide would be an easy way out because he was taught from a very young age to believe that there is nothing after death.
But instead, he quickly found out that he had a date with the big divorce court in the sky.
What we teach our kids when they are young really matters, because it will heavily influence the decisions that they make for the rest of their lives.
As a nation, we have been failing our children for a very long time, and now there is chaos in our streets as a result.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--3 Reasons Bitcoin will Continue Its Momentum Post Pandemic

In the last few days , Bitcoin ( BTC ) was priced over $ 26,000 , considerably up on the year , especially compared to the big March drop that saw it reach just north of $ 5,000 .
Bitcoin continues to break pricing records and is now well out of its “ hype and fad ” phase as individuals and big investors continue to see and embrace its short and long-term value .
After the pandemic fades , there ’ s several reasons for optimism about Bitcoin ’ s continued price gains and overall momentum through 2021 and beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultant , entrepreneur , and the Founder & CEO of Crypto Integrity Tao , “ Investment firms offering BTC investment in portfolios is rising when other categories are falling in popularity.
” His company is a leading blockchain and educational membership resource for businesses across tech , gaming , and entertainment .
In addition to institutional interest in Bitcoin , Morgan also notes Economic policy amidst COVID will cause Bitcoin to rise since it is valued in dollars .
Institutional interest in Bitcoin is skyrocketing heading into 2021 , with buying from not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals who see the potential for a new avenue for gains .
Deep-pocketed buyers influence Bitcoin ’ s pricing and will continue to push the cryptocurrency forward in 2021 .
It ’ s not just institutional investors that are valuing Bitcoin as a wise choice to hold capital .
Big players in transaction processing like PayPal have also introduced Bitcoin as a payment method .
In October 2020 , PayPal announced this move which indicated it and other payment companies are accepting Bitcoin as a stable and attractive option for its users .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bitcoin through its Cash App service , an easy way to send and receive money , that allows people to buy and sell Bitcoin through their own balance .
• The Power of the Underbanked Approximately a fifth of Americans are either “ unbanked or underbanked ” , which means they ’ re without an account or still use services outside traditional banking such as payday loans .
There ’ s distrust among this group about banks ’ policies and motives , and the need for more education about the benefits offered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for these populations who are often paid in cash and do not have access to traditional debit or credit cards .
With COVID-19 accelerating the use of non-cash payments , some of these people will face further pressure to adopt contactless ways to purchase goods and services .
The size and influence of this underbanked group presents an opportunity for Bitcoin ’ s growth and for companies that make it easier than ever to participate in cryptocurrencies .
The proliferation of Bitcoin ATMs throughout the U.S. is helping expand access to underbanked groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the President and CEO of Bitcoin Depot and a leading cryptocurrency expert , states “ For underbanked groups that have limited or no access to traditional financial instruments , BTC allows them to avoid various antiquated retail transactions involved in their everyday life , such as buying prepaid cards , sending remittances through legacy money remitters , using bill pay services , and buying money orders .
All of these types of transactions can be replaced by using BTC from the comfort of your home using a mobile bitcoin wallet app.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instability and inflation in the U.S .
Approximately 20 percent of all dollars ever printed in the country ’ s history were printed in 2020 alone .
Investors in traditional financial instruments do not have protection from this instability .
Bitcoin offers a different play because there ’ s a finite supply of 21 million coins and its not tied to any single fiat currency .
There ’ s scarcity built into the Bitcoin model and the growing ease of acquiring and holding the cryptocurrency means it could become a stabler alternative to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a way to diversify their asset mix and potentially enjoy substantial portfolio gains .
And again , the rise of institutional investment and rich individuals buying Bitcoin points to its underlying stability and promise .
These groups do not make investment decisions without studying the fundamentals and developing a case for the potential rewards to outweigh the risks .
Disclaimer : This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB .

In the last few days, Bitcoin (BTC) was priced over $26,000, considerably up on the year, especially compared to the big March drop that saw it reach just north of $5,000. Bitcoin continues to break pricing records and is now well out of its “hype and fad” phase as individuals and big investors continue to see and embrace its short and long-term value. After the pandemic fades, there’s several reasons for optimism about Bitcoin’s continued price gains and overall momentum through 2021 and beyond.
Institutional and Payment Company Interest
According to Scott Morgan, blockchain consultant, entrepreneur, and the Founder & CEO of Crypto Integrity Tao, “Investment firms offering BTC investment in portfolios is rising when other categories are falling in popularity.” His company is a leading blockchain and educational membership resource for businesses across tech, gaming, and entertainment. In addition to institutional interest in Bitcoin, Morgan also notes Economic policy amidst COVID will cause Bitcoin to rise since it is valued in dollars.
Institutional interest in Bitcoin is skyrocketing heading into 2021, with buying from not only large firms, but also rich individuals who see the potential for a new avenue for gains. Deep-pocketed buyers influence Bitcoin’s pricing and will continue to push the cryptocurrency forward in 2021.
It’s not just institutional investors that are valuing Bitcoin as a wise choice to hold capital. Big players in transaction processing like PayPal have also introduced Bitcoin as a payment method. In October 2020, PayPal announced this move which indicated it and other payment companies are accepting Bitcoin as a stable and attractive option for its users. Other firms such as Square are offering Bitcoin through its Cash App service, an easy way to send and receive money, that allows people to buy and sell Bitcoin through their own balance.
The Power of the Underbanked
Approximately a fifth of Americans are either “unbanked or underbanked”, which means they’re without an account or still use services outside traditional banking such as payday loans. There’s distrust among this group about banks’ policies and motives, and the need for more education about the benefits offered by financial inclusion. Bitcoin provides an opportunity for these populations who are often paid in cash and do not have access to traditional debit or credit cards. With COVID-19 accelerating the use of non-cash payments, some of these people will face further pressure to adopt contactless ways to purchase goods and services. The size and influence of this underbanked group presents an opportunity for Bitcoin’s growth and for companies that make it easier than ever to participate in cryptocurrencies.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The proliferation of Bitcoin ATMs throughout the U.S. is helping expand access to underbanked groups and improve financial inclusion. Brandon Mintz, the President and CEO of Bitcoin Depot and a leading cryptocurrency expert, states “For underbanked groups that have limited or no access to traditional financial instruments, BTC allows them to avoid various antiquated retail transactions involved in their everyday life, such as buying prepaid cards, sending remittances through legacy money remitters, using bill pay services, and buying money orders. All of these types of transactions can be replaced by using BTC from the comfort of your home using a mobile bitcoin wallet app.”
A Surprising Source of Stability
There’s a warranted concern about instability and inflation in the U.S. Approximately 20 percent of all dollars ever printed in the country’s history were printed in 2020 alone. Investors in traditional financial instruments do not have protection from this instability. Bitcoin offers a different play because there’s a finite supply of 21 million coins and its not tied to any single fiat currency.
There’s scarcity built into the Bitcoin model and the growing ease of acquiring and holding the cryptocurrency means it could become a stabler alternative to the U.S. dollar. It provides investors with a way to diversify their asset mix and potentially enjoy substantial portfolio gains. And again, the rise of institutional investment and rich individuals buying Bitcoin points to its underlying stability and promise. These groups do not make investment decisions without studying the fundamentals and developing a case for the potential rewards to outweigh the risks.
Disclaimer: This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--The Rich Got Richer During COVID-19. Here’s How American Billionaires Performed

