investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--Time for Civil Disobedience & Truth

Time for Civil Disobedience & Truth

In the 3 stage plan doctors are required to count “ flu like symptoms ” as covid 19 !
To @ @ @ @ @ video with the 2 California doctors said that each day we spend in lockdown our @ @ @ @

In the 3 stage plan doctors are required to count “flu like symptoms” as covid 19! To pad the numbers!
That video with the 2 California doctors said that each day we spend in lockdown our personal immunity decreases.
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AO


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--Doctors: Data Proves That Covid Death Rate is “Very Similar to the FLU” | Ben Swann

Ben Swann lays it out there on how the data doesn ’ t match to the predictions .
As well @ @ @ @ @ precautions put into place because of the predictions aren ’ t revoked .

Ben Swann lays it out there on how the data doesn’t match to the predictions. As well as talking about how the precautions put into place because of the predictions aren’t revoked.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--While everyone is watching the meltdown in the crude oil market, the global market for natural gas i

While everyone is watching the meltdown in the crude oil market, the global market for natural gas is also cratering.

At least 20 cargoes of U.S. liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) have been cancelled by buyers in Asia and Europe , according to Reuters .
The global pandemic and the unfolding economic crisis have slashed demand for gas worldwide .
Cheniere Energy , one of the main exporters of U.S. LNG , has seen an estimated 10 cargoes cancelled by buyers halfway around the world , Reuters said .
The price for LNG in Asia was already crashing before the pandemic , owing to a substantial increase in supply last year .
Prices for LNG in Asia for June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , only slightly higher than Henry Hub prices in the U.S. As recently as October , LNG prices in Asia traded at just under $ 7/MMBtu .
The problem for American gas exporters is that after factoring in the cost of liquefaction and transportation , gas breakeven prices for delivering to Asia are around $ 5.56/MMBtu , according to Reuters .
But prices are trading at less than half of those levels .
Gas exports tend to be conducted under rigid contracts , but cargoes are now facing cancellation .
“ The financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the globe ’ s hottest energy commodities – seem to be imploding before our eyes , ” Clark Williams-Derry wrote in a new report for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis ( IEEFA ) .
He noted that LNG prices in the fall of 2018 were at around $ 12/MMBtu .
The oil majors have made large bets on LNG in recent years .
Royal Dutch Shell spent more than $ 50 billion to buy BG Group in 2015 .
The move back then was made with an eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We will now be able to shape a simpler , leaner , more competitive company , focusing on our core expertise in deep water and LNG , ” Shell ’ s CEO Ben van Beurden said after closing on the acquisition of BG Group more than four years ago .
The deal remade Shell into one of the largest traders of LNG on the planet .
Several other oil majors – Total SA , ExxonMobil and Chevron , for instance – have also made massive bets on LNG .
LNG is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crude oil from the pandemic and the global slowdown .
A series of high-profile investment delays or cancellations have occurred in the past month .
ExxonMobil , for instance , delayed a final investment decision on a large LNG export project in Mozambique in early April .
However , the industry faced troubled economics even before the current crisis .
“ [ C ] ompanies pinned the delays on the novel coronavirus , while ignoring the fact that LNG prices were already deflating long before the worst impacts of the pandemic were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the IEEFA report .
He wrote that what was striking was the fact that companies of varying sizes and corporate structures were cancelling decisions – speculative startups , but also state-owned giants and publicly-traded supermajors .
Delayed and cancelled cargoes could ripple back up to the upstream sector .
The U.S. natural gas industry was also facing problems heading into 2020 because of oversupply .
Exports may not provide the demand pull that it once did for gas drillers .
Henry Hub prices are stuck at $ 1.80/MMBtu .
Ironically , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebounded in recent weeks .
Pittsburgh-based EQT has seen its share price double since March , for example .
There are a few reasons for this .
The Federal Reserve has funneled trillions of dollars into the financial sector , which has re-inflated financial assets of all types .
Investors also seem to be trying to “ buy the dip.
” But industry analysts are also predicting that a huge shortfall in gas production in the Permian will boost prices by next year .
Goldman Sachs says that gas will jump to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the economics for LNG are pretty dismal .
“ The LNG industry entered today ’ s crisis on shaky footing .
And now that the economic slowdown is in full swing , all previous LNG supply and demand projections have been rendered moot , and all crystal balls remain cloudy , ” Williams-Derry concluded .
“ In that context , delay is a smart decision.
” By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com:
At least 20 cargoes of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been cancelled by buyers in Asia and Europe, according to Reuters. The global pandemic and the unfolding economic crisis have slashed demand for gas worldwide. Cheniere Energy, one of the main exporters of U.S. LNG, has seen an estimated 10 cargoes cancelled by buyers halfway around the world, Reuters said.
The price for LNG in Asia was already crashing before the pandemic, owing to a substantial increase in supply last year. Prices for LNG in Asia for June delivery have recently traded at $2/MMBtu, only slightly higher than Henry Hub prices in the U.S. As recently as October, LNG prices in Asia traded at just under $7/MMBtu.
The problem for American gas exporters is that after factoring in the cost of liquefaction and transportation, gas breakeven prices for delivering to Asia are around $5.56/MMBtu, according to Reuters. But prices are trading at less than half of those levels.
Gas exports tend to be conducted under rigid contracts, but cargoes are now facing cancellation. “The financial prospects for [LNG], once one of the globe’s hottest energy commodities – seem to be imploding before our eyes,” Clark Williams-Derry wrote in a new report for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). He noted that LNG prices in the fall of 2018 were at around $12/MMBtu.
The oil majors have made large bets on LNG in recent years. Royal Dutch Shell spent more than $50 billion to buy BG Group in 2015. The move back then was made with an eye on surging demand for natural gas. “We will now be able to shape a simpler, leaner, more competitive company, focusing on our core expertise in deep water and LNG,” Shell’s CEO Ben van Beurden said after closing on the acquisition of BG Group more than four years ago.
The deal remade Shell into one of the largest traders of LNG on the planet. Several other oil majors – Total SA, ExxonMobil and Chevron, for instance – have also made massive bets on LNG.
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LNG is now arguably getting hit just as hard as crude oil from the pandemic and the global slowdown. A series of high-profile investment delays or cancellations have occurred in the past month. ExxonMobil, for instance, delayed a final investment decision on a large LNG export project in Mozambique in early April.
However, the industry faced troubled economics even before the current crisis. “[C]ompanies pinned the delays on the novel coronavirus, while ignoring the fact that LNG prices were already deflating long before the worst impacts of the pandemic were being felt,” Clark Williams-Derry wrote in the IEEFA report. He wrote that what was striking was the fact that companies of varying sizes and corporate structures were cancelling decisions – speculative startups, but also state-owned giants and publicly-traded supermajors.
Delayed and cancelled cargoes could ripple back up to the upstream sector. The U.S. natural gas industry was also facing problems heading into 2020 because of oversupply. Exports may not provide the demand pull that it once did for gas drillers. Henry Hub prices are stuck at $1.80/MMBtu.
Ironically, however, the share prices of gas drillers have rebounded in recent weeks. Pittsburgh-based EQT has seen its share price double since March, for example. There are a few reasons for this. The Federal Reserve has funneled trillions of dollars into the financial sector, which has re-inflated financial assets of all types. Investors also seem to be trying to “buy the dip.”
But industry analysts are also predicting that a huge shortfall in gas production in the Permian will boost prices by next year. Goldman Sachs says that gas will jump to $3.25/MMBtu in 2021.
For now though, the economics for LNG are pretty dismal. “The LNG industry entered today’s crisis on shaky footing. And now that the economic slowdown is in full swing, all previous LNG supply and demand projections have been rendered moot, and all crystal balls remain cloudy,” Williams-Derry concluded. “In that context, delay is a smart decision.” By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--So what exactly is this “new normal” going to look like?

Humans are peaceful creatures who willingly participate in a global economy ( and global lockdowns ) , but there are @ @ @ @ @ digital control measures coming down the pipe in the U.S. , as espoused by Whitney @ @ @ @ @ “ Techno-Tyranny : How the US National Security State Is Using Coronavirus to Fulfill an @ @ @ @ @ video she discusses her sources and the American plan to compete with China by implementing @ @ @

Humans are peaceful creatures who willingly participate in a global economy (and global lockdowns), but there are further restrictions on freedoms using digital control measures coming down the pipe in the U.S., as espoused by Whitney Webb in her new piece “Techno-Tyranny: How the US National Security State Is Using Coronavirus to Fulfill an Orwellian Vision.” In this video she discusses her sources and the American plan to compete with China by implementing total AI.
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h/t Alice


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--You Can’t Stay Closed Forever, And Trying To Do So Merely Limits Your Influence On What Comes Next:

Nevada Is Reopening , Ready Or Not .
These shutdowns were always meant to be temporary , emergency measures , like a donut spare tire you can only use until you get to the shop .
It was to give us time to expand our hospital capacity , which we ’ ve done , and to spread out the infections so we didn ’ t overwhelm the medical system .
It was to give us time to get more data , and to plan , and to act .
But it could not last .
Humans aren ’ t built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this long , and we all recognize that life must still go on .
We have to feed ourselves , pay for our homes and utilities , preserve our livelihoods for the future , and do all the things that make life worth living .
Americans in particular don ’ t put up with boredom or confinement well , and we definitely don ’ t like being bossed around , at least not quite so overtly , and certainly not so arbitrarily .
Under the best of leaders , where we knew what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where goalposts weren ’ t being moved , maybe we ’ d stay hunkered down for another month if clearly necessary , but even then it wouldn ’ t have lasted .
And we don ’ t have that best-case leadership scenario .
.
.
.
When people begin to understand that their leaders aren ’ t leading any more , they will either find other people to follow , or just go off and do their own thing .
Political power is not only taken away at the ballot box , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people just stop listening to you , which they will do when it becomes apparent you have nothing to say .
And if someone else does have something to say , well , your power bleeds away that much faster .
.
.
.
Individually , people are already making their own plans , and are slowly but surely executing them .
They aren ’ t going to wait indefinitely for an as-yet-undetermined amount of testing to take place – they can ’ t afford to .
Every day we ’ re seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day we see more people in the stores still allowed to be open .
The protests will get bigger , and will expand far beyond a few cranks and conspiracy theorists .
People will start hosting their own parties , with more and more people caring less and less about social distancing .
Desperate small business owners will begin operating again , legal or not – what threat is a fine when you lose ten times that amount every day your doors are closed ?
The legal marijuana industry is struggling because a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – how long will it be before passwords to speakeasy barber shops ( or hell , actual speakeasies ) start floating around , or illicit home deliveries or services become the norm ?
When other states open before we do ( which they will because they all are actively planning for it and we ’ re still just planning to plan until more numbers come in ) , how many people will drive across a border to spend their money , leaving Nevada businesses and Nevada workers in the cold longer than necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state will be The Worst without additional self-inflicted wounds .
And once these seals are broken without everyone suddenly dropping dead in the streets , are people really going to listen when the next “ second wave ” shutdown order is issued ?

