investmentwatchblog--2020-08-28--IT’S AS IF THESE RIOTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, BUT ARE JUST OUTLETS FOR HAT

IT’S AS IF THESE RIOTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, BUT ARE JUST OUTLETS FOR HATE

UPDATE : So are the people who chased Rand Paul the people that Facebook is promoting here ?
Probably , @ @ @ @ @ Al Sharpton in its promotion .
Sharpton , of course , has a history of @ @ @ @ @ but is treated as a legitimate black leader by the corporate media , which includes @ @ @ @ @ .
ANOTHER UPDATE : Sen. Rand Paul thanks DC cops for saving him from ‘ @ @ @ @ @ .

via Twitter:
UPDATE: So are the people who chased Rand Paul the people that Facebook is promoting here?
Probably, since Facebook is prominently featuring Al Sharpton in its promotion.
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Sharpton, of course, has a history of inciting deadly racial violence, but is treated as a legitimate black leader by the corporate media, which includes Facebook these days. Disgraceful.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Sen. Rand Paul thanks DC cops for saving him from ‘crazed mob’ after RNC.
h/t Glenn


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-28--James Woods… Twitter has actually shadow banned the President of the United States from trending on

James Woods… Twitter has actually shadow banned the President of the United States from trending on the night of his convention. They don’t even pretend anymore.

Trump 2020 Fireworks part which many MSM channels edited out of their live coverage .

President Trump: In America, we don’t turn to government to restore our souls – we put our faith in Almighty God#RNC2020 pic.twitter.com/8bWJ7VU6QB — Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@TeamTrump) August 28, 2020
Trump 2020 Fireworks part which many MSM channels edited out of their live coverage.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-08-28--Shaken by summer looting in affluent neighborhoods, some Chicagoans moving away…  California’s first

Shaken by summer looting in affluent neighborhoods, some Chicagoans moving away…  California’s first experiment without cops… The violence could get much worse

Shaken by summer looting in affluent neighborhoods , some Chicagoans moving away… The temporary collapse of authority in many American cities , and the proposals of “ defund the police ” advocates to make that collapse permanent , has illustrated a timeless truth : When government authority dissolves , people will form their own armed enforcers of order .
You will not get a peace-and-love utopia : You will instead get vigilante justice , posses , and lynchings .
It will not be pretty ; in Kenosha , Wis. , it has already led to one well-publicized shooting .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
Come back with me to San Francisco in the 1850s to see how Americans learned this lesson once before .
San Francisco grew quickly from a late start .
Europeans only reached the Bay Area in 1769 , and the first permanent , civilian , non-Native American settlement dates only to 1835 .
The American conquest of California in 1847 , and the gold rush in 1848-49 , changed that in a heartbeat , turning a ramshackle town of 150 people in 1846 into a boomtown city of 25,000 in 1849 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Some people are figuring it out , as this article in The Atlantic illustrates : The Violence Could Get Much Worse : Unless police and political leaders begin to crack down on the armed vigilantes monitoring protests , more bloodshed could soon follow the killings in Kenosha .
JAMES LILEKS ON THE LATEST ROUND OF LOOTING AND DESTRUCTION IN MINNEAPOLIS : “ This can not go on .
It will go on .
It will happen again , and again .
I don ’ t mean officer-involved shooting .
I mean destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the new modus vivendi .
”

Shaken by summer looting in affluent neighborhoods, some Chicagoans moving away…
They understand why protesters and rioters have poured onto the streets of downtown, and some acknowledge that crime is worse in other parts of Chicago. Some also agree with protesters that something systemic needs to be changed.
But they don’t want to wait it out here in the city, fearful of stepping outside at night and hoping for things to maybe get better.
They want out.
“Not to make it all about us; the whole world is suffering,” said Amber, a 30-year-old nurse who lives in River North. “This is a minute factor in all of that, and we totally realize that. We are very lucky to have what we do have.
“But I do think that I’ve never had to think about my own safety in this way before.” We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Incidents of widespread looting and soaring homicide figures in Chicago have made national news during an already tumultuous year. As a result, some say residents in affluent neighborhoods downtown, and on the North Side, no longer feel safe in the city’s epicenter and are looking to move away. Aldermen say they see their constituents leaving the city, and it’s a concern echoed by some real estate agents and the head of a sizable property management firm.
California’s First Experiment without Cops…
The temporary collapse of authority in many American cities, and the proposals of “defund the police” advocates to make that collapse permanent, has illustrated a timeless truth: When government authority dissolves, people will form their own armed enforcers of order. You will not get a peace-and-love utopia: You will instead get vigilante justice, posses, and lynchings. It will not be pretty; in Kenosha, Wis., it has already led to one well-publicized shooting. More force still will be needed to retake control. Come back with me to San Francisco in the 1850s to see how Americans learned this lesson once before.
San Francisco grew quickly from a late start. Europeans only reached the Bay Area in 1769, and the first permanent, civilian, non-Native American settlement dates only to 1835. The American conquest of California in 1847, and the gold rush in 1848-49, changed that in a heartbeat, turning a ramshackle town of 150 people in 1846 into a boomtown city of 25,000 in 1849, then 50,000 in 1853.
UPDATE: Some people are figuring it out, as this article in The Atlantic illustrates: The Violence Could Get Much Worse: Unless police and political leaders begin to crack down on the armed vigilantes monitoring protests, more bloodshed could soon follow the killings in Kenosha.
JAMES LILEKS ON THE LATEST ROUND OF LOOTING AND DESTRUCTION IN MINNEAPOLIS: “This cannot go on. It will go on. It will happen again, and again. I don’t mean officer-involved shooting. I mean destruction for the sake of destruction. It’s the new modus vivendi.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--THE PURGE: Trump’s New Ad

THE PURGE: Trump’s New Ad

The GOP just released this new ad and well… pic.twitter.com/vBk4fnMnQK
— Breanna Morello 🇺🇸 (@breannamorello) August 28, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--Ireland is launching Health Passport Ireland, using the Chinese method of allowing citizens access t

Ireland is launching Health Passport Ireland , using the Chinese method of allowing citizens access to basic human rights pic.twitter.com/aw5yNLE9mt

Ireland is launching Health Passport Ireland, using the Chinese method of allowing citizens access to basic human rights pic.twitter.com/aw5yNLE9mt
— TubeQube ⭐⭐⭐ (@TubeQube) August 29, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--AT&T reportedly trying to sell DirecTV after massive customer losses

AT & T is reportedly trying to sell DirecTV to private-equity investors just five years after buying the satellite provider .
The negotiations with potential buyers come after millions of customers ditched DirecTV over the past two years , and could value DirecTV at much less than the $ 49 billion AT & T paid for it .
“ AT & T is seeking private-equity investors to buy the majority of its DirecTV satellite-television business , helping it cope with a major drag on its operations , according to people familiar with the situation , ” Bloomberg wrote yesterday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goldman Sachs “ have been in talks with private-equity suitors about the satellite TV unit , ” with potential bidders including Apollo Global Management and Platinum Equity , The Wall Street Journal reported .
AT & T could end up selling DirecTV for far less than it paid five years ago .
“ Any deal for the satellite TV service would be sizable but likely a far cry from the $ 49 billion AT & T paid for it in 2015 , ” the Journal wrote , quoting sources familiar with the talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value the business below $ 20 billion .
”

AT&T is reportedly trying to sell DirecTV to private-equity investors just five years after buying the satellite provider. The negotiations with potential buyers come after millions of customers ditched DirecTV over the past two years, and could value DirecTV at much less than the $49 billion AT&T paid for it.
“AT&T is seeking private-equity investors to buy the majority of its DirecTV satellite-television business, helping it cope with a major drag on its operations, according to people familiar with the situation,” Bloomberg wrote yesterday. AT&T and its advisers at Goldman Sachs “have been in talks with private-equity suitors about the satellite TV unit,” with potential bidders including Apollo Global Management and Platinum Equity, The Wall Street Journal reported.
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AT&T could end up selling DirecTV for far less than it paid five years ago. “Any deal for the satellite TV service would be sizable but likely a far cry from the $49 billion AT&T paid for it in 2015,” the Journal wrote, quoting sources familiar with the talks as saying that “a deal could value the business below $20 billion.”
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/08/att-reportedly-trying-to-sell-directv-after-massive-customer-losses/


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--Fed Chairman Powell Is Vowing to Wreck the Currency (END THE FED!)

