investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Kodak insiders signaled something “big” was on the table 2 months ago

TLDR : Insiders gave themselves YOLO OTM options in May , signaling something “ big ” was on the table , and you could have traded alongside if you were paying attention .
Edit : You don ’ t have to believe me , but go read the New York Times Kodak article and see who they credit for scooping the story ( this is me respecting the self-promotion rule .
don ’ t ban me lol ) .
• It ’ s illegal to insider trade stock options while in possession of material nonpublic information .
duh .
BUT… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options as part of a compensation package , IT ’ S LEGAL ( generally ) .
• So if you ’ re an insider in possession of material nonpublic information and wanted to make a financial killing , convince the Board to give you out-of-the-money options .
Why does this matter for Kodak ?
• In May , the Board of Directors suddenly decided to give themselves a ton of out-of-the-money options .
• When did conversations with the U.S. government regarding a loan begin ?
In May .
Disclaimer : This information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence or consult your financial professional before making any investment decision .

by nongaap
TLDR: Insiders gave themselves YOLO OTM options in May, signaling something “big” was on the table, and you could have traded alongside if you were paying attention.
Edit: You don’t have to believe me, but go read the New York Times Kodak article and see who they credit for scooping the story (this is me respecting the self-promotion rule. don’t ban me lol).
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Here’s an open secret:
It’s illegal to insider trade stock options while in possession of material nonpublic information. duh. BUT…
If the Board gives you stock options as part of a compensation package, IT’S LEGAL (generally).
So if you’re an insider in possession of material nonpublic information and wanted to make a financial killing, convince the Board to give you out-of-the-money options.
Why does this matter for Kodak?
In May, the Board of Directors suddenly decided to give themselves a ton of out-of-the-money options.
When did conversations with the U.S. government regarding a loan begin? In May.
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence or consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Futures rally on vaccine optimism…. McConnell: 15-20 #GOP senators will not vote for any coronavirus

Futures rally on vaccine optimism…. McConnell: 15-20 #GOP senators will not vote for any coronavirus deal – The Hill

Does n't he read all the vaccine optimism headlines ?
t.co/LCD5TTGlWx 🇺🇸 McConnell : 15-20 # GOP senators will not @ @ @ @ @ – The Hillt.co/yJBsMBGfHT

Futures rally on vaccine optimism. t.co/XsqDuVrfmx — Sven Henrich (@NorthmanTrader) August 3, 2020
Doesn't he read all the vaccine optimism headlines?t.co/LCD5TTGlWx — Sven Henrich (@NorthmanTrader) August 3, 2020
🇺🇸 McConnell: 15-20 #GOP senators will not vote for any coronavirus deal – The Hillt.co/yJBsMBGfHT — Christophe Barraud🛢 (@C_Barraud) August 3, 2020
Downgrades of credit outlooks are bullish too. — Sven Henrich (@NorthmanTrader) August 3, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Apple removes more than 26,000 games from China app store

Removals in response to crackdown on unlicensed games by Beijing Apple pulled 29,800 apps from its China app store on @ @ @ @ @ 26,000 games , according to Qimai Research Institute .
The removals are in response to @ @ @ @ @ unlicensed games , which started in June and intensified in July , Bloomberg reported .
@ @ @ @ @ the unofficial practice of letting games be published while awaiting approval from Chinese censors .

Removals in response to crackdown on unlicensed games by Beijing
Apple pulled 29,800 apps from its China app store on Saturday, including more than 26,000 games, according to Qimai Research Institute.
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The removals are in response to Beijing’s crackdown on unlicensed games, which started in June and intensified in July, Bloomberg reported. This brings an end to the unofficial practice of letting games be published while awaiting approval from Chinese censors.
www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3979421


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Does Anyone Have the Courage to Indict Obama?

I recently watched a documentary about how the U.S. government finally took down the mob ( aka the Mafia ) .
For decades , the U.S. government failed miserably .
Why ?
Because it could only catch low-level “ soldiers ” in the act of a crime but never the mob boss ( aka The Don ) .
But something changed in the late 1980s .
The government applied the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act , or RICO Act , to the Mafia .
It proved the mob acted as a “ family.
” And when the head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was as guilty as the “ soldier ” who carried it out .
This allowed the government to destroy the Mafia .
Suddenly , a light bulb went off .
I realized this is exactly how to indict , convict and send former President Barack Obama to prison .
I believe Obama is the biggest criminal in the history of the United States .
RICO is how we get Don Obama .
He was the head of a family just like the Mafia .
Call it the Obama Crime Family .
Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing in the minor leagues .
They are going after the “ soldiers ” of the Obama criminal family .
But they should be targeting the head of the snake : Obama .
He gave all the orders .
He oversaw and coordinated all the crime , extortion , theft , fraud and lies .
And , of course , the biggest crime of all : spying .
Some might call that treason .
It was all Obama.. ..
It ’ s time to indict Obama .
He ’ s not above the @ @

I recently watched a documentary about how the U.S. government finally took down the mob (aka the Mafia). For decades, the U.S. government failed miserably. Why? Because it could only catch low-level “soldiers” in the act of a crime but never the mob boss (aka The Don).
But something changed in the late 1980s. The government applied the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO Act, to the Mafia. It proved the mob acted as a “family.” And when the head of the family gave an order, he was as guilty as the “soldier” who carried it out. This allowed the government to destroy the Mafia.
Suddenly, a light bulb went off. I realized this is exactly how to indict, convict and send former President Barack Obama to prison.
I believe Obama is the biggest criminal in the history of the United States. RICO is how we get Don Obama. He was the head of a family just like the Mafia. Call it the Obama Crime Family.
Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Attorney Durham are playing in the minor leagues. They are going after the “soldiers” of the Obama criminal family. But they should be targeting the head of the snake: Obama. He gave all the orders. He oversaw and coordinated all the crime, extortion, theft, fraud and lies. And, of course, the biggest crime of all: spying. Some might call that treason.
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It was all Obama..
.. It’s time to indict Obama. He’s not above the law.
MORE
townhall.com/columnists/wayneallynroot/2020/08/02/does-anyone-have-the-courage-to-indict-obama-n2573537


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on unemployment benefits: “We absolutely support a $600 — one week extens

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on unemployment benefits: “We absolutely support a $600 — one week extension.”… “We can’t be ‘paying people more to stay home”

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on unemployment benefits : `` We absolutely support a $ 600 — one week extension . ''
@ @ @ @ @ benefit — We can ’ t be ‘ paying people more to stay home ’ @ @ @ @ @ MarthaRaddatz “ there ’ s no question ” that $ 600 unemployment insurance is a @ @ @ @ @ in “ some cases.
” “ There are cases where people are overpaid , ” @ @ @ @ @ study refuting his argument .
t.co/HNQgCe39RN pic.twitter.com/1zceOdxULW

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on unemployment benefits: "We absolutely support a $600 — one week extension." pic.twitter.com/rshIoF4rgB — The Hill (@thehill) August 2, 2020
Mnuchin on $600 benefit — We can’t be ‘paying people more to stay home’
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin tells @MarthaRaddatz “there’s no question” that $600 unemployment insurance is a disincentive to find a job in “some cases.” “There are cases where people are overpaid,” he adds when pressed about study refuting his argument. t.co/HNQgCe39RN pic.twitter.com/1zceOdxULW — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 2, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--In Ohio for High Schools sports , they are requiring COVID tests!

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( WKBN ) – An updated Ohio Department of Health director ’ s order will require fall @ @ @ @ @ to be tested for the coronavirus in order to play or scrimmage against opposing schools @ @ @ @ @ order are labeled as football , basketball , rugby , soccer , lacrosse , field @ @ @ @ @ boxing , futsal , and martial arts with opponents .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN) – An updated Ohio Department of Health director’s order will require fall high school contact sports participants to be tested for the coronavirus in order to play or scrimmage against opposing schools.
Contact sports in the order are labeled as football, basketball, rugby, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey wrestling, hockey, boxing, futsal, and martial arts with opponents.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The updated order was released Saturday.
www.wkbn.com/sports/tests-required-new-ohio-department-of-health-order-will-require-covid-19-tests-for-fall-sports-participants/?fbclid=IwAR2VrN0eEm0EPKMAtnCBpxCbGQQzzV9UYWAvss_bAzRMymMuDv7O_hLymH8


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Stories Of Economic Despair From America’s Worst Economic Downturn Since The Great Depression Of The

Stories Of Economic Despair From America’s Worst Economic Downturn Since The Great Depression Of The 1930s