Nevada Is Reopening, Ready Or Not.
These shutdowns were always meant to be temporary, emergency measures, like a donut spare tire you can only use until you get to the shop. It was to give us time to expand our hospital capacity, which we’ve done, and to spread out the infections so we didn’t overwhelm the medical system. It was to give us time to get more data, and to plan, and to act.
But it could not last. Humans aren’t built to be isolated from one another for this long, and we all recognize that life must still go on. We have to feed ourselves, pay for our homes and utilities, preserve our livelihoods for the future, and do all the things that make life worth living. Americans in particular don’t put up with boredom or confinement well, and we definitely don’t like being bossed around, at least not quite so overtly, and certainly not so arbitrarily. Under the best of leaders, where we knew what “victory” over this virus meant and where goalposts weren’t being moved, maybe we’d stay hunkered down for another month if clearly necessary, but even then it wouldn’t have lasted. And we don’t have that best-case leadership scenario. . . .
When people begin to understand that their leaders aren’t leading any more, they will either find other people to follow, or just go off and do their own thing. Political power is not only taken away at the ballot box, it’s also taken away when people just stop listening to you, which they will do when it becomes apparent you have nothing to say. And if someone else does have something to say, well, your power bleeds away that much faster. . . .
Individually, people are already making their own plans, and are slowly but surely executing them. They aren’t going to wait indefinitely for an as-yet-undetermined amount of testing to take place – they can’t afford to. Every day we’re seeing more traffic on the roads. Every day we see more people in the stores still allowed to be open. The protests will get bigger, and will expand far beyond a few cranks and conspiracy theorists. People will start hosting their own parties, with more and more people caring less and less about social distancing. Desperate small business owners will begin operating again, legal or not – what threat is a fine when you lose ten times that amount every day your doors are closed? The legal marijuana industry is struggling because a well-used black market was already in place – how long will it be before passwords to speakeasy barber shops (or hell, actual speakeasies) start floating around, or illicit home deliveries or services become the norm?
When other states open before we do (which they will because they all are actively planning for it and we’re still just planning to plan until more numbers come in), how many people will drive across a border to spend their money, leaving Nevada businesses and Nevada workers in the cold longer than necessary? COVID-19’s impact on our state will be The Worst without additional self-inflicted wounds.
And once these seals are broken without everyone suddenly dropping dead in the streets, are people really going to listen when the next “second wave” shutdown order is issued?


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--Why Are Things So Bad In New York? One “Unique” Factor Is That It Has Both An Awful Mayor And An Awf

Why Are Things So Bad In New York? One “Unique” Factor Is That It Has Both An Awful Mayor And An Awful Governor. Also, They Hate Each Other.

Seattle ’ s Leaders Let Scientists Take the Lead .
New York ’ s Did Not .
The first diagnosis of the coronavirus in the United States occurred in mid-January , in a Seattle suburb not far from the hospital where Dr. Francis Riedo , an infectious-disease specialist , works .
When he heard the patient ’ s details—a thirty-five-year-old man had walked into an urgent-care clinic with a cough and a slight fever , and told doctors that he ’ d just returned from Wuhan , China—Riedo said to himself , “ It ’ s begun.
” For more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ e-mailing with a group of colleagues who included Seattle ’ s top doctor for public health and Washington State ’ s senior health officer , as well as hundreds of epidemiologists from around the country ; many of them , like Riedo , had trained at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , in Atlanta , in a program known as the Epidemic Intelligence Service .
Alumni of the E.I.S .
are considered America ’ s shock troops in combatting disease outbreaks .
The program has more than three thousand graduates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local governments across the country .
“ It ’ s kind of like a secret society , but for saving people , ” Riedo told me .
“ If you have a question , or need to understand the local politics somewhere , or need a hand during an outbreak—if you reach out to the E.I.S .
network , they ’ ll drop everything to help.
” Riedo is the medical director for infectious disease at EvergreenHealth , a hospital in Kirkland , just east of Seattle .
Upon learning of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency-room nurses to receptionists—that , from then on , everything they said was just as important as what they did .
One of the E.I.S.
’ s core principles is that a pandemic is a communications emergency as much as a medical crisis .
Members of the public entering the hospital , Riedo told his staff , must be asked if they had travelled out of the country ; if someone had respiratory trouble , staff needed to collect as much information as possible about the patient ’ s recent interactions with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
You never know , Riedo explained , which chance encounter will shape a catastrophe .
There are so many terrifying possibilities in a pandemic ; information brings relief .
A national shortage of diagnostic kits for the new coronavirus meant that only people who had recently visited China were eligible for testing .
Even as EvergreenHealth ’ s beds began filling with cases of flulike symptoms—including a patient from Life Care , a nursing home two miles away—the hospital ’ s doctors were unable to test them for the new disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been to China or been in contact with anyone who had .
For nearly a month , as the hospital ’ s patients complained of aches , fevers , and breathing problems—and exhibited symptoms associated with covid-19 , such as “ glassy ” patches in X-rays of their lungs—none of them were evaluated for the disease .
Riedo wanted to start warning people that evidence of an outbreak was growing , but he had only suspicions , not facts .
At the end of February , the C.D.C .
began allowing the testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness.
” Riedo called a friend—an E.I.S .
alum at the local department of health .
If he sent her swabs from two patients who had needed ventilators but had tested negative for influenza and other common respiratory diseases , would she test them for covid-19 ?
At that point , there had been only sixteen detections of the coronavirus in the U.S. , and only the one in Washington State .
“ I can ’ t remember why we picked those two patients , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure they ’ d be negative .
But we thought it would be good to start collecting data , and it was a way to make sure the testing lab was working.
” The health official told him to send the samples to her lab .
Riedo remembered that other local researchers had been conducting a project called the Seattle Flu Study .
For months , they had collected nasal swabs from volunteers , to better understand how influenza spread through the community .
During the previous few weeks , the researchers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had jury-rigged a coronavirus test in their lab and had started using it on their samples .
They had just found a positive hit : a high-school student in a suburb twenty-eight miles from Seattle , with no recent history of foreign travel and no known interactions with anyone from China .
The boy wasn ’ t seriously ill ; if the researchers hadn ’ t done the test , the infection probably never would have been detected .
The genetic sequence of the boy ’ s virus was unnervingly similar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known case , even though the researchers couldn ’ t find any connections between them .
The frightening implication was that the coronavirus was already so widespread that contagion was passing invisibly among community members .

Seattle’s Leaders Let Scientists Take the Lead. New York’s Did Not.
The first diagnosis of the coronavirus in the United States occurred in mid-January, in a Seattle suburb not far from the hospital where Dr. Francis Riedo, an infectious-disease specialist, works. When he heard the patient’s details—a thirty-five-year-old man had walked into an urgent-care clinic with a cough and a slight fever, and told doctors that he’d just returned from Wuhan, China—Riedo said to himself, “It’s begun.”
For more than a week, Riedo had been e-mailing with a group of colleagues who included Seattle’s top doctor for public health and Washington State’s senior health officer, as well as hundreds of epidemiologists from around the country; many of them, like Riedo, had trained at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, in a program known as the Epidemic Intelligence Service. Alumni of the E.I.S. are considered America’s shock troops in combatting disease outbreaks. The program has more than three thousand graduates, and many now work in state and local governments across the country. “It’s kind of like a secret society, but for saving people,” Riedo told me. “If you have a question, or need to understand the local politics somewhere, or need a hand during an outbreak—if you reach out to the E.I.S. network, they’ll drop everything to help.”
Riedo is the medical director for infectious disease at EvergreenHealth, a hospital in Kirkland, just east of Seattle. Upon learning of the first domestic diagnosis, he told his staff—from emergency-room nurses to receptionists—that, from then on, everything they said was just as important as what they did. One of the E.I.S.’s core principles is that a pandemic is a communications emergency as much as a medical crisis. Members of the public entering the hospital, Riedo told his staff, must be asked if they had travelled out of the country; if someone had respiratory trouble, staff needed to collect as much information as possible about the patient’s recent interactions with other people, including where they had taken place. You never know, Riedo explained, which chance encounter will shape a catastrophe. There are so many terrifying possibilities in a pandemic; information brings relief.
A national shortage of diagnostic kits for the new coronavirus meant that only people who had recently visited China were eligible for testing. Even as EvergreenHealth’s beds began filling with cases of flulike symptoms—including a patient from Life Care, a nursing home two miles away—the hospital’s doctors were unable to test them for the new disease, because none of the sufferers had been to China or been in contact with anyone who had. For nearly a month, as the hospital’s patients complained of aches, fevers, and breathing problems—and exhibited symptoms associated with covid-19, such as “glassy” patches in X-rays of their lungs—none of them were evaluated for the disease. Riedo wanted to start warning people that evidence of an outbreak was growing, but he had only suspicions, not facts.
At the end of February, the C.D.C. began allowing the testing of patients with unexplained respiratory-tract infections or “fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness.” Riedo called a friend—an E.I.S. alum at the local department of health. If he sent her swabs from two patients who had needed ventilators but had tested negative for influenza and other common respiratory diseases, would she test them for covid-19? At that point, there had been only sixteen detections of the coronavirus in the U.S., and only the one in Washington State. “I can’t remember why we picked those two patients,” Riedo told me. “I was sure they’d be negative. But we thought it would be good to start collecting data, and it was a way to make sure the testing lab was working.” The health official told him to send the samples to her lab.
Riedo remembered that other local researchers had been conducting a project called the Seattle Flu Study. For months, they had collected nasal swabs from volunteers, to better understand how influenza spread through the community. During the previous few weeks, the researchers, in quiet violation of C.D.C. guidance, had jury-rigged a coronavirus test in their lab and had started using it on their samples. They had just found a positive hit: a high-school student in a suburb twenty-eight miles from Seattle, with no recent history of foreign travel and no known interactions with anyone from China. The boy wasn’t seriously ill; if the researchers hadn’t done the test, the infection probably never would have been detected. The genetic sequence of the boy’s virus was unnervingly similar to that of the man with the first known case, even though the researchers couldn’t find any connections between them. The frightening implication was that the coronavirus was already so widespread that contagion was passing invisibly among community members.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--KAROL MARKOWICZ: Wait, how long are we supposed to stay in lockdown?

