investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--US’ Cold War with China in a global economy puts allies in crossfire & will cause SEVERE damage

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is calling for “ an alliance of democracies ” to confront China .
It amounts to a new Cold War in which nations are being forced to side either with Washington or Beijing .
It ’ s a classic tyrannical power-play by Washington , yet ironically it is the Americans who are accusing Beijing of being the “ new tyranny ” in the world .
However , such polarized demarcation of the planet as designated by Washington is impossible in a global economy which is highly integrated , from consumer and financial markets to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week once again underscores how even the American military is reliant on China for supplies of rare earth metals used in its weapon systems .
Indeed , the entire US economy is dependent on China which is America ’ s biggest trade partner .
In 2019 , the US ran a trade deficit of $ 345 billion with China despite three years of ‘ Making America Great Again ’ policy under President Donald Trump .
The deficit with China accounts for about half of the US ’ total trade imbalance with the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been that way for many years .
So the high-handed notion of “ cutting China off , ” as Trump says he intends doing , is facile .
That ’ s what makes ratcheting up the Cold War hostility toward China so futile too .
The shutting down of consulates and issuing of indictments for alleged espionage are only leading to a standoff which the United States can not really enforce or afford – literally .
The same goes for American allies whom Washington is pushing to join in a Cold War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among others , are being caught in an ideological crossfire which will result in severe casualties to their economies .
Australian farmers are already paying a painful price after China canceled export orders due to Canberra being perceived as a proxy for Washington over provocative coronavirus claims against Beijing .

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is calling for “an alliance of democracies” to confront China. It amounts to a new Cold War in which nations are being forced to side either with Washington or Beijing.
It’s a classic tyrannical power-play by Washington, yet ironically it is the Americans who are accusing Beijing of being the “new tyranny” in the world.
However, such polarized demarcation of the planet as designated by Washington is impossible in a global economy which is highly integrated, from consumer and financial markets to supply chains.
A news report this week once again underscores how even the American military is reliant on China for supplies of rare earth metals used in its weapon systems.
Indeed, the entire US economy is dependent on China which is America’s biggest trade partner. In 2019, the US ran a trade deficit of $345 billion with China despite three years of ‘Making America Great Again’ policy under President Donald Trump.
The deficit with China accounts for about half of the US’ total trade imbalance with the rest of the world. And it’s been that way for many years. So the high-handed notion of “cutting China off,” as Trump says he intends doing, is facile.
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That’s what makes ratcheting up the Cold War hostility toward China so futile too. The shutting down of consulates and issuing of indictments for alleged espionage are only leading to a standoff which the United States cannot really enforce or afford – literally.
The same goes for American allies whom Washington is pushing to join in a Cold War battle. Australia, Britain, Canada, among others, are being caught in an ideological crossfire which will result in severe casualties to their economies. Australian farmers are already paying a painful price after China canceled export orders due to Canberra being perceived as a proxy for Washington over provocative coronavirus claims against Beijing.
www.rt.com/op-ed/495765-us-cold-war-china-economy/
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Market Update: Tesla Falters… Is The Market Topping Out?

All of a sudden , Tesla ( TSLA ) , the lead stock of the current massive market rally , is faltering — down nearly $ 250/share ( 14.3 % ) since yesterday ’ s open : This is important because Tesla embodies the faith , optimism and exuberance that has been required by investors to support stock prices up at their current levels — which by nearly every conventional measure are now more overvalued than at any prior time in history .
As just one example , the chart below shows that the total market cap of US stocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , an all-time record : With the stock down nearly $ 400/share since the all-time high price of $ 1,800/share hit last week , there are now many recent TSLA investors sitting on painful losses .
Especially those who bought call options , which have been purchased by an insanely large number of novice investors in Tesla of late .
Only one thing ends bull markets , and that ’ s change in sentiment .
The sudden painful reversal of a bellwether stock like TSLA , leaving shocked and injured investors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trigger that could terminate the mania that ’ s been driving stocks since April .
In this week ’ s Market Update video , we interview Jim Bruce , producer of the excellent documentary film Money For Nothing about the Federal Reserve ’ s role in creating the Great Financial Crisis , and who is now working on a new documentary about Tesla .
Given his expertise , few people are better positioned to opine on the market environment we now find ourselves in than Jim .
Whether it ’ s regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story stocks like Tesla , we ’ re at the point where to continue the status quo , everyone must believe the hype .
But what if the hype is a false promise ?
Well , with Tesla stumbling and threatening to take the markets down with it , we may soon find out : Anyone interested in scheduling a free consultation and portfolio review with Mike and John and their team at New Harbor Financial can do so by clicking here .
And if you ’ re one of the many readers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past few months , we strongly urge you get your financial situation in order in parallel with your ongoing physical coronavirus preparations .
We recommend you do so in partnership with a professional financial advisor who understands the macro risks to the market that we discuss on this website .
If you ’ ve already got one , great .
But if not , consider talking to the team at New Harbor .
We ’ ve set up this ‘ free consultation ’ relationship with them to help folks exactly like you .

by Adam Taggart
All of a sudden, Tesla (TSLA), the lead stock of the current massive market rally, is faltering — down nearly $250/share (14.3%) since yesterday’s open:
This is important because Tesla embodies the faith, optimism and exuberance that has been required by investors to support stock prices up at their current levels — which by nearly every conventional measure are now more overvalued than at any prior time in history.
As just one example, the chart below shows that the total market cap of US stocks now exceeds US GDP by over 155%, an all-time record:
With the stock down nearly $400/share since the all-time high price of $1,800/share hit last week, there are now many recent TSLA investors sitting on painful losses. Especially those who bought call options, which have been purchased by an insanely large number of novice investors in Tesla of late.
Only one thing ends bull markets, and that’s change in sentiment. The sudden painful reversal of a bellwether stock like TSLA, leaving shocked and injured investors in its wake, is exactly the type of trigger that could terminate the mania that’s been driving stocks since April.
In this week’s Market Update video, we interview Jim Bruce, producer of the excellent documentary film Money For Nothing about the Federal Reserve’s role in creating the Great Financial Crisis, and who is now working on a new documentary about Tesla. Given his expertise, few people are better positioned to opine on the market environment we now find ourselves in than Jim.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Whether it’s regarding faith in the Fed or faith in story stocks like Tesla, we’re at the point where to continue the status quo, everyone must believe the hype. But what if the hype is a false promise?
Well, with Tesla stumbling and threatening to take the markets down with it, we may soon find out:
Anyone interested in scheduling a free consultation and portfolio review with Mike and John and their team at New Harbor Financial can do so by clicking here.
And if you’re one of the many readers brand new to Peak Prosperity over the past few months, we strongly urge you get your financial situation in order in parallel with your ongoing physical coronavirus preparations.
We recommend you do so in partnership with a professional financial advisor who understands the macro risks to the market that we discuss on this website. If you’ve already got one, great.
But if not, consider talking to the team at New Harbor. We’ve set up this ‘free consultation’ relationship with them to help folks exactly like you.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Martin Armstrong: There will NEVER be a clean-up of Wall Street for the bankers OWN the Justice Depa

Martin Armstrong: There will NEVER be a clean-up of Wall Street for the bankers OWN the Justice Department, the courts, the SEC & CFTC regulators

Goldman Sacks agreed to pay Malaysia $ 3.9 billion in league with the Department of Justice ( who always protects Goldman ) in return for Malaysia dropping all CRIMINAL charges against Goldman Sachs concerning the 1MDB fraud .
I have reported before that when that deal was coming down , no other firm was allowed to quote the project .
The entire thing was orchestrated in an illegal fashion and other dealers were prohibited from even quoting .
There will NEVER be a clean up of Wall Street , for the bankers OWN the Justice Department in New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SEC & CFTC regulators .
I maintain that you should never deal with any New York bank , for you will NEVER prevail in any confrontation .
They own the entire system .
This settlement is simply because Malaysia was filing criminal charges against Goldman Sachs in its own country .
This deal reflects how they own the Department of Justice , for Goldman is only paying a cash settlement of $ US2.5 billion while another $ US1.4 billion will come from seized 1MDB assets being returned with the help of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the real swamp in New York , which funds everything in Washington .
They bought the Clintons to make student loans nom-dischargeable in bankruptcy so we have a whole generation with worthless degrees and so much debt that they can not buy a home .
Goldman Sachs not just donated to Hillary exclusively during the 2016 election , but they went as far as prohibiting staff from donating to Trump .
Then Trump blindly hires people from Goldman Sachs ?
Very wrong decision !

by Martin Armstrong
Goldman Sacks agreed to pay Malaysia $3.9 billion in league with the Department of Justice (who always protects Goldman) in return for Malaysia dropping all CRIMINAL charges against Goldman Sachs concerning the 1MDB fraud. I have reported before that when that deal was coming down, no other firm was allowed to quote the project. The entire thing was orchestrated in an illegal fashion and other dealers were prohibited from even quoting.
There will NEVER be a clean up of Wall Street, for the bankers OWN the Justice Department in New York City, the courts, as well as the SEC & CFTC regulators. I maintain that you should never deal with any New York bank, for you will NEVER prevail in any confrontation. They own the entire system.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
This settlement is simply because Malaysia was filing criminal charges against Goldman Sachs in its own country. This deal reflects how they own the Department of Justice, for Goldman is only paying a cash settlement of $US2.5 billion while another $US1.4 billion will come from seized 1MDB assets being returned with the help of the US Justice Department.
Trump is oblivious to the real swamp in New York, which funds everything in Washington. They bought the Clintons to make student loans nom-dischargeable in bankruptcy so we have a whole generation with worthless degrees and so much debt that they cannot buy a home. Goldman Sachs not just donated to Hillary exclusively during the 2016 election, but they went as far as prohibiting staff from donating to Trump. Then Trump blindly hires people from Goldman Sachs? Very wrong decision!