The economic pain that we are witnessing right now is far greater than anything that we witnessed during the last recession .
U.S. GDP declined by 32.9 percent on an annualized basis last quarter , more than 100,000 businesses have permanently shut down since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the United States , and more than 54 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits over the last 19 weeks .
Up until just recently , a $ 600 weekly unemployment “ supplement ” and a federal moratorium that prevented many evictions had helped to ease the suffering for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those measures have now expired .
As a result , a tremendous amount of economic pain which had previously been deferred will now come rushing back with a vengeance .
Millions of American families are no longer going to be able to pay their bills , and experts are warning that we could soon see an “ eviction crisis ” that is absolutely unprecedented in American history .
48-year-old Thomas Darnell of West Point , Mississippi never thought that he would be in this position .
He had been a factory worker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his job in May , and since then he hasn ’ t been able to find another .
And then on top of everything else , everyone in his house caught COVID-19… First , he was furloughed for three weeks in April and then laid off in May .
Then things got worse : His entire household of seven , including himself , his wife , three kids and daughter-in-law , along with his baby grandson , contracted coronavirus after they saw their immediate family over the Independence Day weekend .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a few weeks , I ’ m still trying to recover , ” Darnell says , who has since been cleared of the virus but still has lingering symptoms .
He is concerned that employers will be scared away by his recent illness , and he is becoming desperate because he is running out of money .
With no health insurance and no paychecks coming in , Darnell and his wife have gotten to the point where they have to make a choice between buying insulin or buying groceries… The weekly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had helped to keep them going for a while , but now those payments have ended , and the immediate future is looking quite bleak .
In Richmond , Virginia , a mother of eight named Shamika Rollins wasn ’ t sure how she was going to make it when her hours as a home health aid were reduced .
Unpaid bills started piling up , and then she got an eviction notice a few weeks ago .
The following comes from CBS News… If a miracle does not happen , Rollins and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the street , and this is causing her to have “ a lot of sleepless nights ” … Sadly , there are millions of other Americans in the exact same position .
In fact , experts are projecting that up to 40 million Americans could be evicted from their homes during this pandemic .
Many small business owners are also facing heartbreaking choices during this downturn .
A restaurant owner in Delaware named Alex Heidenberger “ hasn ’ t paid the mortgage on his home the past four months ” as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants alive… The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the restaurant industry particularly hard .
Americans are not eating out as regularly as they once did because of the virus , and it is probably going to remain that way for the foreseeable future .
In Massachusetts , a restaurant owner named John Pepper once had eight thriving locations , but at this point only two of them remain open… Overall , we are facing a “ restaurant apocalypse ” in the U.S. that is unprecedented in size and scope .
According to one estimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third of all of our restaurants by the end of this calendar year… What we are watching is truly horrifying .
So many hopes and dreams went into each one of those restaurants that are shutting down , and countless restaurant owners are going to be completely financially ruined by all of this .
For other Americans , this economic downturn has put their very lives at risk .
In Colorado , 70-year-old Catherine Azar was already dealing with heart problems and diabetes , and now she is in danger of being thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think that a 70-year-old woman with heart problems and diabetes would last on the street or in a shelter ?
And as millions upon millions of Americans get evicted during the months ahead , the shelters are all going to fill up really fast .
America simply was not prepared for an economic downturn of this nature , and the truth is that much bigger challenges are still ahead .
So please do not look down on anyone that needs help right now , because soon you may find yourself in the @ @ @ @

by Michael Snyder
The economic pain that we are witnessing right now is far greater than anything that we witnessed during the last recession. U.S. GDP declined by 32.9 percent on an annualized basis last quarter, more than 100,000 businesses have permanently shut down since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the United States, and more than 54 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits over the last 19 weeks. Up until just recently, a $600 weekly unemployment “supplement” and a federal moratorium that prevented many evictions had helped to ease the suffering for millions of American families, but both of those measures have now expired. As a result, a tremendous amount of economic pain which had previously been deferred will now come rushing back with a vengeance. Millions of American families are no longer going to be able to pay their bills, and experts are warning that we could soon see an “eviction crisis” that is absolutely unprecedented in American history.
48-year-old Thomas Darnell of West Point, Mississippi never thought that he would be in this position. He had been a factory worker for over 20 years until he lost his job in May, and since then he hasn’t been able to find another. And then on top of everything else, everyone in his house caught COVID-19…
First, he was furloughed for three weeks in April and then laid off in May. Then things got worse: His entire household of seven, including himself, his wife, three kids and daughter-in-law, along with his baby grandson, contracted coronavirus after they saw their immediate family over the Independence Day weekend. “I’m tired and shaky. Even after a few weeks, I’m still trying to recover,” Darnell says, who has since been cleared of the virus but still has lingering symptoms.
He is concerned that employers will be scared away by his recent illness, and he is becoming desperate because he is running out of money.
With no health insurance and no paychecks coming in, Darnell and his wife have gotten to the point where they have to make a choice between buying insulin or buying groceries…
He can’t afford health insurance, which has added to his anxiety because he and his wife are both diabetic, he says. Like Bolei, Darnell and his wife have been forced to make a grueling decision between either paying for their medications or keeping food on the table. “Do we buy insulin or groceries? It’s a hard juggle,” Darnell says. “I’m willing to make less money and start working again to get health insurance, but no one is hiring.”
The weekly $600 unemployment supplements from the federal government had helped to keep them going for a while, but now those payments have ended, and the immediate future is looking quite bleak.
In Richmond, Virginia, a mother of eight named Shamika Rollins wasn’t sure how she was going to make it when her hours as a home health aid were reduced. Unpaid bills started piling up, and then she got an eviction notice a few weeks ago. The following comes from CBS News…
Shamika Rollins’ eight children share two bedrooms in Richmond, Virginia. But she’s worried about losing their home after she says she received an eviction notice in June. “First thing, I panic, and then next thing, I look, and I’m like, I got my kids. And it’s like, okay, now you gotta figure this out,” she told CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz.
If a miracle does not happen, Rollins and her eight children will soon be out in the street, and this is causing her to have “a lot of sleepless nights”…
“I have a lot of sleepless nights,” Rollins said. “My mind is constantly racing, you know, what’s your next move?”
Sadly, there are millions of other Americans in the exact same position.
In fact, experts are projecting that up to 40 million Americans could be evicted from their homes during this pandemic.
Many small business owners are also facing heartbreaking choices during this downturn. A restaurant owner in Delaware named Alex Heidenberger “hasn’t paid the mortgage on his home the past four months” as he desperately tries to keep his once profitable restaurants alive…
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Heidenberger, who typically draws about $20,000 a month in profit from the restaurant, now receives nothing. He says he hasn’t paid the mortgage on his home the past four months. He served lifeguard duty for a couple of weeks, mostly to help a beach crew depleted by COVID-19 quarantines but also to make some cash. “I’m working harder than I have ever worked in my life,” he says, adding that he puts in about 80 hours a week at the two restaurants. Yet, “I have no money… This is all I think about. I don’t sleep.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the restaurant industry particularly hard. Americans are not eating out as regularly as they once did because of the virus, and it is probably going to remain that way for the foreseeable future.
In Massachusetts, a restaurant owner named John Pepper once had eight thriving locations, but at this point only two of them remain open…
John Pepper used a PPP loan to pay employees and reopen four of his eight Boloco restaurants when Massachusetts lifted its shutdown order in early May. But with the money spent and business at the restaurants down as much as 70%, Pepper had to again close two locations. The staff of 125 he had before the virus outbreak is down to 50. “A lot of this is out of our hands at this point,” Pepper says. “At this moment, I don’t see getting my full payroll back.”
Overall, we are facing a “restaurant apocalypse” in the U.S. that is unprecedented in size and scope.
According to one estimate, we could lose more than a third of all of our restaurants by the end of this calendar year…
As many as 231,000 of the nation’s roughly 660,000 eateries will likely shut down this year, according to an estimate from restaurant consultancy Aaron Allen & Associates provided to Bloomberg News. This will bring the industry’s steady growth to a halt and mark the first time in two decades that U.S. restaurant counts don’t climb. Restaurants have already shed millions of jobs this year, economic data show.
What we are watching is truly horrifying. So many hopes and dreams went into each one of those restaurants that are shutting down, and countless restaurant owners are going to be completely financially ruined by all of this.
For other Americans, this economic downturn has put their very lives at risk. In Colorado, 70-year-old Catherine Azar was already dealing with heart problems and diabetes, and now she is in danger of being thrown out into the street…
“It’s hard for me to conceive of someone being willing to put another person out in the street in the middle of a deadly pandemic, and I’m high risk. I’m 70. I have heart issues and I’m diabetic,” Azar said. Rollins and Azar are just two of the 43 million Americans at risk of eviction in the coming months. For context, about 1 million Americans were evicted in 2010, the year after the Great Recession.
How long do you think that a 70-year-old woman with heart problems and diabetes would last on the street or in a shelter?
And as millions upon millions of Americans get evicted during the months ahead, the shelters are all going to fill up really fast.
America simply was not prepared for an economic downturn of this nature, and the truth is that much bigger challenges are still ahead.
So please do not look down on anyone that needs help right now, because soon you may find yourself in the exact same position.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Shock Survey Finds That Funding Is Being Reduced For “Nearly Half” Of All Major City Police Departme

Shock Survey Finds That Funding Is Being Reduced For “Nearly Half” Of All Major City Police Departments In America

In recent weeks there has been a tremendous amount of debate about whether police departments around the country should be “ defunded ” or not , but what most Americans don ’ t realize is that it is already happening on a massive scale .
At a time when crime rates are absolutely soaring and civil unrest is raging in major cities across the nation , police budgets are being deeply cut and in some cities there is talk of eliminating police departments altogether .
I knew that a few cities had already made moves in this direction , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening on such a widespread basis .
According to a report prepared by the Police Executive Research Forum , nearly half of the law enforcement agencies that they surveyed “ are reporting that funding has already been slashed or is expected to be reduced ” … Nearly half of 258 agencies surveyed this month are reporting that funding has already been slashed or is expected to be reduced , according to a report slated for release this week by the Police Executive Research Forum , a non-partisan research organization .
Much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiring and training accounts , even as a number of cities also are tracking abrupt spikes in violent crime , the report concluded .
And in most cases we are not talking about small cuts .
Police funding in Los Angeles has been reduced by 15o million dollars , and police funding in New York has been slashed by a total of one billion dollars .
In Seattle , there had been a proposal to cut police funding by 50 percent , but apparently that wasn ’ t good enough for some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced that would completely “ abolish the entire Seattle Police Department ” … If you live in the Seattle area and you are concerned that in the future you may not have anyone to call if someone breaks into your home , you can rest assured that someone will still be on the other end of the line when you call 911 .
But instead of a police officer with a gun responding to your call , you may have a “ community safety official ” armed with “ science ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place on his or her bike to perform a “ mental health evaluation ” on the individual that you are having a “ disagreement ” with .
Minneapolis is another major city that is considering doing away with the police entirely , but for now the MPD is still operating .
However , right now they are being completely overwhelmed by a massive crime wave that has erupted in the city , and in a recent email to 3rd precinct residents they told citizens to be “ prepared to give up your cell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know about you , but I would not have been comforted if I had received that email .
Chicago is dealing with an enormous crime wave as well .
At this point , so many people are being gunned down in the city that it is making headlines all over the globe… In Los Angeles , it is property crime that is making headlines , and the latest numbers show that auto thefts in the city hit an all-time record high last quarter… But it really isn ’ t fair to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the crime wave that we are facing is actually national in scope .
Never before have we seen such a dramatic spike in crime in such a short period of time .
The following comes from Fox News… In such an environment , does it really make sense to “ defund the police ” ?
Unfortunately , you and I are not the ones making the decisions , and right now police budgets are being dramatically slashed from coast to coast .
Meanwhile , civil unrest continues to simmer in many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters in Portland just made headlines by burning an American flag and a Bible… Sadly , what we have experienced so far is just the beginning .
The upcoming election certainly has the potential to trigger more protests and more riots , and the severe economic downturn that we are currently experiencing will add fuel to the fire as well .
Everywhere you look , people are angry and frustrated , and our society seems to be coming apart at the seams all around us .
It is at such a moment that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radically cut police funding , and needless to say this is going to have very serious implications for every man , woman and child in the entire country .