As the Federal Reserve embarks on a new campaign to raise inflation rates , markets may be in for a change in character .
On Wednesday , Fed Chairman Jerome Powell announced that the central bank would be targeting an inflation “ average ” of 2 % .
By the Fed ’ s measures , inflation has been running below 2 % in recent years .
So , getting to a 2 % average in the years ahead will require above 2 % inflation for a significant period .
Here ’ s Powell attempting to explain himself from central bankers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powell : Our statement emphasizes that our actions to achieve both sides of our dual mandate will be most effective if longer term inflation expectations remain well anchored at 2 % .
However , if inflation runs below 2 % following economic downturns , but never moves above 2 % , even when the economy is strong , then over time , inflation will average less than 2 % .
Households and businesses will come to expect this result .
Meaning that inflation expectations would tend to move below our inflation goal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this outcome and the adverse dynamics that could ensue , our new statement indicates that we will seek to achieve inflation that averages 2 % over time .
If Jerome Powell and company are successful in jacking up consumer price levels , the implications for holders of bonds and cash are dire .
Anyone who holds savings in a money market account or a U.S. Treasury security of any maturity stands to suffer real losses year after year .
Not even the 30-year Treasury sports a yield as high as 2 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Powell ’ s jawboning .
Earlier this month , Fed officials had disappointed the bond market by backing off on yield curve control .
That signaled they would allow long-term yields to rise even as they hold short-term rates near zero .
The 30-year Treasury hit 1.5 % yesterday .
It still has a long way to go to get to a positive real rate in environment

As the Federal Reserve embarks on a new campaign to raise inflation rates, markets may be in for a change in character.
On Wednesday, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell announced that the central bank would be targeting an inflation “average” of 2%. By the Fed’s measures, inflation has been running below 2% in recent years. So, getting to a 2% average in the years ahead will require above 2% inflation for a significant period.
Here’s Powell attempting to explain himself from central bankers’ virtual Jackson Hole conference:
Jerome Powell: Our statement emphasizes that our actions to achieve both sides of our dual mandate will be most effective if longer term inflation expectations remain well anchored at 2%. However, if inflation runs below 2% following economic downturns, but never moves above 2%, even when the economy is strong, then over time, inflation will average less than 2%.
Households and businesses will come to expect this result. Meaning that inflation expectations would tend to move below our inflation goal and pull realized inflation down. To prevent this outcome and the adverse dynamics that could ensue, our new statement indicates that we will seek to achieve inflation that averages 2% over time.
If Jerome Powell and company are successful in jacking up consumer price levels, the implications for holders of bonds and cash are dire. Anyone who holds savings in a money market account or a U.S. Treasury security of any maturity stands to suffer real losses year after year.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Not even the 30-year Treasury sports a yield as high as 2%. Bond yields did rise sharply on Thursday following Powell’s jawboning.
Earlier this month, Fed officials had disappointed the bond market by backing off on yield curve control. That signaled they would allow long-term yields to rise even as they hold short-term rates near zero.
The 30-year Treasury hit 1.5% yesterday. It still has a long way to go to get to a positive real rate in environment
www.soundmoneydefense.org/news/2020/08/28/fed-chairman-powell-is-vowing-to-wreck-the-currency-000277
JB


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--So Much for the msm’s FAKE POLLS – SIX Democratic MAYORS in Minnesota ENDORSE TRUMP!

DULUTH , Minnesota — Six Democrat Minnesota mayors endorsed President Donald Trump over former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday @ @ @ @ @ improved the lives of Minnesotans , while Biden has moved too far to the left @ @ @ @ @ for Trump ’ s reelection , Minnesota Iron Range mayors — Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe @ @ @ @ @ , Ely Mayor Chuck Novak , Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson , Eveleth Mayor Robert @ @ @ @ @ Andrea Zupancich — endorsed Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term in @ @

DULUTH, Minnesota — Six Democrat Minnesota mayors endorsed President Donald Trump over former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday, asserting that Trump has improved the lives of Minnesotans, while Biden has moved too far to the left.
At a campaign rally for Trump’s reelection, Minnesota Iron Range mayors — Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe, Chisholm Mayor John Champa, Ely Mayor Chuck Novak, Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson, Eveleth Mayor Robert Vlaisavljevich, and Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich — endorsed Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term in office.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/08/29/minnesota-democrat-mayors-endorse-donald-trump-biden-did-nothing-working-class/


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--THERE YOU HAVE IT: Microscopic robots, activated by laser!

Microscopic robot would use laser pulses to walk through the body One day microscopic robots could be crawling through your @ @ @ @ @ or delivering drugs .
And now we ’ re one step closer to that future @ @ @ @ @ University have created tiny robots powered by pulses of laser light .
First presented at @ @ @ @ @ the micro-robots look fairly simple in their design .
They ’ re about five microns @ @ @ @ @ and between 40 and 70 microns long , roughly the size of a single-celled organism @ @ @ @ @ bodies contain a simple silicon photovoltaic circuit that powers their legs , which are made @ @ @ @

Microscopic robot would use laser pulses to walk through the body
One day microscopic robots could be crawling through your body, clearing out disease or delivering drugs. And now we’re one step closer to that future, as scientists from Cornell University have created tiny robots powered by pulses of laser light.
First presented at a conference last year, the micro-robots look fairly simple in their design. They’re about five microns thick, 40 microns wide and between 40 and 70 microns long, roughly the size of a single-celled organism like a paramecium. Their bodies contain a simple silicon photovoltaic circuit that powers their legs, which are made of electrochemical actuators.
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newatlas.com/robotics/microscopic-robot-laser-pulses-walk/


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--Australia Looks To Take The Lead In The Hydrogen Boom