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Covid-19 Is So Hard To Defeat Because It’s So Alien To Us

Covid-19 is one of the most “ alien ” viruses our modern health care system has encountered .
Not because @ @ @ @ @ but because of all of the various different ways it ’ s able to wreak @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s so novel that we don ’ t have a good natural @ @ @ @ @ .
And it ’ s still confounding us .
While it looked as if we @ @ @ @ @ the US , it ’ s now surging back so strongly that overwhelmed hospitals are @ @ @ @ @ to determine who gets treated and who gets sent home to likely die .
We @ @ @ @ @ every day , and have a long way to go until we really understand well @ @ @ @ @ to fight it .
So we need to remain vigilant in our efforts to avoid @ @ @ @ @ resurging death count may go a lot higher :

by Adam Taggart
Covid-19 is one of the most “alien” viruses our modern health care system has encountered.
Not because it came from extraterrestrials, but because of all of the various different ways it’s able to wreak havoc on the human body. It’s so novel that we don’t have a good natural analog to compare it to.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
And it’s still confounding us. While it looked as if we had contained it here in the US, it’s now surging back so strongly that overwhelmed hospitals are convening “survival panels” to determine who gets treated and who gets sent home to likely die.
We are learning more about it every day, and have a long way to go until we really understand well how it works and how to fight it. So we need to remain vigilant in our efforts to avoid it, or else the resurging death count may go a lot higher:


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Chinese Oil Giants Sell $56 Billion Worth Of Pipelines

Chinese state-owned oil and gas majors have sold pipeline networks worth a total $ 56 billion as part of a government plan to restructure the nation ’ s energy industry by setting up a separate pipeline operator .
Bloomberg reports that the assets were sold above book value , quenching investor concerns that the government could try to shortchange the energy giants .
PetroChina , the report said , got 1.2 times the book value of its pipeline assets , and Sinopec got 1.4 times the book value of its assets .
The assets are being bought by the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gas Network , or PipeChina , which was set up last December .
The latest deal under this restructuring drive was only announced yesterday , for a natural gas pipeline that was the property of Sinopec .
The state giant sold it to PipeChina for $ 457 million .
The purpose of PipeChina was to combine all midstream assets of the state oil and gas companies into a separate entity in order to make these companies focus more on their upstream activities .
This fit in with the country ’ s plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to reduce its reliance on imports .
According to analysts , PipeChina could be worth between $ 80 billion and $ 105 billion if it went public .
As part of the reform , China will also open up access to its oil and gas pipeline infrastructure to foreign and private oil and gas producers .
The move is seen as the biggest energy reform in the country since 1998 when a restructuring round led to the creation of Sinopec and PetroChina .
“ We see these announcements as positive for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analysts said in a note quoted by Bloomberg .
Following the deals , both PetroChina and Sinopec were likely to reward their shareholders with special dividends , which was more good news for said shareholders .
The two will also receive minority stakes in the new company .

By Irina Slav
Chinese state-owned oil and gas majors have sold pipeline networks worth a total $56 billion as part of a government plan to restructure the nation’s energy industry by setting up a separate pipeline operator.
Bloomberg reports that the assets were sold above book value, quenching investor concerns that the government could try to shortchange the energy giants. PetroChina, the report said, got 1.2 times the book value of its pipeline assets, and Sinopec got 1.4 times the book value of its assets.
The assets are being bought by the new state-owned entity, dubbed China Oil & Gas Network, or PipeChina, which was set up last December. The latest deal under this restructuring drive was only announced yesterday, for a natural gas pipeline that was the property of Sinopec. The state giant sold it to PipeChina for $457 million.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The purpose of PipeChina was to combine all midstream assets of the state oil and gas companies into a separate entity in order to make these companies focus more on their upstream activities. This fit in with the country’s plans to boost local oil and gas production in order to reduce its reliance on imports. According to analysts, PipeChina could be worth between $80 billion and $105 billion if it went public.
As part of the reform, China will also open up access to its oil and gas pipeline infrastructure to foreign and private oil and gas producers. The move is seen as the biggest energy reform in the country since 1998 when a restructuring round led to the creation of Sinopec and PetroChina.
“We see these announcements as positive for the companies as the valuations are market friendly,” Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analysts said in a note quoted by Bloomberg. Following the deals, both PetroChina and Sinopec were likely to reward their shareholders with special dividends, which was more good news for said shareholders. The two will also receive minority stakes in the new company.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Miami’s “Mask Gestapo” now writing $100 fines and arresting citizens for not wearing a covid mask

( Natural News ) Wearing a mask to prevent the spread of covid or to keep from catching it is wise , but making sure every American is wearing one at every moment from the moment they leave their home is the job of the Democrat-led “ mask police.
” They are out in full force , especially in South Florida , and violations result in steep penalties , and for a third offense , you get summoned to appear in court .
Is jail time to follow ?
Will they be asking you to identify your POTUS preference during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new coronavirus rules are in full effect , and Democrat Mayors aren ’ t fooling around ; instead they ’ re cracking down .
A team of at least 40 cops will be working only as mask violator grabbers in Miami , slinging out fines left and right ( pardon the pun ) , $ 100 for individuals and $ 500 fines for businesses , until they catch you three times straight , and then it ’ s three strikes and you ’ re out !
Time to go to court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuffs , should the mask violator grabbers not like your attitude ( or voting habits ) .
Imagine that .
You have an arrest record because you ’ re not voting for Biden .
What ’ s next ?
Welcome to Broward County .
Buckle up .
Mask up .
Obey your demon democrats and their SS police .
Honey , put your mask on , there ’ s the Miami Mask Gestapo right over there .
Under emergency order , businesses are being closed down right and left ( 40 already just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ warnings ” for customers without masks , even though most masks and bandannas are virtually useless .
There ’ s no science to date that proves you can spread Covid before showing symptoms , but that doesn ’ t matter to the Democrats .
It ’ s all about creating a communist environment , where citizens have no say , no rights , no faces , no friends , no touching , no hugging , no praying , and certainly no guns .
“ Progressives ” are the new Nazis : Emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida Time to step up that code enforcement .
It ’ s all about staging control and really has nothing to do with safety .
We know this because all the Democrat Mayors and Governors keep getting caught everywhere in public with no masks .
The masks are only about social justice ‘ solidarity ’ and submission to communist rule that ’ s being installed , especially in blue states , including the extremists : Virginia , New York , Michigan , Oregon , Illinois and California .
Still , violate the communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalties and six months in jail .
This is no exaggeration .
Mask propaganda and commie-style laws backed up with faked statistics To back up the propaganda and fear-based tactics with fake statistics , all blue states are counting any sickness that has symptoms like fever or cough as covid , and any person who tests positive for antibodies of any kind are considered positive for covid .
Plus , anyone who dies of any cause but is then tested positive for covid is recorded as dying from covid .
Even if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still died from covid if you test positive .
On top of all that , most tests yield false-positive results .
Tack all those on .
Meanwhile , any private gatherings of 10 or more people are illegal , unless you carry Black Lives Matter or Antifa terrorist signs and are lighting property on fire , painting graffiti on buildings , assaulting people ( including all cops Black or White ) , and tearing down national monuments , then it ’ s okay , because that has been deemed “ peaceful protesting ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayors .
Plus , then , you don ’ t need a mask and you don ’ t have to social distance .
As long as you ’ re wearing or carrying anything that says “ BLM ” while destroying the city , including murdering or raping people , you don ’ t need a mask ( according to every Democrat and MSM ) .
All others , mandatory .
And yes , police are using social media posts to track down everyone who violates the mask law , except for BLM terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the mortality rate for covid is STILL the same as the seasonal flu ( about 1.4 % ) , including as reported for the whole state of Florida , where lots and lots of old folks live with their severely compromised immune systems , thanks to prescription medications .
Go figure .
Tune your internet dial to Pandemic.news for updates on the Miami Mask Gestapo arresting Republicans for not carrying a BLM or Antifa sign while walking around without a mask .
Here ’ s what Florida residents have to say about @ @ @ @ @ @