by Michael Snyder
In recent weeks there has been a tremendous amount of debate about whether police departments around the country should be “defunded” or not, but what most Americans don’t realize is that it is already happening on a massive scale. At a time when crime rates are absolutely soaring and civil unrest is raging in major cities across the nation, police budgets are being deeply cut and in some cities there is talk of eliminating police departments altogether. I knew that a few cities had already made moves in this direction, but I had no idea that it was happening on such a widespread basis. According to a report prepared by the Police Executive Research Forum, nearly half of the law enforcement agencies that they surveyed “are reporting that funding has already been slashed or is expected to be reduced”…
Nearly half of 258 agencies surveyed this month are reporting that funding has already been slashed or is expected to be reduced, according to a report slated for release this week by the Police Executive Research Forum, a non-partisan research organization. Much of the funding is being pulled from equipment, hiring and training accounts, even as a number of cities also are tracking abrupt spikes in violent crime, the report concluded.
And in most cases we are not talking about small cuts. Police funding in Los Angeles has been reduced by 15o million dollars, and police funding in New York has been slashed by a total of one billion dollars.
Those are staggering numbers.
In Seattle, there had been a proposal to cut police funding by 50 percent, but apparently that wasn’t good enough for some people and so now a measure has been introduced that would completely “abolish the entire Seattle Police Department”…
BREAKING: Seattle City Council moves to abolish the entire Seattle Police Department and replace it with a “civilian led Department of Community Safety & Violence Prevention.” They want to replace the police force with nonprofit programs and “community-led activities.”
If you live in the Seattle area and you are concerned that in the future you may not have anyone to call if someone breaks into your home, you can rest assured that someone will still be on the other end of the line when you call 911.
But instead of a police officer with a gun responding to your call, you may have a “community safety official” armed with “science” and “reason” come pedaling out to your place on his or her bike to perform a “mental health evaluation” on the individual that you are having a “disagreement” with.
Minneapolis is another major city that is considering doing away with the police entirely, but for now the MPD is still operating. However, right now they are being completely overwhelmed by a massive crime wave that has erupted in the city, and in a recent email to 3rd precinct residents they told citizens to be “prepared to give up your cell phone and purse/wallet”…
“Be prepared to give up your cell phone and purse/wallet,” the police said in their email, a copy of which was obtained by Alpha News. The email said citizens should listen to criminals and “do as they say.” The message warned that “some victims have been maced, dragged, assaulted, and some threatened with a gun.”
I don’t know about you, but I would not have been comforted if I had received that email.
Chicago is dealing with an enormous crime wave as well. At this point, so many people are being gunned down in the city that it is making headlines all over the globe…
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Data released on Saturday showed that Chicago saw 440 homicides between January 2020 through the end of June, a 52 percent increase from the same time period last year (which saw 290 homicides). Shooting victims similarly increased by 51 percent (1,480 to 2,240) and shooting incidents themselves rose 47 percent (from 1,210 to 1,783).
In Los Angeles, it is property crime that is making headlines, and the latest numbers show that auto thefts in the city hit an all-time record high last quarter…
A COVID-19-induced recession, with exceptionally high unemployment in Los Angeles, has resulted in record-high auto thefts in 2Q20. A new report via Crosstown LA, who examined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) data, reveals that 5,744 vehicle thefts occurred between April and June, up 57.7% from the same period last year.
But it really isn’t fair to point out just a couple of cities because the crime wave that we are facing is actually national in scope.
Never before have we seen such a dramatic spike in crime in such a short period of time. The following comes from Fox News…
A host of other cities — Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle — also saw spikes in shootings and murders, according to public data. “I think it’s just a perfect storm of distress in America,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in July. In her city, the police department reported a 240 percent increase in murders (from 5 to 17) when comparing a four-week period ending in July 2019 to the same timeframe this year. New York City, meanwhile, saw a 277 percent increase in shootings (from 13 to 49) when observing the year-over-year change for one week in July.
In such an environment, does it really make sense to “defund the police”?
Unfortunately, you and I are not the ones making the decisions, and right now police budgets are being dramatically slashed from coast to coast.
Meanwhile, civil unrest continues to simmer in many of our largest cities. For example, protesters in Portland just made headlines by burning an American flag and a Bible…
Protesters burned an American flag and a Bible in Portland, Oregon, sparking outrage just as weeks of violent demonstrations seemed to be coming to a close. For more than 60 days, Black Lives Matters demonstrators, including a “Wall of Moms” and a “Wall of Vets,” have clashed with federal agents in the city, drawing national attention as authorities blasted marchers with tear gas and the civilians at times responded with weapons of their own — such as feces, bleach, bricks or batteries.
Sadly, what we have experienced so far is just the beginning. The upcoming election certainly has the potential to trigger more protests and more riots, and the severe economic downturn that we are currently experiencing will add fuel to the fire as well.
Everywhere you look, people are angry and frustrated, and our society seems to be coming apart at the seams all around us.
It is at such a moment that politicians all over America have decided to radically cut police funding, and needless to say this is going to have very serious implications for every man, woman and child in the entire country.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Why So Many Cities Are Paralyzed

Why So Many Cities Are Paralyzed

Sympathy for America ’ s big-city mayors and their allies is evaporating – generally for good reason .
Portland and Seattle , for instance , seemed willing to give rioters a free hand before halfheartedly stepping in .
And of course there ’ s the amazing quote from Chris Cuomo , the brother of New York ’ s Governor : “ Please , show me where it says protesters are supposed to be polite and peaceful.
” The worst-run cities will pay a huge price for this indecision when the rioters leave and too few shoppers or merchants show up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most things in this increasingly messy world , the big-city mayor story is way more complicated ( and maybe more sympathetic ) than it seems at first glance .
Let ’ s take it in stages .
Many US cities were headed for bankruptcy before the pandemic It ’ s easy to forget that less than a year ago – when the national economy seemed pretty strong and people were borrowing and spending with abandon – the unfunded liabilities of Chicago , Los Angeles , New York and a long list of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and threatening those governments ’ solvency .
In the next recession and/or equities bear market , big pension plans like California ’ s CalPers and Chicago ’ s Teachers Pension Fund , were going to topple into some form of default , taking local bond ratings into junk territory and forcing draconian cuts in public services .
On DollarCollapse.com there ’ s a 30-part series called Welcome To The Third World that chronicles the demise of public finances and how it will leave many US cities looking more like Caracas than Zurich .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest in a long line of leaders who bought labor peace and public sector votes by paying teachers , police , and firefighters way more than was mathematically possible in the long run .
But the way can-kicking works is that the people who start the game get out with their reps and fortunes intact while the people in charge at the end get all the blame .
In other words , today ’ s mayors were in deep trouble even in a normal business cycle .
Then came the pandemic Depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is either a deadly health threat or a catastrophic overreaction by ignorant and panicked governments .
Either way , it produced much higher-than-expected health care costs and vastly lower tax revenues , ripping city budgets to shreds .
So the inevitable end-of-cycle recession has been replaced by its bigger , meaner , butt-ugly brother , and cities that were teetering on the edge of insolvency are now demonstrably , undeniably broke .
Public workers , in short , were going to be fired in droves and services curtailed on a scale that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t see coming this soon .
Then came the riots The past few weeks ’ civil unrest exploded seemingly out of nowhere — but was actually the inevitable result of an aristocracy systemically impoverishing regular people , combined with a multi-month lockdown that prevented millions from paying for health care or housing , and in many cases food .
Overwhelming burden Add it all up and the result is an overwhelming financial and political burden for a typical mayor .
But the nature of this civil unrest presents a completely different kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the part that you may not like because it calls for a bit of empathy .
Consider : Most big-city mayors are liberals , which isn ’ t surprising given the voting patterns of urban populations .
And not just any old liberals , but hard-core , all-in civil-rights-obsessed liberals who remember ( or grew up on tales of ) the civil rights movement of the 1960s and have modeled their political lives accordingly .
Most of them fantasize about being this generation ’ s Marin Luther King , leading a massive march @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the least among us are treated .
They thought they ’ d finally gotten their chance when the current protests erupted , and gleefully tried to get in front of the crowd , no doubt hoping to not just encourage it but lead it .
That ’ s an admirable goal .
But this is not Martin Luther King ’ s movement .
When , for instance , the mayor of Portland showed up expecting to be welcomed with open arms – he was one of them after all – the reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Seattle look like the set of a Mad Max film , and their mayors , along with many others across the country , are confronting not just riots , but a repudiation of their life ’ s work .
If they ’ re not civil rights leaders , what are they ?
That – not their supposed hard-core Marxism — explains the mayors ’ indecision : They know they ’ re required to protect their small businesses and peaceful citizens .
But to do that they have to cross their people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago , defined the mayors ’ political careers .
They ’ d sooner arrest their own children .
Put another way , big-city Democrat mayors have gone from being – in their own minds – exactly the right people for this historical moment to being exactly the wrong people .
They have no idea how to reconcile their self-image and life ’ s work with this baffling new world , and they ’ re paralyzed .
And their cities – already headed for catastrophe – might never be the same .

