investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--US is balkanizing into regional governments

I started a dystopian novel about this in 2016 and then stopped writing it because I thought it was unnecessarily alarmist .
This story never saw the light of day , but it was about a post- “ shattering of the United States ” situation .
The Rural/Urban divide became sufficiently stark that the country ’ s unity became untenable .
Instead of a “ south/north ” war or something like that , there were the United City States of America , which was a legal union of a majority of urban centers and their metropolitan areas .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on political philosophy , in which individual city-states , some of them renamed and some not , would adhere to specific working philosophies illustrative of their historical and geographical circumstances .
The rural communities were a combination of small self-contained independent towns that traded peacefully with the UCSA , communes , and more hostile places that don ’ t take kindly to urbanites .
The premise of the story was inspired by a former friend of mine , a trans woman who used to be a fundamentalist and went into the army before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning into a walking communist meme instead .
The idea for the character being , there ’ s some “ well armed militia ” of hyper-religious nutcases that keep barking a lot more than biting , about “ taking back their country ” .
She was raised by these people , and then , for a reason not specified in the story , she goes into urban areas and gets de-radicalized by them… being nice to her and not actually being evil , and helping her with her transition and so on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Westboro Baptist Church gets reborn among these fundamentalist overmilitarized neo-fascists and she is re-radicalized against them now , and so decides to use her military training to go on a rampage murdering their community leaders to “ cut the head off the snake ” , due to a personal belief that it ’ s not really the people in these towns that are bad , but their leaders and the propaganda they ’ re constantly being bombarded with .
She gets caught , and convicted , but it turns out that for-profit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world and an international corporation owns the one she would have been sent to .
Instead of being sent to that prison , though , a representative of the corporation who goes by the name “ Tetsugi Corporation , Branch Three ” ( he is one of many people who lease their lives for a period of five years at a time to corporations , and take on all of their legal accountability , in exchange for a ludicrous paycheck .
Technically , his pronouns are “ it/its ” .
It was my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Branch Three informs our protagonist ( her name is Mary ) that he is now in charge of her and he can put her in that prison anytime , but instead would request that she do the labour of a mercenary , enabling her to do exactly what she wanted to do in the first place because an anonymous client has it in his best interest .
This means that the next 3/5ths or so of the story are basically a road-trip from platonic dialogue urban center to platonic dialogue urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between , while the cop who caught her the first time keeps tracking them down to figure out who this client is that is orchestrating the whole thing and how to stop them .
Then some twisty-twists happen and there ’ s a whole chunk dedicated to how Mary… hasn ’ t actually learned anything from her de-and-re-radicalization .
She keeps doing whatever the next most extreme action is that she can do in order to attack perceived threats instead of defusing them , she keeps thinking that hostility and destruction are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-existing problem .
She keeps fighting fire with fire and being surprised when she gets burned , when Branch Three isn ’ t actually a good guy , just an avatar for an international corporation that prioritizes profits .
And… something something “ the best way to be rid of an enemy is to turn them into your friend ” , something something A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit and the ways in which climate change catastrophes can be survived if we stop looking for ways to cripple our ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really have a solid idea for the ending before I gave up on the whole thing .
Disclaimer : This is a guest post and it doesn ’ t necessarily represent the views of IWB .