We ’ ve all been affected by the pandemic-induced mayhem of 2020 .
But when it comes to finances , some have fared far better than others .
While job loss persists for Americans making less than $ 20 an hour , the rich have gotten richer .
More specifically , the most wealthy American billionaires have seen their net worth bounce back dramatically , thanks to strong stock market performance .
Here ’ s a look at who ’ s gotten richer since the market bottom in March 2020 , and just how much their net worth has increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market bottom and December 2020 , the billionaires included on this list grew their wealth by 57 % on average .
Interestingly , that ’ s about 10 percentage points higher than the overall growth of the S & P 500 index during the same time period .
Elon Musk saw the highest increase during this period , with a $ 129 billion boost in net worth—that ’ s a whopping 523 % in gains .
This makes sense considering the year Musk has had .
Tesla ’ s market value has skyrocketed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long term valuation doubled after making some monumental strides in the private space industry .
Jeff Bezos saw the second highest growth in net worth with a $ 74 billion increase .
This isn ’ t surprising , given that Amazon ’ s stock price has climbed 69 % since the beginning of 2020 .
But Amazon hasn ’ t been the only company to benefit from the accelerated e-commerce market—other retailers , like Nike , have also seen a significant boost in online sales this year as well .
Billionaire Wealth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just the billionaires on this list that have increased their wealth .
In fact , during the pandemic , billionaire wealth on average has increased 27 % worldwide .
Growth has been exceptionally strong in tech and healthcare .
Will things level out post-pandemic , or will the wealth gap continue to grow ?

by visualcapitalist
We’ve all been affected by the pandemic-induced mayhem of 2020. But when it comes to finances, some have fared far better than others.
While job loss persists for Americans making less than $20 an hour, the rich have gotten richer. More specifically, the most wealthy American billionaires have seen their net worth bounce back dramatically, thanks to strong stock market performance.
Here’s a look at who’s gotten richer since the market bottom in March 2020, and just how much their net worth has increased since then:
Billionaire Net Worth Growth in 2020
Between March’s market bottom and December 2020, the billionaires included on this list grew their wealth by 57% on average. Interestingly, that’s about 10 percentage points higher than the overall growth of the S&P 500 index during the same time period.
Elon Musk saw the highest increase during this period, with a $129 billion boost in net worth—that’s a whopping 523% in gains.
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This makes sense considering the year Musk has had. Tesla’s market value has skyrocketed throughout 2020, and SpaceX’s long term valuation doubled after making some monumental strides in the private space industry.
Jeff Bezos saw the second highest growth in net worth with a $74 billion increase. This isn’t surprising, given that Amazon’s stock price has climbed 69% since the beginning of 2020.
But Amazon hasn’t been the only company to benefit from the accelerated e-commerce market—other retailers, like Nike, have also seen a significant boost in online sales this year as well.
Billionaire Wealth in General is Up
It’s not just the billionaires on this list that have increased their wealth. In fact, during the pandemic, billionaire wealth on average has increased 27% worldwide. Growth has been exceptionally strong in tech and healthcare.
Will things level out post-pandemic, or will the wealth gap continue to grow?


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--Yet Another Bearish Sign: Gold & Silver Not Reacting To What Should Make Them Rally

As of Wednesday ( Dec. 30 ) morning , gold is range trading and remains more or less flat as it seeks momentum .
As we wait for the precious metals to act on a catalyst , let ’ s also take a look at the Euro ’ s relation to the U.S. Dollar and how both impact gold .
Over the last 24 hours , the precious metals market did more or less nothing , despite the new daily decline in the USD Index .
The latter is now testing its monthly and yearly lows , while the PMs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group – are not reacting to what should make them rally , and this is yet another bearish sign for the precious metals market .
The USDX is at its monthly and yearly lows and at the same time… Gold is about $ 30 below its monthly high , and about $ 200 below the yearly low .
After a temporary breakout , gold is back below its 2011 high .
The breakout above the latter was clearly invalidated .
Silver is not even close to its 2011 high , and while it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and miners on a short-term basis , it ’ s not at its December high right now .
It ’ s also a few dollars below its yearly high .
We see that the GDX ETF moved lower once again despite the intraday attempt to rally .
During Monday ’ s ( Dec. 28 ) session , miners once again moved back to their 50-day moving average and… Once again verified it as resistance .
The implications are bearish .
Let ’ s get back to silver once again .
On its chart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the year .
Before the price moves close to the reversal , it ’ s relatively unclear what kind of implications a given reversal is likely to have .
Well , including today ’ s ( Dec. 30 ) session , there remain only two sessions until the end of the year , so we ’ re likely to see the reversal shortly .
Based on the likelihood that the next big move is going to be to the downside , it would fit the overall picture more if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a bottom .
A bottom would imply a rally in the following days or weeks , and the relative performance ( as described above ) along with other factors continues to favor a bigger decline .
This means that we might not see a meaningful decline for a few more days , and we might even see one final move higher before the top is formed .
This could be something that takes place in silver only , or something that we see in gold and miners as well .
Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be really significant in case of the latter .
They are underperforming the metals , after all .
Before summarizing , let ’ s discuss the USD Index ’ s main part – the EUR/USD currency pair in greater detail .
After all , this pair often moves in tandem with gold .
John Maynard Keynes once said , “ Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.
” And right now , EUR/USD is putting his theory to the test .
Because the euro accounts for nearly 58 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its rise ( and likely fall ) will determine if/when the war is won .
But brimming with confidence and unwilling to wave the white flag , the EUR/USD has been green for five straight days and has rallied during nine of the last 12 trading days .
And while sentiment and momentum are warriors that don ’ t die easy , the euro is losing fundamental soldiers left and right .
Please see the chart below : Another weekly update shows the European Central Bank ’ s ( ECB ) money printer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mentioned on Monday ( Dec. 28 ) , the ECB ’ s total assets now equal 69 % of Eurozone GDP – nearly double the U.S. Federal Reserve ’ s ( FED ) 35 % .
And why is this necessary ?
Because the Eurozone economy is in free-fall .
Remember , currencies trade on a relative basis .
Thus , a less-bad U.S. economy is good news for the U.S. dollar .
Please see below : Across Europe ’ s largest economies – Germany , France , Italy and Spain – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explain the chart , alternative economic indicators are high-frequency data like credit card spending , indoor dining traffic , travel activity and location information . )
And underpinning the irrationality , the deceleration is happening as the euro is strengthening .
Well , considering Spain ’ s retail sales dipped further into negative territory on Monday ( Dec. 28 ) – coming in at – 5.8 % vs. – 5.3 % expected – the data speaks for itself .
The bottom line is : the euro bulls are fighting a war they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fundamental data worsens , it ’ s analogous to a platoon losing more and more soldiers .
Eventually , the infantry runs out of reserves and it ’ s time to wave the white flag .
And then what happens ?
Well , then history tries to explain how it all went wrong .
Thank you for reading our free analysis today .
Please note that the above is just a small fraction of the full analyses that our subscribers enjoy on a regular basis .
They include multiple premium details such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be reached in the next few weeks.We invite you to subscribe now and read today ’ s issue right away .