by: S.D. Wells
(Natural News) Wearing a mask to prevent the spread of covid or to keep from catching it is wise, but making sure every American is wearing one at every moment from the moment they leave their home is the job of the Democrat-led “mask police.” They are out in full force, especially in South Florida, and violations result in steep penalties, and for a third offense, you get summoned to appear in court. Is jail time to follow? Will they be asking you to identify your POTUS preference during the mug shot and line up? The new coronavirus rules are in full effect, and Democrat Mayors aren’t fooling around; instead they’re cracking down.
A team of at least 40 cops will be working only as mask violator grabbers in Miami, slinging out fines left and right (pardon the pun), $100 for individuals and $500 fines for businesses, until they catch you three times straight, and then it’s three strikes and you’re out! Time to go to court, actually, and even possibly in hand cuffs, should the mask violator grabbers not like your attitude (or voting habits). Imagine that. You have an arrest record because you’re not voting for Biden. What’s next?
Welcome to Broward County. Buckle up. Mask up. Obey your demon democrats and their SS police. Honey, put your mask on, there’s the Miami Mask Gestapo right over there. Under emergency order, businesses are being closed down right and left (40 already just in Hollywood city) while getting issued “warnings” for customers without masks, even though most masks and bandannas are virtually useless.
There’s no science to date that proves you can spread Covid before showing symptoms, but that doesn’t matter to the Democrats. It’s all about creating a communist environment, where citizens have no say, no rights, no faces, no friends, no touching, no hugging, no praying, and certainly no guns.
“Progressives” are the new Nazis: Emergency conference call for all Trump-hating Mayors in Florida
Time to step up that code enforcement. It’s all about staging control and really has nothing to do with safety. We know this because all the Democrat Mayors and Governors keep getting caught everywhere in public with no masks.
The masks are only about social justice ‘solidarity’ and submission to communist rule that’s being installed, especially in blue states, including the extremists: Virginia, New York, Michigan, Oregon, Illinois and California. Still, violate the communist edicts and you could quickly face criminal penalties and six months in jail. This is no exaggeration.
Mask propaganda and commie-style laws backed up with faked statistics
To back up the propaganda and fear-based tactics with fake statistics, all blue states are counting any sickness that has symptoms like fever or cough as covid, and any person who tests positive for antibodies of any kind are considered positive for covid. Plus, anyone who dies of any cause but is then tested positive for covid is recorded as dying from covid. Even if you jump off a 10-story building, you still died from covid if you test positive. On top of all that, most tests yield false-positive results. Tack all those on.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Meanwhile, any private gatherings of 10 or more people are illegal, unless you carry Black Lives Matter or Antifa terrorist signs and are lighting property on fire, painting graffiti on buildings, assaulting people (including all cops Black or White), and tearing down national monuments, then it’s okay, because that has been deemed “peaceful protesting” across America by all Democrat Governors and Mayors. Plus, then, you don’t need a mask and you don’t have to social distance. As long as you’re wearing or carrying anything that says “BLM” while destroying the city, including murdering or raping people, you don’t need a mask (according to every Democrat and MSM). All others, mandatory. And yes, police are using social media posts to track down everyone who violates the mask law, except for BLM terrorists and Antifa terrorists.
By the way, the mortality rate for covid is STILL the same as the seasonal flu (about 1.4%), including as reported for the whole state of Florida, where lots and lots of old folks live with their severely compromised immune systems, thanks to prescription medications. Go figure. Tune your internet dial to Pandemic.news for updates on the Miami Mask Gestapo arresting Republicans for not carrying a BLM or Antifa sign while walking around without a mask.
Here’s what Florida residents have to say about the mask police in America:
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
Sun-Sentinel.com
NaturalNews.com
Pandemic.news


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Schiff Runs Interference For Chinese Gov’t, Calls Stopping Chinese Spying A U.S. “Escalation”

Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff runs interference for the Chinese Communist Government , calling stopping Chinese spying in the U.S. by @ @ @ @ @ Houston a U.S. “ escalation…all about politics.
” Be sure to like , subscribe , @ @ @ @ @ your thoughts on the video .

Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff runs interference for the Chinese Communist Government, calling stopping Chinese spying in the U.S. by closing the Chinese consulate in Houston a U.S. “escalation…all about politics.” Be sure to like, subscribe, and comment below to share your thoughts on the video.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--A Trump supporter who was well known in his community for standing on street corners with “Vote Trum

A Trump supporter who was well known in his community for standing on street corners with “Vote Trump” was killed in broad daylight in Milwaukee Thursday afternoon

A black Trump supporter who was well known in his community for standing on street corners with `` Vote Trump @ @ @ @ @ daylight in Milwaukee Thursday afternoon and police are investigating whether politics was a motive .
@

A black Trump supporter who was well known in his community for standing on street corners with "Vote Trump" was killed in broad daylight in Milwaukee Thursday afternoon and police are investigating whether politics was a motive. t.co/JRw1iTMjW0
— Dan O'Donnell (@DanODonnellShow) July 24, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--It’s time for federal agents to arrest Democrat mayors who refuse to fulfill their duty to protect t

It’s time for federal agents to arrest Democrat mayors who refuse to fulfill their duty to protect the people in Democrat-controlled cities

( Natural News ) President Donald Trump has announced that the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) is expanding its “ Operation Legend ” program to bring more federal troops into America ’ s most dangerous inner cities , and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is not happy about it .
During a recent press conference , Lightfoot threatened the president with a lawsuit if his officers get “ out of line ” while in her city , and specifically those who deal with issues pertaining to illegal immigration .
“ I ’ m calling on all Chicagoans that if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right , please , don ’ t hesitate to report it , ” Lightfoot proclaimed .
“ We are going to remain diligent , and if we see any steps out of line , particularly with DHS or Border Patrol , we are not going to hesitate to take the president to court and stop any unconstitutional actions.
” When asked if she supports the deployment of any federal troops to the city of Chicago , Lightfoot responded by saying , “ The proof is going to be in the pudding.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to say if this is a value-add or not , ” she went on to say .
“ We ’ ve got to see what actually materializes.
” As for what the expansion of Operation Legend will entail , Trump , speaking during a news conference in the East Room of the White House , indicated that officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation , U.S .
Marshals Service , Drug Enforcement Administration , and Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives , will all be deployed for the stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime .
“ Today , I am announcing a surge of federal law enforcement into American communities plagued by violent crime , ” Trump announced just one day after more than a dozen people were injured in a shooting that occurred at a funeral in Chicago .
“ This bloodshed must end , ” Trump added , claiming that the federal government has “ no choice but to get involved ” by sending federal officers to these areas .
“ This bloodshed will end.
” You know what ’ s “ out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through mass vaccination In a tweet , Lightfoot made clear that she intends to push back as much as necessary against this federal invasion of her city , which she seems to be implying is unnecessary despite the continued waves of violence occurring there .
Meanwhile , Lightfoot does not seem to have a problem with Allison Arwady , the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health , going to down in developing plans for the mass vaccination of Chicagoans with future vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ deep planning stages ” of implementing a mass vaccination campaign that will push all Chicagoans to get vaccinated with experimental chemicals in order to protect “ public health.
” Lightfoot is not at all concerned about the safety risks involved , especially among young children , whose parents will be pressed to jab their kids in order to keep them “ safe ” from the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
How Lightfoot can pretend to care about the lives of Chicagoans by supporting a mass vaccination campaign while simultaneously opposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its violence problem is bizarrely hypocritical , and worth taking into consideration .
While the expansion of federal law enforcement does raise constitutional concerns , Lightfoot is clearly only against it because Trump is doing it .
And because of this , it is hard to take her supposed concern seriously .
“ Hilarious that she is more concerned with policing federal agents in her city than saving lives and enforcing the law , ” noted one Breitbart News commenter , illustrating this point .
To learn more about the violence occurring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure to check out Chaos.news .

(Natural News) President Donald Trump has announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is expanding its “Operation Legend” program to bring more federal troops into America’s most dangerous inner cities, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is not happy about it.
During a recent press conference, Lightfoot threatened the president with a lawsuit if his officers get “out of line” while in her city, and specifically those who deal with issues pertaining to illegal immigration.
“I’m calling on all Chicagoans that if you see something that doesn’t look right, please, don’t hesitate to report it,” Lightfoot proclaimed.
“We are going to remain diligent, and if we see any steps out of line, particularly with DHS or Border Patrol, we are not going to hesitate to take the president to court and stop any unconstitutional actions.”
When asked if she supports the deployment of any federal troops to the city of Chicago, Lightfoot responded by saying, “The proof is going to be in the pudding.”
“It’s too soon to be able to say if this is a value-add or not,” she went on to say. “We’ve got to see what actually materializes.”
As for what the expansion of Operation Legend will entail, Trump, speaking during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, indicated that officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, will all be deployed for the stated purpose of addressing the plague of violent crime.
“Today, I am announcing a surge of federal law enforcement into American communities plagued by violent crime,” Trump announced just one day after more than a dozen people were injured in a shooting that occurred at a funeral in Chicago.
“This bloodshed must end,” Trump added, claiming that the federal government has “no choice but to get involved” by sending federal officers to these areas. “This bloodshed will end.”
You know what’s “out of line?” Lightfoot supporting chemical violence through mass vaccination
In a tweet, Lightfoot made clear that she intends to push back as much as necessary against this federal invasion of her city, which she seems to be implying is unnecessary despite the continued waves of violence occurring there.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Meanwhile, Lightfoot does not seem to have a problem with Allison Arwady, the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, going to down in developing plans for the mass vaccination of Chicagoans with future vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).
As we reported, Arwady is currently in the “deep planning stages” of implementing a mass vaccination campaign that will push all Chicagoans to get vaccinated with experimental chemicals in order to protect “public health.”
Lightfoot is not at all concerned about the safety risks involved, especially among young children, whose parents will be pressed to jab their kids in order to keep them “safe” from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).
How Lightfoot can pretend to care about the lives of Chicagoans by supporting a mass vaccination campaign while simultaneously opposing federal efforts to clean up her city of its violence problem is bizarrely hypocritical, and worth taking into consideration.
While the expansion of federal law enforcement does raise constitutional concerns, Lightfoot is clearly only against it because Trump is doing it. And because of this, it is hard to take her supposed concern seriously.
“Hilarious that she is more concerned with policing federal agents in her city than saving lives and enforcing the law,” noted one Breitbart News commenter, illustrating this point.
To learn more about the violence occurring in many far-left American cities, be sure to check out Chaos.news.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
NaturalNews.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--SCIENCE FRAUD: Florida Gov. DeSantis calls for investigation into why people are testing “positive”