by mission_improbables
Source: twitter.com/alfred_twu/status/1249789233146945536
I started a dystopian novel about this in 2016 and then stopped writing it because I thought it was unnecessarily alarmist.
This story never saw the light of day, but it was about a post-“shattering of the United States” situation. The Rural/Urban divide became sufficiently stark that the country’s unity became untenable. Instead of a “south/north” war or something like that, there were the United City States of America, which was a legal union of a majority of urban centers and their metropolitan areas.
It was supposed to be my little personal ramble on political philosophy, in which individual city-states, some of them renamed and some not, would adhere to specific working philosophies illustrative of their historical and geographical circumstances. The rural communities were a combination of small self-contained independent towns that traded peacefully with the UCSA, communes, and more hostile places that don’t take kindly to urbanites.
The premise of the story was inspired by a former friend of mine, a trans woman who used to be a fundamentalist and went into the army before realizing the error of her ways and turning into a walking communist meme instead. The idea for the character being, there’s some “well armed militia” of hyper-religious nutcases that keep barking a lot more than biting, about “taking back their country”. She was raised by these people, and then, for a reason not specified in the story, she goes into urban areas and gets de-radicalized by them… being nice to her and not actually being evil, and helping her with her transition and so on.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The story begins as the legacy of the Westboro Baptist Church gets reborn among these fundamentalist overmilitarized neo-fascists and she is re-radicalized against them now, and so decides to use her military training to go on a rampage murdering their community leaders to “cut the head off the snake”, due to a personal belief that it’s not really the people in these towns that are bad, but their leaders and the propaganda they’re constantly being bombarded with.
She gets caught, and convicted, but it turns out that for-profit prisons are still a thing in this world and an international corporation owns the one she would have been sent to. Instead of being sent to that prison, though, a representative of the corporation who goes by the name “Tetsugi Corporation, Branch Three” (he is one of many people who lease their lives for a period of five years at a time to corporations, and take on all of their legal accountability, in exchange for a ludicrous paycheck. Technically, his pronouns are “it/its”. It was my now-cold 2016 take on performative corporatist wokeness). Branch Three informs our protagonist (her name is Mary) that he is now in charge of her and he can put her in that prison anytime, but instead would request that she do the labour of a mercenary, enabling her to do exactly what she wanted to do in the first place because an anonymous client has it in his best interest.
This means that the next 3/5ths or so of the story are basically a road-trip from platonic dialogue urban center to platonic dialogue urban center, murdering specific political/religious/military leaders in between, while the cop who caught her the first time keeps tracking them down to figure out who this client is that is orchestrating the whole thing and how to stop them.
Then some twisty-twists happen and there’s a whole chunk dedicated to how Mary… hasn’t actually learned anything from her de-and-re-radicalization. She keeps doing whatever the next most extreme action is that she can do in order to attack perceived threats instead of defusing them, she keeps thinking that hostility and destruction are a solution and not an exacerbation of the pre-existing problem. She keeps fighting fire with fire and being surprised when she gets burned, when Branch Three isn’t actually a good guy, just an avatar for an international corporation that prioritizes profits. And… something something “the best way to be rid of an enemy is to turn them into your friend”, something something A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit and the ways in which climate change catastrophes can be survived if we stop looking for ways to cripple our ability to survive them. I didn’t really have a solid idea for the ending before I gave up on the whole thing.
Disclaimer: This is a guest post and it doesn’t necessarily represent the views of IWB.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--How do we know who can return to work? This as a good discussion about Immunity, Testing, and the cu

How do we know who can return to work? This as a good discussion about Immunity, Testing, and the current evidence we have to support national strategies for immunity testing

It ’ s a long video , but these doctors discuss important articles that are shaping the “ reopen the @ @ @ @ @ the watch if you have an hour .

(you would be surprised about the level of evidence)
It’s a long video, but these doctors discuss important articles that are shaping the “reopen the economy” argument. Worth the watch if you have an hour.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
h/t Ms_pamalama


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Returning To Work: A Couple of Harsh Realities