by Przemyslaw Radomski via Sunshine Profits
As of Wednesday (Dec. 30) morning, gold is range trading and remains more or less flat as it seeks momentum. As we wait for the precious metals to act on a catalyst, let’s also take a look at the Euro’s relation to the U.S. Dollar and how both impact gold.
Over the last 24 hours, the precious metals market did more or less nothing, despite the new daily decline in the USD Index. The latter is now testing its monthly and yearly lows, while the PMs are not. PMs – as a group – are not reacting to what should make them rally, and this is yet another bearish sign for the precious metals market.
Figure 1 – USD Index (Sept – Dec 2020)
The USDX is at its monthly and yearly lows and at the same time…
Figure 2 – COMEX Gold Futures (Jan – Dec 2020)
Gold is about $30 below its monthly high, and about $200 below the yearly low.
After a temporary breakout, gold is back below its 2011 high. The breakout above the latter was clearly invalidated.
Figure 3 – COMEX Silver Futures (Jan – Dec 2020)
Silver is not even close to its 2011 high, and while it’s relatively strong compared to gold and miners on a short-term basis, it’s not at its December high right now. It’s also a few dollars below its yearly high.
Figure 4 – GDX VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (Feb – Dec 2020)
Miners remained relatively quiet on Tuesday (Dec. 29).
We see that the GDX ETF moved lower once again despite the intraday attempt to rally. During Monday’s (Dec. 28) session, miners once again moved back to their 50-day moving average and… Once again verified it as resistance. The implications are bearish.
Let’s get back to silver once again. On its chart, you can see a triangle-vertex-based reversal at the end of the year. Before the price moves close to the reversal, it’s relatively unclear what kind of implications a given reversal is likely to have. Well, including today’s (Dec. 30) session, there remain only two sessions until the end of the year, so we’re likely to see the reversal shortly.
Based on the likelihood that the next big move is going to be to the downside, it would fit the overall picture more if the upcoming reversal was a top, not a bottom. A bottom would imply a rally in the following days or weeks, and the relative performance (as described above) along with other factors continues to favor a bigger decline.
This means that we might not see a meaningful decline for a few more days, and we might even see one final move higher before the top is formed. This could be something that takes place in silver only, or something that we see in gold and miners as well. Still, I don’t expect it to be really significant in case of the latter. They are underperforming the metals, after all.
Before summarizing, let’s discuss the USD Index’s main part – the EUR/USD currency pair in greater detail. After all, this pair often moves in tandem with gold.
EUR/USD Decouples from Fundamentals
John Maynard Keynes once said, “Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.”
And right now, EUR/USD is putting his theory to the test.
Because the euro accounts for nearly 58% of the movement in the USD Index, its rise (and likely fall) will determine if/when the war is won.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
But brimming with confidence and unwilling to wave the white flag, the EUR/USD has been green for five straight days and has rallied during nine of the last 12 trading days. And while sentiment and momentum are warriors that don’t die easy, the euro is losing fundamental soldiers left and right.
Please see the chart below:
Figure 5 – European Central Bank (ECB) Balance Sheet
Another weekly update shows the European Central Bank’s (ECB) money printer continues to work overtime. And as I mentioned on Monday (Dec. 28), the ECB’s total assets now equal 69% of Eurozone GDP – nearly double the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (FED) 35%.
And why is this necessary?
Because the Eurozone economy is in free-fall.
Remember, currencies trade on a relative basis. Thus, a less-bad U.S. economy is good news for the U.S. dollar.
Please see below:
Figure 6 – 2020 Economic Indicators for Germany, France, Italy, Spain
Across Europe’s largest economies – Germany, France, Italy and Spain – economic activity is rolling over (To explain the chart, alternative economic indicators are high-frequency data like credit card spending, indoor dining traffic, travel activity and location information.)
And underpinning the irrationality, the deceleration is happening as the euro is strengthening.
Makes sense?
Well, considering Spain’s retail sales dipped further into negative territory on Monday (Dec. 28) – coming in at – 5.8% vs. – 5.3% expected – the data speaks for itself.
Figure 7 – Spain Retail Sales Constant Prices (Source: Bloomberg/Daniel Lacalle)
The bottom line is: the euro bulls are fighting a war they’re unlikely to win. And as the fundamental data worsens, it’s analogous to a platoon losing more and more soldiers. Eventually, the infantry runs out of reserves and it’s time to wave the white flag.
And then what happens?
Well, then history tries to explain how it all went wrong.
Thank you for reading our free analysis today. Please note that the above is just a small fraction of the full analyses that our subscribers enjoy on a regular basis. They include multiple premium details such as the interim target for gold that could be reached in the next few weeks.We invite you to subscribe now and read today’s issue right away.
Sincerely,
Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA
Founder, Editor-in-chief


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--Oilfield Service Giants Are Expanding Beyond Oil Tech

The oilfield services sector is usually the one to suffer the most during an oil and gas industry downturn .
This last crisis has been no exception in most respects .
Drilling fell sharply this year in response to the demand slump in both oil and gas , budgets were cut and exploration plans shrunk .
There was talk we might have already seen peak oil demand .
The situation begged the question what happens to oilfield services beyond oil ?
To be fair , the world will need tens of millions of barrels of oil for decades to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit misleading .
Yet peak oil demand may well be over , which means a shrinking market for these companies .
And the largest among them are already preparing for this shrinking market .
Baker Hughes , for instance , is no longer a purely oilfield services provider and hasn ’ t been for a while now .
OFS is just one of four product companies under the parent ’ s umbrella , which also include thinks like machinery—for the energy industry—hydrogen technology , geothermal , and carbon capture and utilization , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hughes is also pursuing a lead role in additive manufacturing—the technology that could transform the supply chains of a lot of industries .
Baker Hughes is not alone .
The other two Big Three majors are also pursuing a digital future as well as a transfer of their expertise in other fields .
Schlumberger recently restructured its business to streamline it and while most of its focus is still on oil and gas , the company is making a big bet on cloud and edge computing , and automation .
According to chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this business will outpace the growth of Schlumberger ’ s oilfield services business in the next few years .
Halliburton is also going digital at a fast pace : the company recently sealed a deal with Accenture to digitize its manufacturing operations , stating as its goal to provide better services for its clients while also driving higher returns for shareholders .
The pivot to technology is a smart decision for the Big Three at a time when there is also growing pressure on the energy industry—as well as other industries—to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still far in the future and will require a number of major breakthroughs , as Tyler Fowler , marketing manager for Baseline Energy Services , told Oilprice .
But , he added the oilfield services industry is changing and it will continue to change in response to the changing environment within and outside the industry .
“ The OFS companies that survive and thrive in markets like onshore U.S. will be those that likewise adopt new technology and are already moving forward with a cost-competitive , more eco-friendly business model built-in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way forward for OFS companies , according to Marcus Wagner , CEO of finance and accounting firm AccTwo .
Cloud computing , automation , outsourcing of services are , or should be , priorities for this segment for the industry to reduce inherent volatility that makes it vulnerable to market shocks , which we saw this year again .
The above will help companies streamline their business operations , making them more nimble in the next crisis .
“ Beyond these operational changes , we see service diversification , geographic dispersal , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prioritization of services that achieve ongoing cost reductions for upstream operators as key attributes of the successful OFS companies in a post-oil future , ” Wagner told Oilprice .
But it ’ s not just digital technology that will provide oilfield service companies with a future .
Because of their expertise in energy production technology , they may become indispensable in the world ’ s drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
In fact , the oil and gas industry is already doing a lot of good work in this respect , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Marketing at Milestone Environmental Services , an oilfield waste disposal services provider .
“ As an example , slurry injection is widely used as a waste disposal method in the oilfield , and is a profoundly carbon-negative activity , ” Leaper told Oilprice .
“ Slurry injection involves blending oil-bearing waste from drilling , completion , and production streams , and sequestering it roughly a mile below the water table .
This has a major advantage in terms of reducing emissions ( of volatilized oil compounds ) over other common disposal methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or landfarming it.
” There is also flaring reduction , methane leak detection—an area of growing interest for environmental monitors and reporters—as well as water recycling and fuel substitution , among others , according to Leaper , who noted the future will bring more opportunities than challenges for the oilfield services industry as the world moves towards a less emission-intensive future .
Basically , what oilfield service providers need to do to ensure their business sustainability is the use their core competencies and expertise , acquired and developed in oil and gas to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and into new business areas .
Carbon capture , hydrogen production , and natural gas emissions are among these areas , according to Atul Prasad Gupta and Pankaj Bukalsaria from Acuity Knowledge Partners .
“ These companies could also look at other energy-related businesses such as e-mobility and bio and clean fuels , or at frontier businesses such as recycling , water management and robotics , ” they told Oilprice .
Indeed , the future looks pretty packed with new opportunities for oilfield service providers—at least those that have the resources to diversify @ @ @ @ @