Over the past decade , the European Union has widely been viewed as being ahead of the renewables curve , and it recently-launched new hydrogen strategy has only served to cement its credentials .
The EU has a highly ambitious plan to install 40 gigawatts of electrolyzers within its borders and support the development of another 40 gigawatts of green hydrogen in nearby countries by 2030 that can export to the EU .
That is a good 320x the current global installed capacity of 250 MW .
But one desert country could soon make the EU ’ s hydrogen plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a monster 15,000-megawatt project that will generate hydrogen for export , potentially making the world ’ s driest continent the ‘ Saudi Arabia of renewables.
’ Dubbed the Asian Renewable Energy Hub , the $ 20B project is set to become the world ’ s largest wind-solar hybrid with the vast amounts of renewable energy generated used to produce hydrogen for export .
It is a classic example of the hydrogen economy finally taking off , with some experts predicting that hydrogen could soon become a globally traded energy source , just like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mega-project , a 5,000-megawatt renewable hydrogen export operation is being developed in Western Australia in the remote town of Kalbarri off the shores of the Indian Ocean about 2,715 miles from Sydney .
However , given the challenges of transporting hydrogen , the first phase of the Kalbarri project at first aims to blend the hydrogen directly with natural gas in order to lower its carbon footprint .
Earlier in the year , the UK became one of the first countries to successfully implement grid injection of hydrogen , with the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network to create a 20 % hydrogen/natural gas blend–the highest in Europe .
A 20 % volume blend allows customers to continue using their existing gas appliances and nat gas pipeworks with no need for extra adjustments .
According to ITM Power , the company implementing a pilot project at Keele University , a 20 % hydrogen blend rolled out across the entire country could save ~6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year , or about the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the roads .
Phase one of the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The second phase of the Kalbarri project will see the gas compressed and supercooled , just like LNG , and then exported to Asian nations like Korea , Japan , and Singapore .
The hydrogen exports could kick off in four years and take another three years to scale .
The third phase of the project actually has the local residents most excited : Using the hydrogen to manufacture green steel for export .
Given that steel production accounts for ~7 % of global carbon emissions , steel made from renewable energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as countries move to decarbonize .
Kalbarri could be exporting green steel in a decade or less .
However , the hydrogen economy will have to face–and overcome–the same cost conundrum that wind and solar have faced over the past decade .
Over the years , the hydrogen economy has endured many false dawns , mainly due to technical and , mostly , cost issues .
This has led to a situation whereby wind and solar energy are now competitive with traditional fossil fuels in electricity generation , whereas hydrogen remains considerably more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydrogen fuel cell vehicle ( FCEV ) in California costs around $ 16.50 per kilogram compared to $ 3.232 per gallon of regular petrol in the same state .
Light-duty FCEVs are typically 2.5x more fuel-efficient than comparable gasoline-powered vehicles , which means that achieving price parity with gasoline would require that 1 kilogram of hydrogen sells for not more than $ 8.08 .
In other words , hydrogen costs need to fall by 50 % to become competitive with fossil fuels .
Luckily , there is hope on the horizon .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council , “ …scaling fuel cell production from 10,000 to 200,000 units can reduce unit costs by as much as 45 % , irrespective of any major technological breakthroughs , and can impact multiple end-use cases .
Scaling up to 70 GW of electrolysis will lead to electrolyser costs of less than $ 400 per kW.
’ ’ This already appears to be happening in California : FirstElement Fuel has reported selling hydrogen for $ 12 per kilogram plus tax for a total $ 13.11 per kilogram and expects prices to continue coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Currently , California has a network of 43 open retail hydrogen refueling stations , capable of dispensing more than 11,800 kilograms of hydrogen each day .
That is enough to support nearly 17,000 light-duty FCEVs or more than double California ’ s fleet of 7,000 FCEVs ( 5,000 FCEVs in 2018 ) .
Looking beyond FCEVs , the Hydrogen Council says Fuel Cells for Combined Heat and Power ( FC-CHP ) are likely to achieve cost parity with both low-carbon ( hydrogen boilers and heat pumps with grid electricity ) and natural gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas CHP ) by around 2030 .
The organization estimates that the cost of fuel cells and hydrogen tanks could decline by 70 % by 2030 , driven by larger market volumes of fuel cells and tanks , while the cost of hydrogen supplied could fall by up to 40 % by the same timeframe to $ 4.50/kg and $ 6/kg .
Hydrogen fuel cell generators may also become viable alternatives to backup generators that use diesel or natural gas in remote locations where batteries and renewables are not viable due to suboptimal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydrogen generators could save more than 40 % compared to a solar plant and battery in places like Edinburgh .
In a nutshell , it could take the hydrogen economy about a decade before it can fully compete with traditional fuel sources or renewables on a cost basis .

By Alex Kimani
Over the past decade, the European Union has widely been viewed as being ahead of the renewables curve, and it recently-launched new hydrogen strategy has only served to cement its credentials. The EU has a highly ambitious plan to install 40 gigawatts of electrolyzers within its borders and support the development of another 40 gigawatts of green hydrogen in nearby countries by 2030 that can export to the EU. That is a good 320x the current global installed capacity of 250 MW. But one desert country could soon make the EU’s hydrogen plans seem pedestrian: Australia is single-handedly developing a monster 15,000-megawatt project that will generate hydrogen for export, potentially making the world’s driest continent the ‘Saudi Arabia of renewables.’
Dubbed the Asian Renewable Energy Hub, the $20B project is set to become the world’s largest wind-solar hybrid with the vast amounts of renewable energy generated used to produce hydrogen for export.
It is a classic example of the hydrogen economy finally taking off, with some experts predicting that hydrogen could soon become a globally traded energy source, just like oil and gas.
Natural gas hydrogen injection
As part of the mega-project, a 5,000-megawatt renewable hydrogen export operation is being developed in Western Australia in the remote town of Kalbarri off the shores of the Indian Ocean about 2,715 miles from Sydney.
However, given the challenges of transporting hydrogen, the first phase of the Kalbarri project at first aims to blend the hydrogen directly with natural gas in order to lower its carbon footprint. Earlier in the year, the UK became one of the first countries to successfully implement grid injection of hydrogen, with the country injecting the gas into its natural gas network to create a 20% hydrogen/natural gas blend–the highest in Europe. A 20% volume blend allows customers to continue using their existing gas appliances and nat gas pipeworks with no need for extra adjustments. According to ITM Power, the company implementing a pilot project at Keele University, a 20% hydrogen blend rolled out across the entire country could save ~6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, or about the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the roads.
Phase one of the project could be complete in just two years.
The second phase of the Kalbarri project will see the gas compressed and supercooled, just like LNG, and then exported to Asian nations like Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The hydrogen exports could kick off in four years and take another three years to scale.
The third phase of the project actually has the local residents most excited: Using the hydrogen to manufacture green steel for export. Given that steel production accounts for ~7% of global carbon emissions, steel made from renewable energy is expected to become a multi-billion industry as countries move to decarbonize. Kalbarri could be exporting green steel in a decade or less.
However, the hydrogen economy will have to face–and overcome–the same cost conundrum that wind and solar have faced over the past decade.
The cost conundrum
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Over the years, the hydrogen economy has endured many false dawns, mainly due to technical and, mostly, cost issues. This has led to a situation whereby wind and solar energy are now competitive with traditional fossil fuels in electricity generation, whereas hydrogen remains considerably more expensive.
For instance, fueling a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) in California costs around $16.50 per kilogram compared to $3.232 per gallon of regular petrol in the same state. Light-duty FCEVs are typically 2.5x more fuel-efficient than comparable gasoline-powered vehicles, which means that achieving price parity with gasoline would require that 1 kilogram of hydrogen sells for not more than $8.08. In other words, hydrogen costs need to fall by 50% to become competitive with fossil fuels.
Luckily, there is hope on the horizon.
According to a recent report by the Hydrogen Council, “…scaling fuel cell production from 10,000 to 200,000 units can reduce unit costs by as much as 45%, irrespective of any major technological breakthroughs, and can impact multiple end-use cases. Scaling up to 70 GW of electrolysis will lead to electrolyser costs of less than $400 per kW.’’
This already appears to be happening in California: FirstElement Fuel has reported selling hydrogen for $12 per kilogram plus tax for a total $13.11 per kilogram and expects prices to continue coming down as hydrogen production cost falls.
Currently, California has a network of 43 open retail hydrogen refueling stations, capable of dispensing more than 11,800 kilograms of hydrogen each day. That is enough to support nearly 17,000 light-duty FCEVs or more than double California’s fleet of 7,000 FCEVs ( 5,000 FCEVs in 2018).
Source: California Energy Commission
Looking beyond FCEVs, the Hydrogen Council says Fuel Cells for Combined Heat and Power (FC-CHP) are likely to achieve cost parity with both low-carbon (hydrogen boilers and heat pumps with grid electricity) and natural gas (boiler plus grid electricity and natural gas CHP) by around 2030. The organization estimates that the cost of fuel cells and hydrogen tanks could decline by 70% by 2030, driven by larger market volumes of fuel cells and tanks, while the cost of hydrogen supplied could fall by up to 40% by the same timeframe to $4.50/kg and $6/kg.
Hydrogen fuel cell generators may also become viable alternatives to backup generators that use diesel or natural gas in remote locations where batteries and renewables are not viable due to suboptimal conditions. For instance, currently, hydrogen generators could save more than 40% compared to a solar plant and battery in places like Edinburgh.
In a nutshell, it could take the hydrogen economy about a decade before it can fully compete with traditional fuel sources or renewables on a cost basis.
By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--This is domestic terrorism on full display, out in the open. They don’t even try to hide it.