In the beginning , we had a goal : to flatten the curve .
We were warned that COVID-19 would overtake our hospitals and cause a health-system collapse .
We were to stay home to give our medical heroes a fighting chance .
So we did , and thanks to the strength of our system , it worked .
The Javits Center never filled up ; the USS Comfort is sailing away .
Three weeks ago , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo was vowing to seize ventilators from upstate hospitals and send them to Gotham .
Last week , we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We did our part ; we flattened the curve .
So why is there no move to loosen regulations ?
In February and March , expert and elite opinion seemed to understand that patience with lockdowns would at some point wear thin .
But not anymore .
.
.
.
It ’ s also becoming apparent that staying closed is some weird poke in the eye to President Trump .
Hyper-polarization means that if the president wants to awaken the nation from its devastating economic coma , it must mean that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smart people — who tend to have lockdown-immune jobs in academe , government and media — must know better , and they have a license to mock and demean .

via nypost
In the beginning, we had a goal: to flatten the curve. We were warned that COVID-19 would overtake our hospitals and cause a health-system collapse. We were to stay home to give our medical heroes a fighting chance.
So we did, and thanks to the strength of our system, it worked. The Javits Center never filled up; the USS Comfort is sailing away. Three weeks ago, Gov. Andrew Cuomo was vowing to seize ventilators from upstate hospitals and send them to Gotham. Last week, we were dispatching our ventilators out to other states.
We did our part; we flattened the curve. So why is there no move to loosen regulations?
In February and March, expert and elite opinion seemed to understand that patience with lockdowns would at some point wear thin. But not anymore. . . .
It’s also becoming apparent that staying closed is some weird poke in the eye to President Trump. Hyper-polarization means that if the president wants to awaken the nation from its devastating economic coma, it must mean that he and his cornpone followers are wrong. Smart people — who tend to have lockdown-immune jobs in academe, government and media — must know better, and they have a license to mock and demean.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--President Trump has pushed his military and national security advisers in recent days to pull all US

President Trump has pushed his military and national security advisers in recent days to pull all US troops out of Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has pushed his military and national security advisers in recent days to pull all U.S. @ @ @ @ @ concerns about a major coronavirus outbreak in the war-torn country , according to two current @ @ @ @ @ officials .
Trump complains almost daily that U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan and are @ @ @ @ @ , the officials said .
His renewed push to withdraw all of them has been @ @ @ @ @ his concern that coronavirus poses a force protection issue for thousands of U.S. troops in @ @ @ @ @ the halting progress of his peace deal with the Taliban , the officials said .
@ @ @ @ @ s military advisers have made the case to him that if the U.S. pulls troops @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , by that standard the Pentagon would also have to withdraw from places @ @ @ @ @ been hit particularly hard by the pandemic , officials said .
And once the boys @ @ @ @ @ that shit hole country as a nuke testing zone !

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has pushed his military and national security advisers in recent days to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan amid concerns about a major coronavirus outbreak in the war-torn country, according to two current and one former senior U.S. officials.
Trump complains almost daily that U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan and are now vulnerable to the pandemic, the officials said. His renewed push to withdraw all of them has been spurred by the convergence of his concern that coronavirus poses a force protection issue for thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and his impatience with the halting progress of his peace deal with the Taliban, the officials said.
They said the president’s military advisers have made the case to him that if the U.S. pulls troops out of Afghanistan because of the coronavirus, by that standard the Pentagon would also have to withdraw from places like Italy, which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, officials said.
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www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-tells-advisers-u-s-should-pull-troops-afghanistan-covid-n1191761?cid=ed_npd_bn_tw_bn
And once the boys are all home! use that shit hole country as a nuke testing zone!


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--BAGHDAD BOB CALLED, AND SAID THE POLITICO MIGHT WANT TO TONE DOWN THE PROPAGANDA A NOTCH OR TEN:

Presumably , the worshipful hagiography of the April 9th article is a preview of how the interview will go , @ @ @ @ @ The Politico did not have a good Saturday : Politico Edits False Story Claiming Trump @ @ @ @ @ Earlier : Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer Provides a Lesson in What States Shouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ Pandemic .

In Lansing, you cannot find anyone, Republican or Democrat, on the record or off, who does not admire the skills of the state’s 49th governor. Moreover, just about everyone likes her. She is genuine, secure, quick to give a hug or share a dirty joke. t.co/0YDMzd0Yl7 — POLITICO (@politico) April 25, 2020
Presumably, the worshipful hagiography of the April 9th article is a preview of how the interview will go, as well.
Related: The Politico did not have a good Saturday: Politico Edits False Story Claiming Trump Owes Millions to China.
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Earlier: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Provides a Lesson in What States Shouldn’t Do To Stop a Pandemic.
h/t ED


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--The Main Rule Of Journalism Is That Trump Is Never Allowed To Be Right.

An Experimental Ultraviolet Light Treatment for Covid-19 Takes Political Heat : Trump ’ s musings prompt social-media censorship of information about an experimental treatment .
I ran an obscure pharmaceutical company until a few days ago .
Then we got famous .
Early in the Covid-19 pandemic , Aytu BioScience made a commitment to find ways to help .
One of those ways came through our newly formed relationship with a prominent Los Angeles hospital .
On April 20 we put out a press release titled “ Aytu BioScience Signs Exclusive Global License with Cedars-Sinai for Potential Coronavirus Treatment.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was developed by research physicians at the hospital ’ s Medically Associated Science and Technology Program .
The technology , which has been in development since 2016 , uses ultraviolet light as an antimicrobial and is a promising potential treatment for Covid-19 .
Aytu and Cedars-Sinai have engaged with the Food and Drug Administration to pursue a rapid path to human use through an Emergency Use Authorization .
But hardly anyone noticed—until Thursday , when President Trump mused , “ .
.
.
supposing you brought the light inside the body .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew the president ’ s comments could trigger a backlash against the idea of UV light as a treatment , which might hinder our ability to get the word out .
We decided to create a YouTube account , upload a video animation we had created , and tweet it out .
It received some 50,000 views in 24 hours .
Then YouTube took it down .
So did Vimeo .
Twitter suspended our account .
The narrative changed from whether UV light can be used to treat Covid-19 to “ Aytu is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to dictate that if one party says , “ The sky is blue , ” the other party is obligated to reply , “ No , it ’ s not , and you ’ re a terrible human being for thinking that.
” That leaves no room for science , in which the data speak for themselves , regardless of ideology , and only when they ’ re ready .
Unfortunately , the visceral excitement of political conflict draws far more clicks and better ratings than the methodical world of science .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out through clinical studies may represent a viable way to kill coronaviruses , aren ’ t provided the clear-headed consideration they deserve but are instead flushed into the political mosh-pit of “ us vs. them.
” Twitter , YouTube and Vimeo are under enormous pressure from political activists .
They also need to ensure that information on their platforms is safe and accurate .
That ’ s exactly why Aytu decided to post videos and tweet about Healight .
We at Aytu BioScience are confident that treatments for Covid-19 will be found .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ above all we hope science will ultimately speak louder than politics .