By Irina Slav
The oilfield services sector is usually the one to suffer the most during an oil and gas industry downturn. This last crisis has been no exception in most respects. Drilling fell sharply this year in response to the demand slump in both oil and gas, budgets were cut and exploration plans shrunk. There was talk we might have already seen peak oil demand. The situation begged the question what happens to oilfield services beyond oil?
To be fair, the world will need tens of millions of barrels of oil for decades to come, so “beyond oil” is a bit misleading. Yet peak oil demand may well be over, which means a shrinking market for these companies. And the largest among them are already preparing for this shrinking market.
Baker Hughes, for instance, is no longer a purely oilfield services provider and hasn’t been for a while now. OFS is just one of four product companies under the parent’s umbrella, which also include thinks like machinery—for the energy industry—hydrogen technology, geothermal, and carbon capture and utilization, not to mention digital tech. Baker Hughes is also pursuing a lead role in additive manufacturing—the technology that could transform the supply chains of a lot of industries.
Baker Hughes is not alone. The other two Big Three majors are also pursuing a digital future as well as a transfer of their expertise in other fields. Schlumberger recently restructured its business to streamline it and while most of its focus is still on oil and gas, the company is making a big bet on cloud and edge computing, and automation. According to chief executive Olivier Le Peuch, the growth of this business will outpace the growth of Schlumberger’s oilfield services business in the next few years.
Halliburton is also going digital at a fast pace: the company recently sealed a deal with Accenture to digitize its manufacturing operations, stating as its goal to provide better services for its clients while also driving higher returns for shareholders.
The pivot to technology is a smart decision for the Big Three at a time when there is also growing pressure on the energy industry—as well as other industries—to cut their carbon footprint. A post-oil era is still far in the future and will require a number of major breakthroughs, as Tyler Fowler, marketing manager for Baseline Energy Services, told Oilprice. But, he added the oilfield services industry is changing and it will continue to change in response to the changing environment within and outside the industry.
“The OFS companies that survive and thrive in markets like onshore U.S. will be those that likewise adopt new technology and are already moving forward with a cost-competitive, more eco-friendly business model built-in,” Fowler said.
Digital is the way forward for OFS companies, according to Marcus Wagner, CEO of finance and accounting firm AccTwo. Cloud computing, automation, outsourcing of services are, or should be, priorities for this segment for the industry to reduce inherent volatility that makes it vulnerable to market shocks, which we saw this year again. The above will help companies streamline their business operations, making them more nimble in the next crisis.
“Beyond these operational changes, we see service diversification, geographic dispersal, the movement toward subscription revenue models, and a prioritization of services that achieve ongoing cost reductions for upstream operators as key attributes of the successful OFS companies in a post-oil future,” Wagner told Oilprice.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
But it’s not just digital technology that will provide oilfield service companies with a future. Because of their expertise in energy production technology, they may become indispensable in the world’s drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In fact, the oil and gas industry is already doing a lot of good work in this respect, according to Richard Leaper, VP Sales and Marketing at Milestone Environmental Services, an oilfield waste disposal services provider.
“As an example, slurry injection is widely used as a waste disposal method in the oilfield, and is a profoundly carbon-negative activity,” Leaper told Oilprice. “Slurry injection involves blending oil-bearing waste from drilling, completion, and production streams, and sequestering it roughly a mile below the water table. This has a major advantage in terms of reducing emissions (of volatilized oil compounds) over other common disposal methods like burying waste in shallow reserve pits or landfarming it.”
There is also flaring reduction, methane leak detection—an area of growing interest for environmental monitors and reporters—as well as water recycling and fuel substitution, among others, according to Leaper, who noted the future will bring more opportunities than challenges for the oilfield services industry as the world moves towards a less emission-intensive future.
Basically, what oilfield service providers need to do to ensure their business sustainability is the use their core competencies and expertise, acquired and developed in oil and gas to move away from oil and gas, and into new business areas.
Carbon capture, hydrogen production, and natural gas emissions are among these areas, according to Atul Prasad Gupta and Pankaj Bukalsaria from Acuity Knowledge Partners.
“These companies could also look at other energy-related businesses such as e-mobility and bio and clean fuels, or at frontier businesses such as recycling, water management and robotics,” they told Oilprice.
Indeed, the future looks pretty packed with new opportunities for oilfield service providers—at least those that have the resources to diversify into new business areas.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--Getting Out Before The Crash…