BLM inc. threatening to “ rip the president out of the White House ” They say they won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ .
This is domestic terrorism on full display , out in the open .
They @ @ @ @ @ to hide it .
pic.twitter.com/OyhNSzBEwu

BLM inc. threatening to “rip the president out of the White House”
They say they won’t wait until the next election.
They’re openly calling for a revolution.
This is domestic terrorism on full display, out in the open. They don’t even try to hide it. pic.twitter.com/OyhNSzBEwu
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 29, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--South Korea’s Third-Largest Cryptocurrency Exchange Seized Due To Allegations Of Extreme Fraud

( Natural News ) South Korean police have seized Coinbit , one of the country ’ s largest cryptocurrency exchanges , following allegations that it was involved in fraud and wash trading .
According to a report by the Seoul Shinmum , the Seoul Metropolitan Investigation Department searched and seized several of the company ’ s premises , including its headquarters in Seoul ’ s Gangnam district .
This came following reports that 99 percent of the transaction volume on the exchange was faked through wash trading .
As part of the seizure , Coinbit owner Choi Mo and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transaction volumes and manipulating token prices using several ghost accounts .
Police estimate that the fraudulent trading netted Coinbit over 100 billion won ( $ 84 billion ) in total .
With over 252,000 active users , Coinbit is South Korea ’ s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange behind Bithumb and Upbit .
Suspicions that wash trading was happening at Coinbit were first raised in May when an anonymous insider approached the Seoul Shinmun with supposed information on the company ’ s illegal practices .
Following an investigation , the paper found that , between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of transactions on Coinbit ’ s Exchange 1 had no corresponding deposit and withdrawal details .
Exchange 1 traded in major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin .
Meanwhile , Exchange 2 , which mostly focused on smaller cryptocurrencies , had blocked coin transactions with other exchanges .
This allowed Choi and his team to control the supply of coins , in turn allowing them to directly realize market margin by trading large quantities of coins at certain times .
In addition , the investigation found that at least one unnamed accounting firm had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a review of its books .
Even when the paper found evidence of wash trading , it delayed the publication of its report for fear that Coinbit executives would destroy any evidence of their wrongdoing .
The paper instead worked with the Seoul police and waited until after their operation was complete to reveal the results of the report .
Alongside the wash trading allegations , authorities have now also raised the possibility of additional malpractice and embezzlement charges .
Wash trading involves transactions in which no actual funds or financial interests are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ false trades , ” they ’ re usually used to bolster an exchange ’ s reported trade volume , giving it the appearance of liquidity and market activity and attracting new users to the exchange .
( Related : Cryptocurrency is dying as young speculators shift to Robinhood and zero-cost trading . )
In traditional finance , the regulation of exchanges means that trade volume is a good proxy for liquidity ; however , the same does not apply to the generally unregulated world of cryptocurrency .
The lack of regulation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading so attractive for any exchange operators looking to inflate their numbers .
As such , it has become a big problem within the industry .
Last year , crypto asset management firm Bitwise admitted in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) filing that 95 percent of Bitcoin trading volumes were fake .
“ The Bitwise letter to the SEC was a turning point because it informed investors and regulators on how pervasive wash trading was at that time , ” John Jefferies , chief financial analyst at crypto forensics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This form of market manipulation is still a serious problem , especially in the 800 exchanges that are not in the Top 40.
” However , even the SEC being made aware of the scale of wash trading going on hasn ’ t slowed the practice down .
“ This problem is still prevalent , ” said Bobby Ong , co-founder and chief operating officer of crypto ratings platform CoinGecko .
“ We still see non-regulated exchanges conducting wash trading , and we don ’ t have a good measure to tell whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time.
” What makes it worse is that there ’ s currently no reliable way to tell is an exchange is involved in wash trading .
“ Simply put , there is no easy way to tell if an exchange is inflating volumes or not by merely looking at the volumes they report , ” explains Gerald Chee , head of research at CoinMarketCap .
Chee further explains that detecting actual wash trades would require access to the accounts that performed the trade – data that only the exchanges have access to due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue , some experts have suggested that market surveillance and virtual asset service providers can provide some level of transparency to curtail wash trading .
However , this would require non-regulated exchanges to voluntarily allow surveillance .
With this in mind , others have suggested that the real , long-term solution to wash trading and other forms of malpractice is global regulation .
As Chee states , wash trading is a “ regulatory problem and not a data-related problem.
” He suggests that a regulator ’ s stick may be the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s chief technology officer , Hong Kim , agreed .
“ If you fear your right to operate will be imperiled , you won ’ t lie about trading volume .
”

by Franz Walker via Natural News
(Natural News) South Korean police have seized Coinbit, one of the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, following allegations that it was involved in fraud and wash trading.
According to a report by the Seoul Shinmum, the Seoul Metropolitan Investigation Department searched and seized several of the company’s premises, including its headquarters in Seoul’s Gangnam district. This came following reports that 99 percent of the transaction volume on the exchange was faked through wash trading.
As part of the seizure, Coinbit owner Choi Mo and his management team have been accused of inflating transaction volumes and manipulating token prices using several ghost accounts.
Police estimate that the fraudulent trading netted Coinbit over 100 billion won ($84 billion) in total.
South Korean exchange practiced wash trading
With over 252,000 active users, Coinbit is South Korea’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange behind Bithumb and Upbit.
Suspicions that wash trading was happening at Coinbit were first raised in May when an anonymous insider approached the Seoul Shinmun with supposed information on the company’s illegal practices.
Following an investigation, the paper found that, between August 2019 and May 2020, 99 percent of transactions on Coinbit’s Exchange 1 had no corresponding deposit and withdrawal details. Exchange 1 traded in major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, Exchange 2, which mostly focused on smaller cryptocurrencies, had blocked coin transactions with other exchanges. This allowed Choi and his team to control the supply of coins, in turn allowing them to directly realize market margin by trading large quantities of coins at certain times.
In addition, the investigation found that at least one unnamed accounting firm had already refused to work with Coinbit after a review of its books.
Even when the paper found evidence of wash trading, it delayed the publication of its report for fear that Coinbit executives would destroy any evidence of their wrongdoing. The paper instead worked with the Seoul police and waited until after their operation was complete to reveal the results of the report.
Alongside the wash trading allegations, authorities have now also raised the possibility of additional malpractice and embezzlement charges.
Wash trading remains a problem in crypto
Wash trading involves transactions in which no actual funds or financial interests are actually exchanged. Sometimes referred to as “false trades,” they’re usually used to bolster an exchange’s reported trade volume, giving it the appearance of liquidity and market activity and attracting new users to the exchange. (Related: Cryptocurrency is dying as young speculators shift to Robinhood and zero-cost trading.)
In traditional finance, the regulation of exchanges means that trade volume is a good proxy for liquidity; however, the same does not apply to the generally unregulated world of cryptocurrency.
The lack of regulation, however, is also what makes wash trading so attractive for any exchange operators looking to inflate their numbers. As such, it has become a big problem within the industry.
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Last year, crypto asset management firm Bitwise admitted in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that 95 percent of Bitcoin trading volumes were fake.
“The Bitwise letter to the SEC was a turning point because it informed investors and regulators on how pervasive wash trading was at that time,” John Jefferies, chief financial analyst at crypto forensics firm CipherTrace, told Cointelegraph. “This form of market manipulation is still a serious problem, especially in the 800 exchanges that are not in the Top 40.”
However, even the SEC being made aware of the scale of wash trading going on hasn’t slowed the practice down.
“This problem is still prevalent,” said Bobby Ong, co-founder and chief operating officer of crypto ratings platform CoinGecko. “We still see non-regulated exchanges conducting wash trading, and we don’t have a good measure to tell whether it is getting better or worse over time.”
What makes it worse is that there’s currently no reliable way to tell is an exchange is involved in wash trading.
“Simply put, there is no easy way to tell if an exchange is inflating volumes or not by merely looking at the volumes they report,” explains Gerald Chee, head of research at CoinMarketCap.
Chee further explains that detecting actual wash trades would require access to the accounts that performed the trade – data that only the exchanges have access to due to their sensitive nature.
To address the issue, some experts have suggested that market surveillance and virtual asset service providers can provide some level of transparency to curtail wash trading. However, this would require non-regulated exchanges to voluntarily allow surveillance.
With this in mind, others have suggested that the real, long-term solution to wash trading and other forms of malpractice is global regulation. As Chee states, wash trading is a “regulatory problem and not a data-related problem.” He suggests that a regulator’s stick may be the only way to eliminate the practice.
Bitwise’s chief technology officer, Hong Kim, agreed. “If you fear your right to operate will be imperiled, you won’t lie about trading volume.”
Sources include:
FinanceMagnates.com 1
CoinTelegraph.com 1
FinanceMagnates.com 2
CoinTelegraph.com 2