So many people are itching to get back to work because they think this means getting back to “ normal ” .
They want goods and services to flow again , they want paychecks , and they want to resume activities .
I get it .
I really do .
I want those things too .
But I think we are all missing the bigger picture here .
Trump and some other politicians are urging the return to work asap , as they are far more worried about a recession and loss of votes than the loss of life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like an insurance company .
200,000 or 500,000 deaths is not a big deal to them .
Not when it means that millions are still alive .
They just dont care if you ( or me ) are one of the survivors .
They dont care that your mom , or dad , or husband , or wife , or child died .
They care about having enough people standing to get the economy working again .
We already know that some of them dumped stocks or moved their investments around to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is actually using the crisis to establish new business deals .
What does this mean ?
Well obviously the faster the economy starts up , the faster the wealthy will start making money again .
But what does it mean for the rest of us ?
There are a couple of harsh realities you may not have considered .
Just because you were laid off does not mean your company is going to hire you back when they start up again .
many companies now have the perfect excuse to get rid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not fire without fear of a lawsuit .
Age , race , disabilities , or maybe your manager just didnt like you , they can finally get rid of you without any fear .
Maybe they just want to get rid of employees that have been there a long time and are earning higher wages and getting a higher rate of benefits .
Now that all these people have been laid off , they can replace you with people who are willing to work for less money .
And lets be real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be a flood of people looking for jobs .
Competition for employment will be so great that employers will lower wages and people will have no choice but to work jobs for minimum wage .
Jobs that paid $ 50 an hour two months ago will now pay $ 15 an hour .
That is what you are rushing back to .
That is what you are about to risk your life ( and your loved one ’ s lives ) for .
Its about to be a game of “ how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year there was a lot of press about low unemployment numbers .
What they didnt show was that many people were working two or three jobs just to make rent .
Many others were out of work but not considered eligible for unemployment so were not included in those numbers .
Of course unemployment was low !
When businesses open back up you will not be getting back to normal .
You will be in crazy competition for lower wages and fewer benefits to work in an unsafe environment that has no employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is so new no laws have been passed to regulate workplace standards ) .
Even now companies are citing Trump or CDC “ guidelines ” which are the bare-bones minimum .
They tell people not to wear a mask , to wear a mask , that this is a hoax , it is not a hoax , etc .
Politicians say 6 feet distance , while health and science experts have published studies showing it should be 13 feet .
These “ guidelines ” keep changing so how could they possibly be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How safe are we if businesses are adhering to what politicians say instead of medical and scientific experts ?
So for those who are able to find a job at crap wages , what does returning to work look like ?
Checking for fever ?
Well that already failed .
Most countries were taking temps before letting people board an airplane .
Then we learned that many people are asymptomatic carriers that spread the disease without showing any symptoms .
Oops , people spread the disease throughout every country on the planet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ So lets scratch that plan since we already know it wont work .
Masks ?
Wearing a cloth mask will help keep some of your largest respiratory droplets from reaching the air , but they wont stop the smaller droplets as only N95 masks can do that ( 95 % of droplets are blocked with those ) .
So there will still be some virus droplets in the air near people .
The more people , the more droplets .
We also have to take into consideration all the other variables scientists warn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wind/breeze , etc .
So outside in a wide-open field on a warm day of 85 degrees with very little wind…two people wearing good masks and wearing them properly could pass at 6 feet with a very low risk .
Even if small droplets carried for 13 feet ( as we know they do ) some will have been blocked by both masks , some will fall to the ground because no wind carries them across the field , and the warm temps will help render whats left less active .
Isnt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how often is that going to happen ?
Now let ’ s look at an average work environment .
20 people in office cubicles , or on an assembly line , etc .
in a closed room at a temperature of 65 with no open windows .
People are roughly 4 or 5 feet apart .
The HVAC system has no HEPPA filter and is recirculating air throughout the building .
Everyone is wearing a mask but they are all homemade , and some fabrics are useless .
Some masks do not even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulling the mask down to rub their face or get a breath of air .
People go into the bathroom and take their mask off completely .
The toilets in that bathroom do not have lids that close and research has established that the virus can spread through fecal matter .
Any time a person poops and flushes a small cloud of particles will come up into the air and if that person has covid ( think of the asymptomatic people ) those particles can carry the virus .
The next person that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air or touches a surface the particles have landed on .
So you tell me…what is the risk factor in that scenario ?
Studies have also established that once small droplets fall to the ground they will still live on that surface and attach to your shoes…which you will then take home with you .
Next , there are a bunch of people that have recovered and now think they are immune .
This baffles me as medical professionals and scientists have said flat out that there is not enough data to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu every year right ?
And several countries are already reporting cases of reinfection .
They are not even sure yet if it is a completely new infection or if the virus is lying dormant and just reactivating .
So now we will have a bunch of recovered patients charging back out into society thinking they are immune when what they really are is carriers getting other people sick .
And finally , let ’ s not forget the crushing medical debt that will come with any treatment if you have been sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And because hospitals and labs are bearing such huge financial burdens , medical and insurance costs are going to skyrocket .
We will probably have to pay additional insurance fees if we want to be covered for covid related illnesses .
People keep saying its an overreach to have government healthcare for every single person , but what they dont understand is that this is not about controlling citizens , its about PROTECTING them !
Yes , there was a time when less government was desirable because big corporations could be trusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
They paid decent wages , gave great benefits , and paid pensions to retired employees .
Those days are gone !
Companies today pay the least they can get away with and still have good workers , offer high deductible health insurance we can barely afford , and outsource our jobs if it will save them money .
Are you really willing to put your life and the lives of your loved ones into the hands of politicians and big business ?
We need a government that will protect the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We need protection against the rampant hiring discrimination we are about to face .
We are going to need laws to protect us from working in unsafe work-place environments .
Some companies will do the right thing , but most will not unless they are compelled to do so .
So when businesses do open back up and you go looking for a job , please remember that you have worth and value beyond what you can do for a company .
Do not sell yourself low and do not just sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have the right to be safe and still have jobs .
Stand up and show solidarity or we will all be in a worse position than we are right now .
And if you have any reservations about this idea just keep in mind that one sick worker can infect the entire company and force a closure…which will just put you out of work all over again .
back to the end of the unemployment line applying for another check .
I do think we will beat this , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road .
We are talking about the tortoise and the hare .
Slow and steady will win this race and only fools will rush in .
Be safe , be slow , and be well !