SCIENCE FRAUD: Florida Gov. DeSantis calls for investigation into why people are testing “positive” for coronavirus tests they never received

( Natural News ) After learning that waves of people who were never even tested for the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) received mysterious “ positive ” results , Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a Republican , decided to call for an investigation into the matter to get to the bottom of it .
According to reports , Gov .
DeSantis has asked the state ’ s Department of Health to look into the situation further .
He announced that it makes no sense whatsoever that people who were never even evaluated by a practitioner are now receiving anomalous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by some to push for more lockdowns and mask-wearing .
“ For that to come back positive , when there was no specimen submitted , is problematic , ” DeSantis is quoted as saying .
“ So I ’ ve heard it enough to be concerned about it.
” As we recently reported , many of Florida ’ s testing laboratories have been submitting boatloads of false positives to the official government databases , which has majorly skewed the state ’ s infection statistics .
Now it appears as though people who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly at random , that they have the coronavirus , which further skews the official statistics and makes it seem as though “ spikes ” of infection are occurring when they are actually not .
“ I asked the Department of Health to look at that because I heard it , too , ” DeSantis added about these strange anomalies .
“ If you can give us , if people that have told you that are willing to provide their name , we ’ re interested in investigating this because it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapsing like a house of cards Local Florida news affiliate FOX 35 News has confirmed that many people are reporting similar occurrences in their families .
People all across the Sunshine State say that they are “ testing positive ” for the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) when they never even got tested , and now they are demanding answers .
“ How does someone test positive for coronavirus if they have never been tested ?
” the news outlet asks .
“ Reports of this happening have been pouring in to FOX @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data.
” What appears to be happening in some instances is that people show up to get tested , fill out a form , but leave before ever getting tested because the lines are too long .
Later on down the road , these same folks receive notifications by email or by phone that they tested positive , even though they never even got tested .
“ If you ’ re somebody that this has happened to , you ’ re going to come forward and give us the details , because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Gov .
DeSantis .
As of this writing , Florida supposedly has some 369,834 positive cases of the coronavirus , though this number is now being called into question by these new revelations .
How many people truly have the virus when some labs are reporting 100 percent positive test results , for instance , or when people who were never tested are being told that they tested positive ?
The world may never know the full answer to this question , though hopefully , DeSantis ’ investigation will uncover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the motive is behind it .
“ We ’ ve seen suppressed negatives , egregious double-counting , fake positives , and conflation of dying WITH COVID as opposed to dying OF COVID , ” wrote one Breitbart News commenter , highlighting the many sham elements associated with the plandemic .
“ Then to top it off , tortured interpretations of the data , tainted as it is , to maximize , ‘ Get Trump !
’ ” “ Lies , damned lies and statistics .
Brought to you by ( wait for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” this same commenter added .
More of the latest on the coronavirus plandemic is available at Pandemic.news .

by: Ethan Huff
(Natural News) After learning that waves of people who were never even tested for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) received mysterious “positive” results, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, decided to call for an investigation into the matter to get to the bottom of it.
According to reports, Gov. DeSantis has asked the state’s Department of Health to look into the situation further. He announced that it makes no sense whatsoever that people who were never even evaluated by a practitioner are now receiving anomalous positive test results that are being used by some to push for more lockdowns and mask-wearing.
“For that to come back positive, when there was no specimen submitted, is problematic,” DeSantis is quoted as saying. “So I’ve heard it enough to be concerned about it.”
As we recently reported, many of Florida’s testing laboratories have been submitting boatloads of false positives to the official government databases, which has majorly skewed the state’s infection statistics.
Now it appears as though people who were never even tested are being told, possibly at random, that they have the coronavirus, which further skews the official statistics and makes it seem as though “spikes” of infection are occurring when they are actually not.
“I asked the Department of Health to look at that because I heard it, too,” DeSantis added about these strange anomalies. “If you can give us, if people that have told you that are willing to provide their name, we’re interested in investigating this because it’s ridiculous.”
The official coronavirus narrative is collapsing like a house of cards
Local Florida news affiliate FOX 35 News has confirmed that many people are reporting similar occurrences in their families. People all across the Sunshine State say that they are “testing positive” for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) when they never even got tested, and now they are demanding answers.
“How does someone test positive for coronavirus if they have never been tested?” the news outlet asks. “Reports of this happening have been pouring in to FOX 35 News since we began investigating COVID-19 data.”
What appears to be happening in some instances is that people show up to get tested, fill out a form, but leave before ever getting tested because the lines are too long. Later on down the road, these same folks receive notifications by email or by phone that they tested positive, even though they never even got tested.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“If you’re somebody that this has happened to, you’re going to come forward and give us the details, because I think that that needs to be corrected,” says Gov. DeSantis.
As of this writing, Florida supposedly has some 369,834 positive cases of the coronavirus, though this number is now being called into question by these new revelations. How many people truly have the virus when some labs are reporting 100 percent positive test results, for instance, or when people who were never tested are being told that they tested positive?
The world may never know the full answer to this question, though hopefully, DeSantis’ investigation will uncover why this is all happening, and what the motive is behind it.
“We’ve seen suppressed negatives, egregious double-counting, fake positives, and conflation of dying WITH COVID as opposed to dying OF COVID,” wrote one Breitbart News commenter, highlighting the many sham elements associated with the plandemic. “Then to top it off, tortured interpretations of the data, tainted as it is, to maximize, ‘Get Trump!’”
“Lies, damned lies and statistics. Brought to you by (wait for it …) the ‘experts,’” this same commenter added.
More of the latest on the coronavirus plandemic is available at Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
NaturalNews.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Corporate giants Amazon, Apple, Google and Walmart all donating millions to domestic terrorism organ

Corporate giants Amazon, Apple, Google and Walmart all donating millions to domestic terrorism organization Black Lives Matter

( Natural News ) First , they offered laud and praise for the “ bravery ” of “ protesters ” who are trying to eliminate “ systemic racism ” from society .
Now , Big Tech and Big Business are throwing wads of cash at Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) in an attempt to “ right the wrongs ” that the Left says need immediate fixing .
According to reports , a whole slew of corporate names ranging from Apple and Amazon to Google and Walmart have signed on to the BLM cause , offering massive multi-million-dollar cash donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the far-left effort to stamp out “ white supremacy.
” Other big names that have joined on with the effort include Viacom , Netflix , Warner Bros. , Hulu , HBO , the NFL , the NBA , Facebook , Microsoft , Target , Home Depot , the Gap , Levi ’ s , Warby Parker , Nike , Chick-fil-A , McDonald ’ s , Wendy ’ s , Taco Bell , Starbucks , Coca-Cola , UnitedHealth Group , and Peloton , among others .
While not all of these companies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund , as well as BLM itself , many of them have , with more being pressured to do so every single day .
Part of the plan is to use all this cash to “ abolish ” the police , which the far-left says will lead to a more “ equitable ” society .
There is also a push to get people to stop calling the police for help during a criminal situation , which to some is now considered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporations have tremendous presence in black communities and are in close proximity to the riots , ” writes Grant Baker for American Thinker about why many of these companies are capitulating to the demands of BLM .
“ Their exposure is not limited to physical assets that might be looted or damaged ; brands themselves may suffer reputational damage.
” BLM is about destroying normal Western society and replacing it with “ a queer-affirming network ” Baker points to the recent burning down of the Atlanta Wendy ’ s restaurant as a case-in-point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have black skin decided to point a stolen taser at a police officer before being shot dead , angry BLM and Antifa terrorists retaliated by burning down the Wendy ’ s , which had absolutely nothing to do with the situation .
“ Wendy ’ s , its logo in the frame of every photo of the incident , loudly announced a $ 500,000 donation to social justice causes and affirmed its support for the BLM movement , ” Baker notes about how these corporate giants all tend to respond when placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making these donations as protection money , hoping to bribe officials of BLM-affiliated organizations into steering the mob away from their store , ” Baker further adds .
It is important to note that the BLM and Antifa mobs are anything but organic , grassroots responses to alleged social injustices .
They are , in fact , well-funded “ corporate entities , ” warns Baker , that have been “ plucked off the shelf and filled with professional activists to run them.
” Part of their plan of attack involves targeting businesses like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme violence in order to coerce them into making large cash donations .
And the scam seems to be working like a charm , as corporation after corporation capitulates to the mob with relative ease .
“ These activists use their platform to target other corporations with exposure to the riots and pressure them into making donations , ” Baker explains .
“ Corporations are quick to pick up on the implied threat and immediately capitulate , handing money to their extortionists.
” Even the mainstream media is in on the plot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement when in fact one of its stated goals is to “ disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and ‘ villages ’ that collectively care for one another.
” BLM is also admittedly devoted to fostering “ a queer-affirming network … with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking.
” For more related news , be sure to check out CivilWar.news .