An Experimental Ultraviolet Light Treatment for Covid-19 Takes Political Heat: Trump’s musings prompt social-media censorship of information about an experimental treatment.
I ran an obscure pharmaceutical company until a few days ago. Then we got famous. Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, Aytu BioScience made a commitment to find ways to help. One of those ways came through our newly formed relationship with a prominent Los Angeles hospital.
On April 20 we put out a press release titled “Aytu BioScience Signs Exclusive Global License with Cedars-Sinai for Potential Coronavirus Treatment.” The treatment is called Healight, and it was developed by research physicians at the hospital’s Medically Associated Science and Technology Program. The technology, which has been in development since 2016, uses ultraviolet light as an antimicrobial and is a promising potential treatment for Covid-19.
Aytu and Cedars-Sinai have engaged with the Food and Drug Administration to pursue a rapid path to human use through an Emergency Use Authorization. But hardly anyone noticed—until Thursday, when President Trump mused, “. . . supposing you brought the light inside the body . . .”
My team and I knew the president’s comments could trigger a backlash against the idea of UV light as a treatment, which might hinder our ability to get the word out. We decided to create a YouTube account, upload a video animation we had created, and tweet it out. It received some 50,000 views in 24 hours.
Then YouTube took it down. So did Vimeo. Twitter suspended our account. The narrative changed from whether UV light can be used to treat Covid-19 to “Aytu is being censored.”
These days, politics seems to dictate that if one party says, “The sky is blue,” the other party is obligated to reply, “No, it’s not, and you’re a terrible human being for thinking that.” That leaves no room for science, in which the data speak for themselves, regardless of ideology, and only when they’re ready. Unfortunately, the visceral excitement of political conflict draws far more clicks and better ratings than the methodical world of science.
Technologies like Healight, which if borne out through clinical studies may represent a viable way to kill coronaviruses, aren’t provided the clear-headed consideration they deserve but are instead flushed into the political mosh-pit of “us vs. them.”
Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo are under enormous pressure from political activists. They also need to ensure that information on their platforms is safe and accurate. That’s exactly why Aytu decided to post videos and tweet about Healight.
We at Aytu BioScience are confident that treatments for Covid-19 will be found. We hope we can help. But above all we hope science will ultimately speak louder than politics.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--Era of Big Government Is Back!  Pelosi considering ‘guaranteed income’…  Backlash grows as relief st

Era of Big Government Is Back!  Pelosi considering ‘guaranteed income’…  Backlash grows as relief stumbles

History shows that big national shocks have a way of changing the role of government in lasting ways—and any shock as big as the coronavirus pandemic inevitably will alter political life and philosophies in America .
The crisis has been not just a public-health emergency requiring a sweeping response , but also the cause of the most searing economic pain since the Great Depression , summoning forth a multi-trillion-dollar government intervention into the economy .
Much of today ’ s new government activism will recede over time along with the virus .
Yet conversations with a broad cross-section of political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect a return to what had been the status quo on federal spending , or the prevailing attitude toward the proper role of government .
“ The era of Ronald Reagan , that said basically the government is the enemy , is over , ” said Rahm Emanuel , a moderate Democrat who served as mayor of Chicago , a member of Congress and President Obama ’ s first White House chief of staff .
An echo came from the other side of the political spectrum .
“ The era of Robert Taft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bannon , President Trump ’ s onetime political guru , referring to the Ohio senator who fought the expansion of government programs and federal borrowing .
“ It ’ s not relevant .
It ’ s just not relevant.
” As Congress weighs another relief package amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has many small businesses closed until stay-at-home orders are lifted , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) floated out the possibility of a minimum guaranteed income for workers .
Pelosi said on “ MSNBC Live ” a minimum guaranteed income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of getting looked at being added into the next funding package .
Congress ’ mad dash to shovel nearly $ 3 trillion into the economy and rescue failing industries met little resistance as the coronavirus crisis overwhelmed communities across the country .

Era of Big Government Is Back!
History shows that big national shocks have a way of changing the role of government in lasting ways—and any shock as big as the coronavirus pandemic inevitably will alter political life and philosophies in America.
The crisis has been not just a public-health emergency requiring a sweeping response, but also the cause of the most searing economic pain since the Great Depression, summoning forth a multi-trillion-dollar government intervention into the economy.
Much of today’s new government activism will recede over time along with the virus. Yet conversations with a broad cross-section of political figures suggest there is little reason to expect a return to what had been the status quo on federal spending, or the prevailing attitude toward the proper role of government.
“The era of Ronald Reagan, that said basically the government is the enemy, is over,” said Rahm Emanuel, a moderate Democrat who served as mayor of Chicago, a member of Congress and President Obama’s first White House chief of staff. An echo came from the other side of the political spectrum. “The era of Robert Taft, limited-government conservatism?” said Steve Bannon, President Trump’s onetime political guru, referring to the Ohio senator who fought the expansion of government programs and federal borrowing. “It’s not relevant. It’s just not relevant.”
Pelosi considering ‘guaranteed income’…
As Congress weighs another relief package amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has many small businesses closed until stay-at-home orders are lifted, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) floated out the possibility of a minimum guaranteed income for workers.
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Pelosi said on “MSNBC Live” a minimum guaranteed income is “perhaps” now “worthy” of getting looked at being added into the next funding package.
Backlash grows as relief stumbles
Congress’ mad dash to shovel nearly $3 trillion into the economy and rescue failing industries met little resistance as the coronavirus crisis overwhelmed communities across the country.
But now the hangover has set in.
The sprawling CARES Act, and its similarly rushed companion bills, has fueled rising angst for lawmakers. They’ve been bombarded with complaints about breakdowns in the small-business lending program, loopholes that have allowed large companies to snatch cash meant for smaller operations and administrative failures that have delayed stimulus checks to struggling American households. Hospitals, lawmakers say, are competing with each other and the federal government for lifesaving equipment for their employees, and coronavirus testing is still hard to access in many parts of the country, despite Congress’ efforts. And it’s all occurring without the oversight operations meant to confront these problems as they arise.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--15 Uniformed Officers From 4 Different Law Enforcement Agencies Rush to Target Restaurant Owner

Maryland State Police spox Greg Shipley told the Cecil Daily , “ The investigation indicated the restaurant was selling ‘ @ @ @ @ @ drink orders , but some of that food and drink was being consumed on the @ @ @ @ @ and those who remained were determined to be waiting for carryout orders.
” Troopers said @ @ @ @ @ Deposit restaurant a week ago responding to reports of large numbers of patrons .
Sgt @ @ @ @ @ that the law enforcement agency had to return this Sunday and found more than 70 @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Apparently they thought it was OK to serve drinks at the bar and @ @ @ @ @ waited for their orders , ” Spayd said .
Carey told the Cecil Whig that @ @ @ @ @ the truth , saying there were no more than 10 motorcycles on the parking lot @ @ @ @ @ orders and left .

For Violating Maryland’s Lockdown Order
Maryland State Police spox Greg Shipley told the Cecil Daily, “The investigation indicated the restaurant was selling ‘to go’ food and drink orders, but some of that food and drink was being consumed on the premises. The crowd dispersed and those who remained were determined to be waiting for carryout orders.”
www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/04/15-uniformed-officers-4-different-law-enforcement-agencies-rush-target-restaurant-owner-violating-marylands-lockdown-order/
Port Deposit business owner facing charges for Sunday crowds
Troopers said they were at the Port Deposit restaurant a week ago responding to reports of large numbers of patrons. Sgt. S. Spayd said Sunday that the law enforcement agency had to return this Sunday and found more than 70 motorcycles in the parking lot.
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“Apparently they thought it was OK to serve drinks at the bar and the dock bar while people waited for their orders,” Spayd said.
Carey told the Cecil Whig that could not be farther from the truth, saying there were no more than 10 motorcycles on the parking lot and customers waited for their orders and left.
www.cecildaily.com/bargaineer/cecil/port-deposit-business-owner-facing-charges-for-sunday-crowds/article_1a362489-23be-5a47-87f6-190ca95ae267.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
h/t CrsCrpr


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--What Manufacturing Executives Said About the Lockdown’s Impact on Their Business

“ Builders are wanting extensions on their accounts .
Builders are asking for better margins .
Buyers are down by 50 % to 60 % .
Employees are scared and do not want to work .
Everything we do is taking twice as long.
” The down-to-earth comments from executives of manufacturing companies in Texas show how the economy has diverged : Many segments are in a fall-of-the-cliff downturn while a few other segments have seen a sudden boost they suspect may not last .
This divergence is one of the takeaways – beyond the fall-off-the-cliff movement of the indices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manufacturing Outlook Survey released this morning .
The surveys were collected between April 14 to 22 from executives of 115 unnamed Texas-based manufacturers of all sizes .
They track how executives are viewing various aspects at their own businesses .
Of the executives , 64.5 % said that their companies experienced a decline in production in the current month – by far the most ever .
Only 9.2 % said that their companies had experienced an increase ( but they did experience an increase ; more on that in a moment ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ key measure , to plunge from -35.3 in March to -55.3 in April , a historic low , blowing by the Financial Crisis low of February 2009 : In terms of new orders , 72.2 % of the companies experienced a decline , by far the most ever .
It demolished the record low of December 2008 ( 55.7 % ) .
This caused the index for new orders to collapse by another 26 points from March , to -67 in April , the lowest in the survey data going back to 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008-2009 look tame in comparison : The General Business Activity Index , which tracks how the executives perceived the broader economy , had totally collapsed in March .
In April , it dropped further to -73.7 , a new historic low .
The labor market is rough .
The index for hours worked plunged 18 points to -40.2 , “ signaling a notably reduced workweek length.
” And staff cutting continues nearly unabated : 24.1 % of the companies said they cut staff in the current month , and only 2.9 % said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employment index at a dismally sharp decline : The capital expenditures index plunged 20 points to -54.3 , blowing by the historic low of February 2009 .
Nearly 60 % of the executives said they cut capital expenditures , and only 5.3 % said they increased them : In the comments , many of the executives outlined how their companies were feeling the full brunt of this lockdown , and how they ’ re trying to deal with it .
But some companies in other sectors – such as food and computer equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect that it won ’ t last .
Here are some highlights : Comments by businesses that got hit hard : : “ We have no visibility on orders and sales demand more than 30 days out .
It is a highly uncertain and depressed overall business environment.
” : “ With 22 million new unemployment claims in the last four weeks and others underemployed , there will be a decline in construction/housing demand that will cause job losses not seen today.
” : “ We continue to see customers push orders for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not experienced any major cancellations , the incoming order log has decreased by 62 % since January , setting the stage for a long and tough second quarter.
” : “ Sales are down nearly 50 % due to COVID-19.
” : “ We have a very negative outlook for the rest of the year as oil prices have plummeted significantly .
Our quoting has been halved , and we are deeply concerned going forward.
” : “ [ W ] e have reduced everyone ’ s working time and salaries for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone employed and seeing a rebound in business activity within the next couple of months .
We do not expect to see a full recovery for a long time in the aviation industry , and we will keep a much-reduced level of activity and investment at least for the remainder of 2020.
” : “ Things are looking bad .
Builders are wanting extensions on their accounts .
Builders are asking for better margins .
Buyers are down by 50 % to 60 % .
Employees are scared and do not want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice as long.
” : “ We are 43 % automotive in North America and Europe .
It is dramatically affecting our business level downward .
OEM [ original equipment manufacturer ] automotive has not been producing since mid-March , with uncertain dates to return to production.
” Companies that got a boost or least avoided taking a hit : : “ Plant employees are wearing masks , taking their temperatures every day , and working six-plus feet apart .
The lunchroom was expanded to allow more room between all employees .
Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes .
Overall , the virus has caused a lot of stress , but business and the health of our employees have not declined.
” : “ We have seen a surge in demand as customers scramble to cover supply chain disruptions .
We are using 2008 as a guide and expect a sharp and significant falloff in demand as customers work through a period of uncertainty.
” : “ Online retail remains our strongest sales channel as stores weather the proverbial storm.
” : “ We have two businesses : pet food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently stockpiling pet food such that our volume was up 23 % in March and we are behind schedule in making shipments .
Conversely , our feed volume was down 9 % as we believe ranchers are hoarding cash and buying less cattle feed as the warm spring weather is producing nice pastures for the cattle to graze on.
” : “ We ’ re in the food business .
There is increased demand , but it ’ s not clear if it will be sustained .
”