by The50centTourist
So many people are itching to get back to work because they think this means getting back to “normal”. They want goods and services to flow again, they want paychecks, and they want to resume activities.
I get it. I really do. I want those things too. But I think we are all missing the bigger picture here.
Trump and some other politicians are urging the return to work asap, as they are far more worried about a recession and loss of votes than the loss of life. Thay calculate risk and success by numbers, like an insurance company. 200,000 or 500,000 deaths is not a big deal to them. Not when it means that millions are still alive. They just dont care if you (or me) are one of the survivors. They dont care that your mom, or dad, or husband, or wife, or child died. They care about having enough people standing to get the economy working again. We already know that some of them dumped stocks or moved their investments around to protect their assets during this crisis. Trump is actually using the crisis to establish new business deals.
What does this mean? Well obviously the faster the economy starts up, the faster the wealthy will start making money again.
But what does it mean for the rest of us? There are a couple of harsh realities you may not have considered.
Just because you were laid off does not mean your company is going to hire you back when they start up again. many companies now have the perfect excuse to get rid of employees they wanted to lose but could not fire without fear of a lawsuit. Age, race, disabilities, or maybe your manager just didnt like you, they can finally get rid of you without any fear. Maybe they just want to get rid of employees that have been there a long time and are earning higher wages and getting a higher rate of benefits. Now that all these people have been laid off, they can replace you with people who are willing to work for less money.
And lets be real – when businesses do start up there will be a flood of people looking for jobs. Competition for employment will be so great that employers will lower wages and people will have no choice but to work jobs for minimum wage. Jobs that paid $50 an hour two months ago will now pay $15 an hour.
That is what you are rushing back to. That is what you are about to risk your life (and your loved one’s lives) for. Its about to be a game of “how low will you go?”
Last year there was a lot of press about low unemployment numbers. What they didnt show was that many people were working two or three jobs just to make rent. Many others were out of work but not considered eligible for unemployment so were not included in those numbers. Of course unemployment was low!
When businesses open back up you will not be getting back to normal. You will be in crazy competition for lower wages and fewer benefits to work in an unsafe environment that has no employee protection laws in place (because this is so new no laws have been passed to regulate workplace standards).
Even now companies are citing Trump or CDC “guidelines” which are the bare-bones minimum. They tell people not to wear a mask, to wear a mask, that this is a hoax, it is not a hoax, etc. Politicians say 6 feet distance, while health and science experts have published studies showing it should be 13 feet. These “guidelines” keep changing so how could they possibly be used to create a safe work environment? How safe are we if businesses are adhering to what politicians say instead of medical and scientific experts?
So for those who are able to find a job at crap wages, what does returning to work look like?
Checking for fever? Well that already failed. Most countries were taking temps before letting people board an airplane. Then we learned that many people are asymptomatic carriers that spread the disease without showing any symptoms. Oops, people spread the disease throughout every country on the planet. No fever – lots of virus. So lets scratch that plan since we already know it wont work.
Masks? Wearing a cloth mask will help keep some of your largest respiratory droplets from reaching the air, but they wont stop the smaller droplets as only N95 masks can do that (95% of droplets are blocked with those). So there will still be some virus droplets in the air near people. The more people, the more droplets.
We also have to take into consideration all the other variables scientists warn us about. Air temperature, ventilation, wind/breeze, etc.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