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--The Biden Family Shocker

The Biden Family Shocker

In 2017 , Joe Biden ’ s niece , Caroline Biden , stole $ 100,000 through a credit card scam , aka , GRAND LARCENY , but was able to cut a deal with DEMOCRATIC NY prosecutor and got off scott free without either jail time or probation .
This was her second arrest .
She was able to deal her way out of the first one too .
She has also been to rehab numerous times .
Biden ’ s son , Hunter Biden , was kicked out of the Navy for failing a cocaine drug test .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naval Officers direct COMMISSION ?
Daddy fixed it !
Then Hunter divorced his wife , mother of his three daughters , after a year long affair , to marry his brother ’ s widow .
WHAT !
!
?
?
Over the course of the divorce , Hunter drained hundreds of thousands of dollars from the couple ’ s assets by “ spending extravagantly on his own interests ” ( including drugs , alcohol , prostitutes , strip clubs and gifts for women with whom he had sexual relations ) , while leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate bills .
It actually was worse than that , all outlined here : And this is all on top of the BILLIONS in compensation his father dubiously arranged for him from communist China and Ukraine .
Biden ’ s daughter , Ashley Biden Krein , has been arrested several times for drug charges .
While he was V.P.
, she was videoed snorting cocaine , but the news media decided that wasn ’ t newsworthy and decided not to publish the video .
She hid out in the Veep ’ s Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things blew over .
Okay….. all God ’ s children got problems….but Damn….
, what if these things had occurred with Trump ’ s children ?
?
?
?
The Trump kids are apparently above reproach ( if they weren ’ t the media would surely have discovered it by now ) , and Biden has a passel of miscreants .
But the Democrats are not interested in subpoenaing all of the Biden children ’ s bank and credit card accounts , are they ?
Why haven ’ t we heard any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in the “ great ” national newspapers ?
Nothing to see here !
Just move along !
…….Really ?
?

The Biden Family
In 2017, Joe Biden’s niece, Caroline Biden, stole $100,000 through a credit card scam, aka, GRAND LARCENY, but was able to cut a deal with DEMOCRATIC NY prosecutor and got off scott free without either jail time or probation. This was her second arrest. She was able to deal her way out of the first one too. She has also been to rehab numerous times.
nypost.com/2017/06/09/joe-bidens-niece-dodges-jail-after-100k-credit-card-scam/
Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, was kicked out of the Navy for failing a cocaine drug test. More: HOW DID HE EVER GET A Naval Officers direct COMMISSION? Daddy fixed it!
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/joe-bidens-son-hunter-kicked-out-navy-cocaine-n227811
Then Hunter divorced his wife, mother of his three daughters, after a year long affair, to marry his brother’s widow. WHAT!!??
Over the course of the divorce, Hunter drained hundreds of thousands of dollars from the couple’s assets by “spending extravagantly on his own interests” (including drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, strip clubs and gifts for women with whom he had sexual relations), while leaving the family with insufficient funds to pay legitimate bills. It actually was worse than that, all outlined here:
www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2017/03/02/kathleen-biden-files-divorce-hunter/98638454/
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And this is all on top of the BILLIONS in compensation his father dubiously arranged for him from communist China and Ukraine.
nypost.com/2018/03/15/inside-the-shady-private-equity-firm-run-by-kerry-and-bidens-kids/
Biden ’s daughter, Ashley Biden Krein, has been arrested several times for drug charges. While he was V.P., she was videoed snorting cocaine, but the news media decided that wasn’t newsworthy and decided not to publish the video. She hid out in the Veep’s Delaware home for a week or so until things blew over.
nypost.com/2009/03/30/parties-pot-in-ashley-bidens-past/
Okay….. all God’s children got problems….but Damn…., what if these things had occurred with Trump’s children???? The Trump kids are apparently above reproach (if they weren’t the media would surely have discovered it by now), and Biden has a passel of miscreants. But the Democrats are not interested in subpoenaing all of the Biden children’s bank and credit card accounts, are they? Why haven’t we heard any of this from the networks, or read it in the “great” national newspapers?
Nothing to see here! Just move along! …….Really??
h/t QuantumLove


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--Planned Economic Collapse Of America: 60 Million Americans Lost Their Jobs, Retail Apocalypse

This week has started off with The Labor Department announcing that over one million new unemployment claims were filed since last Thursday , meaning that , so far , over 58 million Americans have filed for unemployment over the past 23 weeks .
Today , we are going to present you with a summary of updated data from the real economy , disclosing the consequences of the economic collapse in our daily lives , and why this meltdown is far from ending .
Before 2020 , the previous all-time claims for a single week happened during the 1982 Recession , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its highest weekly peak .
Weirdly enough , both the government and the media are trying to make it seem like 1.1 million weekly claims are “ good news ” , distorting the reading on US layoffs provided by the report , by affirming that continuing claims , which represent all Americans still receiving benefits with a one-week lag , fell “ sharply ” to 14.8 million from 15.5 million the previous week , and that is what economists are focusing on , because it ultimately indicates that over the past three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If these so-called economists are focusing on a 0,7 million weekly “ recovery ” , while 1.1 million claims were filed last week , they ’ re either ignoring the fact that over 30 % of rehired employees are laid-off a second time months or weeks after they return to their posts , or things have gotten so bad that they ’ re trying to look less desperate by praising every derisory upturn as if something is actually improving – when clearly it isn ’ t .
Maybe both options are valid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 , this would still be the worst year for unemployment in all of US history by a colossal margin .
If that doesn ’ t configure as an economic cataclysm , nothing else does .
Each one of these numbers represents one life that is just trying to make it through the month or even the week with a roof above their heads and food on the table for their families .
It ’ s not only a matter of data , it ’ s a matter of lives , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more seriously .
Unfortunately , hundreds of retail companies that have filed for bankruptcy since the beginning of the year .
Moreover , the worst “ retail apocalypse ” in the US history will also compromise the long-term existence of shopping malls .
All these factors will increase the number of layoffs and worsen the already fragile economic state of Main Street .
On the other hand , as if this was all a win-and-lose game , an ultra-rich club is stockpiling cash in extraordinary amounts .
Tiger 21 , a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reported that its members are hoarding cash at unprecedented levels , raising their cash holdings to 19 % of their total assets on concerns over the economic consequences of the sanitary outbreak in the country , which have gone up about 12 % since the start of the crisis , and a quarter of their members of the group are expecting the unfolding of the crisis to continue until the end of June 2021 .
Obviously , apart from profiting from the economic downfall , this signalizes that many of them know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come for the financial markets , so they ’ re trying to protect themselves from further repercussions .
While the stock market is expecting a couple more trillions to feed corporate greed , workers all over the country are uncertain if they ’ ll have means to feed themselves and their families into the coming months .
The government that doesn ’ t have money to pay unemployment checks is the same that injects trillions into the stock market , just for the sake of good relations with power-hungry CEOs .
The more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets .
We ’ re living a nation of unrighteousness and transgression whose people were left fighting for crumbs while the 1 % thrives from the power of our blood sweat and tears .
Prepare for the storm , because it is coming for us .

