investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--The Arrival Of The “Unavoidable Pension Crisis”

In 2017 , I wrote an article discussing the “ Unavoidable Pension Crisis.
” At that time , most did not understand the risk .
However , two years later , the “ Unavoidable Pension Crisis ” has arrived .
To understand we are today , we need a quick review .
“ Currently , many pension funds , like the one in Houston , are scrambling to marginally lower return rates , issue debt , raise taxes , or increase contribution limits .
The hope is to fill the gaping holes of underfunded liabilities in existing plans .
Such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market , and increased participant contributions , will hopefully begin a healing process .
Such is not likely to be the case .
This problems are not something born of the last ‘ financial crisis , ’ but rather the culmination of 20-plus years of financial mismanagement .
An April 2016 , Moody ’ s analysis pegged the total 75-year unfunded liability for all state and local pension plans at $ 3.5 trillion .
That ’ s the amount not covered by fund assets , future contributions , and investment returns ranging from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculation from the American Enterprise Institute comes up with $ 5.2 trillion , presuming that long-term bond yields an average 2.6 % .
With employee contribution requirements extremely low , the need to stretch for higher rates of return have put pensions in a precarious position .
The underfunded status of pensions continues to increase.
” The Crisis Is Here Since then , the situation has continued to worsen as noted by Aaron Brown in 2018 : We are already there .
Here was the key sentence in Brown ’ s commentary : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic has likely triggered a rolling pension collapse over the next couple of years .
Via the NYT : At the end of the year , we will find out the true extent of the damage .
However , this is not , and has not been , a real plan to fix the underfunded problem .
“ Hope ” for higher rates of sustained returns continues to be the only palatable option .
However , targeted returns have continuously fallen short of the projected goals .
While State and Local governments all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is isn ’ t going away .
There is a simple reason why pensions are in such rough shape : The amount owed to retirees is accelerating faster than assets on hand to pay those future obligations .
Liabilities of major U.S. public pensions are up 64 % since 2007 , while assets are up 30 % , according to the most recent data from Boston College ’ s Center for Retirement Research .
More importantly , there is nothing that can , or will , change the two pre-existing problems which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With pension funds already wrestling with largely underfunded liabilities , demographics are another problem as baby boomers age .
The number of pensioners has jumped due to longer lifespans and a wave of retirees over the past decade , while the number of active workers remained relatively stable .
The problem compounds as the labor-force participation for the prime-age working group of 25-54 years of age declines due to the economic shutdown .
At the same time , companies are forcing the over-65 participants into retirement .
These individuals are immediately able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the primary problems continues to be the decline in the ratio of workers per retiree as retirees are living longer ( increasing the relative number of retirees ) , and lower birth rates ( corresponding number of workers . )
Such is due to two demographic factors : • An increased life expectancy coupled with a fixed retirement age ; and , In 1950 , there were 16-workers per social security retiree .
By 2015 , the support ratio dropped to 3:1 , and by 2035 it is projected to just 2:1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that while the “ baby boom ” generation may be heading towards retirement years , there was little indication they were financially prepared to retire .
To wit : Many have now been “ asked to retire , ” which means they can not collect unemployment benefits .
They are also permanently removed from the labor force .
Such is particularly problematic for pension funds because this will lead to an immediate demand for payouts at a time when pension fund assets decline .
Unfortunately , the ultimate burden will fall on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem is the computations performed by actuaries .
The assumptions regarding current and future demographics , life expectancy , investment returns , levels of contributions or taxation , and payouts to beneficiaries , among other variables , consistently turn out wrong .
Using faulty assumptions is the linchpin to the inability to meet future obligations .
By over-estimating returns , it has artificially inflated future pension values .
However , high expected returns are required to reduce the required contributions to the pension plans .
There is a significant difference between actual and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) returns .
The market does NOT return an AVERAGE rate each year , and one negative return compounds the future shortfall .
( Forward projections are a function of expected return values due to rising deficits , valuations , and demographics . )
With pensions still having annual investment return assumptions ranging between 6–7 % , 2020 will likely be another year of underperformance .
As noted , pensions do not have much choice but to hope for high returns .
If expected returns decline by 1–2 percentage points , the required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reduction in the assumed return rate , pensions require a roughly 10 % increase in contributions .
For many plan participants , particularly unionized workers , increases in contributions are difficult to obtain .
Pension managers must maintain better-than-market return assumptions that requires them to take on more risk .
But therein lies the problem .
The chart below is the S & P 500 TOTAL return from 1995 to present .
Projected returns use variable rates of market returns with cycling bull and bear markets , out to 2060 .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 7 % , 6 % , 5 % , and 4 % average rates of return from 1995 out to 2060 .
( I have made some estimates for slightly lower forward returns due to demographic issues . )
Given real-world return assumptions , pension funds SHOULD lower their return estimates to roughly 3-4 % to potentially meet future obligations and maintain some solvency .
Again , pension funds won ’ t , and really can ’ t , make such reforms because “ plan participants ” won ’ t let them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would require a 30-40 % increase in contributions by plan participants they simply can not afford .
• Given many plan participants will retire LONG before 2060 there simply isn ’ t enough time to solve the issues , and ; • The bear market is already further crippling plan ’ s abilities to meet future obligations without massive reforms immediately .
Such is why municipalities across the country have been lobbying the Democratically controlled Congress to pass another funding bill to provide financial relief .
The bill , passed by House Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , $ 875 billion is a drop in the bucket .
This is why the Fed is terrified of a market downturn .
The pension crisis IS the “ weapon of mass destruction ” to the financial system , and it has started ticking .
Pension plans in the United States have a guarantee by a quasi-government agency called the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation ( PBGC ) , the reality is the PBGC is nearly bust from taking over plans following the financial crisis .
The PBGC will run out of money in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is trivial compared to the multi-trillion dollar pension problem .
We Are Out Of Time Currently , 75.4 million Baby Boomers in America—about 26 % of the U.S. population—have reached or will reach retirement age between 2011 and 2030 .
Many of them are public-sector employees .
In a 2015 study of public-sector organizations , nearly 50 % of the responding organizations stated they could lose 20 % or more of their employees to retirement within the next five years .
Local governments are particularly vulnerable : a full 37 % of local-government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 .
It is now 5-years later , and the problems are worse than before .
It is no surprise that public pension funds are completely overwhelmed , but they still do not realize that markets do not compound at an annual return of 7 % annually .
Such has led to the continued degradation of funding levels as liabilities continue to pile up If the numbers above are right , the unfunded obligations of approximately $ 5- $ 6 trillion , depending on the estimates , would have to be set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest would cover the program ’ s shortfall between tax revenues and payouts over the next 75 years .
That isn ’ t going to happen .
The “ unavoidable pension crisis ” has arrived , and the consequences will devastate many Americans , depending on their retirement pensions .
Whatever amount you are saving for retirement is probably not enough .