BY JOHN RUBINO
Sympathy for America’s big-city mayors and their allies is evaporating – generally for good reason. Portland and Seattle, for instance, seemed willing to give rioters a free hand before halfheartedly stepping in. And of course there’s the amazing quote from Chris Cuomo, the brother of New York’s Governor : “Please, show me where it says protesters are supposed to be polite and peaceful.”
The worst-run cities will pay a huge price for this indecision when the rioters leave and too few shoppers or merchants show up to take their place.
But like most things in this increasingly messy world, the big-city mayor story is way more complicated (and maybe more sympathetic) than it seems at first glance. Let’s take it in stages.
Many US cities were headed for bankruptcy before the pandemic
It’s easy to forget that less than a year ago – when the national economy seemed pretty strong and people were borrowing and spending with abandon – the unfunded liabilities of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and a long list of other venerable cities were still out of control and threatening those governments’ solvency.
In the next recession and/or equities bear market, big pension plans like California’s CalPers and Chicago’s Teachers Pension Fund, were going to topple into some form of default, taking local bond ratings into junk territory and forcing draconian cuts in public services. On DollarCollapse.com there’s a 30-part series called Welcome To The Third World that chronicles the demise of public finances and how it will leave many US cities looking more like Caracas than Zurich.
Today’s big-city mayors are just the latest in a long line of leaders who bought labor peace and public sector votes by paying teachers, police, and firefighters way more than was mathematically possible in the long run. But the way can-kicking works is that the people who start the game get out with their reps and fortunes intact while the people in charge at the end get all the blame. In other words, today’s mayors were in deep trouble even in a normal business cycle.
Then came the pandemic
Depending on who’s pontificating, covid-19 is either a deadly health threat or a catastrophic overreaction by ignorant and panicked governments.
Either way, it produced much higher-than-expected health care costs and vastly lower tax revenues, ripping city budgets to shreds. So the inevitable end-of-cycle recession has been replaced by its bigger, meaner, butt-ugly brother, and cities that were teetering on the edge of insolvency are now demonstrably, undeniably broke.
Public workers, in short, were going to be fired in droves and services curtailed on a scale that even the biggest critics of municipal finances didn’t see coming this soon.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Then came the riots
The past few weeks’ civil unrest exploded seemingly out of nowhere — but was actually the inevitable result of an aristocracy systemically impoverishing regular people, combined with a multi-month lockdown that prevented millions from paying for health care or housing, and in many cases food.
Overwhelming burden
Add it all up and the result is an overwhelming financial and political burden for a typical mayor. But the nature of this civil unrest presents a completely different kind of challenge – which takes us to the part that you may not like because it calls for a bit of empathy. Consider:
Most big-city mayors are liberals, which isn’t surprising given the voting patterns of urban populations. And not just any old liberals, but hard-core, all-in civil-rights-obsessed liberals who remember (or grew up on tales of) the civil rights movement of the 1960s and have modeled their political lives accordingly.
Most of them fantasize about being this generation’s Marin Luther King, leading a massive march on Washington that forces historic changes in how the least among us are treated.
They thought they’d finally gotten their chance when the current protests erupted, and gleefully tried to get in front of the crowd, no doubt hoping to not just encourage it but lead it.
That’s an admirable goal. But this is not Martin Luther King’s movement.
When, for instance, the mayor of Portland showed up expecting to be welcomed with open arms – he was one of them after all – the reaction was just slightly different.
Now Portland and Seattle look like the set of a Mad Max film, and their mayors, along with many others across the country, are confronting not just riots, but a repudiation of their life’s work. If they’re not civil rights leaders, what are they?
That – not their supposed hard-core Marxism — explains the mayors’ indecision: They know they’re required to protect their small businesses and peaceful citizens. But to do that they have to cross their people, who, until just a couple of weeks ago, defined the mayors’ political careers. They’d sooner arrest their own children.
Put another way, big-city Democrat mayors have gone from being – in their own minds – exactly the right people for this historical moment to being exactly the wrong people. They have no idea how to reconcile their self-image and life’s work with this baffling new world, and they’re paralyzed.
And their cities – already headed for catastrophe – might never be the same.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--A Vaccine May Not Be the “Magical Cure” Everyone Anticipates

Few appear willing to follow the probabilities of a future in which a vaccine can not possibly be the “ magic cure ” everyone wants .
Let ’ s attempt the impossible and set aside all preconceptions we might have about a vaccine for Covid-19 , and think it through somewhat dispassionately .
Let ’ s start by stipulating that dispassionate analysis is as rare as anti-matter , as everyone ’ s barely-cloaked self-interest and ideological biases demand an indignant , rabid response to any challenges to the one true faith , i.e .
whatever they believe .
Speaking of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice the rapacious interest of Big Pharma in reaping billions of dollars in profits from a vaccine or vaccines .
What could be better for obscene profits than a vaccine everyone must have to participate in the conventional economy , a vaccine the federal government will let the “ owner ” price at “ market ” ?
“ Owner ” is in quotes because the federal government is funding much of the research expenses yet the Big Pharma corporations retain ownership of the results–such a deal for Big Pharma !
The gummit puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 % “ ownership ” and the right to price their vaccine at “ market , ” which is whatever the government is willing to pay for the vaccine it funded .
We would also be remiss not to notice that Big Pharma ’ s track record of releasing medications with glossed-over side-effects and poor efficacy is not exactly spotless .
Horrendously costly meds have been passed out like candy with claims of efficacy that have later been shown to be unsubstantiated and side-effects that have been under-reported or otherwise marginalized .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice talent listing the horrific side-effects in a blur during Big Pharma ’ s ceaseless adverts–adverts that were illegal not that long ago .
Side effects include hallucinations , dizziness , heart failure , seizures , warts , temporary blindness , compulsive spending sprees , fear of people in white coats , obsessions with travel to Mars , imaginary super-powers , itchiness in the cranial cavity and shortness of breath when eating ice cream .
This parody is not far off the actual listings of side-effects .
Yes , it was illegal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public not so long ago .
That impediment to additional billions in profits disappeared when the bribes , oops I mean campaign contributions became large enough for politicos to sell the public interest down the river .
Thus a bit of cautious skepticism about Big Pharma ’ s claims and pricing is in order .
The list of people who are now dead after believing Big Pharma ’ s claims that its opioids were “ safe ” and “ non-addictive ” is tragically long .
Then there ’ s the pesky issue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 99 % effectiveness ?
And for how long ?
There is some science-based skepticism that a corona-virus vaccine that works for virtually everyone and is effective for a year or longer is even achievable .
If the reliability/effectiveness is significantly less than 99 % , that introduces a Russian-Roulette type risk calculus in those getting the vaccine .
What if I ’ m one of the unlucky folks who get the virus despite getting the vaccine ?
If the duration of efficacy is variable–maybe it works for a year for most people but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who get the vaccine–then that also introduces the same risk assessment : how can I know if the vaccine will protect me for a full year ?
Since Nature often tracks a Pareto Distribution–the 80/20 rule–let ’ s make some preliminary estimates based on that .
Let ’ s say that the vaccine is 80 % effective , and 80 % of the populace agrees to get the vaccine .
( Let ’ s set aside the reasons why 20 % of the populace might decide not to get the vaccine regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed on those who refuse . )
The U.S. population is around 330 million , and let ’ s estimate that institutionalized residents might not be given a choice about getting the vaccine–ot if there are recognized risks , some at-risk institutionalized residents might be refused the vaccine as a matter of caution .
So perhaps 10 million people won ’ t have a choice in the matter .
That leaves 320 million with a choice .
If 20 % refuse for various reasons , that ’ s 64 million who will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the vaccine .
If the vaccine is effective in 80 % of these 256 million people , then 205 million will receive the benefits of the vaccine and 51 million might come down with the virus ( perhaps in milder cases , perhaps not–that will have to be determined by large-scale double-blind studies ) .
Again following the Pareto Distribution , let ’ s estimate that 20 % of the 256 million people who get the vaccine will choose to avoid higher-risk settings such as cruises , concerts , etc.
, even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the uncertainty increases their caution .
This would be entirely understandable and prudent in at-risk populations such as those older than 60 , those with pre-existing conditions , etc .
As I explained in Consumer Spending Will Not Rebound–Here ’ s Why ( May 18 , 2020 ) , this older , at higher-risk cohort happens to collect the lion ’ s share of household income and own the lion ’ s share of household wealth .
Their decisions to limit participation in riskier activities have an outsized economic impact because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 85 % of all household wealth .
Following the 80/20 rule , we end up with 64 million unvaccinated and 51 million vaccinated who choose to avoid higher-risk activities .
That ’ s 115 million people who will not resume their pre-pandemic lifestyles either because they may be barred from activities because they ’ re not vaccinated or because their at-risk profile and the inherent uncertainties of the vaccine cause them to avoid higher-risk activities .
Those assuming that requiring vaccination to board a airliner will boost vaccination to nearly 100 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivations of those who decide not to get the vaccine .
It would also be unwarranted to assume that everyone who chooses not to get the vaccine is a rabid anti-vaxxer .
Given the latent uncertainties and the self-interest of those pushing for a rapid approval of a vaccine , it would be entirely prudent to choose to let the first wave of residents get the vaccine and then await the results of large-scale studies of efficacy , duration , etc .
Given the rapacious greed of Big Pharma corporations and their track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims of safety and efficacy , we can also anticipate multiple vaccines battling for market share , a struggle that will create incentives to inflate claims of efficacy and marginalize side-effects .
As for bans on air travel , concerts , etc .
for the unvaccinated , many people will simply drop out of the mainstream economy .
The wealthy will book seats on private charter aircraft and hire performers in open-air venues , etc.
, the unwealthy will seek unconventional options and give up flying , going to sports events , etc.–activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford anyway .
What kind of economy will we have if a third of the populace–100+ million people–are no longer participating at pre-pandemic levels for one reason or another ?
An accurate description might be The Greater Depression .
Few appear willing to follow the probabilities of a future in which a vaccine can not possibly be the “ magic cure ” everyone wants .
Some percentage of the populace will not be participating in the economy at pre-pandemic levels for one or more of these reasons : 1 .
They choose not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose to be vaccinated but remain cautious in their activities and spending .
3 .
They no longer have the income or wealth to resume their 2019 level of borrowing/spending .
Lastly , imagine the impact if a few people die of the virus after getting the vaccine .
Human risk assessment does not necessarily track probabilities like a computer .
Assuring everyone that only 1 % of the recipients of the vaccine become ill or die within a year will not be as reassuring as proponents hope .