This week has started off with The Labor Department announcing that over one million new unemployment claims were filed since last Thursday, meaning that, so far, over 58 million Americans have filed for unemployment over the past 23 weeks. Today, we are going to present you with a summary of updated data from the real economy, disclosing the consequences of the economic collapse in our daily lives, and why this meltdown is far from ending.
Before 2020, the previous all-time claims for a single week happened during the 1982 Recession, with around 695,000 newly unemployed Americans at its highest weekly peak. Weirdly enough, both the government and the media are trying to make it seem like 1.1 million weekly claims are “good news”, distorting the reading on US layoffs provided by the report, by affirming that continuing claims, which represent all Americans still receiving benefits with a one-week lag, fell “sharply” to 14.8 million from 15.5 million the previous week, and that is what economists are focusing on, because it ultimately indicates that over the past three weeks 2 million laid-off workers were rehired.
If these so-called economists are focusing on a 0,7 million weekly “recovery”, while 1.1 million claims were filed last week, they’re either ignoring the fact that over 30% of rehired employees are laid-off a second time months or weeks after they return to their posts, or things have gotten so bad that they’re trying to look less desperate by praising every derisory upturn as if something is actually improving – when clearly it isn’t. Maybe both options are valid.
Even if there were no more claims in 2020, this would still be the worst year for unemployment in all of US history by a colossal margin. If that doesn’t configure as an economic cataclysm, nothing else does. Each one of these numbers represents one life that is just trying to make it through the month or even the week with a roof above their heads and food on the table for their families. It’s not only a matter of data, it’s a matter of lives, so our leaders should be taking this issue more seriously.
Unfortunately, hundreds of retail companies that have filed for bankruptcy since the beginning of the year. Moreover, the worst “retail apocalypse” in the US history will also compromise the long-term existence of shopping malls.
All these factors will increase the number of layoffs and worsen the already fragile economic state of Main Street. On the other hand, as if this was all a win-and-lose game, an ultra-rich club is stockpiling cash in extraordinary amounts. Tiger 21, a group of over 800 multimillionaire investors in the US, reported that its members are hoarding cash at unprecedented levels, raising their cash holdings to 19% of their total assets on concerns over the economic consequences of the sanitary outbreak in the country, which have gone up about 12% since the start of the crisis, and a quarter of their members of the group are expecting the unfolding of the crisis to continue until the end of June 2021.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Obviously, apart from profiting from the economic downfall, this signalizes that many of them know that there is much more trouble to come for the financial markets, so they’re trying to protect themselves from further repercussions. While the stock market is expecting a couple more trillions to feed corporate greed, workers all over the country are uncertain if they’ll have means to feed themselves and their families into the coming months. The government that doesn’t have money to pay unemployment checks is the same that injects trillions into the stock market, just for the sake of good relations with power-hungry CEOs.
The more this narrative unrolls the more nauseating it gets. We’re living a nation of unrighteousness and transgression whose people were left fighting for crumbs while the 1% thrives from the power of our blood sweat and tears. Prepare for the storm, because it is coming for us.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--POTUS: “Sell That Tonight On eBay, It’s Worth $10,000.” — Showing His Support For First Responders

This 3 minute clip of President Trump talking with first responders in Louisiana shows the side of him that the @ @ @ @ @

This 3 minute clip of President Trump talking with first responders in Louisiana shows the side of him that the media never shows"pic.twitter.com/Bz9pua87wJ
— 🇺🇸⭐Space Cowboy⭐🇺🇸 (@X14Eagle) August 29, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-30--Democrats introduce bill removing cannabis from list of controlled substances – House will vote next

Democrats introduce bill removing cannabis from list of controlled substances – House will vote next month

The House will vote on legislation next month to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and erase some marijuana @ @ @ @ @ would not legalize the drug , which would be left up to states , but @ @ @ @ @ a historic step in the effort to reduce legal penalties related to the drug .
@ @ @ @ @ ( D-S.C. ) said in an email to members that the vote will take place @ @ @ @ @ .
Marijuana is already legal in 11 states .
The vote would be the first @ @ @ @ @ Congress to take marijuana off the Controlled Substances Act .
It would also expunge criminal @ @ @ @ @ for people who have been negatively impacted by enforcement of marijuana laws .
The bill @ @ @ @ @ Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler ( D-N.Y. ) last fall and passed the panel by a @ @ @ @ @ It passed the committee with the votes of GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz ( Fla. ) @ @ @ @ @ ) .
It is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate .

The House will vote on legislation next month to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and erase some marijuana criminal records.
The bill would not legalize the drug, which would be left up to states, but the vote will still be a historic step in the effort to reduce legal penalties related to the drug. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said in an email to members that the vote will take place during the September work period.
Marijuana is already legal in 11 states.
The vote would be the first taken by either chamber of Congress to take marijuana off the Controlled Substances Act.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
It would also expunge criminal records and provide grant funding for people who have been negatively impacted by enforcement of marijuana laws.
The bill was first introduced by House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) last fall and passed the panel by a 24-10 vote in November. It passed the committee with the votes of GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) and Tom McClintock (Calif.). It is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
thehill.com/homenews/house/514237-house-to-vote-on-a-bill-to-remove-cannabis-from-list-of-controlled-substances


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Locked Down & Unemployed: The Fed’s Solution?…’Bring On The Inflation!’

The Fed , the enabler of big government , intends to escalate the counterfeiting of dollars on top of the @ @ @ @ @ More taxes and higher prices ahead , which makes for more economic heartache for the @ @ @

The Fed, the enabler of big government, intends to escalate the counterfeiting of dollars on top of the trillions already created out-of-thin-air. More taxes and higher prices ahead, which makes for more economic heartache for the American people.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--A Potential Market Phase Change?

A Potential Market Phase Change?