“Builders are wanting extensions on their accounts. Builders are asking for better margins. Buyers are down by 50% to 60%. Employees are scared and do not want to work. Everything we do is taking twice as long.”
The down-to-earth comments from executives of manufacturing companies in Texas show how the economy has diverged: Many segments are in a fall-of-the-cliff downturn while a few other segments have seen a sudden boost they suspect may not last. This divergence is one of the takeaways – beyond the fall-off-the-cliff movement of the indices – from the Dallas Fed’s Manufacturing Outlook Survey released this morning.
The surveys were collected between April 14 to 22 from executives of 115 unnamed Texas-based manufacturers of all sizes. They track how executives are viewing various aspects at their own businesses .
Of the executives, 64.5% said that their companies experienced a decline in production in the current month – by far the most ever. Only 9.2% said that their companies had experienced an increase (but they did experience an increase; more on that in a moment). This caused the production index, a key measure, to plunge from -35.3 in March to -55.3 in April, a historic low, blowing by the Financial Crisis low of February 2009:
In terms of new orders, 72.2% of the companies experienced a decline, by far the most ever. It demolished the record low of December 2008 (55.7%). This caused the index for new orders to collapse by another 26 points from March, to -67 in April, the lowest in the survey data going back to 2004. It makes the Financial Crisis of 2008-2009 look tame in comparison:
The General Business Activity Index, which tracks how the executives perceived the broader economy, had totally collapsed in March. In April, it dropped further to -73.7, a new historic low.
The labor market is rough. The index for hours worked plunged 18 points to -40.2, “signaling a notably reduced workweek length.” And staff cutting continues nearly unabated: 24.1% of the companies said they cut staff in the current month, and only 2.9% said they added staff. This left the employment index at a dismally sharp decline:
The capital expenditures index plunged 20 points to -54.3, blowing by the historic low of February 2009. Nearly 60% of the executives said they cut capital expenditures, and only 5.3% said they increased them:
In the comments, many of the executives outlined how their companies were feeling the full brunt of this lockdown, and how they’re trying to deal with it. But some companies in other sectors – such as food and computer equipment – got a boost even if they suspect that it won’t last. Here are some highlights:
Comments by businesses that got hit hard:
Chemical Manufacturing : “We have no visibility on orders and sales demand more than 30 days out. It is a highly uncertain and depressed overall business environment.”
Nonmetallic product manufacturing : “With 22 million new unemployment claims in the last four weeks and others underemployed, there will be a decline in construction/housing demand that will cause job losses not seen today.”
Primary metal manufacturing : “We continue to see customers push orders for large capital projects out. Although we have not experienced any major cancellations, the incoming order log has decreased by 62% since January, setting the stage for a long and tough second quarter.”
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Machinery Manufacturing : “Sales are down nearly 50% due to COVID-19.”
Machinery Manufacturing : “We have a very negative outlook for the rest of the year as oil prices have plummeted significantly. Our quoting has been halved, and we are deeply concerned going forward.”
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing : “[W]e have reduced everyone’s working time and salaries for a while in the hope of keeping everyone employed and seeing a rebound in business activity within the next couple of months. We do not expect to see a full recovery for a long time in the aviation industry, and we will keep a much-reduced level of activity and investment at least for the remainder of 2020.”
Wood Product Manufacturing : “Things are looking bad. Builders are wanting extensions on their accounts. Builders are asking for better margins. Buyers are down by 50% to 60%. Employees are scared and do not want to work. Everything we do is taking twice as long.”
Miscellaneous Manufacturing : “We are 43% automotive in North America and Europe. It is dramatically affecting our business level downward. OEM [original equipment manufacturer] automotive has not been producing since mid-March, with uncertain dates to return to production.”
Companies that got a boost or least avoided taking a hit:
Fabricated Metal Manufacturing : “Plant employees are wearing masks, taking their temperatures every day, and working six-plus feet apart. The lunchroom was expanded to allow more room between all employees. Office employees are working mostly out of their homes. Overall, the virus has caused a lot of stress, but business and the health of our employees have not declined.”
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing : “We have seen a surge in demand as customers scramble to cover supply chain disruptions. We are using 2008 as a guide and expect a sharp and significant falloff in demand as customers work through a period of uncertainty.”
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing : “Online retail remains our strongest sales channel as stores weather the proverbial storm.”
Food Manufacturing : “We have two businesses: pet food manufacturing and feed manufacturing. Consumers are apparently stockpiling pet food such that our volume was up 23% in March and we are behind schedule in making shipments. Conversely, our feed volume was down 9% as we believe ranchers are hoarding cash and buying less cattle feed as the warm spring weather is producing nice pastures for the cattle to graze on.”
Food Manufacturing : “We’re in the food business. There is increased demand, but it’s not clear if it will be sustained.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--China Warns Australia: Drop Coronavirus Probe or Pay an Economic Price

The Australian government ’ s call for China to explain its bungled handling of the deadly coronavirus pandemic could spark a boycott by Chinese consumers , who may no longer travel and study in Australia or buy major exports including beef and wine .
The ambassador said Australia ’ s inquiry push was “ dangerous ” and destined to fail , adding to previous criticism from Beijing , which portrayed Canberra as unblinking lackeys of the U.S. in the Pacific .
“ I think in the long term… if the mood is going from bad to worse , people would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a country that is not so friendly to China ?
The tourists may have second thoughts ’ , ” he said .
“ The parents of the students would also think whether this place which they found is not so friendly , even hostile , whether this is the best place to send our kids.
” Education is Australia ’ s third biggest export and is worth more than $ 30 billion to the economy every year .
The ambassador refused to comment on whether key exports such as iron ore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by perceived anti-China sentiment .

The Australian government’s call for China to explain its bungled handling of the deadly coronavirus pandemic could spark a boycott by Chinese consumers, who may no longer travel and study in Australia or buy major exports including beef and wine.
The ambassador said Australia’s inquiry push was “dangerous” and destined to fail, adding to previous criticism from Beijing, which portrayed Canberra as unblinking lackeys of the U.S. in the Pacific.
“I think in the long term… if the mood is going from bad to worse, people would think ‘Why should we go to such a country that is not so friendly to China? The tourists may have second thoughts’,” he said.
“The parents of the students would also think whether this place which they found is not so friendly, even hostile, whether this is the best place to send our kids.”
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Education is Australia’s third biggest export and is worth more than $30 billion to the economy every year.
The ambassador refused to comment on whether key exports such as iron ore, coal and gas would be similarly affected by perceived anti-China sentiment.
more:
www.breitbart.com/asia/2020/04/27/china-warns-australia-drop-coronavirus-probe-or-pay-an-economic-price/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--Undercover Cops Arrest Women for Operating Home Beauty Businesses…  Lockdown Order Violation

Undercover Cops Arrest 2 Women for Operating Home Beauty Businesses In Violation of Coronavirus Lockdown Order Lockdown enforcement is becoming more authoritarian .
Undercover cops arrested two women in Laredo , Texas , for violating the city ’ s COVID-19 shutdown order .
The women , Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata , had been operating prohibited cosmetology businesses from their home .
The Laredo lockdown mandates that “ non-essential ” businesses , including cosmetology services , must close .
Police say the women were reported anonymously through the department ’ s app .
“ Both of the violators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the department told the Laredo Morning Times .
“ On both cases , an undercover officer working on the COVID-19 task force enforcement detail made contact with each solicitor to set up an appointment for a cosmetic , beauty service that is prohibited under the emergency ordinance.
” Police posing as customers then arrested both women in their homes .
Both women were charged with a Class B misdemeanor , which comes with a maximum potential penalty of 180 days in jail and a $ 1,000 fine .
The two women were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Undercover Cops Arrest 2 Women for Operating Home Beauty Businesses In Violation of Coronavirus Lockdown Order
Lockdown enforcement is becoming more authoritarian.
Undercover cops arrested two women in Laredo, Texas, for violating the city’s COVID-19 shutdown order. The women, Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata, had been operating prohibited cosmetology businesses from their home.
The Laredo lockdown mandates that “non-essential” businesses, including cosmetology services, must close. Police say the women were reported anonymously through the department’s app.
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“Both of the violators independently solicited customers via social media,” the department told the Laredo Morning Times. “On both cases, an undercover officer working on the COVID-19 task force enforcement detail made contact with each solicitor to set up an appointment for a cosmetic, beauty service that is prohibited under the emergency ordinance.” Police posing as customers then arrested both women in their homes.
Both women were charged with a Class B misdemeanor, which comes with a maximum potential penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The two women were released on $500 personal recognizance bonds.
Laredo pair allegedly violated coronavirus stay-at-home order with beauty businesses