So outside in a wide-open field on a warm day of 85 degrees with very little wind…two people wearing good masks and wearing them properly could pass at 6 feet with a very low risk. Even if small droplets carried for 13 feet (as we know they do) some will have been blocked by both masks, some will fall to the ground because no wind carries them across the field, and the warm temps will help render whats left less active.
Isnt that a nice perfect scenario? And how often is that going to happen?
Now let’s look at an average work environment. 20 people in office cubicles, or on an assembly line, etc. in a closed room at a temperature of 65 with no open windows. People are roughly 4 or 5 feet apart. The HVAC system has no HEPPA filter and is recirculating air throughout the building. Everyone is wearing a mask but they are all homemade, and some fabrics are useless. Some masks do not even close properly, and some people keep pulling the mask down to rub their face or get a breath of air. People go into the bathroom and take their mask off completely. The toilets in that bathroom do not have lids that close and research has established that the virus can spread through fecal matter. Any time a person poops and flushes a small cloud of particles will come up into the air and if that person has covid (think of the asymptomatic people) those particles can carry the virus. The next person that comes into the bathroom now breathes that air or touches a surface the particles have landed on.
So you tell me…what is the risk factor in that scenario?
Studies have also established that once small droplets fall to the ground they will still live on that surface and attach to your shoes…which you will then take home with you.
Next, there are a bunch of people that have recovered and now think they are immune. This baffles me as medical professionals and scientists have said flat out that there is not enough data to make that assumption. We still get the flu every year right? And several countries are already reporting cases of reinfection. They are not even sure yet if it is a completely new infection or if the virus is lying dormant and just reactivating. So now we will have a bunch of recovered patients charging back out into society thinking they are immune when what they really are is carriers getting other people sick.
And finally, let’s not forget the crushing medical debt that will come with any treatment if you have been sick. Not all of it is covered. And because hospitals and labs are bearing such huge financial burdens, medical and insurance costs are going to skyrocket. We will probably have to pay additional insurance fees if we want to be covered for covid related illnesses.
People keep saying its an overreach to have government healthcare for every single person, but what they dont understand is that this is not about controlling citizens, its about PROTECTING them!
Yes, there was a time when less government was desirable because big corporations could be trusted to do the right thing on their own. They paid decent wages, gave great benefits, and paid pensions to retired employees. Those days are gone! Companies today pay the least they can get away with and still have good workers, offer high deductible health insurance we can barely afford, and outsource our jobs if it will save them money.
Are you really willing to put your life and the lives of your loved ones into the hands of politicians and big business?
We need a government that will protect the people. We need healthcare and affordable education. We need protection against the rampant hiring discrimination we are about to face. We are going to need laws to protect us from working in unsafe work-place environments. Some companies will do the right thing, but most will not unless they are compelled to do so.
So when businesses do open back up and you go looking for a job, please remember that you have worth and value beyond what you can do for a company. Do not sell yourself low and do not just sit like a duck in an unsafe workplace.
We have the right to be safe and still have jobs. Stand up and show solidarity or we will all be in a worse position than we are right now.
And if you have any reservations about this idea just keep in mind that one sick worker can infect the entire company and force a closure…which will just put you out of work all over again. back to the end of the unemployment line applying for another check.
I do think we will beat this, but it will be a bit of a long road. We are talking about the tortoise and the hare. Slow and steady will win this race and only fools will rush in.
Be safe, be slow, and be well!