Let ’ s be clear , at Powell ’ s Jackson Hole speech he didn ’ t deliver anything groundbreaking .
However , it doesn ’ t matter if the Fed ’ s policy won ’ t change much .
It matters how it impacts the market .
The Fed hardly utilized its corporate bond buying program because it didn ’ t have to .
It got the free market to do its work for it .
It said it would buy corporate bonds , so investors front ran the Fed .
The Fed acted like a brilliant trader by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its policy .
The Fed acted like a disciplined value investor !
As you can see from the chart above , the Jackson Hole speech caused the 30 year yield to spike because the market thinks the Fed is allowing for more inflation .
This could create a phase change in the market in which housing and tech stocks go lower , while energy , materials , and bank stocks rally .
Specifically , this “ robust updating ” of Fed policy involves “ average inflation targeting ” in which the Fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above its 2 % target .
Powell stated , “ This change may appear subtle , but it reflects our view that a robust job market can be sustained without causing an outbreak of inflation.
” The change is so subtle , it literally doesn ’ t exist .
The Fed has been saying it will allow for above 2 % inflation for years .
The plan has been that the average rate should be 2 % .
Since it has been below 2 % for so long , the Fed won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 % .
The most important thing to understand here is this is all guidance .
It ’ s open mouth policy .
That means the Fed can basically do whatever it wants when inflation actually rises ( if it does ) .
The goal is to impact markets now .
The Fed has no idea what it will be facing 5 years from now .
It just needs to convince the market it won ’ t raise rates for 5 years .
When the challenges arise , it can act how it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fed is allowing for higher inflation when the 2 % goal hasn ’ t even been reached in the past decade .
Will more dovishness get us to above 2 % inflation when similar policy couldn ’ t get us to 2 % inflation ?
Some regional Fed officials are saying the new target is 2.5 % , but it has never been tested , so this is meaningless .
Not The Best Jobless Claims Report After the increase in claims last week , we were waiting with baited breath to see if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report from the week of August 22nd was a mixed bag .
It doesn ’ t give us a strong tell one way or the other .
Seasonally adjusted initial claims fell from 1.104 million to 1.006 million which was above the consensus of 987,000 .
Non-seasonally adjusted claims fell from 890,000 to 822,000 which is a new recovery low .
The biggest weak point was the 82,000 increase in PUAs which increased to 608,000 .
As you can see in the chart below , the total non-seasonally adjusted initial claims and PUAs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % increase from last week .
The continued claims reading was good when you consider the increase in initial claims last week .
Continued claims fell from 14.758 million to 14.535 million .
IFR Markets estimates it will take 8 more weeks for continued claims to fall below 10 million consistently .
That ’ s not the promised land .
That ’ s higher than the peak in the last recession , but it ’ s still major progress .
The $ 300 Will Come In September So far , 6 states are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 400 ) in weekly unemployment checks which is great progress compared to where we were 3 weeks ago .
As you can see from the chart below , by the end of September , another 17 states will be paying the benefits .
This can be higher because 9 states didn ’ t give data .
Plus , some states that haven ’ t yet agreed to give out the money will do so in the next few weeks .
This isn ’ t an ideal situation , but it staves off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough people working so that more stimulus isn ’ t needed .
The best way to do that is to stop the spread of COVID-19 and lower the death rate .
The market varies in degrees of madness .
To say that there is always some madness is to say that there is always opportunity to profit .
The madness is at its highest at the end of trends .
We are certainly towards the end of the uptrend in the market favorites in growth industries like cloud computing and electric vehicles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with the business trends .
The internet bubble burst even though speculators ended up being proven right about the game changing nature of the technology .
Electric vehicles are a phase change in transportation , but that doesn ’ t mean their stocks will increase to infinity .
Tesla passed Johnson and Johnson , giving it the 8th highest market cap in America .
As you can see from the chart above , active managers got even more leveraged long this week which is dangerous .
The index got to 106.56 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Going back to 2007 , this streak of 3 weeks with above 100 readings has only been hit one other time ( September to October 2017 ) .
The put to call ratio has been below 0.4 for 2 straight days for the 2nd time in 15 years ( other was April 2010 ) .
The percentage of positive days in August is about to be the highest ever ( 83.3 % as of Thursday ’ s close ) .
Factors can ’ t be ignored in the summer of 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the banks and small caps fall .
Global factor correlation is the highest since the financial crisis .
Stock correlations are the highest since at least 2000 .
The pairwise correlation looks at global value versus global quality , long term growth , and price momentum .
In other words , it doesn ’ t matter what stocks you own .
It only matters which bucket the stock belongs to .
That ’ s because we are at an extreme moment where macro rules the game .
The U.S. tech sector ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the entire European stock market ( $ 8.9 trillion ) including the U.K. and Switzerland .
In 2007 , Europe was 4 times the size of tech .
Powell didn ’ t say anything new , but the market feels the Fed is willing to accept more inflation , so long term U.S. bonds sold off ( yields up ) .
The jobless claims report was a mixed bag .
The NAAIM active fund exposure index shows the average fund is leveraged long .
Since there has only been one other time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 weeks , we can ’ t give you data on what this means .
However , combining that with an ultra-low put to call ratio supports the theme that the market is due for a decline .
There might be a reversal where growth , quality , and momentum underperform value .

by UPFINA
Let’s be clear, at Powell’s Jackson Hole speech he didn’t deliver anything groundbreaking. However, it doesn’t matter if the Fed’s policy won’t change much. It matters how it impacts the market. The Fed hardly utilized its corporate bond buying program because it didn’t have to. It got the free market to do its work for it. It said it would buy corporate bonds, so investors front ran the Fed. The Fed acted like a brilliant trader by not bothering to go through with most of its policy. The Fed acted like a disciplined value investor!
The spike in US bond yields continues, with the US 30-year Treasury #yield now above 1.55%, up more than 20 basis points in the last couple of trading days. pic.twitter.com/HBwxSjkUZl — jeroen blokland (@jsblokland) August 28, 2020
As you can see from the chart above, the Jackson Hole speech caused the 30 year yield to spike because the market thinks the Fed is allowing for more inflation. This could create a phase change in the market in which housing and tech stocks go lower, while energy, materials, and bank stocks rally. Specifically, this “robust updating” of Fed policy involves “average inflation targeting” in which the Fed allows inflation to be “moderately” above its 2% target. Powell stated, “This change may appear subtle, but it reflects our view that a robust job market can be sustained without causing an outbreak of inflation.”
The change is so subtle, it literally doesn’t exist. The Fed has been saying it will allow for above 2% inflation for years. The plan has been that the average rate should be 2%. Since it has been below 2% for so long, the Fed won’t raise rates when it gets above 2%. The most important thing to understand here is this is all guidance. It’s open mouth policy. That means the Fed can basically do whatever it wants when inflation actually rises (if it does). The goal is to impact markets now. The Fed has no idea what it will be facing 5 years from now. It just needs to convince the market it won’t raise rates for 5 years. When the challenges arise, it can act how it wants.
The 2nd aspect is the Fed is allowing for higher inflation when the 2% goal hasn’t even been reached in the past decade. Will more dovishness get us to above 2% inflation when similar policy couldn’t get us to 2% inflation? Some regional Fed officials are saying the new target is 2.5%, but it has never been tested, so this is meaningless.
Not The Best Jobless Claims Report
After the increase in claims last week, we were waiting with baited breath to see if the economy was rolling over. The report from the week of August 22nd was a mixed bag. It doesn’t give us a strong tell one way or the other. Seasonally adjusted initial claims fell from 1.104 million to 1.006 million which was above the consensus of 987,000. Non-seasonally adjusted claims fell from 890,000 to 822,000 which is a new recovery low. The biggest weak point was the 82,000 increase in PUAs which increased to 608,000. As you can see in the chart below, the total non-seasonally adjusted initial claims and PUAs reached 1.43 million which was a 1% increase from last week.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Initial claims for #unemployment -98k to 1.006mn in w-e Aug15. > 4wk avg: 1.07mn > PUA claims (NSA): 608k (+82k) > Total UI+PUA still 1.43mn (NSA) > Continuing claims 14.5mn we Aug15 > Total claims 27mn Improvements over recent weeks encouraging, but levels still concerning pic.twitter.com/actOhoL3S4 — Gregory Daco (@GregDaco) August 27, 2020
The continued claims reading was good when you consider the increase in initial claims last week. Continued claims fell from 14.758 million to 14.535 million. IFR Markets estimates it will take 8 more weeks for continued claims to fall below 10 million consistently. That’s not the promised land. That’s higher than the peak in the last recession, but it’s still major progress.
The $300 Will Come In September
So far, 6 states are already paying the $300 (or $400) in weekly unemployment checks which is great progress compared to where we were 3 weeks ago. As you can see from the chart below, by the end of September, another 17 states will be paying the benefits. This can be higher because 9 states didn’t give data. Plus, some states that haven’t yet agreed to give out the money will do so in the next few weeks. This isn’t an ideal situation, but it staves off disaster. The goal is to get enough people working so that more stimulus isn’t needed. The best way to do that is to stop the spread of COVID-19 and lower the death rate.
By my count we're now up to six states (AZ, TX, TN, MO, LA, MT) that are paying the new Lost Wages Assistance supplement to unemployment. Montana is the first to start paying out the full $400 (all the others are at $300). t.co/faDsd09vEx pic.twitter.com/oqqmaii7Qf — Ben Casselman (@bencasselman) August 27, 2020
Euphoria Is Pure Madness
The market varies in degrees of madness. To say that there is always some madness is to say that there is always opportunity to profit. The madness is at its highest at the end of trends. We are certainly towards the end of the uptrend in the market favorites in growth industries like cloud computing and electric vehicles. To be clear, this has nothing to do with the business trends. The internet bubble burst even though speculators ended up being proven right about the game changing nature of the technology. Electric vehicles are a phase change in transportation, but that doesn’t mean their stocks will increase to infinity. Tesla passed Johnson and Johnson, giving it the 8th highest market cap in America.
Active investment managers did not get any less bullish last week. NAAIM Exposure index jumped up to 106.56 – highest level since Dec 2017 and one of the highest in history of survey. pic.twitter.com/LjFR04tsgd — Willie Delwiche (@WillieDelwiche) August 27, 2020
As you can see from the chart above, active managers got even more leveraged long this week which is dangerous. The index got to 106.56 which is the 4th highest reading ever. Going back to 2007, this streak of 3 weeks with above 100 readings has only been hit one other time (September to October 2017). The put to call ratio has been below 0.4 for 2 straight days for the 2nd time in 15 years (other was April 2010). The percentage of positive days in August is about to be the highest ever (83.3% as of Thursday’s close).
Phase Change
Factors can’t be ignored in the summer of 2020. When the tech stocks rally, usually the banks and small caps fall. Global factor correlation is the highest since the financial crisis. Stock correlations are the highest since at least 2000. The pairwise correlation looks at global value versus global quality, long term growth, and price momentum. In other words, it doesn’t matter what stocks you own. It only matters which bucket the stock belongs to. That’s because we are at an extreme moment where macro rules the game. The U.S. tech sector ($9.1 trillion) is now more valuable than the entire European stock market ($8.9 trillion) including the U.K. and Switzerland. In 2007, Europe was 4 times the size of tech.
Classic market where UP is great, but just be aware – DOWN gets magnified too: *Stock correlations highest since 2000 *Factors trading as one & near perfect inverse of Value ("deeply bifurcated market") *Markets are one big macro trade, most since 2008t.co/bog503kmGO pic.twitter.com/NqtQMxkFUh — Macro Charts (@MacroCharts) August 27, 2020
Conclusion
Powell didn’t say anything new, but the market feels the Fed is willing to accept more inflation, so long term U.S. bonds sold off (yields up). The jobless claims report was a mixed bag. The NAAIM active fund exposure index shows the average fund is leveraged long. Since there has only been one other time the index has been over 100 for 3 weeks, we can’t give you data on what this means. However, combining that with an ultra-low put to call ratio supports the theme that the market is due for a decline. There might be a reversal where growth, quality, and momentum underperform value.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Time for the madness to end, all in