by Lance Roberts
In 2017, I wrote an article discussing the “Unavoidable Pension Crisis.” At that time, most did not understand the risk. However, two years later, the “Unavoidable Pension Crisis” has arrived.
To understand we are today, we need a quick review.
“Currently, many pension funds, like the one in Houston, are scrambling to marginally lower return rates, issue debt, raise taxes, or increase contribution limits. The hope is to fill the gaping holes of underfunded liabilities in existing plans. Such measures, combined with an ongoing bull market, and increased participant contributions, will hopefully begin a healing process. Such is not likely to be the case. This problems are not something born of the last ‘financial crisis,’ but rather the culmination of 20-plus years of financial mismanagement. An April 2016, Moody’s analysis pegged the total 75-year unfunded liability for all state and local pension plans at $3.5 trillion. That’s the amount not covered by fund assets, future contributions, and investment returns ranging from 3.7% to 4.1%. Another calculation from the American Enterprise Institute comes up with $5.2 trillion, presuming that long-term bond yields an average 2.6%. With employee contribution requirements extremely low, the need to stretch for higher rates of return have put pensions in a precarious position. The underfunded status of pensions continues to increase.”
The Crisis Is Here
Since then, the situation has continued to worsen as noted by Aaron Brown in 2018:
“Today the hard stop is five to 10 years away, within the career plans of current officials. In the next decade, and probably within five years, some large will face insolvency,
We are already there. Here was the key sentence in Brown’s commentary:
“The next phase of public pension reform will likely be touched off by a stock market decline. Such creates the real possibility of at least one state fund running out of cash within a couple of years. The math says that tax increases and spending cuts cannot do much.”
Brown was right, and the COVID-19 pandemic has likely triggered a rolling pension collapse over the next couple of years. Via the NYT:
“Now the coronavirus pandemic have it ticking faster. Already chronically underfunded, pension programs have taken huge hits to their investment portfolios over the past month as the markets collapsed. The outbreak has also triggered widespread job losses and business closures that threaten to wipe out state and local tax revenues. That one-two punch has staggered these funds, most of which are required by law to keep sending checks every month to about 11 million Americans.”
Over Promise Under Deliver Here is the real problem: “Moody’s investor’s service estimated that state and local pension funds had lost $1 trillion in the market sell-off that began in February. The exact damage is hard to determine, though, because pension funds do not issue quarterly reports.”
At the end of the year, we will find out the true extent of the damage. However, this is not, and has not been, a real plan to fix the underfunded problem. “Hope” for higher rates of sustained returns continues to be the only palatable option. However, targeted returns have continuously fallen short of the projected goals.
To wit:
“Over the past decade, public pensions had ramped up stockholdings and other risky investments to meet aggressive return targets that average around 7%. For the 20 years ended March 31, public pension-plan returns have fallen short of that target, however, returning a median 5.2% according to Wilshire TUCS.”
While State and Local governments all want to ignore the problem, it is isn’t going away. There is a simple reason why pensions are in such rough shape: The amount owed to retirees is accelerating faster than assets on hand to pay those future obligations. Liabilities of major U.S. public pensions are up 64% since 2007, while assets are up 30%, according to the most recent data from Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research.
More importantly, there is nothing that can, or will, change the two pre-existing problems which have plagued the economic shutdown is exacerbating pensions.
Problem #1: Demographics
With pension funds already wrestling with largely underfunded liabilities, demographics are another problem as baby boomers age. The number of pensioners has jumped due to longer lifespans and a wave of retirees over the past decade, while the number of active workers remained relatively stable.
The problem compounds as the labor-force participation for the prime-age working group of 25-54 years of age declines due to the economic shutdown.
At the same time, companies are forcing the over-65 participants into retirement. These individuals are immediately able to start taking pension distributions.
A Fertility Problem
One of the primary problems continues to be the decline in the ratio of workers per retiree as retirees are living longer (increasing the relative number of retirees), and lower birth rates (corresponding number of workers.) Such is due to two demographic factors:
An increased life expectancy coupled with a fixed retirement age; and, A decrease in the fertility rate.
In 1950, there were 16-workers per social security retiree. By 2015, the support ratio dropped to 3:1, and by 2035 it is projected to just 2:1.
As discussed previously, the problem is that while the “baby boom” generation may be heading towards retirement years, there was little indication they were financially prepared to retire. To wit:
“As part of its 2019 Savings Survey, First National Bank of Omaha examined Americans’ habits, behaviors, and priorities when it comes to saving, monthly spending, and retirement planning. The findings showed that nearly 80% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Many have now been “asked to retire,” which means they cannot collect unemployment benefits. They are also permanently removed from the labor force.
Such is particularly problematic for pension funds because this will lead to an immediate demand for payouts at a time when pension fund assets decline. Unfortunately, the ultimate burden will fall on those next in line.
Problem #2: Markets Don’t Compound
The biggest problem is the computations performed by actuaries. The assumptions regarding current and future demographics, life expectancy, investment returns, levels of contributions or taxation, and payouts to beneficiaries, among other variables, consistently turn out wrong.
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Using faulty assumptions is the linchpin to the inability to meet future obligations. By over-estimating returns, it has artificially inflated future pension values. However, high expected returns are required to reduce the required contributions to the pension plans.
There is a significant difference between actual and compounded (7% average annual rate) returns. The market does NOT return an AVERAGE rate each year, and one negative return compounds the future shortfall. (Forward projections are a function of expected return values due to rising deficits, valuations, and demographics.)
With pensions still having annual investment return assumptions ranging between 6–7%, 2020 will likely be another year of underperformance.
As noted, pensions do not have much choice but to hope for high returns. If expected returns decline by 1–2 percentage points, the required contributions increase dramatically. For each point of reduction in the assumed return rate, pensions require a roughly 10% increase in contributions.
For many plan participants, particularly unionized workers, increases in contributions are difficult to obtain. Pension managers must maintain better-than-market return assumptions that requires them to take on more risk.
Guiding Down
But therein lies the problem.
The chart below is the S&P 500 TOTAL return from 1995 to present. Projected returns use variable rates of market returns with cycling bull and bear markets, out to 2060. I have also added projections of 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, and 4% average rates of return from 1995 out to 2060. (I have made some estimates for slightly lower forward returns due to demographic issues.)
Given real-world return assumptions, pension funds SHOULD lower their return estimates to roughly 3-4% to potentially meet future obligations and maintain some solvency.
Again, pension funds won’t, and really can’t, make such reforms because “plan participants” won’t let them. Why? Because:
It would require a 30-40% increase in contributions by plan participants they simply can not afford. Given many plan participants will retire LONG before 2060 there simply isn’t enough time to solve the issues, and; The bear market is already further crippling plan’s abilities to meet future obligations without massive reforms immediately.
Government Bailouts
Such is why municipalities across the country have been lobbying the Democratically controlled Congress to pass another funding bill to provide financial relief. The bill, passed by House Democrats, specifically included the following:
“The cornerstone of the 1,800-page bill is $875 billion for state and local governments. “
Unfortunately, $875 billion is a drop in the bucket.
The real crisis comes when there is a ‘run on pensions.’ With a large number of pensioners already eligible for their pension, the next decline in the markets will likely spur the ‘fear’ that benefits will be lost entirely. The combined run on the system, which is grossly underfunded, at a time when asset prices are declining will cause a debacle of mass proportions. It will require a massive government bailout to resolve it.”
This is why the Fed is terrified of a market downturn. The pension crisis IS the “weapon of mass destruction” to the financial system, and it has started ticking.
Pension plans in the United States have a guarantee by a quasi-government agency called the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), the reality is the PBGC is nearly bust from taking over plans following the financial crisis. The PBGC will run out of money in 2025. Moreover, its balance sheet is trivial compared to the multi-trillion dollar pension problem.
We Are Out Of Time
Currently, 75.4 million Baby Boomers in America—about 26% of the U.S. population—have reached or will reach retirement age between 2011 and 2030. Many of them are public-sector employees. In a 2015 study of public-sector organizations, nearly 50% of the responding organizations stated they could lose 20% or more of their employees to retirement within the next five years.
Local governments are particularly vulnerable: a full 37% of local-government employees are at least 50-years of age in 2015.
It is now 5-years later, and the problems are worse than before.
It is no surprise that public pension funds are completely overwhelmed, but they still do not realize that markets do not compound at an annual return of 7% annually. Such has led to the continued degradation of funding levels as liabilities continue to pile up
If the numbers above are right, the unfunded obligations of approximately $5-$6 trillion, depending on the estimates, would have to be set aside today such that the principal and interest would cover the program’s shortfall between tax revenues and payouts over the next 75 years.
That isn’t going to happen.
The “unavoidable pension crisis” has arrived, and the consequences will devastate many Americans, depending on their retirement pensions.
“Demography, however, is destiny for entitlements, so arithmetic will do the meddling.” – George Will
Whatever amount you are saving for retirement is probably not enough.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--CUMMINGS & CHINA: the rise and rise of the virtual Hate Rally.

In a world where global military ‘ hot ’ war is no longer feasible , victory goes to those who capture minds rather than territory .
The internet is the only area left where resistance to mind-closure can thrive , and it is only a matter of time before the truthbenders drag us all into line .
The campaigns against Johnson , Cummings and China are the thin end of the club .
Like every book predicting the future , some parts of the George Orwell classic Nineteen Eighty-Four seem a little quaint in parts – the old washer-woman singing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cameras , and the Hate Rallies rising to physical heights of loathing for this week ’ s enemy .
The hardest bit of science > politcs > freedom fiction is spotting how media might change ; Orwell could never have imagined anything quite as braindead as Rap music , or indeed global television melded with electronic satellite communications .
Even his justified fear of social control could not have envisaged Lockdown as the solution to a non-problem – so no undistanced hate rallies for us….but then , he didn ’ t see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the use of media was pretty much the only thing Eric Blair got wrong : he even saw Tony Blair coming , and wisely changed his name .
He would have recognised the social , information and news media Sunday shitstorm against Dominic Cummings yesterday for what it was : a virtual Hate Rally….and of course , the Big Brother motto ‘ Love Not Hate ’ running alongside it .
‘ Strength through Joy ’ , ‘ Work Makes Free ’ and so on .
There is an old saying that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since March as ‘ the thin end of the wedge ’ .
We need to update it : the last three months have represented the thin end of the club .
In Wuhan itself , the élite almost literally bludgeoned people into their homes .
But the Chinese reaction to a novel coronavirus was instructive not solely as the PRC ’ s default Tianeman Square mode ; it represented powerful behavioural evidence that the West ’ s growing Sinophobic Hate Rally is a fiction .
Consider : one of your top Germ warfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , half-heartedly wipes it off with a grubby cloth , and then toddles off uncaringly to the local market where he buys a couple of giant bats for supper , pausing only to kick-box some pleb in the face .
Just to show him who ’ s boss .
The way you do .
Patient Zero is born .
Or rather , dies .
And so what happens then is hysterical panic on Speed .
Right ?
Wrong : that ’ s precisely what wouldn ’ t happen .
There are a total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intimate mutual sneeze-fest starts a week later , it takes the boffins about 48 hours to identify the virus – you invented it ffs , so why is that difficult ?
– trace the contacts involved and isolate them .
You know how Covid19 works , you know it ’ s not that big a deal .
You keep internationally mum , shoot a few local officials and forget all about it .
What actually happened was that the Party Army moved in bigtime , built five pop-up hospitals in three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its neighbours and WHO what was happening .
They locked the entire city of Wuhan down by force , curfewed Wubei in total , and began spraying every street and pavement with unspeakably nasty stuff to disinfect everywhere .
They confiscated Western cameras .
And they ran about like headless chickens not entirely sure what they were at because they were unable to see – the head thang being missing .
To be brief here , they behaved like people who thought they were dealing with the natural unknown and/or under attack from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was the sense of panic leaking out from Westerners in the region at the time that played a large part in providing a credible Doomwatch scenario – such that the rest of us wound up falling for a load of baloney from ‘ experts ’ like Fauci and Ferguson , and being told by Macron that we were in “ a war for survival ” .
All three people in that sentence have heavily monied relationships with Big Pharma in general – GSK , Sanofi et al – and Vaccination Man Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floundering EU ( especially France ) , Wall Street , Britain and the US , all Big Oil and the neocon diplomats benefited from the Fear Narrative .
Having passed through its OhMyGod period , the Bejing politburo then began a more thorough investigation of Patient Zero , and discovered that Covid19 was present among the US team taking part in the Military Games and said team was staying in a hotel 800 yards from Wuhan market .
The team had trained in the US at a miltary base close to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had since been closed abruptly and without explanation .
Two PRC scientists and one American were later arrested , during January , at Kennedy Airport , and charged with trying to export virology samples .
So the CP sent a sarcastic cable to Secretary Pompeo , asking for clarification .
The response from the NATO alliance has been…..the ratcheting up of yet another Hate Rally .
I am not a Useful Idiot Sinophile .
I don ’ t claim to know who did what in this saga : and such footprints as there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brushed away .
I make one point only : the case for pinning the blame for Covid19 ’ s “ escape ” on America is every bit as strong as that to be made against China .
China the Bogeyman as a project is already under way – and the motives lead back to all the usual suspects .
It is the responsibility of agenda-free media observers to point this out .
Trump was pissed off at getting nowhere with the Chinese trade talks .
Having created the panic , EUNATO Governments now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the UK has already started badmouthing Chinese ‘ motives ’ .
He was turned by Sir Mark Sedwill during the PM ’ s Covid infection , and the Government is backing away from the 5G Huawei deal that neither Sedwill nor the US wanted in the first place .
An emerging theme in the Cummings Hate Rally is that Dom “ spat on the very Lockdown he ’ d created ” – it is a lie : he opposed any such plans until the last possible moment .
Yet nobody is stopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unleash a killer virus on the West would start the process off in its own country…and produce a virus that kills mainly old and economically unproductive retired people , thus culling the global population by a mighty 0.004 % .
Every prediction is a hostage to fortune , but I give you one to keep an eye out for : the narrative legerdemain that has been trying to pin global fisco-economic blame on Covid19 will now be quietly changed to lay culpability at China ’ s door .
The age of the Hate @ @ @ @ @