by Charles Hugh-Smith
Few appear willing to follow the probabilities of a future in which a vaccine cannot possibly be the “magic cure” everyone wants.
Let’s attempt the impossible and set aside all preconceptions we might have about a vaccine for Covid-19, and think it through somewhat dispassionately. Let’s start by stipulating that dispassionate analysis is as rare as anti-matter, as everyone’s barely-cloaked self-interest and ideological biases demand an indignant, rabid response to any challenges to the one true faith, i.e. whatever they believe.
Speaking of self-interest, we would blind not to notice the rapacious interest of Big Pharma in reaping billions of dollars in profits from a vaccine or vaccines. What could be better for obscene profits than a vaccine everyone must have to participate in the conventional economy, a vaccine the federal government will let the “owner” price at “market”?
“Owner” is in quotes because the federal government is funding much of the research expenses yet the Big Pharma corporations retain ownership of the results–such a deal for Big Pharma! The gummit puts up the money but Big Pharma gets 100% “ownership” and the right to price their vaccine at “market,” which is whatever the government is willing to pay for the vaccine it funded.
We would also be remiss not to notice that Big Pharma’s track record of releasing medications with glossed-over side-effects and poor efficacy is not exactly spotless. Horrendously costly meds have been passed out like candy with claims of efficacy that have later been shown to be unsubstantiated and side-effects that have been under-reported or otherwise marginalized.
We’ve all heard the comedic fast-talking voice talent listing the horrific side-effects in a blur during Big Pharma’s ceaseless adverts–adverts that were illegal not that long ago. Side effects include hallucinations, dizziness, heart failure, seizures, warts, temporary blindness, compulsive spending sprees, fear of people in white coats, obsessions with travel to Mars, imaginary super-powers, itchiness in the cranial cavity and shortness of breath when eating ice cream. This parody is not far off the actual listings of side-effects.
Yes, it was illegal for drug companies to advertise directly to the public not so long ago. That impediment to additional billions in profits disappeared when the bribes, oops I mean campaign contributions became large enough for politicos to sell the public interest down the river.
Thus a bit of cautious skepticism about Big Pharma’s claims and pricing is in order. The list of people who are now dead after believing Big Pharma’s claims that its opioids were “safe” and “non-addictive” is tragically long.
Then there’s the pesky issue of reliability: can any corona-virus vaccine achieve 99% effectiveness? And for how long? There is some science-based skepticism that a corona-virus vaccine that works for virtually everyone and is effective for a year or longer is even achievable.
If the reliability/effectiveness is significantly less than 99%, that introduces a Russian-Roulette type risk calculus in those getting the vaccine. What if I’m one of the unlucky folks who get the virus despite getting the vaccine?
If the duration of efficacy is variable–maybe it works for a year for most people but considerably less for a significant percentage of those who get the vaccine–then that also introduces the same risk assessment: how can I know if the vaccine will protect me for a full year?
Since Nature often tracks a Pareto Distribution–the 80/20 rule–let’s make some preliminary estimates based on that. Let’s say that the vaccine is 80% effective, and 80% of the populace agrees to get the vaccine. (Let’s set aside the reasons why 20% of the populace might decide not to get the vaccine regardless of its purported effectiveness or the penalties placed on those who refuse.)
The U.S. population is around 330 million, and let’s estimate that institutionalized residents might not be given a choice about getting the vaccine–ot if there are recognized risks, some at-risk institutionalized residents might be refused the vaccine as a matter of caution.
So perhaps 10 million people won’t have a choice in the matter. That leaves 320 million with a choice. If 20% refuse for various reasons, that’s 64 million who will be unvaccinated and 256 million who choose to get the vaccine.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
If the vaccine is effective in 80% of these 256 million people, then 205 million will receive the benefits of the vaccine and 51 million might come down with the virus (perhaps in milder cases, perhaps not–that will have to be determined by large-scale double-blind studies).
Again following the Pareto Distribution, let’s estimate that 20% of the 256 million people who get the vaccine will choose to avoid higher-risk settings such as cruises, concerts, etc., even though they’ve been vaccinated, because the uncertainty increases their caution. This would be entirely understandable and prudent in at-risk populations such as those older than 60, those with pre-existing conditions, etc.
As I explained in Consumer Spending Will Not Rebound–Here’s Why (May 18, 2020), this older, at higher-risk cohort happens to collect the lion’s share of household income and own the lion’s share of household wealth. Their decisions to limit participation in riskier activities have an outsized economic impact because they collect almost half the income and own about 85% of all household wealth.
Following the 80/20 rule, we end up with 64 million unvaccinated and 51 million vaccinated who choose to avoid higher-risk activities. That’s 115 million people who will not resume their pre-pandemic lifestyles either because they may be barred from activities because they’re not vaccinated or because their at-risk profile and the inherent uncertainties of the vaccine cause them to avoid higher-risk activities.
Those assuming that requiring vaccination to board a airliner will boost vaccination to nearly 100% could be underestimating the strength of the motivations of those who decide not to get the vaccine. It would also be unwarranted to assume that everyone who chooses not to get the vaccine is a rabid anti-vaxxer.
Given the latent uncertainties and the self-interest of those pushing for a rapid approval of a vaccine, it would be entirely prudent to choose to let the first wave of residents get the vaccine and then await the results of large-scale studies of efficacy, duration, etc.
Given the rapacious greed of Big Pharma corporations and their track record of playing fast and loose with claims of safety and efficacy, we can also anticipate multiple vaccines battling for market share, a struggle that will create incentives to inflate claims of efficacy and marginalize side-effects.
As for bans on air travel, concerts, etc. for the unvaccinated, many people will simply drop out of the mainstream economy. The wealthy will book seats on private charter aircraft and hire performers in open-air venues, etc., the unwealthy will seek unconventional options and give up flying, going to sports events, etc.–activities they may no longer be able to afford anyway.
What kind of economy will we have if a third of the populace–100+ million people–are no longer participating at pre-pandemic levels for one reason or another? An accurate description might be The Greater Depression.
Few appear willing to follow the probabilities of a future in which a vaccine cannot possibly be the “magic cure” everyone wants. Some percentage of the populace will not be participating in the economy at pre-pandemic levels for one or more of these reasons:
1. They choose not to be vaccinated.
2. They choose to be vaccinated but remain cautious in their activities and spending.
3. They no longer have the income or wealth to resume their 2019 level of borrowing/spending.
Lastly, imagine the impact if a few people die of the virus after getting the vaccine. Human risk assessment does not necessarily track probabilities like a computer. Assuring everyone that only 1% of the recipients of the vaccine become ill or die within a year will not be as reassuring as proponents hope.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Mike Maloney: Is this the beginning of $8,000 gold? … Gregor Gregersen: Silver is mispriced by order

Mike Maloney : Is this the beginning of $ 8,000 gold ?
… Gregor Gregersen : Silver is mispriced by @ @ @ @ @ vs Rickards : Is $ 15,000 gold realistic ?
Absolutely … Matt Taibbi & Bret @ @ @ @ @ be canceled ?
… Robert Kiyosaki : What ’ s driving the price of gold @ @ @ @ @

BY JOHN RUBINO
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Mike Maloney: Is this the beginning of $8,000 gold? … Gregor Gregersen: Silver is mispriced by orders of magnitude … Schiff vs Rickards: Is $15,000 gold realistic? Absolutely … Matt Taibbi & Bret Weinstein: Can Joe Rogan be canceled? … Robert Kiyosaki: What’s driving the price of gold during the pandemic? …


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--Black Bear found in NC with Trump Sticker on tracking collar; liberals go crazy

THERE ’ S A BEAR IN THE WOODS : North Carolina Bear Spotted With ‘ Trump 2020 ’ Sticker on @ @ @ @ @ Find Culprit ( Seriously ) .