Getting Out Before The Crash…

International Man : Markets have extreme emotions .
They can go from irrational exuberance—where it seems everyone is swinging from the chandeliers—to a bottom-of-the-barrel bear market where people don ’ t even want to look at the business section .
Why is assessing the psychology of the market so important ?
Doug Casey : The market , as Warren Buffett has pointed out , can be either a weighing machine or a voting machine .
You can make money in the market either way , but you have to recognize which machine is giving you signals .
Although Mr. Market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pays the most attention to the voting machine , because he ’ s basically bipolar , a manic-depressive .
As a result , not only do you have to deal with the psychological aberrations of millions of other people who are running in a crowd and voting with their dollars , but much more important , you have to deal with your own psychology .
You are , after all , part of the market .
The only thing you can control , however , is your own psychology , not that of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once again quoting Buffett , “ Be fearful when others are greedy .
Be greedy when others are fearful.
” It ’ s a matter of having good psychological judgment .
Everybody wants to be a contrarian , and perhaps they think they are a contrarian .
But , in reality , it ’ s hard to be a contrarian .
It ’ s a bit easier for me because I ’ ve been wired that way almost from birth , which got me into constant trouble in school .
I was always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be that as it may , I just don ’ t like people telling me what to do .
This can be a double-edged sword because one of the oldest sayings in the market is “ the trend is your friend.
” Most of the time , you actually want to go with the trend .
In other words , you don ’ t want to swim against the tide .
You ’ ll get beat up and washed away , eventually .
Really , the only time to be a contrarian is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a genuine top or bottom in the market .
It makes no sense to be a contrarian 80 % of the time .
That ’ s when you ought to go with the trend .
What are some of the craziest things you ’ ve seen at market tops ?
Doug Casey : Regrettably , I ’ m now 73 years old—although , it beats the alternative .
I ’ ve been interested in the markets and have watched them my whole life , gaining knowledge along the way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can remember personally was in the late ‘ 60s , when any stock that had the suffix “ -ex ” or “ -onics ” at the end of its name was considered an automatic buy .
It was a huge tech bubble , like the one today .
That was just before a gigantic crash , of course .
And the market went nowhere until 1982 when it finally bottomed .
The first market bottom that I was able to take advantage of , however , was gold in 1971 .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and short book , How to Profit from the Coming Devaluation , published in 1970 .
It made all the sense in the world to me for good , logical reasons .
I was a kid , just out of college and without much money , but I started buying gold coins and gold stocks .
I went from just watching a manic top in the stock market to actually taking advantage of a bottom in the gold market .
Anyway , in the early ‘ 80s , there was a manic bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US government was paying 15 % to 18 % to borrow .
I wrote “ Strategic Investing , ” which was published in November 1982 .
It was a stock market book .
My big recommendations were electric utilities ( they were yielding 12 % –15 % in current dividends ) and the “ Nifty Fifty , ” a group of stocks that were never supposed to go down—things like Xerox and Polaroid .
The Nifty Fifty were the Amazon , Facebook , and Apple look-alikes of the era .
But they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bear market that bottomed in 1982 .
To give you an idea how grim it was , Businessweek had a front cover called “ The Death of Equities.
” Incidentally , the only investment advice that somebody who is knowledgeable about market history really needs is on the covers of popular magazines , like the famous “ The Death of Equities ” Businessweek cover , which came out exactly at the bottom of the market .
They had another cover in 1984 titled “ The Death of Mining , ” which of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the mining market .
You could save yourself a lot of money on financial newsletters if you just go down to the drug store every week and see what ’ s on the cover of magazines .
You don ’ t even need to read the articles—journalists know nothing about the markets .
Their opinions are , at best , contrary indicators .
Once every year or two , there ’ s going to be a tip-off when they ’ re really bullish or bearish .
Of course , these things may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what happened in the ’ 60s , ’ 70s , and ’ 80s seems like my father talking about what happened in the 1930s and World War II when I was in college .
It ’ s funny how time goes by .
I once thought that the things he told me were ancient history and irrelevant , but they ’ re actually not .
I was short-sighted , like most young people .
Actually , one of my main interests today is ancient history—Rome and Greece .
It helps put things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include the Internet bubble of 2001 , the current tech bubble , and , of course , the real estate bubble that crested in 2007 , which was the opening round of the Greater Depression .
Right now , we ’ re in a stock bubble predictably focused on tech and a bond market hyperbubble .
It could be that the current hysteria about the Wuhan coronavirus will be the pin that breaks the bubble .
I doubt the epidemic itself will be serious in terms of actual deaths , like the Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was wartime , for one .
For another , we have vastly more medical knowledge now than we had 100 years ago .
What ’ s likely to be much more serious are second-order effects , such as Draconian laws and regulations , money printing , and general hysteria .
It ’ s not going to be good .
As a general rule , just watch for major tops and bottoms .
You don ’ t have to “ do ” anything in the market almost ever .
You should only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fat pitch .
For instance , it ’ s insane the way the public is throwing money at trading services now because of FOMO—Fear Of Missing Out .
That ’ s another giant bell ringing at the top … .
Just try to identify major tops and bottoms , if nothing else .
Keep it simple .
Right now , we ’ re at a major top in both stocks and bonds .
Get out of the water .
And we ’ re at a major bottom in commodities—although not in gold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just under $ 1,100 .
Before that , in 2001 , it was at about $ 260 when , believe it or not , gold was cheaper in real terms than it was in 1971 .
But the good news is that there ’ s clearly a bull trend underway in gold that ’ s going to take it to a new peak .
In fact , the next bubble is going to be in gold and gold stocks .
International Man : What are some signs that you see right now that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the broad stock market and in the economy in general ?
Doug Casey : One sign is the fact that there are a lot of houses in the United States that are going for not just $ 10 million , but for $ 50 million , and apartments in New York going for $ 100 million .
That ’ s a bell ringing at the top of the market .
It ’ s also evident in the so-called art market , which no longer has anything to do with taste , technical skill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s now mainly a question of hype and promotion , where embarrassing crap that a kid could put together in a finger painting therapy class is going for millions of dollars .
What passes for art today is a degrading affront to intelligence and to civilization itself .
It ’ s another sign that there ’ s just too much funny money floating around out there , looking for someplace to go .
One of the interesting things about being in the newsletter business is that I get to see a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of its variations holds that 80 % of everything is crap .
That ’ s absolutely true in the newsletter business .
Watching what ’ s promoted in newsletter sales copy may be an even better indicator than magazine covers .
As I said earlier , the public wants to buy trading services—a very bad sign .
They ’ ve seen the rich making huge amounts of money .
Desperate people with no market or economic knowledge think that some trader is going to give them secrets that will make them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public will spend big money for tout sheets that seem to promise outlandish returns—100 to 1 , or perhaps 473,251 % , or the like .
The fact that that the public will do that is a sign that there ’ s a top in the market .
When the bottom of the market comes , not only will people not want to subscribe to newsletters telling them how to get wealthy—they won ’ t even want to know that the market exists .
They ’ ll care less about the US stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock market .
Worse , they ’ ll hate it , because it will have cost them so much money .
Let me again underline that the only things that I can see that are actually cheap are commodities .
I say that because the producers of hogs , cattle , cotton , orange juice , coffee , corn , soybeans , copper—none of them are making any money .
Only the best producers are just breaking even .
To me , this is one sign that commodities , which have been at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , are scraping the bottom .
If somebody ’ s looking to make money with their money , the place to look now is commodities .
International Man : It ’ s also something nobody wants to hear about , which proves your point .
Doug Casey : Absolutely .
Nobody wants to hear about commodities .
Everybody wants high tech , software , and things of that nature .
Commodities are , however , the raw materials of civilization .
They ’ re going to come back into fashion .
International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , earlier this year of The Economist magazine had robotic bulls charging through the cover .
Doug Casey : To quote an old market saying , there is no telling how high a tree is going to grow .
We just know that no tree grows to the sky .
When anything hits the front of a magazine , it ’ s not because the editors are necessarily stupid , although most of them know nothing about the markets .
They ’ re news people .
It ’ s on the front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it , because they ’ re interested in it—because they ’ re involved in it .
That ’ s why they want to buy a magazine or read about it .
After the market ’ s been going up as long as it has and as strong as it has , a cover like this on a major magazine like The Economist is a tip-off .
A few years from now , it will be as embarrassing as Business Week ’ s “ Death of Equities ” and “ Death of Mining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecasts helped investors prepare and profit from : 1 ) the S & L blowup in the ’ 80s and ’ 90s , 2 ) the 2001 tech stock collapse , 3 ) the 2008 financial crisis , 4 ) and now… Doug ’ s sounding the alarms about a catastrophic financial event .
To help you prepare and profit , Doug and his team have prepared a free special report .
Click here to download the PDF now .