Time for the madness to end, all in

Had enough of the market going up every day , sold almost everything and now long almost my entire balance @ @ @ @ @ 40 VIX Futures contracts , about $ 1.1m notional .
Trade confirmations/times here incase you @ @ @ @ @ Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment @ @ @ @ @ in this article .
Do you own due diligence or consult your financial professional before @ @ @ @ @

Had enough of the market going up every day, sold almost everything and now long almost my entire balance in VIX futures. Long 40 VIX Futures contracts, about $1.1m notional.
Trade confirmations/times here incase you thought I was bullshitting:
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Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence or consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Whip It! Fed’s Jackson Hole Reboot to Lift Inflation Faces Skepticism (Hot, Hot, Hot! Taylor Rule At

Whip It! Fed’s Jackson Hole Reboot to Lift Inflation Faces Skepticism (Hot, Hot, Hot! Taylor Rule At -5.12%)

Powell said that The Fed will allow inflation to run hot , hot , hot and unemployment to run lower than previously tolerated .
( Bloomberg ) — The Federal Reserve ’ s new plan to run the economy hot looks easier said than done as the central bank confronts multiple forces holding down inflation .
“ The Fed needs to articulate very clearly how they plan to achieve the new objective , ” Aneta Markowska , chief economist at Jefferies , wrote in a report to clients .
“ Otherwise , these are just words on paper that don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jerome Powell Thursday outlined a new approach to setting U.S. monetary policy .
The Fed , he said , will sometimes allow inflation to run above the 2 % target to make up for prior undershoots , and allow unemployment to run lower than officials had previously tolerated .
The move confirmed to investors that the Fed is likely keep interest rates near zero for years to come as it seeks to decisively achieve its inflation goal , adopted in 2012 .
Inflation has averaged only 1.4 % since then amid headwinds affecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including weak productivity growth , globalization , aging populations and technological change .
Fed policy makers meet again Sept. 15-16 when they ’ ll have a chance to spell out how the new strategy will shape their policies aimed at pulling the U.S. economy out of its worst downturn since the Great Depression .
Economists at Deutsche Bank AG said officials may clarify their guidance on the path of rates by linking future hikes to reaching certain thresholds for inflation and employment .
Minutes of their July meeting showed they ’ d debated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Fed hasn ’ t been able to generate much of any inflation .
Core PCE growth YoY is a miserly 1.25 % inferring a Taylor Rule Fed Funds rate of -5.12 % .

by confoundedinterest17
Powell said that The Fed will allow inflation to run hot, hot, hot and unemployment to run lower than previously tolerated.
(Bloomberg) — The Federal Reserve’s new plan to run the economy hot looks easier said than done as the central bank confronts multiple forces holding down inflation.
“The Fed needs to articulate very clearly how they plan to achieve the new objective,” Aneta Markowska, chief economist at Jefferies, wrote in a report to clients. “Otherwise, these are just words on paper that don’t really mean anything.”
Chair Jerome Powell Thursday outlined a new approach to setting U.S. monetary policy. The Fed, he said, will sometimes allow inflation to run above the 2% target to make up for prior undershoots, and allow unemployment to run lower than officials had previously tolerated.
The move confirmed to investors that the Fed is likely keep interest rates near zero for years to come as it seeks to decisively achieve its inflation goal, adopted in 2012. Inflation has averaged only 1.4% since then amid headwinds affecting the U.S. and other major economies, including weak productivity growth, globalization, aging populations and technological change.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Fed policy makers meet again Sept. 15-16 when they’ll have a chance to spell out how the new strategy will shape their policies aimed at pulling the U.S. economy out of its worst downturn since the Great Depression.
Economists at Deutsche Bank AG said officials may clarify their guidance on the path of rates by linking future hikes to reaching certain thresholds for inflation and employment. Minutes of their July meeting showed they’d debated this approach.
The problem is … The Fed hasn’t been able to generate much of any inflation. Core PCE growth YoY is a miserly 1.25% inferring a Taylor Rule Fed Funds rate of -5.12%.
The USD I25 FORWARD RATE 5Y5Y is 1.2049%.
Whip it good, Jay!


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Obama Encourages “Sustained Protests”… TimCast: Democrats QUIT The Party in Droves, Voters FURIOUS O

Obama Encourages “Sustained Protests”… TimCast: Democrats QUIT The Party in Droves, Voters FURIOUS Over Democrat Support For Riots Will Vote Trump

HUH .
WHAT CHANGED ?
And Just Like That , Joe Biden and the Democrats Stopped Liking Riots .
Related @ @ @ @ @ Laughs As She Warns That Violent Riots Will Continue .

As people exercise their right to protest all across the country––let the undeniable paths of our progress be a guide going forward: peaceful, sustained protest; strategic, committed organizing; and purposeful, overwhelming participation at the ballot box. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 28, 2020
Success: Since the National Guard moved into Kenosha, Wisconsin, two days ago, there has been NO FURTHER VIOLENCE, not even a small problem. When legally asked to help by local authorities, the Federal Government will act and quickly succeed. Are you listening Portland? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2020
The amount of Democrats calling into CSPAN during the @GOPconvention saying that they’re switching parties is insane. pic.twitter.com/YZvD5ltu6F — Benny (@bennyjohnson) August 28, 2020
HUH. WHAT CHANGED? And Just Like That, Joe Biden and the Democrats Stopped Liking Riots.
Related: Flashback: Kamala Harris Laughs As She Warns That Violent Riots Will Continue.
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Sam is an Indian immigrant who owns a family-run car dealership that was destroyed by BLM arsonists. “What did we do to deserve all this?” said Sam. pic.twitter.com/hgDjbIq9pA — The Federalist (@FDRLST) August 29, 2020
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