THERE’S A BEAR IN THE WOODS: North Carolina Bear Spotted With ‘Trump 2020’ Sticker on Collar – Reward Offered to Find Culprit (Seriously).
Local organization "Help Asheville Bears" is offering a $5,000 reward for information on whoever put a 'Trump 2020' sticker on this black bear's collar, spotted in North Asheville.
Full story: t.co/07GuqSveyl
(Photos by Sheila Chapman) pic.twitter.com/CqBOm9MRbB
— WLOS (@WLOS_13) August 2, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--Chicago crime: 33 shot, 9 fatally in weekend violence, including boy, teen

CHICAGO ( WLS ) — Chicago police released new numbers showing a dramatic jump in homicides last month compared to @ @ @ @ @ closed out a July that saw a 139 % jump in city wide murders compared @ @ @ @ @ , a CPD report said .
A total of nine people were killed and 24 @ @ @ @ @ across Chicago since 6:00 p.m. Friday , including a 9-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy @

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago police released new numbers showing a dramatic jump in homicides last month compared to last year.
The weekend closed out a July that saw a 139% jump in city wide murders compared the same month last year, a CPD report said.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
A total of nine people were killed and 24 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago since 6:00 p.m. Friday, including a 9-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy.
abc7chicago.com/chicago-crime-shootings-weekend-violence-murders/6350187/


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--Speaker Pelosi slams Dr. Deborah Birx: “I don’t have confidence in anyone who stands there while the

Speaker Pelosi slams Dr. Deborah Birx: “I don’t have confidence in anyone who stands there while the president says swallow Lysol and it’s going to cure your virus… I think she has enabled.”

Speaker Pelosi slams Dr. Deborah Birx : `` I do n't have confidence in anyone who stands there while the @ @ @ @ @ it 's going to cure your virus… I think she has enabled . ''
t.co/7WUc0lJCdk @

Speaker Pelosi slams Dr. Deborah Birx: "I don't have confidence in anyone who stands there while the president says swallow Lysol and it's going to cure your virus… I think she has enabled." t.co/7WUc0lJCdk pic.twitter.com/YtagC7Hs1f
— The Hill (@thehill) August 3, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--Orlando man MURDERS Burger King employee because his food WAS TAKING TOO LONG! The guy JUST STARTED

Orlando man MURDERS Burger King employee because his food WAS TAKING TOO LONG! The guy JUST STARTED there too!

A young man is dead after a shooting at an Orange County Burger King , deputies said .
The Orange @ @ @ @ @ said that deputies responded to the Burger King at 7643 E. Colonial Dr. on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ shooting .

A young man is dead after a shooting at an Orange County Burger King, deputies said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies responded to the Burger King at 7643 E. Colonial Dr. on Sunday night in reference to a shooting.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.fox35orlando.com/news/burger-king-employee-killed-after-woman-complains-about-long-drive-thru-line-orange-county-deputies-say


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--The California ‘Apple Fire’ now covers over 41 Square Miles, with thousands of evacuations. only 5%

The California ‘Apple Fire’ now covers over 41 Square Miles, with thousands of evacuations. only 5% contained.

The Apple Fire burning in the San Bernardino Mountains north of Beaumont was sparked by a vehicle malfunction , authorities @ @ @ @ @ investigators determined that a diesel-vehicle emitting burning carbon from the exhaust system malfunctioned , igniting @ @ @ @ @ .
That conclusion was drawn from multiple independent witnesses , as well as corroborating physical @ @ @ @ @ statement from the Riverside County Fire Department .
The fire has scorched 26,450 acres – @ @ @ @ @ – as of about 6:30 a.m. Monday , according to an update from the InciWeb @ @ @ @ @ blaze grew by nearly 6,000 acres overnight .
Containment on the fire , which began @ @ @ @ @ spread to parts of San Bernardino County , stands at 5 % .

The Apple Fire burning in the San Bernardino Mountains north of Beaumont was sparked by a vehicle malfunction, authorities announced Monday.
Cal Fire investigators determined that a diesel-vehicle emitting burning carbon from the exhaust system malfunctioned, igniting the massive inferno Friday evening. That conclusion was drawn from multiple independent witnesses, as well as corroborating physical evidence, according to a statement from the Riverside County Fire Department.
The fire has scorched 26,450 acres – or roughly 41 square miles – as of about 6:30 a.m. Monday, according to an update from the InciWeb incident information website. The blaze grew by nearly 6,000 acres overnight.
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Containment on the fire, which began in Riverside County and has spread to parts of San Bernardino County, stands at 5%.
ktla.com/news/local-news/apple-fire-burning-in-riverside-san-bernardino-counties-grows-to-more-than-41-square-miles/


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--COVID19: TOP UK NOBEL PRIZEWINNER ROASTS THE ‘BLACK BOX’ ADVISERS DRIVING VIRUS POLICY

Sir Paul Nurse ( left ) tells The Guardian he believes the lack of openness on Covid19 decision-making stores up problems for the future .
“ What worries me is that we have an increasingly technocratic and complex society and we are going to increasingly need complex discussions involving science and the use of science that will impact on policy , ” he said .
Sir Paul ’ s outburst is a direct attack on unaccountable flakes .
We should all welcome it .
Last weekend ’ s Slogpost did , I accept , give the impression that I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That isn ’ t the case – I have the highest regard for the good ones ; it ’ s just the corrupted and ideologically rigid ones of whom I don ’ t approve….and the brainless political generalists who listen to their “ advice ” – in awe , like so many children suspended by every word from the Kindergarten headmistress .
One such good guy and admirable Nobel Prizewinner is Sir Paul Nurse .
He is neither virologist nor epidemiologist ; rather , he is a geneticist who actually discovered something useful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hence the Nobel Prize .
Nurse did not have the easiest of upbringings .
Born illegitimate , he shone at Grammar School through sheer merit , and followed the Red Brick University road to his eventual discovery of a key gene involved in the duplication of human DNA .
He is a man whose watchwords are “ good scientists must have a passion to know the answer to the questions that interest them , along with good technical ability , and a set of attitudes including mental honesty , self-criticism , open-mindedness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which one could ever accuse Peter Horby , Sir Chris Whitty , Momentum or Dr Anthony Fauci .
So it is perhaps no surprise that Sir Paul has decided to be the first major breaker of ranks when it comes to the cloak-and-dagger tactics of the flakes and phoneys who have been “ advising ” the Johnson and Trump Administrations .
Much more surprising is where he chose to do it – in The Guardian .
But there have been signs for several days now that somebody in the Guardianista Inner Circle has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart , then at least , a successful transplant of more brain material between the ears .
In the Guardian piece , Nurse claims that it has often been impossible to challenge emerging Covid19 policy – a situation that has fuelled poor decisions and put public trust at risk .
He is quoted as saying : “ Decisions are too often shrouded in secrecy .
They need challenge and we need processes to ensure that happens .
If they are going to keep the trust of the nation , they need to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems like a ‘ black box ’ made up of scientists , civil servants and politicians are coming up with the decisions .
It needs to be more open .
We need greater transparency , greater scrutiny and greater challenge to get the best results.
” One suspects this is a thinly-disguised attack on one-sided debates dominated by Big Pharma PR spin and the funding dependence of its creatures .
Either way , these are yet more signs that the tide is turning , and I am encouraged by them .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roll-out .
Huawei having been chased out of Britain , Social video Medium Tik-Tok in the US will now either be gobbled up by Microsoft , or simply nationalised by the Trump administration .
I don ’ t doubt that both companies owed their first loyalty to Beijing ( a régime that practices ruthless surveillance non-stop ) but this is really about money and market share in the hitech sector , control of cutting-edge communications remaining in the hands of Washington….and not forgetting , of course , the addition of a new bogeyman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent fear and war .
Both Horby and Ferguson have been working hard to pump out the addition of the mythical Second Wave , but the stats are against them .
The Spanish numbers probably reflect more testing as much as anything else , but one thing they emphatically don ’ t show is more deaths , suggesting that younger citizens are catching this ‘ killer ’ and breezing through it , and/or that the virus itself is already running out of steam .
Lest we forget , Neil Ferguson predicted 550,000 UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factor of ten , although deadly acurate compared to his pathetic attempts with swine flu ) , and the Imperial College Covid coven is being found out by worthy sceptics everywhere .
In the US , The American Institute for Economic Research scathingly wrote off ICL ’ s post-lockdown fearmongering as ‘ an embarrassing scientific failure ’ .
It ’ s hard to say in this context just what Boris Johnson has done with what little common sense he ever had .
I posted a message to him on Twitter yesterday , asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merchants saved his life three months ago , or frontline workers experienced in patient management ’ .
But BoJo ’ s trouble is that he is too easily blinded by science , he is lazy when it comes to interrogating ‘ expert ’ opinion , and – probably – he is working to another agenda anyway .
Much of this agenda among the cadres of the Unelected State involves censorship ( led chiefly by social media owners ) being practised in an alarmingly casual manner ; yet another presser video statement by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week – especially disturbing given that their point – HCQ + Zinc cocktail is an excellent drug to manage infected Covid patients – has now been endorsed by the Chinese themselves , the Indian government , France ’ s Didier Raoult , Trump and , unofficially , by President Macron himself .
The US might argue that it is still a democracy , but it doesn ’ t qualify in any way as a liberal ( original meaning ) democracy , because there is palpably no free speech for those who go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is rapidly turning into violently enforced clap-trap catechism – be that to do with black lives , ‘ antifascism ’ , virology , cultural Marxist thought , Islamism or climate change .
Far from being an anachronism , the upside down bureaucrat dominated European Union now seems to be a model other sham cradles of liberty wish to mimic .
The cavalcade of incompetence , fraud , smears , falsehoods and gagging orders eminating from the Pharmalarmists – hopeless predictions , overreporting of cases , mass redesignation of death causes , bent drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bullying of social media , deliberate exaggeration et cetera ad nauseam – is there in plain sight for all to see .
It is an ugly , bestial hobgoblin seeping hot hypocritical air and riddled with the mischievous pursuit of corporate power .
A slightly broader phalanx of media is now emerging to – at long last – cast doubt on the shower of shameless supposition that has rained down upon our heads since last February .
But there is still a long , long way to go .
People want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dream about a few night ago ; but it ’ s they who are still asleep : the corporate State is real enough .
Fifty years of narrow education , political targets and Nanny State are coming home to roost .
The hobgoblin will vomit on all of us if we just sit back and wait for the eccentric bloke next door to do something .