by John Ward
In a world where global military ‘hot’ war is no longer feasible, victory goes to those who capture minds rather than territory. The internet is the only area left where resistance to mind-closure can thrive, and it is only a matter of time before the truthbenders drag us all into line. The campaigns against Johnson, Cummings and China are the thin end of the club.
Like every book predicting the future, some parts of the George Orwell classic Nineteen Eighty-Four seem a little quaint in parts – the old washer-woman singing a traditional melody, microphones everywhere instead of cameras, and the Hate Rallies rising to physical heights of loathing for this week’s enemy.
The hardest bit of science>politcs>freedom fiction is spotting how media might change; Orwell could never have imagined anything quite as braindead as Rap music, or indeed global television melded with electronic satellite communications. Even his justified fear of social control could not have envisaged Lockdown as the solution to a non-problem – so no undistanced hate rallies for us….but then, he didn’t see social media coming. Who did?
But the use of media was pretty much the only thing Eric Blair got wrong: he even saw Tony Blair coming, and wisely changed his name. He would have recognised the social, information and news media Sunday shitstorm against Dominic Cummings yesterday for what it was: a virtual Hate Rally….and of course, the Big Brother motto ‘Love Not Hate’ running alongside it. ‘Strength through Joy’, ‘Work Makes Free’ and so on.
There is an old saying that would describe what we’ve been through since March as ‘the thin end of the wedge’. We need to update it: the last three months have represented the thin end of the club. In Wuhan itself, the élite almost literally bludgeoned people into their homes. But the Chinese reaction to a novel coronavirus was instructive not solely as the PRC’s default Tianeman Square mode; it represented powerful behavioural evidence that the West’s growing Sinophobic Hate Rally is a fiction.
Consider: one of your top Germ warfare sociopaths spills some Covid19 onto his shoes, half-heartedly wipes it off with a grubby cloth, and then toddles off uncaringly to the local market where he buys a couple of giant bats for supper, pausing only to kick-box some pleb in the face. Just to show him who’s boss. The way you do.
Patient Zero is born. Or rather, dies.
And so what happens then is hysterical panic on Speed. Right? Wrong: that’s precisely what wouldn’t happen. There are a total of eleven biolabs in Wuhan. Once the intimate mutual sneeze-fest starts a week later, it takes the boffins about 48 hours to identify the virus – you invented it ffs, so why is that difficult? – trace the contacts involved and isolate them. You know how Covid19 works, you know it’s not that big a deal. You keep internationally mum, shoot a few local officials and forget all about it.
What actually happened was that the Party Army moved in bigtime, built five pop-up hospitals in three weeks and – albeit late – did tell its neighbours and WHO what was happening. They locked the entire city of Wuhan down by force, curfewed Wubei in total, and began spraying every street and pavement with unspeakably nasty stuff to disinfect everywhere. They confiscated Western cameras. And they ran about like headless chickens not entirely sure what they were at because they were unable to see – the head thang being missing.
To be brief here, they behaved like people who thought they were dealing with the natural unknown and/or under attack from a fangwoi viral weapon.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Indeed, it was the sense of panic leaking out from Westerners in the region at the time that played a large part in providing a credible Doomwatch scenario – such that the rest of us wound up falling for a load of baloney from ‘experts’ like Fauci and Ferguson, and being told by Macron that we were in “a war for survival”. All three people in that sentence have heavily monied relationships with Big Pharma in general – GSK, Sanofi et al – and Vaccination Man Bill Gates in particular. All governments in the floundering EU (especially France), Wall Street, Britain and the US, all Big Oil and the neocon diplomats benefited from the Fear Narrative.
Having passed through its OhMyGod period, the Bejing politburo then began a more thorough investigation of Patient Zero, and discovered that Covid19 was present among the US team taking part in the Military Games and said team was staying in a hotel 800 yards from Wuhan market. The team had trained in the US at a miltary base close to a major Germ warfare lab. The lab had since been closed abruptly and without explanation.
Two PRC scientists and one American were later arrested, during January, at Kennedy Airport, and charged with trying to export virology samples.
So the CP sent a sarcastic cable to Secretary Pompeo, asking for clarification. The response from the NATO alliance has been…..the ratcheting up of yet another Hate Rally.
I am not a Useful Idiot Sinophile. I don’t claim to know who did what in this saga: and such footprints as there were on the trail have long been brushed away. I make one point only: the case for pinning the blame for Covid19’s “escape” on America is every bit as strong as that to be made against China. China the Bogeyman as a project is already under way – and the motives lead back to all the usual suspects.
It is the responsibility of agenda-free media observers to point this out. Trump was pissed off at getting nowhere with the Chinese trade talks. Having created the panic, EUNATO Governments now look for a fall-guy. Dominic Raab in the UK has already started badmouthing Chinese ‘motives’. He was turned by Sir Mark Sedwill during the PM’s Covid infection, and the Government is backing away from the 5G Huawei deal that neither Sedwill nor the US wanted in the first place. An emerging theme in the Cummings Hate Rally is that Dom “spat on the very Lockdown he’d created” – it is a lie: he opposed any such plans until the last possible moment.
Yet nobody is stopping to ask why a China gagging to unleash a killer virus on the West would start the process off in its own country…and produce a virus that kills mainly old and economically unproductive retired people, thus culling the global population by a mighty 0.004%.
Every prediction is a hostage to fortune, but I give you one to keep an eye out for: the narrative legerdemain that has been trying to pin global fisco-economic blame on Covid19 will now be quietly changed to lay culpability at China’s door.
The age of the Hate Rally is upon us.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Shedlock: The Economy Won’t Soon Return To Normal

The economy won ’ t soon return to normal .
Here ’ s why .
Numerous chain reaction ripple impacts will delay the economic recovery .
Let ’ s start with a look at car rental companies .
Bankruptcies happen when there is too much debt leverage accompanied by some sort of economic shock .
For example , Hertz filed for bankruptcy on Friday .
Now , the entire rental industry is Scrambling for Answers , but there really aren ’ t any .
Covid-19 caused air traffic to plunge 90 % .
But blame debt for the Hertz bankruptcy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , GM ( GM ) and Fiat Chrysler ( FCAU ) all face a steep drop in rental fleet purchases .
Last year , Hertz alone bought 1.7 million US automobiles , about 10 % of the US auto industry production according to Cox automotive .
CNN commented “ Avis Budget said it expects its fleet in the Americas will be reduced by 20 % by the end of June , compared to a year earlier.
” If Avis , Hertz , Budget , etc.
, have too many cars , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used car market .
It ’ s already happening .
Hertz had already announced it would not purchase any new cars for the rest of this year , and that it is starting to sell its vehicles as used cars .
As of early March , it had sold 41,000 cars out of its US fleet and another 13,000 out of its European fleet .
On Friday , the FAA granted airlines the right to halt service to regional cities .
As many as 60 cities face flight shutdowns .
For details , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regional Cities • Companies forced to allow more work-at-home have noticed no loss in productivity .
• The same applies to use teleconferencing instead of air travel .
Both cut down on eating out and driving ( think local restaurants and gas stations ) .
Point number two is an additional hit to car rental companies and hotels .
This means more layoffs or fewer people recalled from furloughs .
It ’ s important to factor in the change in consumer attitudes .
Some retail is going away , never to come back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people feeling comfortable having to sit in a full capacity theater , stadium , or airplane .
• Some people forced to cut their own hair will continue doing so .
• Some people who seldom cooked , learned how .
They will be slow to return to eating out for many reasons .
• In general , any persons who suffered a huge income reduction will be very slow to resume eating out , traveling , or buying a car .
To entice people to buy cars , the automakers will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given a new model year is coming up .
Existing Home Sales Plunge 17.8 % Much Worse is on the Way April will not mark the bottom in sales .
Here ’ s why .
• Existing sales are recorded at closing whereas new sales are counted at signing .
• April sales represent transactions that occurred in February and March .
May sales ( transactions in March and April ) are sure to be worse .
Even June sales could be worse .
Price is sure to follow traffic lower , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
First on the amount of traffic , and second as prices decline .
April sales price rose , bit that was heavily skewed by the reduction in sales .
• 5/8 : Over 20 Million Jobs Lost As Unemployment Rises Most In History • 5/15 : Retail Sales Plunge Way More Than Expected • Also on 5/15 : GDPNow Forecasts the Economy Shrank by a Record 42 % .
It ’ s 41.9 % as of May 19 .
The economic data has been grim and the ripple impacts may last for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the End of 2021 Fed Chair Jerome Powell Warns Recovery May Stretch to the End of 2021 .
Powell is likely to be optimistic .
Seldom does the Fed openly ask Congress to spend more money or to engage in fiscal stimulus .
But that happened on May 14 when both Powell and Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari .
For details , please see Fed Promotes More Free Money .
This is a sure sign the Fed is in a state of panic about the economy .
To understand the total global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ranges Up to $ 82 Trillion Anyone who expects the economy to make a fast recovery out of this mess is delusional .