by: Ethan Huff
(Natural News) First, they offered laud and praise for the “bravery” of “protesters” who are trying to eliminate “systemic racism” from society. Now, Big Tech and Big Business are throwing wads of cash at Black Lives Matter (BLM) in an attempt to “right the wrongs” that the Left says need immediate fixing.
According to reports, a whole slew of corporate names ranging from Apple and Amazon to Google and Walmart have signed on to the BLM cause, offering massive multi-million-dollar cash donations in a show of “solidarity” with the far-left effort to stamp out “white supremacy.”
Other big names that have joined on with the effort include Viacom, Netflix, Warner Bros., Hulu, HBO, the NFL, the NBA, Facebook, Microsoft, Target, Home Depot, the Gap, Levi’s, Warby Parker, Nike, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, UnitedHealth Group, and Peloton, among others.
While not all of these companies have yet pledged large cash donations to groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, as well as BLM itself, many of them have, with more being pressured to do so every single day.
Part of the plan is to use all this cash to “abolish” the police, which the far-left says will lead to a more “equitable” society. There is also a push to get people to stop calling the police for help during a criminal situation, which to some is now considered an act of “racism.”
“These corporations have tremendous presence in black communities and are in close proximity to the riots,” writes Grant Baker for American Thinker about why many of these companies are capitulating to the demands of BLM. “Their exposure is not limited to physical assets that might be looted or damaged; brands themselves may suffer reputational damage.”
BLM is about destroying normal Western society and replacing it with “a queer-affirming network”
Baker points to the recent burning down of the Atlanta Wendy’s restaurant as a case-in-point. After a drunk driver who happened to have black skin decided to point a stolen taser at a police officer before being shot dead, angry BLM and Antifa terrorists retaliated by burning down the Wendy’s, which had absolutely nothing to do with the situation.
“Wendy’s, its logo in the frame of every photo of the incident, loudly announced a $500,000 donation to social justice causes and affirmed its support for the BLM movement,” Baker notes about how these corporate giants all tend to respond when placed into the spotlight.
“Corporations are making these donations as protection money, hoping to bribe officials of BLM-affiliated organizations into steering the mob away from their store,” Baker further adds.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
It is important to note that the BLM and Antifa mobs are anything but organic, grassroots responses to alleged social injustices. They are, in fact, well-funded “corporate entities,” warns Baker, that have been “plucked off the shelf and filled with professional activists to run them.”
Part of their plan of attack involves targeting businesses like Target, as another example, with extreme violence in order to coerce them into making large cash donations. And the scam seems to be working like a charm, as corporation after corporation capitulates to the mob with relative ease.
“These activists use their platform to target other corporations with exposure to the riots and pressure them into making donations,” Baker explains. “Corporations are quick to pick up on the implied threat and immediately capitulate, handing money to their extortionists.”
Even the mainstream media is in on the plot, falsely framing BLM as a social justice movement when in fact one of its stated goals is to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and ‘villages’ that collectively care for one another.”
BLM is also admittedly devoted to fostering “a queer-affirming network … with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking.”
For more related news, be sure to check out CivilWar.news.
Sources for this article include:
LifeSiteNews.com
NaturalNews.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--White House shows shocking footage from Portland riots.  Fox News cut away from the briefing after t

White House shows shocking footage from Portland riots.  Fox News cut away from the briefing after the video showing violence in Portland was over.

What is wrong with Fox News ?
( Video ) Fox News cut away from the briefing after the video @ @ @ @ @ over .

What is wrong with Fox News? (Video)
Fox News cut away from the briefing after the video showing violence in Portland was over.
They later returned. pic.twitter.com/XuGsf6E6tz
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 24, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Lay offs at world’s largest hedge fund

Lay offs at world’s largest hedge fund

Bridgewater Associates has laid off several dozen employees across the company this month , an unusually large cut at the world ’ s largest hedge fund firm .
The layoffs impacted Bridgewater ’ s research department and client-services team as well as among its recruiters .
The cuts also affected the firm ’ s “ audit groups ” that assess the performance of employees in various departments , and its “ core management team ” —a management training program conceived by founder Ray Dalio .
Bridgewater veterans of more than 15 years were among those laid off in Zoom meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bridgewater has also deferred until next year most of the incoming first-year analysts in its “ investment engine , ” who work in research , account management and trading .
A person close to the firm said Bridgewater wanted to avoid introducing new employees remotely .
As of 2019 , the company employed about 1,600 people .
In a statement , Bridgewater said that , given the changing world , “ team members will be working more from home so we won ’ t need the same number of support people , new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need and how we serve our clients , and we also want to become more efficient .
While this will produce more than normal attrition in terms of people leaving the firm this year it won ’ t be greatly more than normal and we will continue to invest and hire in key areas .
”

Bridgewater Associates has laid off several dozen employees across the company this month, an unusually large cut at the world’s largest hedge fund firm.
The layoffs impacted Bridgewater’s research department and client-services team as well as among its recruiters. The cuts also affected the firm’s “audit groups” that assess the performance of employees in various departments, and its “core management team”—a management training program conceived by founder Ray Dalio. Bridgewater veterans of more than 15 years were among those laid off in Zoom meetings and given several days’ notice.
Bridgewater has also deferred until next year most of the incoming first-year analysts in its “investment engine,” who work in research, account management and trading. A person close to the firm said Bridgewater wanted to avoid introducing new employees remotely. As of 2019, the company employed about 1,600 people. We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us! In a statement, Bridgewater said that, given the changing world, “team members will be working more from home so we won’t need the same number of support people, new technologies are changing what type of people we need and how we serve our clients, and we also want to become more efficient. While this will produce more than normal attrition in terms of people leaving the firm this year it won’t be greatly more than normal and we will continue to invest and hire in key areas.” www.wsj.com/articles/bridgewater-associates-lays-off-several-dozen-employees-11595610244


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--AMAZON Met With Startups — Then Launched Competing Products!  ‘Billions From Censorship, Monopoly, a

AMAZON Met With Startups — Then Launched Competing Products!  ‘Billions From Censorship, Monopoly, and Child Labor Is Not Honest Capitalism’…

Amazon Met With Startups About Investing , Then Launched Competing Products When Amazon.com Inc. ’ s AMZN 0.48 % venture-capital fund invested in DefinedCrowd Corp. , it gained access to the technology startup ’ s finances and other confidential information .
Nearly four years later , in April , Amazon ’ s cloud-computing unit launched an artificial-intelligence product that does almost exactly what DefinedCrowd does , said DefinedCrowd founder and Chief Executive Daniela Braga .
The new offering from Amazon Web Services , called A2I , competes directly “ with one of our bread-and-butter foundational products ” that collects and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After seeing the A2I announcement , Ms. Braga limited the Amazon fund ’ s access to her company ’ s data and diluted its stake by 90 % by raising more capital .
Ms. Braga is one of more than two dozen entrepreneurs , investors and deal advisers interviewed by The Wall Street Journal who said Amazon appeared to use the investment and deal-making process to help develop competing products .
In some cases , Amazon ’ s decision to launch a competing product devastated the business in which it invested .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about potential takeovers , sought to understand how their technology works , then declined to invest and later introduced similar Amazon-branded products , according to some of the entrepreneurs and investors .
An Amazon spokesman said the company doesn ’ t use confidential information that companies share with it to build competing products .
Dealing with Amazon is often a double-edged sword for entrepreneurs .
Amazon ’ s size and presence in many industries , including cloud-computing , electronic devices and logistics , can make it beneficial to work with .
But revealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitive risks .

Amazon Met With Startups About Investing, Then Launched Competing Products
When Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN 0.48% venture-capital fund invested in DefinedCrowd Corp., it gained access to the technology startup’s finances and other confidential information.
Nearly four years later, in April, Amazon’s cloud-computing unit launched an artificial-intelligence product that does almost exactly what DefinedCrowd does, said DefinedCrowd founder and Chief Executive Daniela Braga.
The new offering from Amazon Web Services, called A2I, competes directly “with one of our bread-and-butter foundational products” that collects and labels data, said Ms. Braga. After seeing the A2I announcement, Ms. Braga limited the Amazon fund’s access to her company’s data and diluted its stake by 90% by raising more capital. We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Ms. Braga is one of more than two dozen entrepreneurs, investors and deal advisers interviewed by The Wall Street Journal who said Amazon appeared to use the investment and deal-making process to help develop competing products.
In some cases, Amazon’s decision to launch a competing product devastated the business in which it invested. In other cases, it met with startups about potential takeovers, sought to understand how their technology works, then declined to invest and later introduced similar Amazon-branded products, according to some of the entrepreneurs and investors.
An Amazon spokesman said the company doesn’t use confidential information that companies share with it to build competing products.
Dealing with Amazon is often a double-edged sword for entrepreneurs. Amazon’s size and presence in many industries, including cloud-computing, electronic devices and logistics, can make it beneficial to work with. But revealing too much information could expose companies to competitive risks.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Der Spiegel reports that a network of extreme right Germans are buying up land in Cape Breton to bui

Der Spiegel reports that a network of extreme right Germans are buying up land in Cape Breton to build a colony

Der Spiegel reports that a network of extreme right Germans , including the broadcaster Eva Herman ( who has spoken @ @ @ @ @ ’ s family values ) , are buying up land in Cape Breton to build @ @ @ @ @ people.
” Sounds like some folks are really fed up with Madame Merkel .

Der Spiegel reports that a network of extreme right Germans, including the broadcaster Eva Herman (who has spoken in favour of Nazi Germany’s family values), are buying up land in Cape Breton to build a colony of “like-minded people.”
Der Spiegel reports that a network of extreme right Germans, including the broadcaster Eva Herman (who has spoken in favour of Nazi Germany’s family values), are buying up land in Cape Breton to build a colony of "like-minded people." t.co/JJdBXp8rHg — Sean Craig (@sdbcraig) July 24, 2020
Sounds like some folks are really fed up with Madame Merkel.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
h/t Builder


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Europe Panics as a swarm invades Italy

Europe Panics as a swarm invades Italy

Over 23 countries have been invaded with more to come .