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--PELOSI: Suffers Brain Freeze, Stutters, Forgets California Governor’s Name, Calls GOP Leader Kevin M

PELOSI: Suffers Brain Freeze, Stutters, Forgets California Governor’s Name, Calls GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy “Mitchell”

# NancyPelosi and # JakeTapper have an irritable exchange this morning on # CNN ’ s # SOTU .
I @ @ @ @ @ to do her best impression of # SleepyJoe by bumbling over her own words .
@ @ @ @ @ often lately ?
Did her fancy ice cream melt ?
🍨 Doesn ’ t seem @ @ @ @ @ much politically lately , and she knows it .
The American people see through her @ @ @ @ @ like that .
Even her fellow Democrats , including # NewYork # Governor # AndrewCuomo @ @ @ @ @ on multiple fronts and making herself look bad .
I really doubt Nancy will continue @ @ @ @ @ 3rd .
Can Democrats find someone who is better at … speaking ?
😂

#NancyPelosi and #JakeTapper have an irritable exchange this morning on #CNN’s #SOTU. I think #Pelosi was trying to do her best impression of #SleepyJoe by bumbling over her own words. Why is she angry so often lately? Did her fancy ice cream melt? 🍨 Doesn’t seem like she’s winning much politically lately, and she knows it. The American people see through her and she doesn’t like that. Even her fellow Democrats, including #NewYork #Governor #AndrewCuomo know #SpeakerPelosi is losing on multiple fronts and making herself look bad. I really doubt Nancy will continue being #HouseSpeaker after November 3rd. Can Democrats find someone who is better at … speaking? 😂
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
h/t CrsCrpr


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--NY Cuomo just VERIFIED your tests go into databases! ENJOY your 1st Round Tracking

I ’ m so tired of this BS .
Seems like nobody cares .
Submit .
We are your Overlords @ @ @ @ @ best .
Q .
If you get tested , does the result automatically go into @ @ @ @ @ A .
Yes , your result will be logged into both a state and county @ @ @ @ @ reporting system .
The database includes your name .
Next up Phase 2 contact tracing @ @ @ @ @ & Google and hotel quarantines for all !
!
But YOU got businesses open and @ @ @ @ @ .
While the government collects their data for AI and Billy boy just waiting on @ @ @ @ @ stand up guy spending $ 7-10 billion on vaccination companies ( $ 1 billion each @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s even quoted stating that .
What a guy !

I’m so tired of this BS. Seems like nobody cares. Submit. We are your Overlords and know what’s best.
Q. If you get tested, does the result automatically go into some kind of database?
A. Yes, your result will be logged into both a state and county database through an electronic lab reporting system. The database includes your name.
nypost.com/2020/04/26/heres-andrew-cuomos-plan-for-new-york-getting-back-to-normal/
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Next up Phase 2 contact tracing – give it to Apple & Google and hotel quarantines for all!! But YOU got businesses open and you can go to parks.
While the government collects their data for AI and Billy boy just waiting on the horizon. What a stand up guy spending $7-10 billion on vaccination companies ($1 billion each) to make $TRILLIONS. He’s even quoted stating that. What a guy!
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--This is the top, Goldman Sachs says in Wall-Street-language that they are taking profits

• Markets may continue to look past negative coronavirus news , especially if projections continue to show that the economy is expected to rebound after the pandemic , a Monday note from Goldman Sachs said .
• An analysis of GDP forecasts from the bank found that investors tended to discount the next two years of macroeconomic performance .
• Thus , metrics that focus only on growth over the next year “ will overstate current valuations , given the large rebound expected beyond this year , ” Zach Pandl , a cohead of global FX and EM strategy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to look past negative coronavirus news , especially if projections continue to show that the economy is expected to rebound after the pandemic , according to Goldman Sachs .
An analysis by the bank using changes to gross-domestic-product forecasts found that investors typically discounted at least the next two years of macroeconomic performance , a Monday note said .
That means that metrics that focus only on growth over the next year — such as multiples based on 12-month earnings expectations — “ will overstate current valuations , given the large rebound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pandl , a cohead of global foreign-exchange and emerging-markets strategy , wrote in the note .
While the coronavirus-induced recession is set to be the deepest contraction in modern history , it ’ s also likely to be the shortest , Pandl said .
Many economists expect that , after a dip in 2020 , GDP will rebound in 2021 and 2022 .
By early April , consensus GDP forecasts incorporated a virus hit , down 4 % this year .
But forecasts are for 4 % growth in 2021 and 3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pandl said .

Markets may continue to look past negative coronavirus news, especially if projections continue to show that the economy is expected to rebound after the pandemic, a Monday note from Goldman Sachs said.
An analysis of GDP forecasts from the bank found that investors tended to discount the next two years of macroeconomic performance.
Thus, metrics that focus only on growth over the next year “will overstate current valuations, given the large rebound expected beyond this year,” Zach Pandl, a cohead of global FX and EM strategy, wrote in the note.
Markets may continue to look past negative coronavirus news, especially if projections continue to show that the economy is expected to rebound after the pandemic, according to Goldman Sachs.
An analysis by the bank using changes to gross-domestic-product forecasts found that investors typically discounted at least the next two years of macroeconomic performance, a Monday note said.
That means that metrics that focus only on growth over the next year — such as multiples based on 12-month earnings expectations — “will overstate current valuations, given the large rebound expected beyond this year,” Zach Pandl, a cohead of global foreign-exchange and emerging-markets strategy, wrote in the note.
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While the coronavirus-induced recession is set to be the deepest contraction in modern history, it’s also likely to be the shortest, Pandl said. Many economists expect that, after a dip in 2020, GDP will rebound in 2021 and 2022. By early April, consensus GDP forecasts incorporated a virus hit, down 4% this year. But forecasts are for 4% growth in 2021 and 3% in 2022 — an unusual pattern, Pandl said.
markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/goldman-sachs-stocks-keep-rising-amid-coronavirus-recession-economic-recovery-2020-4-1029138855?utm_campaign=browser_notification&utm_source=desktop


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--What if what we’re watching in the stock markets is not the ‘genius’ of the Fed but the first ‘green

What if what we’re watching in the stock markets is not the ‘genius’ of the Fed but the first ‘green shoots’ of hyperinflation?

What if what we 're watching in the stock markets is not the 'genius ' of the Fed but the @ @ @ @ @ hyperinflation ?
Hey , remember that time in the 1930 's , when there was @ @ @ @ @ and worse ?
And then the government came out and said , `` lol wait @ @ @ @ @ what money is , and we define that the dollar is devalued by 42 % @ @ @ @ @ then inflation shot back up ?
pic.twitter.com/RpQhPVmSyL

What if what we're watching in the stock markets is not the 'genius' of the Fed but the first 'green shoots' of hyperinflation?
Hey, remember that time in the 1930's, when there was crippling deflation that got worse and worse?
And then the government came out and said, "lol wait a sec, we define what money is, and we define that the dollar is devalued by 42% vs gold," and then inflation shot back up? pic.twitter.com/RpQhPVmSyL
— Lyn Alden (@LynAldenContact) April 27, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--An In-Depth Look Into The Next Few Weeks