by Mike Shedlock
The economy won’t soon return to normal. Here’s why.
Numerous chain reaction ripple impacts will delay the economic recovery. Let’s start with a look at car rental companies.
No Magic Answers
Bankruptcies happen when there is too much debt leverage accompanied by some sort of economic shock.
For example, Hertz filed for bankruptcy on Friday. Now, the entire rental industry is Scrambling for Answers, but there really aren’t any.
Covid-19 caused air traffic to plunge 90%. But blame debt for the Hertz bankruptcy, not Covid.
Layoff Impact
CNN comments on the Hertz Bankruptcy.
Hertz has notified 12,000 employees in North America that that they were losing their jobs, and another 4,000 are on furloughs. Its US workforce stood at 38,000 employees at the start of the year, with about a quarter of them represented by unions.
Auto Manufacturing Impact
Ford (F), GM (GM) and Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) all face a steep drop in rental fleet purchases.
Last year, Hertz alone bought 1.7 million US automobiles, about 10% of the US auto industry production according to Cox automotive.
CNN commented “Avis Budget said it expects its fleet in the Americas will be reduced by 20% by the end of June, compared to a year earlier.”
Used Car Price Impact
If Avis, Hertz, Budget, etc., have too many cars, then a flood of cars will hit the used car market. It’s already happening.
Hertz had already announced it would not purchase any new cars for the rest of this year, and that it is starting to sell its vehicles as used cars. As of early March, it had sold 41,000 cars out of its US fleet and another 13,000 out of its European fleet.
Regional Impact
On Friday, the FAA granted airlines the right to halt service to regional cities.
As many as 60 cities face flight shutdowns.
For details, please see Airlines to Abandon Dozens of Regional Cities
Corporate Travel Impact
Companies forced to allow more work-at-home have noticed no loss in productivity. The same applies to use teleconferencing instead of air travel.
Both cut down on eating out and driving (think local restaurants and gas stations).
Point number two is an additional hit to car rental companies and hotels.
This means more layoffs or fewer people recalled from furloughs.
Attitude Change
It’s important to factor in the change in consumer attitudes.
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Some retail is going away, never to come back. It will take a while for people feeling comfortable having to sit in a full capacity theater, stadium, or airplane.
Some people forced to cut their own hair will continue doing so.
Some people who seldom cooked, learned how. They will be slow to return to eating out for many reasons.
In general, any persons who suffered a huge income reduction will be very slow to resume eating out, traveling, or buying a car.
To entice people to buy cars, the automakers will have to cut prices, and perhaps dramatically given a new model year is coming up.
Existing Home Sales Plunge 17.8% Much Worse is on the Way
Note that Existing Home Sales Plunge 17.8%.
April will not mark the bottom in sales. Here’s why.
Existing sales are recorded at closing whereas new sales are counted at signing.
April sales represent transactions that occurred in February and March.
May sales (transactions in March and April) are sure to be worse. Even June sales could be worse.
Real Estate Agent Impact
Price is sure to follow traffic lower, and real estate agents will get hit twice. First on the amount of traffic, and second as prices decline.
April sales price rose, bit that was heavily skewed by the reduction in sales.
Grim Economic Data
Ripple Impacts May Last Years
The economic data has been grim and the ripple impacts may last for years.
Powell Warns Recovery May Stretch to the End of 2021
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Warns Recovery May Stretch to the End of 2021.
Powell is likely to be optimistic.
Fed in Panic Mode
Seldom does the Fed openly ask Congress to spend more money or to engage in fiscal stimulus.
But that happened on May 14 when both Powell and Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari.
For details, please see Fed Promotes More Free Money.
This is a sure sign the Fed is in a state of panic about the economy.
Global COVID-19 Risk Ranges Up to $82 Trillion
To understand the total global risk, please see Global COVID-19 Risk Ranges Up to $82 Trillion
Anyone who expects the economy to make a fast recovery out of this mess is delusional.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--SHOCK STUDY — 60% of population has preexisting T Cell immunity to Covid…

The study , written by researchers in California , New York and North Carolina and soon to be published in the journal Cell , discovered that certain types of cells in blood samples taken from donors in 2015-2018—well before COVID-19 arose—were reactive against the COVID-19 virus .
In other words , those blood samples were at least partially immune from the coronavirus even though they had never been exposed to it .
“ CD4+ T cell responses were detected in 40-60 % of unexposed individuals .
This may be reflective of some degree of crossreactive , preexisting immunity to SARS- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , individuals , ” the researchers state in the paper .
The scientists are careful to qualify their conclusions .
“ Whether this immunity is relevant in influencing clinical outcomes is unknown—and can not be known without T cell measurements before and after SARS- CoV-2 infection of individuals—but it is tempting to speculate that the crossreactive CD4+ T cells may be of value in protective immunity , ” they write .
The research could provide an important clue for public health officials hoping to figure out why significant numbers of COVID-19 infections are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The disease affects elderly and less healthy individuals most severely , with younger and healthy individuals for the most part spared its worst effects .
Though the term “ coronavirus ” has become ubiquitous in recent weeks as a way to describe the virus causing the current pandemic , coronaviruses are actually a variegated strain of infectious agents that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to SARS .
The researchers in their paper suggest that the immune response seen in the uninfected blood samples could have been generated by the coronaviruses that @ @ @ @ @

by Eustace Muffins
justthenews.com/politics-policy/…ome-degree
www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=…%2930610-3
The study, written by researchers in California, New York and North Carolina and soon to be published in the journal Cell, discovered that certain types of cells in blood samples taken from donors in 2015-2018—well before COVID-19 arose—were reactive against the COVID-19 virus. In other words, those blood samples were at least partially immune from the coronavirus even though they had never been exposed to it.
“CD4+ T cell responses were detected in 40-60% of unexposed individuals. This may be reflective of some degree of crossreactive, preexisting immunity to SARS- CoV-2 in some, but not all, individuals,” the researchers state in the paper.
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The scientists are careful to qualify their conclusions. “Whether this immunity is relevant in influencing clinical outcomes is unknown—and cannot be known without T cell measurements before and after SARS- CoV-2 infection of individuals—but it is tempting to speculate that the crossreactive CD4+ T cells may be of value in protective immunity,” they write.
The research could provide an important clue for public health officials hoping to figure out why significant numbers of COVID-19 infections are either asymptomatic or else largely mild. The disease affects elderly and less healthy individuals most severely, with younger and healthy individuals for the most part spared its worst effects.
Though the term “coronavirus” has become ubiquitous in recent weeks as a way to describe the virus causing the current pandemic, coronaviruses are actually a variegated strain of infectious agents that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to SARS.
The researchers in their paper suggest that the immune response seen in the uninfected blood samples could have been generated by the coronaviruses that cause the common cold.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--World Bank Warns Economic Collapse 2020 Force 60 Million More People To Live On Less Than $2 A Day