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Whatever the Government does decide I hope it was really well thought through by everyone

First step is to get widespread testing , so , people know if they have/had it .
Seconds step is @ @ @ @ @ it will be normalized , like many other diseases , with effective diagnosis and treatment @ @ @ @ @ shut it down entirely .
So watch for the testing , until then there will @ @ @ @ @ Video about the risks of early opening .
Loud talking , singing might spray the @ @ @ @ @ : Three-quarters of a Washington State choir group got infected with coronavirus after a rehearsal @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a reminder of how far these coronavirus-laced droplets can travel OSHA Flooded @ @ @ @ @ Accusing Employers of Violating Covid-19 Guidelines — “ Powerful evidence that workers across the country @ @ @ @ @ their employers are not providing them with safe workplace .
”

by PablitoNJ
First step is to get widespread testing, so,people know if they have/had it. Seconds step is a scalable treatment. Then it will be normalized, like many other diseases, with effective diagnosis and treatment. Finally a vaccine will shut it down entirely.
So watch for the testing, until then there will be ongoing flare ups.
Video about the risks of early opening.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Loud talking, singing might spray the coronavirus further than 6 feet: Three-quarters of a Washington State choir group got infected with coronavirus after a rehearsal, and experts are saying it’s a reminder of how far these coronavirus-laced droplets can travel
Asymptomatic cases pose challenge for Boston homeless shelter
OSHA Flooded With Thousands of Worker Complaints Accusing Employers of Violating Covid-19 Guidelines — “Powerful evidence that workers across the country are terrified and frustrated that their employers are not providing them with safe workplace.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--The Fed Just Put Gold in this Win-Win Situation

Since March 23 , the Fed ’ s balance sheet has soared like no other time in history , shooting up to more than $ 6 trillion .
This is thanks to the “ extensive new measures ” that Chairman Jerome Powell decided to deploy , as a monetary moon shot intended to avoid severe economic disruptions .
You can see the sudden and unprecedented rise in the Federal Reserve ’ s balance sheet below : But is this what the economy really needs ?
And is the Fed fueling a recovery or complete economic disaster ?
Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Economy Need the Fed to “ Pull Out All the Stops ?
” Joe Foster of VanEck Funds recently wrote , “ Investors know that the Fed can ’ t buy cruise ship tickets , fill baseball stadiums , or go to a restaurant , which is what the economy really needs.
” That is a good starting point for answering the question posed above .
No matter what the Federal Reserve does , the economy also needs stuff to be happening .
All the liquidity in the world won ’ t help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at half-power .
That point was driven home by Foster , as he put a spotlight on the end of March : The Fed announced unprecedented programs to expand its securities purchases and extend credit to corporations , small businesses , commercial mortgages , states , municipalities and consumers .
The Fed also signaled unlimited purchases of treasuries and mortgage-backed securities ( quantitative easing or “ QE ” ) .
In spite of all the extra liquidity injected into seizing credit markets after the Dow lost a third of its value between March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
The Dow has recovered a little bit since the most recent disaster .
So that leaves the second question… Where Could the U.S. Economy Be Headed ?
With the Fed printing so much cash , soaring inflation is certainly a possibility .
If that ’ s the case , gold tends to do well .
And on top of that , gold has proven its reputation as a hedge against stocks throughout these past few months : While stocks absolutely plunged in response to the shutdowns around the nation , gold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step back and has since marched on to recent highs .
Agora ’ s 5-Minute Forecast recently covered Mr. Foster ’ s analysis , distilling it down to the following best case and a worst case scenarios : BEST CASE : “ A short , sharp recession followed by a slow recovery that takes the economy back to normal in late 2021.
” In the interim , Mr. Foster expects bankruptcies for households , small businesses on up the chain to large corporations .
WORST CASE : “ The economy remains shut for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lingers through 2020.
” The “ best case ” could lead to conservative buying habits and push gold ’ s price up .
The “ worst case ” could put “ blood in the water ” for the U.S. , and worsen geopolitical tensions with China and other countries .
In that scenario , gold would likely perform even better as a hedge against uncertainty .
Make Sure Your Own “ Scenario ” is the Best it Can Be Risk , allocation , and diversification are words you may have read ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before things get much worse , now is the time to explore how these apply to your own savings .
Also consider physical assets like gold and silver , which have been doing quite well lately .
They can provide peace of mind by helping to reduce risk while acting as a store of real value .