• China – Lockdowns have been lifted in China , with Wuhan even having their lockdown lifted on April 8 .
There ’ s starting to be a report of a second wave starting , mostly imported cases from other countries .
Beijing announced a few days ago the closure of all gyms and swimming pools , a sign that they might be starting another series of lockdowns to combat the second wave .
Similarly , there has been a recent surge of cases in Singapore as well , indicating that a second wave is coming .
• Europe – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , and Spain , are starting to see the flattening of the curve after peaking in new cases in late March , with plans to start slowly lift the lockdown in early May .
In particular , Italy will start resuming manufacturing on May 4 , and restaurants will be reopening on May 18 .
• US – The number of cases in the US seems to be peaking overall , with positive cases and hospitalizations going down in hard-hit cities like NYC .
Some states are starting to look at doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifting restrictions on construction and manufacturing .
NYC is planning on entering Phase 1 reopening on May 15 , with many other states like California likely also doing so around the same time .
Georgia already decided to reopen businesses , including higher risk ones such as gyms , and not following the Federal government ’ s recommended phased approach .
• Treatments – We ’ re starting to see some initial results for trials of treatments for COVID-19 , most notably for Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine .
There ’ s been a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage of a University of Chicago faculty meeting discussing positive results being leaked on April 17 .
A few days later , a Chinese clinical study showed that it does not have any positive impact on results .
Another study was released on Friday showing hopeful results from compassionate use of the drug .
Hydroxychloroquine meanwhile has yet to show evidence in being effective in treating COVID-19 , and has been linked to very serious cardiovascular-related side effects .
• Vaccines – There are at least 115 known vaccine initiatives for COVID-19 occurring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made it to human trials , the stage where most vaccines are discontinued .
Despite this rapid progress , most experts agree that we would likely not see vaccines being widely available until the end of 2021 at the earliest .
There ’ s also doubts on whether or not a vaccine is possible , as a vaccine for any forms of corona viruses have never been produced , and there ’ s concerning signs that natural immunity from COVID-19 after being infected is short-lived and that rapid mutations will make it impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covers every strand ( i.e .
similar to the cold or flu ) .
• Since the lockdown started , there has been over 26M new joblessness claims .
It ’ s likely that this number is underreporting the true unemployment levels as this metric only tracks the number of people who were successful in filing for unemployment benefits , and most state ’ s unemployment systems have reached capacity in handling new cases .
With a labor force size of 165M in Feb 2020 , this gives us a minimum of 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently been unemployed .
Economists are forecasting the unemployment rate for April to reach around 20 % ; the ATH for US unemployment was 25 % in 1933 .
• Q1 GDP growth estimates are all over the place , with the NY Fed predicting -0.4 % , WSJ predicting -3.5 % and at -15.4 % .
Q1 GDP will be released on April 29 .
• Consumer sentiment , which measures the US consumer ’ s average optimism in the state of the US economy through spending and savings , is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording started in the 1960s , was 52 in the 1970s .
Consumer sentiment neared that level as well during the Great Recession .
• The Purchaser ’ s Managers ’ Index ( PMI ) , which measures business ’ s confidence in market conditions , measured with a variety of factors such as inventory and production levels , is at 37 for manufacturing and 27 for services .
A PMI lower than 50 is usually considered to be a reliable leading indicator of an upcoming recession .
• CPI dropped 0.4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a deflationary spiral .
A lot of this can probably be attributed to oil , but commodities across the board are also falling • The Federal government is considering a variety of “ Phase 4 ” stimulus bills , many of which will be significantly larger than the CARES Act , a $ 2T which is by far the most expensive bill passed in US history .
There ’ s a few bills out there , but negotiations between Democrats and Republicans are unlikely to occur until Congress is back in session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ideas currently on the table • A bill to provide a directly monthly payment of $ 2000 for anyone making less than $ 130K for the next 6 or 12 months ; Costs $ 450B / month , or $ 5.4T for 12 months • A bill to cancel all rent and mortgage payments for 1 year .
Landlords and lenders would be compensated ; Will cost between $ 1T – $ 2T • $ 2000 debit card issued to all US persons , with $ 1000 reloaded to it monthly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be funded by debt .
Instead , it would effectively direct the Fed to literally print the extra $ 2T to fund the program .
• Balance sheet increased from 4.1T to 6.5T since January .
The Fed is now purchasing or lending against Treasuries , MBS , Munis , IG and fallen angel bonds , and junk bond ETFs .
• The unprecedented level of liquidity pumping has resolved the liquidity crunch we saw in mid-March that amplified the stock market sell off as the dollar ’ s value consolidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P500 is now 15 % below its ATH from February , or the same level as the October 2019 lows .
We see the rebound in prices being concentrated mostly in large-cap and technology stocks .
The Nasdaq US100 is down only 9.5 % from the ATH , and now out of correction territory , while the Russell 2000 is still down 25 % .
• S & P500 PE Ratio , using trailing 12 months reported earnings , is sitting at 20.6 .
• Over 150 companies of the S & P500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including all the large technology companies ( Google , Facebook , Amazon , Apple , Microsoft ) .
Last week , most of the financial sector reported earnings , with a -56 % YoY decline in that sector .
• We were in a rising wedge over the past few weeks , which we ’ ve broken out of last week with no strong price action .
It looks like the market has been consolidating between 293 ( 62 % Fib ) and 272 ( 10 year support , coinciding with a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 ) on SPY for the past few days .
• Volume has also been decreasing slowly since the beginning of the rally .
• MACD is showing bullish , with a zero crossover recently It looks like we ’ re past the “ panic ” phase of the shock , where a combination of a liquidity crunch and uncertainty about the future caused a rapid selloff .
Fiscal and Monetary policy caused a rally , as price started consolidating towards the channel we are in now .
It looks like most investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while they wait for more information , which we will be seeing over the next few weeks , starting from this week .
It ’ s waiting for some big catalyst .
Things that will cause SPY to fall below 272 and have another selloff • Q1 GDP , released on Wednesday , is much worse than expected • Earnings released this week , especially from the companies in the trillion-dollar club , miss significantly their earnings expectations • Lockdowns in NYC and California get further delayed • Cases surge in Georgia in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown • Europe delays the lifting of their lockdown • Waves of large companies becoming bankrupt or insolvent Things that might cause SPY to rally past 293 • All the lockdowns being lifted , and businesses magically all restart like nothing happened • One of the treatments are confirmed to be effective across most cases and is FDA approved for treating patients I ’ m personally bearish overall , and think that the catalysts that will cause us to break out towards the downside is much more likely than the upside .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see smaller companies , especially ones with weak balance sheets , underperform .
This week will be important because of earnings and GDP , two key figures that should be basis of a stock ’ s value .
If we don ’ t break the channel by the end of this week , SPY will likely stay between 293 and 272 for a while as more COVID-19 data comes in .
You can play this by either going # cashgang , # thetagang with short-dated iron condors , or long-dated SPY puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the low VIX and believe ( like I am ) that we aren ’ t going past 293 .
If the results from this week is bad enough for us to break 272 , the next selloff has started and shorter-dated SPY puts might print .
Except for the unlikely case where Congress approves the Fed to start buy equities , it ’ d be hard to see anything that pushed us past 293 in the short term .
TLDR ; If we end this week < 272 , SPY 270p 5/15 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone insane .
Otherwise , selling short-dated iron condors , holding cash , or SPY 250p 8/21 .
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 .

by ASoftEngStudent
Possible COVID-19 & Lockdown Events
China – Lockdowns have been lifted in China, with Wuhan even having their lockdown lifted on April 8. There’s starting to be a report of a second wave starting, mostly imported cases from other countries. Beijing announced a few days ago the closure of all gyms and swimming pools, a sign that they might be starting another series of lockdowns to combat the second wave. Similarly, there has been a recent surge of cases in Singapore as well, indicating that a second wave is coming.
Europe – The hardest hit countries, Italy, France, and Spain, are starting to see the flattening of the curve after peaking in new cases in late March, with plans to start slowly lift the lockdown in early May. In particular, Italy will start resuming manufacturing on May 4, and restaurants will be reopening on May 18.
Italy COVID-19 Cases
US – The number of cases in the US seems to be peaking overall, with positive cases and hospitalizations going down in hard-hit cities like NYC. Some states are starting to look at doing Phase 1 re-opening, which would include lifting restrictions on construction and manufacturing. NYC is planning on entering Phase 1 reopening on May 15, with many other states like California likely also doing so around the same time. Georgia already decided to reopen businesses, including higher risk ones such as gyms, and not following the Federal government’s recommended phased approach.
US Cases
Treatments – We’re starting to see some initial results for trials of treatments for COVID-19, most notably for Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine. There’s been a lot of leaks related to Remdesivir, with footage of a University of Chicago faculty meeting discussing positive results being leaked on April 17. A few days later, a Chinese clinical study showed that it does not have any positive impact on results. Another study was released on Friday showing hopeful results from compassionate use of the drug. Hydroxychloroquine meanwhile has yet to show evidence in being effective in treating COVID-19, and has been linked to very serious cardiovascular-related side effects.
Vaccines – There are at least 115 known vaccine initiatives for COVID-19 occurring worldwide, with 6 of them having made it to human trials, the stage where most vaccines are discontinued. Despite this rapid progress, most experts agree that we would likely not see vaccines being widely available until the end of 2021 at the earliest. There’s also doubts on whether or not a vaccine is possible, as a vaccine for any forms of corona viruses have never been produced, and there’s concerning signs that natural immunity from COVID-19 after being infected is short-lived and that rapid mutations will make it impossible for a vaccine to be developed that covers every strand (i.e. similar to the cold or flu).
Economic Data
Since the lockdown started, there has been over 26M new joblessness claims. It’s likely that this number is underreporting the true unemployment levels as this metric only tracks the number of people who were successful in filing for unemployment benefits, and most state’s unemployment systems have reached capacity in handling new cases. With a labor force size of 165M in Feb 2020, this gives us a minimum of 16% of the labor force that have recently been unemployed. Economists are forecasting the unemployment rate for April to reach around 20%; the ATH for US unemployment was 25% in 1933.
Q1 GDP growth estimates are all over the place, with the NY Fed predicting -0.4%, WSJ predicting -3.5% and at -15.4%. Q1 GDP will be released on April 29.
Consumer sentiment, which measures the US consumer’s average optimism in the state of the US economy through spending and savings, is at 72. The all-time low, since recording started in the 1960s, was 52 in the 1970s. Consumer sentiment neared that level as well during the Great Recession.
Consumer Sentiment
The Purchaser’s Managers’ Index (PMI), which measures business’s confidence in market conditions, measured with a variety of factors such as inventory and production levels, is at 37 for manufacturing and 27 for services. A PMI lower than 50 is usually considered to be a reliable leading indicator of an upcoming recession.
Markit PMI (Services)
CPI dropped 0.4% in March, indicating a possible beginning of a deflationary spiral. A lot of this can probably be attributed to oil, but commodities across the board are also falling
Oil June Futures
Corn June Futures
Lean Hogs June Futures
Copper June Futures
Fiscal
The Federal government is considering a variety of “Phase 4” stimulus bills, many of which will be significantly larger than the CARES Act, a $2T which is by far the most expensive bill passed in US history. There’s a few bills out there, but negotiations between Democrats and Republicans are unlikely to occur until Congress is back in session on May 4. Here’s the ideas currently on the table A bill to provide a directly monthly payment of $2000 for anyone making less than $130K for the next 6 or 12 months; Costs $450B / month, or $5.4T for 12 months A bill to cancel all rent and mortgage payments for 1 year. Landlords and lenders would be compensated; Will cost between $1T – $2T $2000 debit card issued to all US persons, with $1000 reloaded to it monthly. Will cost $2T, however it will not be funded by debt. Instead, it would effectively direct the Fed to literally print the extra $2T to fund the program. 80% payroll tax cut
Monetary
Balance sheet increased from 4.1T to 6.5T since January. The Fed is now purchasing or lending against Treasuries, MBS, Munis, IG and fallen angel bonds, and junk bond ETFs.
Fed Balance Sheet
The unprecedented level of liquidity pumping has resolved the liquidity crunch we saw in mid-March that amplified the stock market sell off as the dollar’s value consolidates, for now.
DXY, Daily
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The Stock Market
S&P500 is now 15% below its ATH from February, or the same level as the October 2019 lows. We see the rebound in prices being concentrated mostly in large-cap and technology stocks. The Nasdaq US100 is down only 9.5% from the ATH, and now out of correction territory, while the Russell 2000 is still down 25%.
SPX, Daily
Nasdaq US100, Daily
Russell 2000 (RUT), Daily
S&P500 PE Ratio, using trailing 12 months reported earnings, is sitting at 20.6.
S&P500 PE Ratio
Over 150 companies of the S&P500 will be reporting earnings this week, including all the large technology companies (Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft). Last week, most of the financial sector reported earnings, with a -56% YoY decline in that sector.
Technicals
SPX, Daily
We were in a rising wedge over the past few weeks, which we’ve broken out of last week with no strong price action. It looks like the market has been consolidating between 293 (62% Fib) and 272 (10 year support, coinciding with a key support / resistance level from 2018 and 2019) on SPY for the past few days.
Volume has also been decreasing slowly since the beginning of the rally.
MACD is showing bullish, with a zero crossover recently
Conclusions
It looks like we’re past the “panic” phase of the shock, where a combination of a liquidity crunch and uncertainty about the future caused a rapid selloff. Fiscal and Monetary policy caused a rally, as price started consolidating towards the channel we are in now. It looks like most investors seem to be holding off from trading while they wait for more information, which we will be seeing over the next few weeks, starting from this week. It’s waiting for some big catalyst.
Things that will cause SPY to fall below 272 and have another selloff
Q1 GDP, released on Wednesday, is much worse than expected
Earnings released this week, especially from the companies in the trillion-dollar club, miss significantly their earnings expectations
Lockdowns in NYC and California get further delayed
Cases surge in Georgia in a week or two, forcing another lockdown
Europe delays the lifting of their lockdown
China completely locks down again
Waves of large companies becoming bankrupt or insolvent
Things that might cause SPY to rally past 293
All the lockdowns being lifted, and businesses magically all restart like nothing happened
One of the treatments are confirmed to be effective across most cases and is FDA approved for treating patients
A significant UBI gets passed by Congress
Congress approves the Fed to start buying stocks
I’m personally bearish overall, and think that the catalysts that will cause us to break out towards the downside is much more likely than the upside. In the meanwhile, we’re going to see smaller companies, especially ones with weak balance sheets, underperform.
This week will be important because of earnings and GDP, two key figures that should be basis of a stock’s value. If we don’t break the channel by the end of this week, SPY will likely stay between 293 and 272 for a while as more COVID-19 data comes in. You can play this by either going #cashgang, #thetagang with short-dated iron condors, or long-dated SPY puts if you want to take advantage of the low VIX and believe (like I am) that we aren’t going past 293. If the results from this week is bad enough for us to break 272, the next selloff has started and shorter-dated SPY puts might print. Except for the unlikely case where Congress approves the Fed to start buy equities, it’d be hard to see anything that pushed us past 293 in the short term.
TLDR; If we end this week < 272, SPY 270p 5/15. If > 293, the world has gone insane. Otherwise, selling short-dated iron condors, holding cash, or SPY 250p 8/21.
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.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--Luckin Coffee Office Raided as China Regulators Probe Fraud at Starbucks Rival