Over 23 countries have been invaded with more to come.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--IT’S ORWELLIAN LANGUAGE ALL THE WAY DOWN:  Media, Portland Mayor Mischaracterize Assault on Federal

IT’S ORWELLIAN LANGUAGE ALL THE WAY DOWN:  Media, Portland Mayor Mischaracterize Assault on Federal Courthouse as “Protests”.

“ At least three federal officers in Portland may not recover their vision after earlier this week demonstrators , who have shown up in crowds of over 1,000 for more than 50 consecutive nights , shined lasers in their eyes and threw fireworks at a federal courthouse , officials said.
” As we ’ ve covered here at LI , antifa violence in Portland , Oregon , and beyond long pre-dates the George Floyd protests that devolved into riots in cities across the country .
Yet the leftstream media would have us believe , despite all evidence to the contrary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Portland are peaceful protesters .
We are seeing the most stunningly blatant and deeply bizarre gaslighting by both Portland mayor Ted Wheeler and the media about what has been going on in Portland .
Apparently , they are convinced that no one can see the multitude of videos of the arson , vandalism , and violent attacks on law enforcement ( and random journalists , et al . )
because we are hearing that peaceful protesters are being assaulted by “ Trump ’ s stormtroopers ” when all they are doing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no .
Here ’ s what ’ s going on in Portland :

“At least three federal officers in Portland may not recover their vision after earlier this week demonstrators, who have shown up in crowds of over 1,000 for more than 50 consecutive nights, shined lasers in their eyes and threw fireworks at a federal courthouse, officials said.”
As we’ve covered here at LI, antifa violence in Portland, Oregon, and beyond long pre-dates the George Floyd protests that devolved into riots in cities across the country. Yet the leftstream media would have us believe, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the antifa anarchists creating mayhem in Portland are peaceful protesters.
We are seeing the most stunningly blatant and deeply bizarre gaslighting by both Portland mayor Ted Wheeler and the media about what has been going on in Portland.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Apparently, they are convinced that no one can see the multitude of videos of the arson, vandalism, and violent attacks on law enforcement (and random journalists, et al.) because we are hearing that peaceful protesters are being assaulted by “Trump’s stormtroopers” when all they are doing is standing around peacefully protesting.
Um, no. Here’s what’s going on in Portland:


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--SHOCKED: La La Land Congress Wants To Give Billions To Public Schools To Stay Closed.

When schools shut down this spring , Congress sent them $ 31 billion — nearly half its annual schools outlay — for sanitation and online learning , even though students weren ’ t in schools to theoretically contaminate them and online learning barely happened for millions of children .
The vast majority of this money has not even reached schools yet .
Nevertheless , the Wall Street Journal reports that education special interests are demanding , through their Democrat representatives , nearly half a trillion in additional deficit spending for the fall without requiring schools to operate .
Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly $ 430 billion extra to put kids in the equivalent of Khan Academy online math lessons .
Did I mention that Khan Academy is free ?
And that the ask to duplicate it is 600 percent more than annual federal spending on K-12 ?
“ There is absolutely no way that federal funds included in the next COVID relief package…will reach schools in time to open in August and September , ” notes Inez Feltscher .
“ Due to bureaucratic inertia and the requisite multiple rounds of paperwork , new federal COVID-response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 .
”

When schools shut down this spring, Congress sent them $31 billion — nearly half its annual schools outlay — for sanitation and online learning, even though students weren’t in schools to theoretically contaminate them and online learning barely happened for millions of children. The vast majority of this money has not even reached schools yet.
Nevertheless, the Wall Street Journal reports that education special interests are demanding, through their Democrat representatives, nearly half a trillion in additional deficit spending for the fall without requiring schools to operate. Yes, you read that right: Democrats want nearly $430 billion extra to put kids in the equivalent of Khan Academy online math lessons. Did I mention that Khan Academy is free? And that the ask to duplicate it is 600 percent more than annual federal spending on K-12?
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“There is absolutely no way that federal funds included in the next COVID relief package…will reach schools in time to open in August and September,” notes Inez Feltscher. “Due to bureaucratic inertia and the requisite multiple rounds of paperwork, new federal COVID-response funds are unlikely to reach schools before 2021.”
thefederalist.com/2020/07/22/la-la-land-congress-wants-to-give-billions-to-public-schools-to-stay-closed/


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Trends In The Nursing Industry

Trends In The Nursing Industry

Much like many other industries , nursing is constantly changing , and there are always new trends impacting this area of healthcare in terms of the way that care is provided , the lifestyle of nurses , qualification , recruitment , and many other areas .
Of course , it is hard to predict what the near future might look like for nursing and healthcare due to the Coronavirus pandemic , but there are a few trends that have been emerging in this field in recent times and are likely to continue in the near future and once life begins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than later .
Read on to discover a few of the major trends shaping the nursing industry .
There is a shortage of nurses right now , which is , in part , due to the aging population and improvement in care .
This is obviously problematic as a nursing shortage means that people are not getting the care that they need , so a key trend in the industry right now is trying to attract more and more people to this professional .
One of the main ways that this is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a nurse , including better pay , bonuses , and even tuition reimbursement .
Telehealth allows the chance for nurses to provide care , wellness checks , and health promotion without the need for people to leave their homes .
Telehealth was already on the rise prior to the pandemic as it is much easier for people to receive healthcare through telephone calls or via electronic devices , such as computers or tablets , where video calls are possible .
Of course , the pandemic has simply accelerated this as people will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nursing is a broad area of healthcare with many different areas to specialize in .
It seems that more and more nurses are choosing specific areas , such as psychiatric , which enables them to become an expert in this area and advance their career .
Mental health , in particular , is an area that is increasing in demand , so many nurses are now looking to this area to specialize in and provide treatment and support for those suffering from mental health conditions .
The way in which nurses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people now taking online nursing programs , which will use online learning with clinical experience to teach nurses all that they need to find work .
This flexibility can provide many advantages , plus you can often receive financial assistance to pay for your course , such as Wilkes graduate tuition .
It is hoped that online programs like this will attract more student nurses to address the nursing shortage , as well as allow existing nurses to further their careers by earning further qualifications .
Nursing has and remains a female-dominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as more and more men turn to this highly rewarding career path .
What was once seen as a feminine role is now changing , and by attracting both men and women , it will hopefully help to address the shortage and ensure that people get the care that they need .
There are few roles that can be as demanding , challenging , and even traumatic as nursing .
Unfortunately , this can take its toll , and so many nurses and other people in the healthcare industry suffer from mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicted that there will be significant repercussions in terms of mental health from frontline workers as a result of the pandemic too .
Therefore , self-care will be a major trend going forward with employers promoting self-care and nurses prioritizing their wellbeing by de-stressing , leading a healthy lifestyle , enjoying their time off , and reaching out for support when needed .
Nurses are the largest group of healthcare providers in the nation and are a vital part of every leadership team , but despite this , they remain underrepresented on hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work put towards greater inclusions on boards , but there is still a long way to go , and this will be a continued trend going forward .
These are the main trends in the nursing industry right now and are likely to continue for the foreseeable future .
Obviously , the Coronavirus pandemic is putting the healthcare system under great strain right now , and it is hard to say what the future will look like , but the above trends are likely to continue , and the demand for nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Disclaimer : This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB .

Much like many other industries, nursing is constantly changing, and there are always new trends impacting this area of healthcare in terms of the way that care is provided, the lifestyle of nurses, qualification, recruitment, and many other areas. Of course, it is hard to predict what the near future might look like for nursing and healthcare due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but there are a few trends that have been emerging in this field in recent times and are likely to continue in the near future and once life begins to return to normal hopefully sooner rather than later. Read on to discover a few of the major trends shaping the nursing industry.
Greater Benefits To Address The Shortage
There is a shortage of nurses right now, which is, in part, due to the aging population and improvement in care. This is obviously problematic as a nursing shortage means that people are not getting the care that they need, so a key trend in the industry right now is trying to attract more and more people to this professional. One of the main ways that this is being achieved is by providing greater benefits to being a nurse, including better pay, bonuses, and even tuition reimbursement.
Telehealth
Telehealth allows the chance for nurses to provide care, wellness checks, and health promotion without the need for people to leave their homes. Telehealth was already on the rise prior to the pandemic as it is much easier for people to receive healthcare through telephone calls or via electronic devices, such as computers or tablets, where video calls are possible. Of course, the pandemic has simply accelerated this as people will want to avoid leaving home where possible.
Increased Specialization
Nursing is a broad area of healthcare with many different areas to specialize in. It seems that more and more nurses are choosing specific areas, such as psychiatric, which enables them to become an expert in this area and advance their career. Mental health, in particular, is an area that is increasing in demand, so many nurses are now looking to this area to specialize in and provide treatment and support for those suffering from mental health conditions.
Online Nursing Programs
The way in which nurses are becoming qualified is changing too, with many people now taking online nursing programs, which will use online learning with clinical experience to teach nurses all that they need to find work. This flexibility can provide many advantages, plus you can often receive financial assistance to pay for your course, such as Wilkes graduate tuition. It is hoped that online programs like this will attract more student nurses to address the nursing shortage, as well as allow existing nurses to further their careers by earning further qualifications.
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An Increase In Males Nurses
Nursing has and remains a female-dominated profession, but this is slowly changing as more and more men turn to this highly rewarding career path. What was once seen as a feminine role is now changing, and by attracting both men and women, it will hopefully help to address the shortage and ensure that people get the care that they need.
Self-Care
There are few roles that can be as demanding, challenging, and even traumatic as nursing. Unfortunately, this can take its toll, and so many nurses and other people in the healthcare industry suffer from mental health issues. In fact, it is predicted that there will be significant repercussions in terms of mental health from frontline workers as a result of the pandemic too. Therefore, self-care will be a major trend going forward with employers promoting self-care and nurses prioritizing their wellbeing by de-stressing, leading a healthy lifestyle, enjoying their time off, and reaching out for support when needed.
Greater Inclusion On Boards
Nurses are the largest group of healthcare providers in the nation and are a vital part of every leadership team, but despite this, they remain underrepresented on hospital boards. There has been a lot of work put towards greater inclusions on boards, but there is still a long way to go, and this will be a continued trend going forward.
These are the main trends in the nursing industry right now and are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Obviously, the Coronavirus pandemic is putting the healthcare system under great strain right now, and it is hard to say what the future will look like, but the above trends are likely to continue, and the demand for nurses will certainly continue for the foreseeable future.
Disclaimer: This content does not necessarily represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--“When Americans are concerned about their personal security, they buy firearms.”