by John Ward
Sir Paul Nurse (left) tells The Guardian he believes the lack of openness on Covid19 decision-making stores up problems for the future. “What worries me is that we have an increasingly technocratic and complex society and we are going to increasingly need complex discussions involving science and the use of science that will impact on policy,” he said.
Sir Paul’s outburst is a direct attack on unaccountable flakes. We should all welcome it.
Last weekend’s Slogpost did, I accept, give the impression that I have a down on all medical researchers. That isn’t the case – I have the highest regard for the good ones; it’s just the corrupted and ideologically rigid ones of whom I don’t approve….and the brainless political generalists who listen to their “advice” – in awe, like so many children suspended by every word from the Kindergarten headmistress.
One such good guy and admirable Nobel Prizewinner is Sir Paul Nurse. He is neither virologist nor epidemiologist; rather, he is a geneticist who actually discovered something useful – several things, in fact – hence the Nobel Prize.
Nurse did not have the easiest of upbringings. Born illegitimate, he shone at Grammar School through sheer merit, and followed the Red Brick University road to his eventual discovery of a key gene involved in the duplication of human DNA.
He is a man whose watchwords are “good scientists must have a passion to know the answer to the questions that interest them, along with good technical ability, and a set of attitudes including mental honesty, self-criticism, open-mindedness and scepticism”. Not an attitude of which one could ever accuse Peter Horby, Sir Chris Whitty, Momentum or Dr Anthony Fauci.
So it is perhaps no surprise that Sir Paul has decided to be the first major breaker of ranks when it comes to the cloak-and-dagger tactics of the flakes and phoneys who have been “advising” the Johnson and Trump Administrations.
Much more surprising is where he chose to do it – in The Guardian. But there have been signs for several days now that somebody in the Guardianista Inner Circle has had, if not a change of heart, then at least, a successful transplant of more brain material between the ears.
In the Guardian piece, Nurse claims that it has often been impossible to challenge emerging Covid19 policy – a situation that has fuelled poor decisions and put public trust at risk. He is quoted as saying:
“Decisions are too often shrouded in secrecy. They need challenge and we need processes to ensure that happens. If they are going to keep the trust of the nation, they need to make those discussions more public. It sometimes seems like a ‘black box’ made up of scientists, civil servants and politicians are coming up with the decisions. It needs to be more open. We need greater transparency, greater scrutiny and greater challenge to get the best results.”
One suspects this is a thinly-disguised attack on one-sided debates dominated by Big Pharma PR spin and the funding dependence of its creatures.
Either way, these are yet more signs that the tide is turning, and I am encouraged by them.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Meanwhile, the Geopolitical dimension of Covid19 continues its roll-out. Huawei having been chased out of Britain, Social video Medium Tik-Tok in the US will now either be gobbled up by Microsoft, or simply nationalised by the Trump administration. I don’t doubt that both companies owed their first loyalty to Beijing (a régime that practices ruthless surveillance non-stop) but this is really about money and market share in the hitech sector, control of cutting-edge communications remaining in the hands of Washington….and not forgetting, of course, the addition of a new bogeyman in this, our New Normal of permanent fear and war.
Both Horby and Ferguson have been working hard to pump out the addition of the mythical Second Wave, but the stats are against them. The Spanish numbers probably reflect more testing as much as anything else, but one thing they emphatically don’t show is more deaths, suggesting that younger citizens are catching this ‘killer’ and breezing through it, and/or that the virus itself is already running out of steam.
Lest we forget, Neil Ferguson predicted 550,000 UK deaths (out by more than a factor of ten, although deadly acurate compared to his pathetic attempts with swine flu), and the Imperial College Covid coven is being found out by worthy sceptics everywhere. In the US, The American Institute for Economic Research scathingly wrote off ICL’s post-lockdown fearmongering as ‘an embarrassing scientific failure’.
It’s hard to say in this context just what Boris Johnson has done with what little common sense he ever had. I posted a message to him on Twitter yesterday, asking whether he thought ‘twaddle-peddlers & doom merchants saved his life three months ago, or frontline workers experienced in patient management’. But BoJo’s trouble is that he is too easily blinded by science, he is lazy when it comes to interrogating ‘expert’ opinion, and – probably – he is working to another agenda anyway.
Much of this agenda among the cadres of the Unelected State involves censorship (led chiefly by social media owners) being practised in an alarmingly casual manner; yet another presser video statement by the US Frontline Doctors group was taken down last week – especially disturbing given that their point – HCQ + Zinc cocktail is an excellent drug to manage infected Covid patients – has now been endorsed by the Chinese themselves, the Indian government, France’s Didier Raoult, Trump and, unofficially, by President Macron himself.
The US might argue that it is still a democracy, but it doesn’t qualify in any way as a liberal (original meaning) democracy, because there is palpably no free speech for those who go against the Trump-is-dumb-and-only-vaccines-can-save-us brigade. Strong opinion is rapidly turning into violently enforced clap-trap catechism – be that to do with black lives, ‘antifascism’, virology, cultural Marxist thought, Islamism or climate change. Far from being an anachronism, the upside down bureaucrat dominated European Union now seems to be a model other sham cradles of liberty wish to mimic.
The cavalcade of incompetence, fraud, smears, falsehoods and gagging orders eminating from the Pharmalarmists – hopeless predictions, overreporting of cases, mass redesignation of death causes, bent drug trials, lies about Raoult and Mikovits, bullying of social media, deliberate exaggeration et cetera ad nauseam – is there in plain sight for all to see. It is an ugly, bestial hobgoblin seeping hot hypocritical air and riddled with the mischievous pursuit of corporate power.
A slightly broader phalanx of media is now emerging to – at long last – cast doubt on the shower of shameless supposition that has rained down upon our heads since last February.
But there is still a long, long way to go.
People want to believe this is merely something they had a dream about a few night ago; but it’s they who are still asleep: the corporate State is real enough. Fifty years of narrow education, political targets and Nanny State are coming home to roost. The hobgoblin will vomit on all of us if we just sit back and wait for the eccentric bloke next door to do something.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--The Greatest Depression Has Arrived with Gerald Celente

In the January 28 , 2020 edition of the Trends Journal , Gerald Celente explains exactly what ’ s going on .
It ’ s been a boon for CNN and MSNBC .
The Media has hyped the pandemic to increase their failing ratings .
CNN ratings are up 128 % since they unleashed the pandemic .
Where ’ s the DOJ ?
The list of criminals going unprosecuted is shocking .
Gerald had a July 4th rally in Kingston , NY .
He called out Cuomo to try and stop it .
The presstitutes bow down to # KillerCuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bigger than the USA , it ’ s global .
Italy shutdown first .
It ’ s all over the world .
Australia had 176 deaths and shut down again .
We are in an economic collapse unequaled in history .
What ’ s going to happen to all those businesses and malls that rely upon people coming into the cities .
Tourism is dead around the globe .
We are in an unimaginable collapse around .
Current war , trade war , WWII .
Greatest Depression , WWIII .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Restore Freedom .
A new third party .
The platform is : 1 .
Anti-vax 2 .
Anti-tax , 3 .
Anti-mask .
How can people be so stupid to follow Hitler and they ’ re doing the same thing now ?
It ’ s so easy to take people to war .
Korea , Vietnam , Iraq 1 , Afghanistan , Iraq 2 .
People need to start taking responsibility for their government and their country .
We have to fight for it .
We have freaks destroying us .
Time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already beyond redemption .
People who believe in the Constitution need to rise up .
It only takes 10 percent as in the Revolutionary War .
The violence that ’ s facing us is daunting .
It ’ s no wonder why gold and silver prices are rapidly increasing .
The whole world is going down .
That ’ s why war is becoming inevitable .
Click Here to Listen to the Audio

from Financial Survival Network
In the January 28, 2020 edition of the Trends Journal, Gerald Celente explains exactly what’s going on. It’s been a boon for CNN and MSNBC. The Media has hyped the pandemic to increase their failing ratings. CNN ratings are up 128% since they unleashed the pandemic. Where’s the DOJ? The list of criminals going unprosecuted is shocking.
Gerald had a July 4th rally in Kingston, NY. He called out Cuomo to try and stop it. The presstitutes bow down to #KillerCuomo. It’s bigger than NY, bigger than the USA, it’s global. Italy shutdown first. It’s all over the world. Australia had 176 deaths and shut down again. We are in an economic collapse unequaled in history. What’s going to happen to all those businesses and malls that rely upon people coming into the cities. Tourism is dead around the globe. We are in an unimaginable collapse around. Current war, trade war, WWII. Greatest Depression, WWIII.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
There is hope on the horizon. Occupy Peace and Restore Freedom. A new third party. The platform is: 1. Anti-vax 2. Anti-tax, 3. Anti-mask.
How can people be so stupid to follow Hitler and they’re doing the same thing now? It’s so easy to take people to war. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq 1, Afghanistan, Iraq 2. People need to start taking responsibility for their government and their country. We have to fight for it. We have freaks destroying us. Time to rise up. Gutless cowards are already beyond redemption. People who believe in the Constitution need to rise up. It only takes 10 percent as in the Revolutionary War. The violence that’s facing us is daunting. It’s no wonder why gold and silver prices are rapidly increasing. The whole world is going down. That’s why war is becoming inevitable.
Click Here to Listen to the Audio


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--Gold’s Hot Streak Has Legs to Continue to $3,500 (Or Higher)