As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing and government responses fail to adequately address the economic collapse , devastating new data shows the cold , hard reality that citizens worldwide will be forced to accept as the new normal .
As a result of the present , and worsening , financial collapse , the World Bank estimates that up to 60 million people across the globe could be pushed into “ extreme poverty.
” By definition , individuals living in extreme poverty survive on only $ 1.90 a day , a task that seems hardly feasible .
This estimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the same institution on April 20 , which predicted 49 million people would be affected .
That means that in a little over a month , an additional 11 million individuals have seen their futures turn bleak .
There is no telling how high that number may rise in the weeks and months to come .
In this video , we ’ ll explain just what the World Bank Group is and what it is doing to fight back against the pandemic-induced financial crisis now facing the planet .
We are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions across the globe , particularly in vulnerable developing countries where access to basic human needs like food , water , and healthcare is already precarious .
The World Bank is an international financial institution designed to fight global poverty by providing loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries .
These loans are intended for infrastructure and development projects .
Already , the World Bank has devoted $ 160 billion to efforts to soften the blow of the economic collapse on at risk populations .
Despite such massive spending , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the current situation and the forecasts for how bad things will get could virtually erase decades of positive work towards poverty alleviation in developing countries , which hold a majority of the world ’ s population .
“ The World Bank Group has moved quickly and decisively to establish emergency response operations in 100 countries , with mechanisms that allow other donors to rapidly expand the programs , ” he said .
“ To return to growth , our goal must be rapid , flexible responses to tackle the health emergency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the poor , maintain the private sector , and strengthen economic resilience and recovery.
” 39 of the 100 countries that World Bank is engaged with are in Sub-Saharan Africa , often in unstable locations that suffer from ongoing conflict .
This region of the world is likely to be hit the hardest by the economic collapse .
In fact , 23 million of the 60 million people estimated by the World Bank to be pushed into extreme poverty would be located there .
These tens of millions of people could lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life .
“ We can not afford to stand idly by and hope this most viral and deadly of diseases bypasses Africa , which is home to many of the world ’ s poorest countries who are simply not in position to handle such a pandemic , ” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples ’ Rights Solomon Dersso .
South Asia , with its dense populations and widespread poverty , will also suffer .
World Bank economists estimated last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populous country in the world after China at over 1.6 billion citizens , will experience “ the largest change in the number of poor.
” They predicted that about 12 million will be affected .
In wider South Asia , the number expected to fall into extreme poverty hits 16 million .
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also among the countries likely to experience the most dramatic shifts in inequality , with 5 million and 2 million people expected to fall into extreme poverty , respectively .
Countries like China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also forecasted to have over one million people pushed into extreme poverty as a consequence of the pandemic and the associated financial crisis .
Furthermore , when examining higher poverty lines , “ for example the number of people living on less than $ 3.20 or $ 5.50 per day , more than 100 million people will be pushed into poverty .
Latin America and the Caribbean , East Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa are all expected to have at least 10 million more people living on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the World Bank predicted .
Previously , global poverty—the share of the world ’ s population living on less than $ 1.90 per day—was projected to decrease from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent from 2019 to 2020 .
Now , that figure is projected to increase to 8.6 percent or higher this year .
“ In the more pessimistic scenarios , global poverty in 2020 would be close to the level in 2017 , meaning that the world ’ s progress in eliminating extreme poverty would be set back by three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @

As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing and government responses fail to adequately address the economic collapse, devastating new data shows the cold, hard reality that citizens worldwide will be forced to accept as the new normal. As a result of the present, and worsening, financial collapse, the World Bank estimates that up to 60 million people across the globe could be pushed into “extreme poverty.”
By definition, individuals living in extreme poverty survive on only $1.90 a day, a task that seems hardly feasible. This estimate is up from a previous figure released by the same institution on April 20, which predicted 49 million people would be affected. That means that in a little over a month, an additional 11 million individuals have seen their futures turn bleak. There is no telling how high that number may rise in the weeks and months to come.
In this video, we’ll explain just what the World Bank Group is and what it is doing to fight back against the pandemic-induced financial crisis now facing the planet. We are going to show you the stark reality facing millions across the globe, particularly in vulnerable developing countries where access to basic human needs like food, water, and healthcare is already precarious.
The World Bank is an international financial institution designed to fight global poverty by providing loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries. These loans are intended for infrastructure and development projects. Already, the World Bank has devoted $160 billion to efforts to soften the blow of the economic collapse on at risk populations.
Despite such massive spending, according to World Bank Group President David Malpass, the current situation and the forecasts for how bad things will get could virtually erase decades of positive work towards poverty alleviation in developing countries, which hold a majority of the world’s population.
“The World Bank Group has moved quickly and decisively to establish emergency response operations in 100 countries, with mechanisms that allow other donors to rapidly expand the programs,” he said. “To return to growth, our goal must be rapid, flexible responses to tackle the health emergency, provide cash and other expandable support to protect the poor, maintain the private sector, and strengthen economic resilience and recovery.”
39 of the 100 countries that World Bank is engaged with are in Sub-Saharan Africa, often in unstable locations that suffer from ongoing conflict. This region of the world is likely to be hit the hardest by the economic collapse. In fact, 23 million of the 60 million people estimated by the World Bank to be pushed into extreme poverty would be located there. These tens of millions of people could lose access to even the most basic necessities of life.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“We cannot afford to stand idly by and hope this most viral and deadly of diseases bypasses Africa, which is home to many of the world’s poorest countries who are simply not in position to handle such a pandemic,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Solomon Dersso.
South Asia, with its dense populations and widespread poverty, will also suffer. World Bank economists estimated last month that India, the second most populous country in the world after China at over 1.6 billion citizens, will experience “the largest change in the number of poor.” They predicted that about 12 million will be affected. In wider South Asia, the number expected to fall into extreme poverty hits 16 million.
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also among the countries likely to experience the most dramatic shifts in inequality, with 5 million and 2 million people expected to fall into extreme poverty, respectively. Countries like China, South Africa, and Indonesia are also forecasted to have over one million people pushed into extreme poverty as a consequence of the pandemic and the associated financial crisis.
Furthermore, when examining higher poverty lines, “for example the number of people living on less than $3.20 or $5.50 per day, more than 100 million people will be pushed into poverty. Latin America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa are all expected to have at least 10 million more people living on less than $5.50 per day,” the World Bank predicted.
Previously, global poverty—the share of the world’s population living on less than $1.90 per day—was projected to decrease from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent from 2019 to 2020. Now, that figure is projected to increase to 8.6 percent or higher this year.
“In the more pessimistic scenarios, global poverty in 2020 would be close to the level in 2017, meaning that the world’s progress in eliminating extreme poverty would be set back by three years,” the World Bank wrote.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Arizona casinos to reopen this week

Arizona casinos to reopen this week

PHOENIX ( AP ) — Several Arizona casinos have announced plans to reopen as early as this week , after @ @ @ @ @ slot machines , empty card tables and closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ sanitation measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 .
For most people , the new @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks @ @ @ @ @ older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness @ @ @ @ @ .
State health officials on Tuesday reported 20 additional COVID-19 deaths , raising the reported @ @ @ @ @ .
There were at least 11,736 reported cases .

www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/ar…0d734.html
PHOENIX (AP) — Several Arizona casinos have announced plans to reopen as early as this week, after about two months of silent slot machines, empty card tables and closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Many expect to implement new sanitation measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
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State health officials on Tuesday reported 20 additional COVID-19 deaths, raising the reported total to at least 562. There were at least 11,736 reported cases.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--MASS Bankruptcies Incoming BlackRock Warns! Major Corporations SYSTEMIC Failure

The situation for retailers is looking worse every single day .
It has come to the point where company after @ @ @ @ @ .
They can ’ t even afford to go bankrupt in many cases .
That @ @ @ @ @ Many have been unable to pay rent which of course isn ’ t going to @ @ @ @ @ many doing the same thing .
The data is now showing up that growing numbers @ @ @ @ @ their rent , sending a warning signal investors should be paying attention to but will @ @ @ @ @ Notices Are Piling Up for Retailers Unable to Pay Rent – Bloomberg SUVs get parked @ @ @ @ @ scope of auto market glut – BNN Bloomberg Hertz Global Holdings Takes Action To Strengthen @ @ @ @ @ Global Coronavirus Crisis – May 22 , 2020 Nissan aims to cut over 20,000 jobs @ @ @ @ @ Moderna executives offloaded nearly $ 30 million of stocks a day after unveiling coronavirus vaccine @ @ @ @

The situation for retailers is looking worse every single day. It has come to the point where company after company is filing for bankruptcy. They can’t even afford to go bankrupt in many cases. That’s a fact! Many have been unable to pay rent which of course isn’t going to snowball, unless there are many doing the same thing. The data is now showing up that growing numbers of businesses have not paid their rent, sending a warning signal investors should be paying attention to but will ignore as always.
Default Notices Are Piling Up for Retailers Unable to Pay Rent – Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-22/default-notices-are-piling-up-for-retailers-unable-to-pay-rent
US shopping mall vacancies hit two-decade high | Financial Times
www.ft.com/content/700164de-30e8-11ea-a329-0bcf87a328f2
SUVs get parked in the sea and reveal scope of auto market glut – BNN Bloomberg
www.bnnbloomberg.ca/suvs-get-parked-in-the-sea-and-reveal-scope-of-auto-market-glut-1.1429790
Hertz files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy – Axios
www.axios.com/hertz-bankruptcy-coronavirus-3799ec84-8ca4-433c-b432-a451ea0ecb81.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic
Hertz Global Holdings Takes Action To Strengthen Capital Structure Following Impact Of Global Coronavirus Crisis – May 22, 2020
newsroom.hertz.com/2020-05-22-Hertz-Global-Holdings-Takes-Action-To-Strengthen-Capital-Structure-Following-Impact-Of-Global-Coronavirus-Crisis
تويتر \ PlainSite (@PlainSite)
twitter.com/PlainSite/status/1264020111028940801/photo/2
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Nissan aims to cut over 20,000 jobs worldwide as part of restructuring
english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/05/e435aa15433d-breaking-news-nissan-looks-to-cut-over-20000-of-global-workforce-amid-pandemic.html
Fink Delivers Grim Outlook With Tax Hikes for Corporate America – Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-06/fink-delivers-grim-outlook-with-tax-hikes-for-corporate-america?srnd=premium
COVID-19 impact on the European air traffic network | EUROCONTROL
www.eurocontrol.int/covid19
Daily Traffic Variation – States
www.eurocontrol.int/Economics/DailyTrafficVariation-States.html
U.S. trucking giant Comcar files for bankruptcy – Truck News
www.trucknews.com/transportation/u-s-trucking-giant-comcar-files-for-bankruptcy/1003140722/
Moderna executives offloaded nearly $30 million of stocks a day after unveiling coronavirus vaccine | Daily Mail Online
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8350419/Moderna-executives-offloaded-nearly-30-million-stocks-day-unveiling-coronavirus-vaccine.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--MUST SEE Video Shows Juan Williams Get Blown Out of the Water by Greg Gutfeld with Epic Fact Check

Christine Favocci from The Western Journal reports , It ’ s weird how a drug President Donald Trump is taking @ @ @ @ @ doctor is making the left so crazy .
The president touted the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine @ @ @ @ @ the fight against COVID-19 back in March and recently announced he has been taking the @ @ @ @ @ following his doctor ’ s advice .