“ When Americans are concerned about their personal security , they buy firearms .
”

“When Americans are concerned about their personal security, they buy firearms.”
Read the full piece here: t.co/IKB9ZlsZFX t.co/lfAdQ6QAkC pic.twitter.com/Z1KeW4ceQn
— BrookingsInst (@BrookingsInst) July 24, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Financial implications if the Three Gorges Dam fails

If this dam fails it has huge implications for China and the rest of the world .
Right now it has become a huge concern with deformations apparently appearing and more rain forecasted .
The spillways are all open full blast .
Reportedly other dams upstream are being blasted by the CCP without warning flooding villages , to release pressure on the main dam .
With all spillways open as is , huge crop devastation is already expected downstream .
With ~350 million people , enormous manufacturing , and a huge portion of China ’ s GDP below the damn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dam collapse ?
I think there is a major risk to the pharmaceutical supply chain .
Even ingredients and source materials for things made in India or the US and elsewhere originate here .
Live feed of the dam with all spillways open .
Apparently every few hours people are spotting large debris from possible cavitation and hearing large air pockets coming through : Historical peak rainfall and flooding is usually by mid August I am told .
This is currently upstream Deliberate flooding is happening everywhere to save railway lines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure on the dam .
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 HK-SP5
If this dam fails it has huge implications for China and the rest of the world. Right now it has become a huge concern with deformations apparently appearing and more rain forecasted. The spillways are all open full blast. Reportedly other dams upstream are being blasted by the CCP without warning flooding villages, to release pressure on the main dam. With all spillways open as is, huge crop devastation is already expected downstream.
With ~350 million people, enormous manufacturing, and a huge portion of China’s GDP below the damn, what are the financial implications of a dam collapse?
I think there is a major risk to the pharmaceutical supply chain. Even ingredients and source materials for things made in India or the US and elsewhere originate here.
Live feed of the dam with all spillways open. Apparently every few hours people are spotting large debris from possible cavitation and hearing large air pockets coming through:
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Historical peak rainfall and flooding is usually by mid August I am told.
This is currently upstream
The Qingjiang River is a tributary of the Yangtze River, the water flows into the lower reaches of the Three Gorges Yichang. The Yangtze River has increased flood discharge, the Qingjiang River cannot flow out, and the water level in the whole basin has risen. #China #Weather pic.twitter.com/jBn3sjtCNG — The Underground Silk-Railroad Communique (@UndergroundSilk) July 18, 2020
Deliberate flooding is happening everywhere to save railway lines and other critical infrastructure and also to lessen pressure on the dam.
This was not so awesome either. Intentional flooding of Jiangxi to save their precious Beijing Kowloon rail line. pic.twitter.com/Wd2gid7xsM — Binni (@ExpelChina) July 18, 2020
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--2020-07-24--Warren Buffett increases his stake in Bank of America by $800M

Over the past few days , Buffett increased his stake in Bank of America ( BAC ) from 7.4 % @ @ @ @ @ at an average price of $ 24 .
What do you guys think ?

www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000120919120043419/xslF345X03/doc4.xml
Over the past few days, Buffett increased his stake in Bank of America (BAC) from 7.4% to 11%, buying at an average price of $24. What do you guys think?
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h/t Bro_din


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--This is the insanity that the $TSLA bulls are building on…

The recent price hikes in tesla stock had nothing to do with fundamentals .
Tesla hasn ’ t produced more than last year , they haven ’ t sold more than last year and haven ’ t gained more than last year .
The only reason the price is where it is , is due to cult like price speculation .
It makes zero sense for tesla to be worth more than several car companies combined .
They produce only a fraction amount of cars and there is no evidence proving that they will keep this demand up .
Toyota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and yet tesla is worth 30 % more ?
How does this make any sense at all .
I am warning you tesla share holders , once the negative news comes rolling in this stock will easily fall back to 500 $ per share .
Nobody will buy expensive cars during a recession .
There is a lot of blood that will be spilled once the hype is over .
Brace yourselves .
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment decisions based on the information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due diligence .

This is the insanity that the $TSLA bulls are building on. Global auto OEM factories average 250,000/units annually. Right now Tesla has 2 factories, and is targeting 500,000 deliveries in 2020. t.co/NhcCBG8QfF — Diogenes (@WallStCynic) July 24, 2020
$TSLA still holding up above PLL zone. Watch it! If it breaks below it, it will go for dMA50. pic.twitter.com/XfcrzpapwH — Hoz (@Hoz94s) July 24, 2020
The recent price hikes in tesla stock had nothing to do with fundamentals. Tesla hasn’t produced more than last year, they haven’t sold more than last year and haven’t gained more than last year. The only reason the price is where it is, is due to cult like price speculation.
It makes zero sense for tesla to be worth more than several car companies combined. They produce only a fraction amount of cars and there is no evidence proving that they will keep this demand up. Toyota has 12x the revenue that tesla has and yet tesla is worth 30% more? How does this make any sense at all.
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I am warning you tesla share holders, once the negative news comes rolling in this stock will easily fall back to 500$ per share. Nobody will buy expensive cars during a recession. There is a lot of blood that will be spilled once the hype is over. Brace yourselves.
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--2020-07-24--NASDAQ pulling back?  Can’t be…right?

NASDAQ pulling back?  Can’t be…right?

# NASDAQ pulling back ?
Ca n't be…right ?
Double-top has formed , target would suggest a modest pullback to @ @ @ @ @ support at the 55EMA .
@ LanceRoberts what do you think , finally going to @ @ @ @ @ NQ $ QQQ pic.twitter.com/n3jxVjUy0m Complacency building ?
50d moving average of @ CBOE put-call ratio @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg pic.twitter.com/KZQvc836tS U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says : There are ‘ clearly ’ some stocks @ @ @ @ @ question ’ This was the 5th largest weekly increase in initial jobless claims in 53 @ @ @ @ @ stocks would be even near record valuations in such environment .
So many structural problems @ @ @ @ @ They better keep printing… pic.twitter.com/4eP3Ca3Fat

#NASDAQ pulling back? Can't be…right? Double-top has formed, target would suggest a modest pullback to 9,965 where it will find support at the 55EMA. @LanceRoberts what do you think, finally going to get a pullback? $NQ $QQQ pic.twitter.com/n3jxVjUy0m
twitter.com/GS_CapSF/status/1286692182947180544
Complacency building? 50d moving average of @CBOE put-call ratio at lowest since 2000 @Bloomberg pic.twitter.com/KZQvc836tS
U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says: There are ‘clearly’ some stocks where ‘valuations are a question’
For the record:
This was the 5th largest weekly increase in initial jobless claims in 53 years!
Crazy to think stocks would be even near record valuations in such environment.
So many structural problems lurking in the economy.
They better keep printing… pic.twitter.com/4eP3Ca3Fat
— Otavio (Tavi) Costa (@TaviCosta) July 23, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--US Economy Is Flatlining