Authored by Doug Casey via InternationalMan.com,
International Man: Markets have extreme emotions. They can go from irrational exuberance—where it seems everyone is swinging from the chandeliers—to a bottom-of-the-barrel bear market where people don’t even want to look at the business section.
Why is assessing the psychology of the market so important?
Doug Casey: The market, as Warren Buffett has pointed out, can be either a weighing machine or a voting machine. You can make money in the market either way, but you have to recognize which machine is giving you signals.
Although Mr. Market sees and knows almost everything, he pays the most attention to the voting machine, because he’s basically bipolar, a manic-depressive. As a result, not only do you have to deal with the psychological aberrations of millions of other people who are running in a crowd and voting with their dollars, but much more important, you have to deal with your own psychology. You are, after all, part of the market.
The only thing you can control, however, is your own psychology, not that of the market’s other participants. Once again quoting Buffett, “Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.”
It’s a matter of having good psychological judgment. Everybody wants to be a contrarian, and perhaps they think they are a contrarian. But, in reality, it’s hard to be a contrarian.
It’s a bit easier for me because I’ve been wired that way almost from birth, which got me into constant trouble in school. I was always labeled a troublemaker—an enemy of authority. Be that as it may, I just don’t like people telling me what to do. This can be a double-edged sword because one of the oldest sayings in the market is “the trend is your friend.” Most of the time, you actually want to go with the trend.
In other words, you don’t want to swim against the tide. You’ll get beat up and washed away, eventually.
Really, the only time to be a contrarian is when you have good reasons for believing it’s a genuine top or bottom in the market. It makes no sense to be a contrarian 80% of the time. That’s when you ought to go with the trend.
International Man: That’s an excellent point.
What are some of the craziest things you’ve seen at market tops?
Doug Casey: Regrettably, I’m now 73 years old—although, it beats the alternative.
I’ve been interested in the markets and have watched them my whole life, gaining knowledge along the way.
The first wild and crazy market that I can remember personally was in the late ‘60s, when any stock that had the suffix “-ex” or “-onics” at the end of its name was considered an automatic buy. It was a huge tech bubble, like the one today. That was just before a gigantic crash, of course. And the market went nowhere until 1982 when it finally bottomed.
The first market bottom that I was able to take advantage of, however, was gold in 1971. I had read Harry Browne’s brilliant and short book, How to Profit from the Coming Devaluation, published in 1970.
It made all the sense in the world to me for good, logical reasons. I was a kid, just out of college and without much money, but I started buying gold coins and gold stocks. I went from just watching a manic top in the stock market to actually taking advantage of a bottom in the gold market.
Anyway, in the early ‘80s, there was a manic bottom in both stocks and bonds. Even the US government was paying 15% to 18% to borrow. I wrote “Strategic Investing,” which was published in November 1982. It was a stock market book. My big recommendations were electric utilities (they were yielding 12%–15% in current dividends) and the “Nifty Fifty,” a group of stocks that were never supposed to go down—things like Xerox and Polaroid. The Nifty Fifty were the Amazon, Facebook, and Apple look-alikes of the era. But they were crushed about 90% in the bear market that bottomed in 1982.
To give you an idea how grim it was, Businessweek had a front cover called “The Death of Equities.”
Incidentally, the only investment advice that somebody who is knowledgeable about market history really needs is on the covers of popular magazines, like the famous “The Death of Equities” Businessweek cover, which came out exactly at the bottom of the market.
They had another cover in 1984 titled “The Death of Mining,” which of course was the bell ringing for the bottom of the mining market.
You could save yourself a lot of money on financial newsletters if you just go down to the drug store every week and see what’s on the cover of magazines. You don’t even need to read the articles—journalists know nothing about the markets. Their opinions are, at best, contrary indicators. Once every year or two, there’s going to be a tip-off when they’re really bullish or bearish.
Of course, these things may now seem like ancient history. Talking about what happened in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s seems like my father talking about what happened in the 1930s and World War II when I was in college. It’s funny how time goes by. I once thought that the things he told me were ancient history and irrelevant, but they’re actually not. I was short-sighted, like most young people. Actually, one of my main interests today is ancient history—Rome and Greece. It helps put things into perspective.
More recent perspectives would include the Internet bubble of 2001, the current tech bubble, and, of course, the real estate bubble that crested in 2007, which was the opening round of the Greater Depression.
Right now, we’re in a stock bubble predictably focused on tech and a bond market hyperbubble. It could be that the current hysteria about the Wuhan coronavirus will be the pin that breaks the bubble. I doubt the epidemic itself will be serious in terms of actual deaths, like the Spanish flu of 1918, for several reasons. That was wartime, for one. For another, we have vastly more medical knowledge now than we had 100 years ago.
What’s likely to be much more serious are second-order effects, such as Draconian laws and regulations, money printing, and general hysteria. It’s not going to be good.
As a general rule, just watch for major tops and bottoms. You don’t have to “do” anything in the market almost ever. You should only act when the market really throws you a fat pitch. For instance, it’s insane the way the public is throwing money at trading services now because of FOMO—Fear Of Missing Out. That’s another giant bell ringing at the top ….
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Just try to identify major tops and bottoms, if nothing else. Keep it simple. Right now, we’re at a major top in both stocks and bonds. Get out of the water.
And we’re at a major bottom in commodities—although not in gold. It last bottomed in 2014 at just under $1,100. Before that, in 2001, it was at about $260 when, believe it or not, gold was cheaper in real terms than it was in 1971. But the good news is that there’s clearly a bull trend underway in gold that’s going to take it to a new peak.
In fact, the next bubble is going to be in gold and gold stocks.
International Man: What are some signs that you see right now that we might be near the top in the broad stock market and in the economy in general?
Doug Casey: One sign is the fact that there are a lot of houses in the United States that are going for not just $10 million, but for $50 million, and apartments in New York going for $100 million. That’s a bell ringing at the top of the market.
It’s also evident in the so-called art market, which no longer has anything to do with taste, technical skill, or interesting ideas. It’s now mainly a question of hype and promotion, where embarrassing crap that a kid could put together in a finger painting therapy class is going for millions of dollars. What passes for art today is a degrading affront to intelligence and to civilization itself.
It’s another sign that there’s just too much funny money floating around out there, looking for someplace to go.
One of the interesting things about being in the newsletter business is that I get to see a lot of newsletters. Remember Pareto’s Law. One of its variations holds that 80% of everything is crap. That’s absolutely true in the newsletter business.
Watching what’s promoted in newsletter sales copy may be an even better indicator than magazine covers. As I said earlier, the public wants to buy trading services—a very bad sign. They’ve seen the rich making huge amounts of money. Desperate people with no market or economic knowledge think that some trader is going to give them secrets that will make them millionaires.
Worse is the fact the public will spend big money for tout sheets that seem to promise outlandish returns—100 to 1, or perhaps 473,251%, or the like. The fact that that the public will do that is a sign that there’s a top in the market.
When the bottom of the market comes, not only will people not want to subscribe to newsletters telling them how to get wealthy—they won’t even want to know that the market exists.
They’ll care less about the US stock market than they do about the Uzbekistan stock market. Worse, they’ll hate it, because it will have cost them so much money.
Let me again underline that the only things that I can see that are actually cheap are commodities. I say that because the producers of hogs, cattle, cotton, orange juice, coffee, corn, soybeans, copper—none of them are making any money.
Only the best producers are just breaking even. To me, this is one sign that commodities, which have been at a bear market now for over eight years, are scraping the bottom. If somebody’s looking to make money with their money, the place to look now is commodities.
International Man: It’s also something nobody wants to hear about, which proves your point.
Doug Casey: Absolutely. Nobody wants to hear about commodities.
Everybody wants high tech, software, and things of that nature.
Commodities are, however, the raw materials of civilization. They’re going to come back into fashion.
International Man: Speaking of covers of magazines, earlier this year of The Economist magazine had robotic bulls charging through the cover.
Have we reached peak optimism?
Doug Casey: To quote an old market saying, there is no telling how high a tree is going to grow. We just know that no tree grows to the sky.
When anything hits the front of a magazine, it’s not because the editors are necessarily stupid, although most of them know nothing about the markets. They’re news people. It’s on the front of a magazine cover because people are emotional about it, because they’re interested in it—because they’re involved in it.
That’s why they want to buy a magazine or read about it.
After the market’s been going up as long as it has and as strong as it has, a cover like this on a major magazine like The Economist is a tip-off. A few years from now, it will be as embarrassing as Business Week’s “Death of Equities” and “Death of Mining” covers.
* * *
Doug Casey’s forecasts helped investors prepare and profit from: 1) the S&L blowup in the ’80s and ’90s, 2) the 2001 tech stock collapse, 3) the 2008 financial crisis, 4) and now… Doug’s sounding the alarms about a catastrophic financial event. To help you prepare and profit, Doug and his team have prepared a free special report. Click here to download the PDF now.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--Gov’t To Aggressively Attack Small Business in 2021