Christine Favocci from The Western Journal reports, It’s weird how a drug President Donald Trump is taking at the direction of his doctor is making the left so crazy. The president touted the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a promising medication in the fight against COVID-19 back in March and recently announced he has been taking the drug as a preventative measure following his doctor’s advice.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Is Saudi Arabia preparing a pump and dump?

I have been following Saudi Arabia ’ s stock movements the past few weeks and I wanted to air these thoughts so you autists can shoot me down in flames .
We have all become accustom to such terms as the Jpow brrr and the plunge protection team recently as we have been watching odd activity on the market .
We tell ourselves that these girthy green candles are the work of FED stimulus being packaged into the market through such companies like Black Rock and by gobbling up bad debts .
But what if this is not the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is buying up enormous amounts of these stocks to gather up as many retail investors as it can FOMO in before it dumps them at the top .
The Kingdom seemed to time their oil nonsense at a perfect time so they could squeeze the stock down to its lowest amount before throwing billions into the market .
It would seem likely that when they decide to sell all of their holdings we are going to kick off the next crash .
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence .

by winele
I have been following Saudi Arabia’s stock movements the past few weeks and I wanted to air these thoughts so you autists can shoot me down in flames.
We have all become accustom to such terms as the Jpow brrr and the plunge protection team recently as we have been watching odd activity on the market. We tell ourselves that these girthy green candles are the work of FED stimulus being packaged into the market through such companies like Black Rock and by gobbling up bad debts.
But what if this is not the case at all. What if Saudi Arabia is buying up enormous amounts of these stocks to gather up as many retail investors as it can FOMO in before it dumps them at the top.
The Kingdom seemed to time their oil nonsense at a perfect time so they could squeeze the stock down to its lowest amount before throwing billions into the market. It would seem likely that when they decide to sell all of their holdings we are going to kick off the next crash.
Thoughts?
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Sources:
markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/saudi-arabia-pif-invested-billions-boeing-disney-facebook-stocks-2020-5-1029210234
finance.yahoo.com/news/saudi-arabia-pandemic-bargain-hunt-050011077.html
www.marketwatch.com/story/saudi-sovereign-wealth-fund-invests-in-facebook-boeing-disney-2020-05-17
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--$SPY Techinical Analysis 5/25 – Neutral/Bearish

A Quick Note : This is meant to be a purely charting and analytical approach to evaluating market movements .
Although I have been very successful in the past predicting movements traders should always make an effort to adjust their positions based on changing political and media landscapes .
This approach isn ’ t meant to be any more accurate than a meteorologist predicting the weather .
Take positions at your own risk and always do your own due diligence .
I release these for thoughtful criticism from traders who use different approaches for analysis .
Tl ; dr : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely neutralized while leading indicators show weak signals for a potential bearish move .
Once again nothing here makes sense other than theta plays .
CCS 303/305 5/27 .
IF YOU ’ RE LOOKING FOR A PLAY I AM HIGHLY CONFIDENT IN , THIS ONE IS NOT IT .
Targets : Take profit at 50 % + gain due to theta decay or market movement .
Liquidate the position if the market moves greater that the ATR over the course of 2 days ( 303+ as of today ) News : “ Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical officer executed options and sold nearly $ 30 million of shares combined on Monday and Tuesday , SEC filings reviewed by CNN Business show.
” “ China ’ s securities watchdog on Sunday condemned a U.S. law that could block Chinese firms from U.S. securities exchanges , saying it politicised regulation and would damage both countries .
The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Wednesday that could prevent some Chinese companies from listing their shares on U.S. exchanges unless they follow standards for U.S. audits and regulations.
” ( finance.yahoo.com/news/china-says-u-law-audits-110804305.html ) Analysis : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1D intervals .
DPI and Short interest indicate declining long positions in the market suggesting a possible move down in the near future .
Although the market has already moved passed a significant area of resistance and could potentially accumulate a move up to 313 fib levels .
Shorter intervals suggest bearish movement early week .
The only play that makes sense here once again is one in which time is on your side .
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment decisions based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you own due diligence .

by catsmeow492
A Quick Note: This is meant to be a purely charting and analytical approach to evaluating market movements. Although I have been very successful in the past predicting movements traders should always make an effort to adjust their positions based on changing political and media landscapes. This approach isn’t meant to be any more accurate than a meteorologist predicting the weather. Take positions at your own risk and always do your own due diligence. I release these for thoughtful criticism from traders who use different approaches for analysis.
Tl;dr: Momentum indicators on longer intervals have almost completely neutralized while leading indicators show weak signals for a potential bearish move. Once again nothing here makes sense other than theta plays. CCS 303/305 5/27. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A PLAY I AM HIGHLY CONFIDENT IN, THIS ONE IS NOT IT.
Ticker: $SPY
Intervals: 1W, 1D, 1H
Indicators: MACD, KDJ, MA(200 & 50), NetVolume, DPI, Short Interest
Signals:
1W: MACD Neutral, Net Volume (440M) Bullish, KDJ Overbought Slight Bearish Convergence
1D: MACD Neutral/Bullish, Net Volume (64M) Bullish, KDJ Overbought Slight Bearish Convergence
1H: MACD Convergent Inconclusive, Net Volume (-65k) Bearish, KDJ Overbought Convergent Bearish
Key Supports:
293
290
283
Key Resistances:
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297
313
320
Position: Short 303c 5/27 Long 305c 5/27
Targets: Take profit at 50%+ gain due to theta decay or market movement. Liquidate the position if the market moves greater that the ATR over the course of 2 days (303+ as of today)
News: “Moderna’s chief financial officer and chief medical officer executed options and sold nearly $30 million of shares combined on Monday and Tuesday, SEC filings reviewed by CNN Business show.”
(www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/investing/moderna-coronavirus-vaccine-stock-sales/index.html)
“China’s securities watchdog on Sunday condemned a U.S. law that could block Chinese firms from U.S. securities exchanges, saying it politicised regulation and would damage both countries.
The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Wednesday that could prevent some Chinese companies from listing their shares on U.S. exchanges unless they follow standards for U.S. audits and regulations.” (finance.yahoo.com/news/china-says-u-law-audits-110804305.html)
Analysis: Momentum is completely neutral on 1W and 1D intervals. DPI and Short interest indicate declining long positions in the market suggesting a possible move down in the near future. Although the market has already moved passed a significant area of resistance and could potentially accumulate a move up to 313 fib levels. Shorter intervals suggest bearish movement early week. The only play that makes sense here once again is one in which time is on your side.
Charts:
Alternative Plays: JETS, HAL
YouTube Walkthrough on TA:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k\_OwPvHtn70
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Credit Suisse Is Preparing For Layoffs As CEO Admits “Something” Needs To Change

Credit Suisse is leading the charge , revealing this week that the investment bank will need less employees on the @ @ @ @ @ crisis as a result of lower growth and looming credit defaults .
The popularity of @ @ @ @ @ the need for branches , CEO Thomas Gottstein said .
The company ’ s staff @ @ @ @ @ % to 20 % of the time and the bank also anticipates needing less office @ @ @ @ @ according to the Business Times .
The bank is looking at streamlining “ many processes @ @ @ @ @ likely trying to come up with a nice way to say “ we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ in the middle of a global pandemic that we can find.
” A margin loan @ @ @ @ @ of Luckin Coffee helped exacerbate the company ’ s Q1 loan loss provisions , yet @ @ @ @ @ business in Asia remains an area for growth .

by Lyman-Zerga
Credit Suisse is leading the charge, revealing this week that the investment bank will need less employees on the other side of the coronavirus crisis as a result of lower growth and looming credit defaults.
The popularity of online banking has also reduced the need for branches, CEO Thomas Gottstein said. The company’s staff could work remotely for 10% to 20% of the time and the bank also anticipates needing less office space, Gottstein predicted, according to the Business Times.
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The bank is looking at streamlining “many processes,” he said, likely trying to come up with a nice way to say “we’re firing every single non-essential worker in the middle of a global pandemic that we can find.”
A margin loan provided to the billionaire founder of Luckin Coffee helped exacerbate the company’s Q1 loan loss provisions, yet Gottstein says high net worth business in Asia remains an area for growth.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--COVID-19 impact on US spending

COVID-19 impact on US spending

If you liked this , please consider following my Instagram account for more statistics , data , and fact Note @ @ @ @ @ -100 % , as the spending on those sectors hasn ’ t only dropped , @ @ @ @ @ issuing refunds to their customers .

by theimpossiblesalad
Source: 1010DATA
Tools: Microsoft Excel and Adobe Photoshop
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If you liked this, please consider following my Instagram account for more statistics, data, and fact

Note: The values go beyond -100%, as the spending on those sectors hasn’t only dropped, but the companies are also issuing refunds to their customers.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Did the Fed inadvertently become owner of EQUITIES?

The Fed 's been buying billions of HYG ETF .
HYG owns Hertz bonds ( below ) .
Hertz filed @ @ @ @ @ typically wipes out equity holders , entitles bondholders to new equity after workout .
Did @ @ @ @ @ of EQUITIES ?
Consider- Moral Hazard Risks of Fed as debt-to-equity holder are many , @ @ @ @ @ Powell does give $ HTZ the ‘ save ’ , then isn ’ t there @ @ @ @ @ LOTS more cos in $ HYG $ JNK to file for bankruptcy ?