This week , Your News to Know rounds up the latest top stories involving gold and the overall economy .
Stories include : $ 3,500 could be the next long-term target for gold , the dollar ’ s status as the global reserve currency could be slipping , and gold ’ s jump looks to have come from unexpected sources .
As analysts upgrade their gold forecasts , one expert sees $ 3,500 as a realistic target With the previous all-time high now in the rear window and a sustained two-week climb , analysts are looking for the next target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and long-term .
With Friday ’ s closing of the metal ’ s price at $ 1,976 , many are looking past the $ 2,000 level and placing their forecasts much higher .
One of them is Barry Dawes , executive chairman at Martin Place Securities , who sees gold jumping to $ 3,500 over the next two years .
“ What is really significant is how quickly it went through that $ 1,923 which was the previous high .
The other thing which was … very , very important was the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with similar ease , ” said Dawes of gold ’ s recent movements .
Worries over the economic recovery , shakiness in the greenback and rising tensions between the U.S. and China have all contributed to gold ’ s recent rise .
Goldman Sachs ’ team of analysts , however , listed low or negative interest rates as the main driver that will push gold to $ 2,300 in the next 12 months , an upgrade from their previous forecast of $ 2,000 over the same period .
Talking to CNBC , Juerg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capital , pointed to gold ’ s technicals to show that $ 2,834 could be within reach much sooner than expected .
Using $ 1,050 as a bottom model , Kiener pointed out that gold has historically jumped seven to eight times after bottoming out , which would translate to a price target of around $ 8,000 .
Kiener ’ s model isn ’ t too far off from the $ 1,200 level that gold fell to in 2018 , a price that is often cited as gold ’ s bottom .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar ’ s reserve-currency status Even before gold ’ s precipitous climb , certain experts mulled over the greenback ’ s status as the global reserve currency , stating that other nations could try and compete for the spot with their own sovereigns in the not-too-distant future .
Since then , concerns over the dollar losing its status have intensified , and the latest research note by Goldman Sachs examined how and why this scenario could occur .
The dollar ’ s reserve position , and the resulting economic strength that the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon the perception of a stable greenback .
Given recent actions by the Federal Reserve and its general stance , Goldman ’ s team believes this perception could change .
“ Combined with a record level of debt accumulation by the U.S. government , real concerns around the longevity of the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency have started to emerge , ” said the analysts in the note .
Their reasons include ultra-low interest rates , a consequence of the Fed ’ s exceedingly dovish stance since last summer .
A plunge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as has happened with an astounding number of sovereign bonds , could very well place the dollar on shaky grounds .
Goldman also took note of inflation expectations as yet another factor that could expedite this scenario .
This ties into President Trump ’ s nomination of Judy Shelton for the Fed board .
Shelton , a prominent figure in finance , had previously criticized the Fed ’ s massive influence on the global financial market , along with being a vocal supporter of the gold standard .
Who were the investors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The recent price action in the gold market has shown that there is no shortage of buyers interested in the metal .
Yet , a closer look into where the money is coming from might be surprising to quite a few market watchers .
As a key takeaway , gold buyers aren ’ t merely looking to hedge their bets , but also to seek yields in an unfamiliar environment .
These buyers come in the form of money managers who oversee trillions of dollars in various portfolios .
Managers of various funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocks in their clients ’ portfolios .
Bonds would act as a safe-haven in the case of an equity downturn and offer a steady source of yields in the meantime .
Yet they are no longer able to provide either .
The $ 15 trillion of negative-yielding debt and a plummeting Treasury have slowly but surely driven money managers to look elsewhere , and the gold market has proven to be just the place .
Along with its unquestionable wealth-preserving properties , gold has also displayed an ability to generate safe returns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition .
Funds like Pacific Investment Management Co. , along with banks like Lombard Odier & Cie SA and Arbuthnot Latham & Co. are just some examples of institutions whose money managers have turned to gold in a shifting economic climate .
Until recently , individual investors , jewelers and central banks were the ones driving gold ’ s price , but the group could be expanding soon .
John Reade , chief market strategist at the World Gold Council and a former fund manager , took note of the slow but steady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gold ’ s in the conversation now with much more investors than it was 10 or 20 years ago ” , he said .

From Birch Gold Group
This week, Your News to Know rounds up the latest top stories involving gold and the overall economy. Stories include: $3,500 could be the next long-term target for gold, the dollar’s status as the global reserve currency could be slipping, and gold’s jump looks to have come from unexpected sources.
As analysts upgrade their gold forecasts, one expert sees $3,500 as a realistic target
With the previous all-time high now in the rear window and a sustained two-week climb, analysts are looking for the next target for gold, both over the near and long-term. With Friday’s closing of the metal’s price at $1,976, many are looking past the $2,000 level and placing their forecasts much higher.
One of them is Barry Dawes, executive chairman at Martin Place Securities, who sees gold jumping to $3,500 over the next two years. “What is really significant is how quickly it went through that $1,923 which was the previous high. The other thing which was … very, very important was the fact that it went through $1,800 and with similar ease,” said Dawes of gold’s recent movements.
Worries over the economic recovery, shakiness in the greenback and rising tensions between the U.S. and China have all contributed to gold’s recent rise. Goldman Sachs’ team of analysts, however, listed low or negative interest rates as the main driver that will push gold to $2,300 in the next 12 months, an upgrade from their previous forecast of $2,000 over the same period.
Talking to CNBC, Juerg Kiener, managing director of Swiss Asia Capital, pointed to gold’s technicals to show that $2,834 could be within reach much sooner than expected. Using $1,050 as a bottom model, Kiener pointed out that gold has historically jumped seven to eight times after bottoming out, which would translate to a price target of around $8,000. Kiener’s model isn’t too far off from the $1,200 level that gold fell to in 2018, a price that is often cited as gold’s bottom.
What gold’s spike means for the dollar’s reserve-currency status
Even before gold’s precipitous climb, certain experts mulled over the greenback’s status as the global reserve currency, stating that other nations could try and compete for the spot with their own sovereigns in the not-too-distant future. Since then, concerns over the dollar losing its status have intensified, and the latest research note by Goldman Sachs examined how and why this scenario could occur.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The dollar’s reserve position, and the resulting economic strength that the U.S. gains on the global stage, relies upon the perception of a stable greenback. Given recent actions by the Federal Reserve and its general stance, Goldman’s team believes this perception could change.
“Combined with a record level of debt accumulation by the U.S. government, real concerns around the longevity of the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency have started to emerge,” said the analysts in the note. Their reasons include ultra-low interest rates, a consequence of the Fed’s exceedingly dovish stance since last summer. A plunge by the Treasury into negative territory, as has happened with an astounding number of sovereign bonds, could very well place the dollar on shaky grounds. Goldman also took note of inflation expectations as yet another factor that could expedite this scenario.
This ties into President Trump’s nomination of Judy Shelton for the Fed board. Shelton, a prominent figure in finance, had previously criticized the Fed’s massive influence on the global financial market, along with being a vocal supporter of the gold standard.
Who were the investors that pushed gold above its all-time high?
The recent price action in the gold market has shown that there is no shortage of buyers interested in the metal. Yet, a closer look into where the money is coming from might be surprising to quite a few market watchers. As a key takeaway, gold buyers aren’t merely looking to hedge their bets, but also to seek yields in an unfamiliar environment.
These buyers come in the form of money managers who oversee trillions of dollars in various portfolios. Managers of various funds have traditionally relied on bonds to hedge stocks in their clients’ portfolios. Bonds would act as a safe-haven in the case of an equity downturn and offer a steady source of yields in the meantime. Yet they are no longer able to provide either.
The $15 trillion of negative-yielding debt and a plummeting Treasury have slowly but surely driven money managers to look elsewhere, and the gold market has proven to be just the place. Along with its unquestionable wealth-preserving properties, gold has also displayed an ability to generate safe returns that far exceed those of bonds in good condition. Funds like Pacific Investment Management Co., along with banks like Lombard Odier & Cie SA and Arbuthnot Latham & Co. are just some examples of institutions whose money managers have turned to gold in a shifting economic climate.
Until recently, individual investors, jewelers and central banks were the ones driving gold’s price, but the group could be expanding soon. John Reade, chief market strategist at the World Gold Council and a former fund manager, took note of the slow but steady rise in institutional gold investment. “Gold’s in the conversation now with much more investors than it was 10 or 20 years ago”, he said.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--Rep. Grege Steube (R-Florida) suggests DOJ pursue treason charges against Obama officials involved i

Rep. Grege Steube (R-Florida) suggests DOJ pursue treason charges against Obama officials involved in Russia probe misconduct

Steube rebukes the FBI , suggests the DOJ issue treason charges in connection with misconduct related to the Trump-Russia investigation @ @ @ @ @ politicized , weaponized FBI ” intending to “ take down a presidential campaign and then @ @ @ @ @ got sworn in ” The congressman believes the DOJ should be able to pursue charges @ @ @ @ @ said that there should be consequences for “ misrepresentations ” before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance @ @ @ @ @ re not talking about individual agents operating in field offices across the country .
We @ @ @ @ @ leadership of the FBI operating the FBI in a way that they ’ re deceiving @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re surveilling on American citizens for political purposes .
And it completely discredited @ @ @ @ @ esteemed throughout law enforcement .
”

justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/florida-congressman-says-doj-could-pursue-treason
Steube rebukes the FBI, suggests the DOJ issue treason charges in connection with misconduct related to the Trump-Russia investigation.
He blasted the “politicized, weaponized FBI” intending to “take down a presidential campaign and then an incumbent president once he got sworn in”
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The congressman believes the DOJ should be able to pursue charges of lying to Congress—he also said that there should be consequences for “misrepresentations” before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
“We’re not talking about individual agents operating in field offices across the country. We’re talking about the leadership of the FBI operating the FBI in a way that they’re deceiving the FISA Court, that they’re surveilling on American citizens for political purposes. And it completely discredited an agency that was once esteemed throughout law enforcement.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--BLUE COLLAR LOGIC: Is The COVID Narrative Falling Apart?

They want us scared .
But I think their narrative is falling apart .
Here ’ s the Simple Truth @

They want us scared. But I think their narrative is falling apart. Here’s the Simple Truth.
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