Now that the Deep State has successfully carried out their coup to remove Trump ensuring even the Supreme Court has buckled under to the Deep State and abandoned the Constitution .
Every Justice takes an oath to defend the Constitution yet they are able to ignore it claiming “ discretion ” to decide to defend it or not !
They have violated the Constitution and 74 million Americans who have been denied their civil right interest in the election while assisting the launch of Communism 3.0 .
The IRS is already planning to boost audits by 50 % , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So here we go – expect the government to turn against anyone at the top of the tax brackets as well .
The hatred of the “ rich ” will be attacked while they champion the select super-rich .
We will see 2021 into 2022 as the worst we have ever seen in class warfare .
After a year that has targeted small business and a Congress which has ignored the small businesses as if they are the anti-Christ of Capitalism while cheering that BigTech firms and allowing them to go into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online , one must wonder how Congress is representing the people anymore .
About 70 % of employment was provided by small businesses .
No longer will there be higher-paying sales jobs – just warehouse workers to fill online orders and even they are being replaced by cheaper robots .
The sheer hatred of small businesses in Washington can not be expressed enough and mainstream media will never report the truth .
It is the big businesses that but the tax exemptions so to fulfill their class warfare promises , they will attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company officers under the pretense of security fraud yet NEVER prosecute even one banker – ever !
MF Global stole their client ’ s money and Federal Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn refused to comply with the bankruptcy law to protect the bankers .
Small Business has become the enemy of the Democrats because the Agenda is indeed 2030 .
California will become the most anti-business state in the nation .
Most Democrats are clueless even in political circles .
There are people who know what is really taking place and are very upset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hijacked by the new Triumvirate .
Soros has been working overtime with his son to seize the Democratic Party and direct it into his dream state – the open society which does not tolerate independent business .

by Martin Armstrong
Now that the Deep State has successfully carried out their coup to remove Trump ensuring even the Supreme Court has buckled under to the Deep State and abandoned the Constitution. Every Justice takes an oath to defend the Constitution yet they are able to ignore it claiming “discretion” to decide to defend it or not! They have violated the Constitution and 74 million Americans who have been denied their civil right interest in the election while assisting the launch of Communism 3.0. The IRS is already planning to boost audits by 50%, not of the BigTechs, but small businesses.
So here we go – expect the government to turn against anyone at the top of the tax brackets as well. The hatred of the “rich” will be attacked while they champion the select super-rich. We will see 2021 into 2022 as the worst we have ever seen in class warfare. After a year that has targeted small business and a Congress which has ignored the small businesses as if they are the anti-Christ of Capitalism while cheering that BigTech firms and allowing them to go into banking using lockdowns to force commerce into online, one must wonder how Congress is representing the people anymore.
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About 70% of employment was provided by small businesses. No longer will there be higher-paying sales jobs – just warehouse workers to fill online orders and even they are being replaced by cheaper robots. The sheer hatred of small businesses in Washington cannot be expressed enough and mainstream media will never report the truth. It is the big businesses that but the tax exemptions so to fulfill their class warfare promises, they will attack the small businesses. They imprison small company officers under the pretense of security fraud yet NEVER prosecute even one banker – ever! MF Global stole their client’s money and Federal Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn refused to comply with the bankruptcy law to protect the bankers.
Small Business has become the enemy of the Democrats because the Agenda is indeed 2030. California will become the most anti-business state in the nation. Most Democrats are clueless even in political circles. There are people who know what is really taking place and are very upset even within the Democratic Party which has been hijacked by the new Triumvirate. Soros has been working overtime with his son to seize the Democratic Party and direct it into his dream state – the open society which does not tolerate independent business.
Today, Amazon has more than 200,000 mobile robots working inside its warehouse network, alongside hundreds of thousands of human workers. This robot army has helped the company fulfill its ever-increasing promises of speedy deliveries to Amazon Prime customers. Then they will eliminate truck drivers as well. In other words, wipe out small businesses, make people dependent upon welfare checks they now call Guaranteed Basic Income and restrict population growth to reduce the population to match the new communist state.


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--IRAN foreign minister ZARIF says TRUMP ADMIN is FABRICATING a pretext for WAR!

Instead of fighting Covid in US , @ realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to @ @ @ @ @ indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war .
Iran does n't seek war but will @ @ @ @ @ people , security & vital interests .