The Fed's been buying billions of HYG ETF. HYG owns Hertz bonds (below). Hertz filed Ch 11 bankruptcy. Process typically wipes out equity holders, entitles bondholders to new equity after workout.
Did the Fed inadvertently become owner of EQUITIES? Consider-
Moral Hazard Risks of Fed as debt-to-equity holder are many, but for bond/equity traders…
If Powell does give $HTZ the ‘save’, then isn’t there more of an incentive for LOTS more cos in $HYG $JNK to file for bankruptcy?
So Top Ten List – Go! t.co/KylfZcI5Nk
— Samantha LaDuc (@SamanthaLaDuc) May 25, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Prepare for a bear market: A bailout does not boost a challenged business model, it just zombifies t

Prepare for a bear market: A bailout does not boost a challenged business model, it just zombifies the economy. A new wave of #volatility is on the horizon…

This article discusses evidence that a bear market is likely to persist .
It concludes that long-term investors are best @ @ @ @ @ A model portfolio shows how purchasing power can be preserved for large amounts of capital @

Bailing out banks, autos, or airlines will not make them profitable nor change the recent earnings and margin trend. A bailout does not boost a challenged business model, it just zombifies the economy. pic.twitter.com/KefPtyAhae — Daniel Lacalle (@dlacalle_IA) May 25, 2020
DJ US Paper vs. S&P …. the Paper Index is a very early lead index and highly cyclical… so no hope for recovery… pic.twitter.com/ymoW1EiiXm — HowlingWolves (@HaulingWolves) May 25, 2020
The supply of #money ‘created’ by central banks is massive, but it’s just not moving around! #velocityofmoney pic.twitter.com/pxiMkaRlPw — jeroen blokland (@jsblokland) May 25, 2020
Stocks rally on pessimism pic.twitter.com/PlHCRcZcfJ — Alessio Urban (@AlessioUrban) May 25, 2020
As the Fed is increasing the money supply while US GDP is contracting, velocity of money is slowing down very fast. Without money velocity there is no inflation possible… pic.twitter.com/2Ti9KQruKg — Remi Tetot 🙈🙉🙊 (@TetotRemi) May 25, 2020
How 2 out of every 5 jobs lost during COVID-19 may not come back t.co/tUA0MXk11C #economics #covid19 pic.twitter.com/ZMdPhN8NQN — World Economic Forum (@wef) May 25, 2020
Big drop in employment, large drop in employment rate, huge drop in share at work and actual hours per week down by 11.6% (!) compared to last year. Much worse labour market outcomes than headline unemployment suggests. t.co/uELzQC3m3F pic.twitter.com/LhyHArD2G4 — Susanne Spector (@susanneek) May 25, 2020
Summary
This article discusses evidence that a bear market is likely to persist. It concludes that long-term investors are best off on the sidelines. We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us! A model portfolio shows how purchasing power can be preserved for large amounts of capital.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Weeks after Nigel Farage exposed a legal loophole, that allowed boatloads of migrants to come into B

Weeks after Nigel Farage exposed a legal loophole, that allowed boatloads of migrants to come into Britain, government will seek to close it

Ms Patel has been described as “ furious ” about the crisis which was highlighted by Nigel Farage last week and has vowed to put a stop to it .
Tensions have also been raised with the French over allegations that their authorities are escorting boats of illegal migrants into British waters from camps in northern France .
And Mr Farage warned that over the summer the Kent coastline is “ facing an invasion ” unless swift action is taken .
Meanwhile , pressure is mounting on the government with Tory MPs writing letters demanding action is taken .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ She is not happy about what is going on.
” But the source insisted that it was wrong to accuse the French of escorting migrants over the Channel .
The source said : “ They do not have the legal powers to stop the boats from coming over but because they have a duty to rescue they have to shadow these overcrowded boats in French waters .
“ The migrants will say they do not need rescuing until they enter British waters when suddenly they say they do and it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The source said this is why the Home Secretary is now seeking to change the law so that boats can be intercepted and turned around before they enter British waters .
“ We are working with the French on this because they want to resolve this problem too .

Ms Patel has been described as “furious” about the crisis which was highlighted by Nigel Farage last week and has vowed to put a stop to it. Tensions have also been raised with the French over allegations that their authorities are escorting boats of illegal migrants into British waters from camps in northern France. And Mr Farage warned that over the summer the Kent coastline is “facing an invasion” unless swift action is taken.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the government with Tory MPs writing letters demanding action is taken.
A source close to the Home Secretary said: “She is not happy about what is going on.”
But the source insisted that it was wrong to accuse the French of escorting migrants over the Channel.
The source said: “They do not have the legal powers to stop the boats from coming over but because they have a duty to rescue they have to shadow these overcrowded boats in French waters.
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“The migrants will say they do not need rescuing until they enter British waters when suddenly they say they do and it has become the responsibility of Border Force here.”
The source said this is why the Home Secretary is now seeking to change the law so that boats can be intercepted and turned around before they enter British waters.
“We are working with the French on this because they want to resolve this problem too.
www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1286196/migrant-news-priti-patel-english-channel-loophole-nigel-farace-dover-uk-latest


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--A Springfield, Missouri hairstylist worked while symptomatic with COVID-19 potentially exposing 84 c

A Springfield, Missouri hairstylist worked while symptomatic with COVID-19 potentially exposing 84 clients. Now, her co-worker has it and potentially exposed another 56 clients.

SPRINGFIELD , Mo .
( AP ) — A Springfield hairstylist served 84 clients over eight days while experiencing symptoms of coronavirus , and now a coworker is sick , health officials said .
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department announced in a Facebook post Saturday that 56 other Great Clips clients were potentially exposed by the second stylist .
The announcement came one day after the health department ’ s director , Clay Goddard , said in a news briefing that the first stylist to get sick worked eight days from May 12 to May 20 , with only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five shifts from May 16 to 20 while experiencing very mild symptoms .
All of the two stylists ’ clients wore masks and will be tested .
The owner of the Great Clips said in a statement that the salon will be closed until it goes through sanitizing and deep cleaning .
The two cases come just days after city officials announced plans to relax even more distancing requirements and about a week after the health department started seeing an influx of new travel-related infections .
Goddard said health officials still had enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and potential spread , although that could change , the Springfield News-Leader reported .

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Springfield hairstylist served 84 clients over eight days while experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, and now a coworker is sick, health officials said.
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department announced in a Facebook post Saturday that 56 other Great Clips clients were potentially exposed by the second stylist.
The announcement came one day after the health department’s director, Clay Goddard, said in a news briefing that the first stylist to get sick worked eight days from May 12 to May 20, with only the 18th off. The coworker then worked five shifts from May 16 to 20 while experiencing very mild symptoms.
All of the two stylists’ clients wore masks and will be tested. The owner of the Great Clips said in a statement that the salon will be closed until it goes through sanitizing and deep cleaning.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The two cases come just days after city officials announced plans to relax even more distancing requirements and about a week after the health department started seeing an influx of new travel-related infections.
Goddard said health officials still had enough capacity to pinpoint the origin of infections and potential spread, although that could change, the Springfield News-Leader reported.
www.kctv5.com/coronavirus/second-stylist-at-great-clips-in-missouri-sick-with-covid-19/article_9eb850b1-c624-52aa-a375-b1f6301daa65.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Whoever Is Elected In November, War Is the Policy

Exceptional America Believes That the Sovereignty of Other Countries Is Impermissible Unless It Serves Washington ’ s Interests Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells us that despite the record of destroying in whole or part eight countries in recent years , the US is a “ force for good.
” This is the Trump regime ’ s version of the neoconservative doctrine espoused by President Clinton ’ s Secretary of State Madeleine Albright : “ If we have to use force , it is because we are America ; we are the indispensable nation .
We stand tall and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future , and we see the danger here to all of us.
” The notion that Iraq was a danger to the US shows imbecility .
The inhumanity of Washington ’ s response to the “ danger ” was sanctions that resulted in the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children .
When asked on national television if a half million dead children achieved a justified purpose , the heartless Albright said that it was “ a very hard choice , but the price , we think the price is worth it.
” The neoconservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alles are running the Trump regime .
It appears that the reelection of Donald Trump will be a continuation of the Bill Clinton presidency , the George W. Bush presidency , and the Obama presidency .
Whoever is elected War is the policy .
Philip Giraldi tells us about it : www.unz.com/pgiraldi/leading-neocon-directs-pentagon-middle-east-planning/ What Giraldi forgets to mention is that the “ terrorist ” groups are Washington ’ s creations and serve as Washington ’ s tools to advance the war agenda .
Giraldi gives away too much when he characterizes the Hussein and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centralized , as it is in Washington , but the governments had to balance contending forces in the societies and were dependent on a large element of consent .
It is not certain that both countries were ruled any worse than the US , a country ’ s whose FBI and Department of Justice ( sic ) does not hesitate to frame-up the President of the United States and his National Security Advisor .
The extraordinary conflict that Democrats brought to US political life since 2016 exceeds the internal conflict that had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Libya ’ s Gaddafi .
Washington is certainly exceptional , but not in a good way .