US Economy Is Flatlining

The consumer is headed in the wrong direction which shouldn ’ t be a surprise .
It ’ s actually surprising that it hasn ’ t weakened further .
The two main negative catalysts are the increased economic restrictions due to the recent COVID-19 flare ups in the south and the west and the anticipated end to the weekly $ 600 unemployment insurance checks .
If you are getting $ 600 per week from the government and know it is ending this week , you probably are feeling nervous .
These people are likely saving for the potential income decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a job or that the government can pass another stimulus , but hope doesn ’ t pay the bills .
They will save what they can until a stimulus gives them cash .
Even still , we need to see COVID-19 cases start falling nationally again before there is a sustained recovery .
Redbook same store sales growth in the week of July 18th fell from -5.5 % to -7.5 % .
We expect negative monthly retail sales growth in July due to the tough comp and weakening sentiment .
The preliminary July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 78.1 to 73.1 .
This report missed estimates by the most on record ( by about 6 points ) .
That reversed the recent trend of positive economic surprises .
The current conditions index fell from 87.1 to 84.2 and the expectations index fell from 72.3 to 66.2 .
As you can see from the chart above , Chase consumer credit spending growth has stagnated in the low negative double digits .
Economists started calling for a Nike swoosh recovery in May .
This doesn ’ t look like a swoosh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow , but this is stagnation which is different .
Yearly growth hasn ’ t improved in about a month .
This will show up in the July retail sales report .
With Congress wasting time , the data might get worse before it gets better .
July 25th is the end of the $ 600 weekly checks .
There won ’ t be a stimulus plan passed by then .
We said the consumer is holding up better than you ’ d think because the labor market has been weakening .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight weeks as you can see from the chart below .
From the May to June survey week , employment was up 5.6 million .
From the June to July survey week , employment fell by 6.7 million .
The July BLS report is about to show net job losses .
That ’ s not what you want to see when there is double digit unemployment .
If this trend continues , either the entire period will be considered a recession or this will be a double dip recession .
The chart above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult employment rate falling from about 54.3 % a month ago to 51.7 % .
The past week of data was the biggest decline .
If the data doesn ’ t improve , the BLS report will matter more even though it doesn ’ t include results from the 2nd half of the month .
We say that because it will detail a worsening trend in that case .
If the household pulse survey and jobless claims unexpectedly turn around , the bulls can say the BLS reading is old data .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the bulls will point to the decline in COVID-19 new case growth .
The trend this spring was towards more driving because it is safer than public transportation .
The trend has changed with the latest spike in COVID-19 cases .
As you can see from the chart below , yearly gasoline demand growth in the past 2 weeks fell for the first time since April .
The recovery has reversed .
Demand is down 11.7 % from last year .
The key figure to watch is COVID-19 cases in California .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago which should signal a coming improvement .
So far , the results in California are still terrible .
There were 12,137 new cases on Wednesday which was a record high .
There was also a record high 156 deaths on Wednesday .
California passed New York as the state with the most cases .
California ’ s economy is the largest in the country .
We can ’ t have a full recovery without California .
With the job losses and pandemic , many people have stopped paying rent and have delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The commercial real estate market is also in trouble .
As you can see from the chart below , San Francisco rents have fallen the most due to this pandemic as they are down about 4 % sine the start of the year .
Even with all the fears of people leaving NYC , rents there are only down about 1 % .
San Francisco is a hotbed for tech which has been the hottest sector in the stock market , but this has had no impact on the asking rate for rent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nasdaq has had a few interesting records because this recent rally has been so amazing .
The latest record is the longest streak without a 2 day losing streak .
It ’ s tied for the longest with 48 days .
The last 2 day losing streak was in mid-May as you can see from the chart below .
The Nasdaq needs to increase on Friday after Thursday ’ s decline to break the record .
Interestingly , the record streak it is tied with was in 1978 .
There never even was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late 1990s which was the hottest tech market ever .
The top 5 stocks in the S & P 500 ( the internet stocks ) have gained more in market cap on a yearly basis than the peak in the late 1990s .
The consumer and the labor market are in trouble .
The Nasdaq has been acting as a reverse indicator as it rallies in times of economic hardship .
It has done so well that it tied a record long streak without 2 declines in a row .
Besides weakness in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth in gasoline sales has been falling .
Rents aren ’ t being paid on time which has led to the decline in asking rates .
The city with the largest decline is San Francisco .

by UPFINA
The consumer is headed in the wrong direction which shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s actually surprising that it hasn’t weakened further. The two main negative catalysts are the increased economic restrictions due to the recent COVID-19 flare ups in the south and the west and the anticipated end to the weekly $600 unemployment insurance checks. If you are getting $600 per week from the government and know it is ending this week, you probably are feeling nervous. These people are likely saving for the potential income decline. These people hope they can get a job or that the government can pass another stimulus, but hope doesn’t pay the bills. They will save what they can until a stimulus gives them cash. Even still, we need to see COVID-19 cases start falling nationally again before there is a sustained recovery.
Redbook same store sales growth in the week of July 18th fell from -5.5% to -7.5%. We expect negative monthly retail sales growth in July due to the tough comp and weakening sentiment. The preliminary July University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell from 78.1 to 73.1. This report missed estimates by the most on record (by about 6 points). That reversed the recent trend of positive economic surprises. The current conditions index fell from 87.1 to 84.2 and the expectations index fell from 72.3 to 66.2.
US: Chase card spending suggests recovery has stalled but not reversed… pic.twitter.com/Z0jGmDeRN1 — FxMacro (@fxmacro) July 22, 2020
As you can see from the chart above, Chase consumer credit spending growth has stagnated in the low negative double digits. Economists started calling for a Nike swoosh recovery in May. This doesn’t look like a swoosh. The rate of change was supposed to slow, but this is stagnation which is different. Yearly growth hasn’t improved in about a month. This will show up in the July retail sales report. With Congress wasting time, the data might get worse before it gets better. July 25th is the end of the $600 weekly checks. There won’t be a stimulus plan passed by then.
Labor Market In Big Trouble
We said the consumer is holding up better than you’d think because the labor market has been weakening. The household pulse survey has weakened for 4 straight weeks as you can see from the chart below. From the May to June survey week, employment was up 5.6 million. From the June to July survey week, employment fell by 6.7 million. The July BLS report is about to show net job losses. That’s not what you want to see when there is double digit unemployment. If this trend continues, either the entire period will be considered a recession or this will be a double dip recession.
For several weeks, real-time data has suggested that the U.S. economic recovery could be stalling. Now there is evidence it could be going in reverse.t.co/xNMVeIuh2X pic.twitter.com/piYxufcnyb — Ben Casselman (@bencasselman) July 22, 2020
The chart above shows the household pulse survey has the adult employment rate falling from about 54.3% a month ago to 51.7%. The past week of data was the biggest decline. If the data doesn’t improve, the BLS report will matter more even though it doesn’t include results from the 2nd half of the month. We say that because it will detail a worsening trend in that case. If the household pulse survey and jobless claims unexpectedly turn around, the bulls can say the BLS reading is old data. In response to a weak report, we think the bulls will point to the decline in COVID-19 new case growth.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Driving Falls
The trend this spring was towards more driving because it is safer than public transportation. The trend has changed with the latest spike in COVID-19 cases. As you can see from the chart below, yearly gasoline demand growth in the past 2 weeks fell for the first time since April. The recovery has reversed. Demand is down 11.7% from last year.
First time US weekly gasoline demand drops for two consecutive weeks since April.
=> US economy is flatlining, if not slowing again. Something to watch… pic.twitter.com/D8cfLYnoou — Thomas Costerg (@TCosterg) July 22, 2020
The key figure to watch is COVID-19 cases in California. Cases in Arizona peaked a couple weeks ago which should signal a coming improvement. So far, the results in California are still terrible. There were 12,137 new cases on Wednesday which was a record high. There was also a record high 156 deaths on Wednesday. California passed New York as the state with the most cases. California’s economy is the largest in the country. We can’t have a full recovery without California.
Changes To Rent
With the job losses and pandemic, many people have stopped paying rent and have delayed mortgage payments for a few months. The commercial real estate market is also in trouble. As you can see from the chart below, San Francisco rents have fallen the most due to this pandemic as they are down about 4% sine the start of the year. Even with all the fears of people leaving NYC, rents there are only down about 1%. San Francisco is a hotbed for tech which has been the hottest sector in the stock market, but this has had no impact on the asking rate for rent.
Another Record For The Nasdaq
The Nasdaq has had a few interesting records because this recent rally has been so amazing. The latest record is the longest streak without a 2 day losing streak. It’s tied for the longest with 48 days. The last 2 day losing streak was in mid-May as you can see from the chart below. The Nasdaq needs to increase on Friday after Thursday’s decline to break the record. Interestingly, the record streak it is tied with was in 1978. There never even was a streak of 30 days in the late 1990s which was the hottest tech market ever. The top 5 stocks in the S&P 500 (the internet stocks) have gained more in market cap on a yearly basis than the peak in the late 1990s.
Thanks to a late day rally, the Nasdaq avoided back-to-back losses yet again. An incredible 48 trading days since last time it was red 2 days in a row, way back in May. Ties the longest streak in history from 1978. Given it'll make 49 days tomorrow, this is a new record. Wow. pic.twitter.com/WNizqVZWdj — Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) July 22, 2020
Conclusion
The consumer and the labor market are in trouble. The Nasdaq has been acting as a reverse indicator as it rallies in times of economic hardship. It has done so well that it tied a record long streak without 2 declines in a row. Besides weakness in consumer spending and the labor market, growth in gasoline sales has been falling. Rents aren’t being paid on time which has led to the decline in asking rates. The city with the largest decline is San Francisco.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-24--Silver closing in on its best week in 40 YEARS. Yet chart below suggests bull market in its very inf

Gold Eagle Sales Already 3X Last Year ’ s Total & U.S. Mint Still Struggling To Produce Silver Eagles As @ @ @ @ @ continue to prop up the global economy with massive monetary stimulus , investors are just @ @ @ @ @ precious metals to protect wealth .
As Silver Sits Close to Seven-Year Highs , Trader @ @ @ @ @ % Rally Gold isn ’ t the only hot metal this year .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ of Blue Line Capital sees silver is heading .

#Silver closing in on its best week in 40 YEARS. Yet chart below suggests bull market in its very infancy. Macro fundamental signs pointing to colossal multi month/multi year upmove in price. Eventually targets all time highs. H/T @TaviCosta great perspective. pic.twitter.com/JeutynDAKe — Dan Tapiero (@DTAPCAP) July 24, 2020
As the Fed and central banks continue to prop up the global economy with massive monetary stimulus, investors are just beginning to move into the precious metals to protect wealth.
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Gold isn’t the only hot metal this year. Here’s how high Bill Baruch of Blue Line Capital sees silver is heading.