Instead of fighting Covid in US, @realDonaldTrump & cohorts waste billions to fly B52s & send armadas to OUR region
Intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war.
Iran doesn't seek war but will OPENLY & DIRECTLY defend its people, security & vital interests.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 31, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-12-31--Technical Analysis Suggests Major Stock Market Peak In Early April, 2021

by Chris Vermeulen of The Technical Traders In the first part of this research article , we highlighted some of W.D .
Gann ’ s research , particularly the theory of price vibrations , angles , slopes , and how they relate to future price projections/targets .
We also showed how important it was to understand what price does when it reaches these critical inflection points .
In this second part of our research , we are going to explore Gann time/price cycles and how they relate to our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs .
Our research will show you exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peak may be setting up in the US/global markets and why you need to prepare for this now .
We believe the remainder of the bullish price trend may continue to push higher , scaling very close to the CYAN trendline on the chart below over the next 60+ days before starting to break lower as we near the end of March 2021 .
Let ’ s explore why we believe this is likely to happen .
We highlighted the importance of the CYAN trend line and the multiple Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range in Part I .
It is our belief that these critical levels represent a major inflection point in the advance of price and that price may continue to attempt to push higher – but may align itself below the CYAN trendline as it inches closer to the early April Gann price/time arc that we believe will set up a major top in the markets .
When we apply time-factoring to the SPY chart below , we are inclined to support the theory that a 200 % time factor applies to the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 .
If we measure price trend and vibration from the 2009 low point , we immediately come to the October 13 , 2014 lows – which were subsequently retested multiple times over the next 3+ years ( August 2015 , January 2016 , February 2016 ) .
Our researchers believe these lows represent the end of one cycle/vibration phase and the beginning of another .
By aligning a mirror-image of the original Gann Time-Arcs to the October 2014 lows , we can see that another critical Gann Vibration cycle is likely ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We believe the next few weeks and months , as well as almost all of 2021 and beyond , will be full of major trend changes and fluctuating price activity as global investors attempt to navigate the changes in the global markets .
Currently , many of the foreign markets are nearing what appear to be peak levels and , if our Gann research is correct , the US stock market is only about 90 days away from reaching the start of another Gann Time-factoring Vibration energy phase/cycle .
This means there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how investors perceive value in investments and where capital moves to attempt to hedge/profit from this cycle phase .
This next Weekly SPY chart shows a closer look at the Gann Time-factor arcs and how they aligned with the previous price corrections .
Pay attention to how accurate these Gann Time-factor arcs predicted the downward price “ vibrations ” over the past three years .
Remember , these Gann phases are a replica of the 2009 bottom to 2014 peak – applied to the 2014 low price levels .
They represent an exact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took place between 2009 and 2014 .
They also show a period of time between April 2021 and July 2021 which may represent a very big , deep vibration in price which may target low price levels near $ 292 on the SPY .
Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you don ’ t miss our next special report !
The bigger question in our minds is “ do our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs align with W.D .
Gann price/time theories and the Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs may be somewhat close to what W.D .
Gann attempted to describe relating to his Law Of Vibration and the universal key to unlocking the secrets of identifying and predicting future price peaks/troughs accurately .
If not , then we are confident they will lead us to even more breakthroughs as we continue to attempt to adapt and improve our technical analysis research .
One thing is for certain , 2021 appears to be setting up as a traders market where trends may change very quickly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year where traders need to stay ahead of the risks and shifting market cycles to find the best assets to own and profit from .
Our BAN technology was designed specifically to address this issue – always being able to find and identify the best assets to own within any type of trend .
Our researchers believe increased price volatility will likely be seen near the end of March 2021 and by mid-April 2021 , we may already start to see signs of a broad market decline setting up .
Our research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 2021 or later .
Are you ready for this type of move in the markets ?
If not , learn how BAN can help you trade the best assets by visiting www.TheTechnicalTraders.com .

by Chris Vermeulen of The Technical Traders
In the first part of this research article, we highlighted some of W.D. Gann’s research, particularly the theory of price vibrations, angles, slopes, and how they relate to future price projections/targets. We also showed how important it was to understand what price does when it reaches these critical inflection points. In this second part of our research, we are going to explore Gann time/price cycles and how they relate to our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs.
Our research will show you exactly why we believe an early April 2021 peak may be setting up in the US/global markets and why you need to prepare for this now. We believe the remainder of the bullish price trend may continue to push higher, scaling very close to the CYAN trendline on the chart below over the next 60+ days before starting to break lower as we near the end of March 2021. Let’s explore why we believe this is likely to happen.
We highlighted the importance of the CYAN trend line and the multiple Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs that are arcing through the recent price range in Part I. It is our belief that these critical levels represent a major inflection point in the advance of price and that price may continue to attempt to push higher – but may align itself below the CYAN trendline as it inches closer to the early April Gann price/time arc that we believe will set up a major top in the markets.
WEEKLY SPY CHART SHOWING KEY PRICE TRENDLINE & TIME FACTORS
When we apply time-factoring to the SPY chart below, we are inclined to support the theory that a 200% time factor applies to the current market setup from the lows established in 2009. If we measure price trend and vibration from the 2009 low point, we immediately come to the October 13, 2014 lows – which were subsequently retested multiple times over the next 3+ years (August 2015, January 2016, February 2016). Our researchers believe these lows represent the end of one cycle/vibration phase and the beginning of another. By aligning a mirror-image of the original Gann Time-Arcs to the October 2014 lows, we can see that another critical Gann Vibration cycle is likely ending near mid-April 2021 through early July 2021.
We believe the next few weeks and months, as well as almost all of 2021 and beyond, will be full of major trend changes and fluctuating price activity as global investors attempt to navigate the changes in the global markets. Currently, many of the foreign markets are nearing what appear to be peak levels and, if our Gann research is correct, the US stock market is only about 90 days away from reaching the start of another Gann Time-factoring Vibration energy phase/cycle. This means there is going to be another shift in how investors perceive value in investments and where capital moves to attempt to hedge/profit from this cycle phase.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
WEEKLY SPY CHART SHOWING KEY PRICE TRENDLINE & TIME FACTORS
This next Weekly SPY chart shows a closer look at the Gann Time-factor arcs and how they aligned with the previous price corrections. Pay attention to how accurate these Gann Time-factor arcs predicted the downward price “vibrations” over the past three years. Remember, these Gann phases are a replica of the 2009 bottom to 2014 peak – applied to the 2014 low price levels. They represent an exact replica of the same price vibrations that took place between 2009 and 2014. They also show a period of time between April 2021 and July 2021 which may represent a very big, deep vibration in price which may target low price levels near $292 on the SPY.
Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you don’t miss our next special report!
The bigger question in our minds is “do our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs align with W.D. Gann price/time theories and the Law Of Vibration?” If so, then our Fibonacci Price Amplitude Arcs may be somewhat close to what W.D. Gann attempted to describe relating to his Law Of Vibration and the universal key to unlocking the secrets of identifying and predicting future price peaks/troughs accurately. If not, then we are confident they will lead us to even more breakthroughs as we continue to attempt to adapt and improve our technical analysis research.
One thing is for certain, 2021 appears to be setting up as a traders market where trends may change very quickly and aggressively. 2021 is going to be a year where traders need to stay ahead of the risks and shifting market cycles to find the best assets to own and profit from. Our BAN technology was designed specifically to address this issue – always being able to find and identify the best assets to own within any type of trend.
Our researchers believe increased price volatility will likely be seen near the end of March 2021 and by mid-April 2021, we may already start to see signs of a broad market decline setting up. Our research suggests a deep bottom may setup in October 2021 or later. Are you ready for this type of move in the markets? If not, learn how BAN can help you trade the best assets by visiting www.TheTechnicalTraders.com.
Chris Vermeulen
Chief Market Strategist
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com