by Paul Craig Roberts via PaulCraigRoberts.org
Exceptional America Believes That the Sovereignty of Other Countries Is Impermissible Unless It Serves Washington’s Interests
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells us that despite the record of destroying in whole or part eight countries in recent years, the US is a “force for good.” This is the Trump regime’s version of the neoconservative doctrine espoused by President Clinton’s Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: “If we have to use force, it is because we are America; we are the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future, and we see the danger here to all of us.” The notion that Iraq was a danger to the US shows imbecility. The inhumanity of Washington’s response to the “danger” was sanctions that resulted in the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children. When asked on national television if a half million dead children achieved a justified purpose, the heartless Albright said that it was “a very hard choice, but the price, we think the price is worth it.”
The neoconservatives, with their preference for war uber alles are running the Trump regime. It appears that the reelection of Donald Trump will be a continuation of the Bill Clinton presidency, the George W. Bush presidency, and the Obama presidency. Whoever is elected War is the policy.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Philip Giraldi tells us about it: www.unz.com/pgiraldi/leading-neocon-directs-pentagon-middle-east-planning/
What Giraldi forgets to mention is that the “terrorist” groups are Washington’s creations and serve as Washington’s tools to advance the war agenda.
Giraldi gives away too much when he characterizes the Hussein and Gaddafi governments as dictatorships. Authority was centralized, as it is in Washington, but the governments had to balance contending forces in the societies and were dependent on a large element of consent. It is not certain that both countries were ruled any worse than the US, a country’s whose FBI and Department of Justice (sic) does not hesitate to frame-up the President of the United States and his National Security Advisor. The extraordinary conflict that Democrats brought to US political life since 2016 exceeds the internal conflict that had to be managed by Iraq’s Hussein and Libya’s Gaddafi.
Washington is certainly exceptional, but not in a good way.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--This is quite a statement by Pakistani military. Some of it can be interpreted as a straight up warn

Wow .
This is quite a statement by Pakistani military .
Some of it can be interpreted as a straight @ @ @ @ @ India over Kashmir .
pic.twitter.com/bnPMVO8lyA

Wow. This is quite a statement by Pakistani military. Some of it can be interpreted as a straight up warning of war with India over Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/bnPMVO8lyA
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) May 24, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Here we go again – Threat Letter to USA “Taiwan is part of China…avoid engaging in any official cont

Here we go again – Threat Letter to USA “Taiwan is part of China…avoid engaging in any official contact with Taiwan.”

China ’ s Consul General in NYC sent a letter to US officials : “ Taiwan is part of China…avoid @ @ @ @ @ with Taiwan.
” # China 's Consul General in # NYC sent a letter to @ @ @ @ @ is part of China…avoid engaging in any official contact with Taiwan.
” @ SecPompeo criticized @ @ @ @ @ # CCP was urging a US official to not “ exercise his right to freedom @ @ @ @

China’s Consul General in NYC sent a letter to US officials: “Taiwan is part of China…avoid engaging in any official contact with Taiwan.”
#China's Consul General in #NYC sent a letter to US officials: “Taiwan is part of China…avoid engaging in any official contact with Taiwan.”@SecPompeo criticized the letter, saying the #CCP was urging a US official to not “exercise his right to freedom of speech.” pic.twitter.com/8tIauOaCkT
— China in Focus – NTD (@ChinaInFocusNTD) May 24, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Los Angeles Bacon Doom…more than 100 workers test positive at Farmer John plant that.

More Than 100 Workers Test Positive From ‘ Farmer John ’ Meat Processing Plant In Vernon More than 100 employees @ @ @ @ @ meat processing plant that produces the Dodger Dog , have tested positive for coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ reports .

47 miles from me…
More Than 100 Workers Test Positive From ‘Farmer John’ Meat Processing Plant In Vernon
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More than 100 employees at Farmer John, the meat processing plant that produces the Dodger Dog, have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said. Jeff Nguyen reports.
h/t Goneviral


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Chris Irons (QTR): The Middle Class Is Going To Be Getting Screwed Over Even More Than The Past

During this hour plus long interview , Jason asks Chris about the bailouts that Congress and the Fed has done @ @ @ @ @ after the US government decided to shutdown the US economy .
Chris thinks that middle @ @ @ @ @ over even more than in the past .
Not only are Americans losing more freedoms @ @ @ @ @ and bureaucrats but middle class Americans got scraps compared to the trillions in bailouts that @ @ @ @ @ and large corporations are getting .
Jason also asks Chris about the China Hustle documentary @ @ @ @ @ working with Dan David at Geo Investing exposing Chinese reverse merger frauds .

During this hour plus long interview, Jason asks Chris about the bailouts that Congress and the Fed has done in the last 3 months after the US government decided to shutdown the US economy.
Chris thinks that middle class Americans will be screwed over even more than in the past. Not only are Americans losing more freedoms faster from power hungry politicians and bureaucrats but middle class Americans got scraps compared to the trillions in bailouts that hedge funds, private equity and large corporations are getting.
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Jason also asks Chris about the China Hustle documentary and his years of experience working with Dan David at Geo Investing exposing Chinese reverse merger frauds.


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Why so many Americans in the middle class have no savings?

This was back in 2016

This was back in 2016
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AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Australian scientists find COVID-19 binds to human cells “far more” than to other animals, suggestin

Australian scientists find COVID-19 binds to human cells “far more” than to other animals, suggesting virus came from a lab, not nature

Australian professor Nikolai Petrovski found that COVID-19 was “ far superior ” at binding to human cells than to other @ @ @ @ @ most unexpected and indicates the virus may not have evolved in nature ( before it @ @ @ @ @ because an intermediate animal host is now unlikely .
Hence the possibility of this virus @ @ @ @ @ is now very real .

Australian professor Nikolai Petrovski found that COVID-19 was “far superior” at binding to human cells than to other animal species.
This is most unexpected and indicates the virus may not have evolved in nature (before it came to humans), because an intermediate animal host is now unlikely.
Hence the possibility of this virus being manufactured in a lab is now very real.
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(This fits with the theory that corona was a bio weapon, an attack on the Defender-Europe war games starting in January.)
h/t mralstoner


investmentwatchblog--2020-05-25--Which of your Lockdown Habits are going to be long-term or permanent?

I was reading an article about how people who live through something stressful or traumatic may change their lifestyles , decisions , and behavior for decades afterwards .
Made me think of how my grandparents who lived through the ( First ) Great Depression in the 1930s were still very careful with money and never wasted any food , even in the 1980s and 1990s .
For me this is finally making it sink in , that when people say “ new normal ” they may mean a very long-term new normal ; a years-long , possibly decades-long , new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and habits that you changed as a result of the pandemic , do you think will become either permanent or take many years to revert back to what it was before ?
A few of mine… These are heavily influenced by the theory that the next pandemic could be something even worse .
These are changes I ’ ve made to deal with the possibility of future pandemics , not just the current one .
Movie Theaters .
Right now I can ’ t imagine ever going into another one .
Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll probably go a lot less than I ever did before .
Amusement Parks , Disneyland , etc .
Ditto .
Hard to imagine going to one again .
Air Travel .
I could see being unwilling to fly again for pleasure or business for at least 5 to 10 years , maybe permanently .
Definitely don ’ t think I ’ ll be so quick to jump on a plane and take off to some foreign country , like I used to do on a fairly regular basis , purely for fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Likely permanent for me .
Less Sedentary .
With my 25-foot commute done on foot , I ’ m saving over 21,000 minutes a year of sitting in traffic .
( 360 hours , 15 full days , or 45 eight-hour workdays ) .
I ’ ve added an exercise routine to the time slot where my commute used to be .
Online Shopping by Default .
I used to make lists to take to the store .
Now I spend hours trying to find ways to avoid setting foot into any store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to get it online , we often just do without it .
Hand Washing .
I think that I , and a lot of people , are going to be somewhat obsessive about washing our hands before we touch our faces or eat anything .
Last year I could have happily spent an hour touching stuff at a grocery store , and then had lunch without washing my hands .
Literally , never again .

by TeRiYaki32
I was reading an article about how people who live through something stressful or traumatic may change their lifestyles, decisions, and behavior for decades afterwards. Made me think of how my grandparents who lived through the (First) Great Depression in the 1930s were still very careful with money and never wasted any food, even in the 1980s and 1990s. For me this is finally making it sink in, that when people say “new normal” they may mean a very long-term new normal; a years-long, possibly decades-long, new normal.
Which of your lifestyle changes and habits that you changed as a result of the pandemic, do you think will become either permanent or take many years to revert back to what it was before?
A few of mine… These are heavily influenced by the theory that the next pandemic could be something even worse. These are changes I’ve made to deal with the possibility of future pandemics, not just the current one.
Movie Theaters. Right now I can’t imagine ever going into another one. Even if there’s a vaccine I’ll probably go a lot less than I ever did before.
Amusement Parks, Disneyland, etc. Ditto. Hard to imagine going to one again.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Air Travel. I could see being unwilling to fly again for pleasure or business for at least 5 to 10 years, maybe permanently. Definitely don’t think I’ll be so quick to jump on a plane and take off to some foreign country, like I used to do on a fairly regular basis, purely for fun and excitement.
Working from Home. Likely permanent for me.
Less Sedentary. With my 25-foot commute done on foot, I’m saving over 21,000 minutes a year of sitting in traffic. (360 hours, 15 full days, or 45 eight-hour workdays). I’ve added an exercise routine to the time slot where my commute used to be.
Online Shopping by Default. I used to make lists to take to the store. Now I spend hours trying to find ways to avoid setting foot into any store. And when it’s not possible to get it online, we often just do without it.
Hand Washing. I think that I, and a lot of people, are going to be somewhat obsessive about washing our hands before we touch our faces or eat anything. Last year I could have happily spent an hour touching stuff at a grocery store, and then had lunch without washing my hands. Literally, never again.