Luckin Coffee Inc. ( LK ) confirmed Monday that it its being investigated by market regulators in China as its @ @ @ @ @ suspended following revelations earlier this month that it may have “ fabricated sales ” reports @ @ @ @ @ than $ 300 million of more than $ 300 million .
The China-based rival to @ @ @ @ @ actively cooperating ” with the State Administration for Market Regulation in Beijing after it reportedly @ @ @ @ @ headquarters over the weekend .
The statement followed a move by the China Securities Regulatory @ @ @ @ @ investigate fraud claims linked to Luckin ’ s April 2 admission that around RMB2.2 billion @ @ @ @ @ bane been fabricated in a scheme linked to its former chief operating officer .
The @ @ @ @ @ Monday that shares in the group remain halted , following their first cessation on April @ @

Luckin Coffee Inc. (LK) confirmed Monday that it its being investigated by market regulators in China as its Nasdaq-listed shares continued to be suspended following revelations earlier this month that it may have “fabricated sales” reports that could have totaled more than $300 million of more than $300 million.
The China-based rival to Starbucks said it was “actively cooperating” with the State Administration for Market Regulation in Beijing after it reportedly raided the company’s headquarters over the weekend.
The statement followed a move by the China Securities Regulatory Commission earlier this month to investigate fraud claims linked to Luckin’s April 2 admission that around RMB2.2 billion ($310 million may bane been fabricated in a scheme linked to its former chief operating officer.
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The Nasdaq, meanwhile, said Monday that shares in the group remain halted, following their first cessation on April 6,
www.thestreet.com/investing/luckin-coffee-offices-raided-as-china-regulators-probe-fraud


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--It is beginning – the Government take over of the nations food supply.

Here in Canuckistan the government is being urged by the NDP ( Communist Party ) to basically take over the nations food supply , even more than it already has .
Farmers in Canuckistan are dumping milk and breaking millions of eggs – told to by the Dairy Board who controls milk and egg production .
Prices in the stores remain high .
1 gallon of milk is about $ 5.29 here .
Instead of dropping prices , they are dumping it .
Now potatoes and meat are next .
They are blaming restaurants being shut down for lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still 35Million people in Canuckistan – people who need to eat , whether at a restaurant or at home .
The “ where ” doesn ’ t matter .
This is all part of the ploy for total government control .
Now they want to buy up all the “ excess ” food stock for pennies on the dollar and then be in control of the food when the shortage hits in a few months .
This is all planned and being executed perfectly .
World wide communism is moments away .

globalnews.ca/news/6870689/coronavirus-canada-food-supply/
Here in Canuckistan the government is being urged by the NDP (Communist Party) to basically take over the nations food supply, even more than it already has.
Farmers in Canuckistan are dumping milk and breaking millions of eggs – told to by the Dairy Board who controls milk and egg production.
Prices in the stores remain high. 1 gallon of milk is about $5.29 here.
Instead of dropping prices, they are dumping it.
Now potatoes and meat are next.
They are blaming restaurants being shut down for lack of demand.
Hold on – – there are still 35Million people in Canuckistan – people who need to eat, whether at a restaurant or at home. The “where” doesn’t matter.
This is all part of the ploy for total government control.
Now they want to buy up all the “excess” food stock for pennies on the dollar and then be in control of the food when the shortage hits in a few months.
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This is all planned and being executed perfectly. World wide communism is moments away.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--A “Second Wave” Is Coming . . . And They’re Going To Blame It On YOU!!

A “ second wave ” is coming .
.
.
and they ’ re going to blame it on YOU @ @ @ @ @ Monica Perez and Brad Binkley of ThePropReport.com about their analysis of the “ second wave @ @ @ @ @ is going to play out in the unfolding covid crisis .

SHOW NOTES AND MP3: www.corbettreport.com/?p=36203
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A “second wave” is coming . . . and they’re going to blame it on YOU. Today James talks to Monica Perez and Brad Binkley of ThePropReport.com about their analysis of the “second wave” narrative and how it is going to play out in the unfolding covid crisis.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--Extreme censorship | Amazon fires workers calling for better COVID-19 safety measures

Hundreds of Amazon workers are staging a mass “ sick-out ” , refusing to work in protest against the tech @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus crisis

Hundreds of Amazon workers are staging a mass “sick-out”, refusing to work in protest against the tech giant’s handling of the coronavirus crisis
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investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--There’s hope: US will not participate on WHO/Bill Gates vaccine projects!

The US will not participate in a global effort with the World Health Organisation to develop drugs and a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ A spokesman for the US mission told Reuters that “ there will be no US @ @ @ @ @ programme , which aims to speed the development of a vaccine and share resources in @ @ @ @ @ .
He said : “ We look forward to learning more about this initiative in @ @ @ @ @ develop a vaccine for Covid-19 as soon as possible .
”

The US will not participate in a global effort with the World Health Organisation to develop drugs and a vaccine to combat the coronavirus.
A spokesman for the US mission told Reuters that “there will be no US official participation” in the programme, which aims to speed the development of a vaccine and share resources in the fight against the virus.
He said: “We look forward to learning more about this initiative in support of international cooperation to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 as soon as possible.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--The White House urges USPS to raise rates to avoid declaring bankruptcy

USPS continues to struggle financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could be declaring bankruptcy .
One America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Marchand , the director of policy at Taxpayers Protection Alliance , who discussed potential changes @ @ @ @ @ s oldest government agencies .

USPS continues to struggle financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could be declaring bankruptcy. One America’s Stephanie Myers spoke with Ross Marchand, the director of policy at Taxpayers Protection Alliance, who discussed potential changes to one of America’s oldest government agencies.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-04-28--The Chinese Communist Party endorses the Democrat Party.

News from China : # CCP ’ s mouthpieces including CCTV , Global Times , Observers , etc , all @ @ @ @ @ GOP , instead of the entire US like before , indicating that the CCP doesn @ @ @ @ @ stay in the office .

The Chinese Communist Party endorses the Democrat Party. t.co/U8OcNZ0HCg — Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) April 28, 2020
News from China: #CCP’s mouthpieces including CCTV, Global Times, Observers, etc, all suddenly start to directly attack GOP, instead of the entire US like before, indicating that the CCP doesn’t want GOP to stay in the office.
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News from China: #CCP's mouthpieces including CCTV, Global Times, Observers, etc, all suddenly start to directly attack GOP, instead of the entire US like before, indicating that the CCP doesn't want GOP to stay in the office. t.co/C00ZSTqEW2 — Jennifer Zeng 曾錚 (@jenniferatntd) April 27, 2020
h/t Builder