Photo by Flickr.com | CC BY | Photoshopped
From Birch Gold Group
Since March 23, the Fed’s balance sheet has soared like no other time in history, shooting up to more than $6 trillion.
This is thanks to the “extensive new measures” that Chairman Jerome Powell decided to deploy, as a monetary moon shot intended to avoid severe economic disruptions.
You can see the sudden and unprecedented rise in the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet below:
But is this what the economy really needs? And is the Fed fueling a recovery or complete economic disaster? Let’s briefly examine these questions.
Did the Economy Need the Fed to “Pull Out All the Stops?”
Joe Foster of VanEck Funds recently wrote, “Investors know that the Fed can’t buy cruise ship tickets, fill baseball stadiums, or go to a restaurant, which is what the economy really needs.”
That is a good starting point for answering the question posed above.
No matter what the Federal Reserve does, the economy also needs stuff to be happening. All the liquidity in the world won’t help much if that economy is only operating at half-power.
That point was driven home by Foster, as he put a spotlight on the end of March:
The Fed announced unprecedented programs to expand its securities purchases and extend credit to corporations, small businesses, commercial mortgages, states, municipalities and consumers. The Fed also signaled unlimited purchases of treasuries and mortgage-backed securities (quantitative easing or “QE”).
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In spite of all the extra liquidity injected into seizing credit markets after the Dow lost a third of its value between March 4 and March 23, it tanked again.
The Dow has recovered a little bit since the most recent disaster. So that leaves the second question…
Where Could the U.S. Economy Be Headed?
With the Fed printing so much cash, soaring inflation is certainly a possibility. If that’s the case, gold tends to do well. And on top of that, gold has proven its reputation as a hedge against stocks throughout these past few months:
While stocks absolutely plunged in response to the shutdowns around the nation, gold (yellow line) took a short step back and has since marched on to recent highs.
Agora’s 5-Minute Forecast recently covered Mr. Foster’s analysis, distilling it down to the following best case and a worst case scenarios:
BEST CASE: “A short, sharp recession followed by a slow recovery that takes the economy back to normal in late 2021.” In the interim, Mr. Foster expects bankruptcies for households, small businesses on up the chain to large corporations.
WORST CASE: “The economy remains shut for longer than expected. A hard recession lingers through 2020.”
The “best case” could lead to conservative buying habits and push gold’s price up.
The “worst case” could put “blood in the water” for the U.S., and worsen geopolitical tensions with China and other countries. In that scenario, gold would likely perform even better as a hedge against uncertainty.
Make Sure Your Own “Scenario” is the Best it Can Be
Risk, allocation, and diversification are words you may have read (or heard) a thousand times by now. Before things get much worse, now is the time to explore how these apply to your own savings.
Also consider physical assets like gold and silver, which have been doing quite well lately. They can provide peace of mind by helping to reduce risk while acting as a store of real value.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Is Stock Rally Getting Too Thin?

Is Stock Rally Getting Too Thin?

This furious stock rally has recently been accompanied by signs of historically poor participation .
When judging the quality and potential sustainability of a risk-on rally , we like to see participation by a broad number of stocks in the market .
As such , the prospects for the current stock market rally may be less than stellar .
That ’ s because we have seen a recent “ thinning out ” of participation in this bounce — at least during yesterday ’ s “ rally ” .
That ’ s because , while it is but one day ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rally in the popular large-cap averages was accompanied by historically poor breadth and participation .
Here are a few examples : The S & P 500 rose by a half a percent yesterday .
However , the gain was accompanied by less than 40 % of both advancing issues and advancing volume on the NYSE .
That has only happened 3 other days in history — all during or leading into cyclical bear markets .
Likewise , the large-cap Nasdaq 100 was up nearly 2 % on the day ; yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose on the day .
That is just the 22nd time we ’ ve seen a day like that — and the first since the 2000-2002 bear market .
Lastly , yesterday ’ s rally was confined to the mega-caps as evidenced by the fact that while the NDX rallied over 1.5 % , the small-cap Russell 2000 fell by more than a half of a percent .
That was just the 8th such day , historically — and the only one outside of the 2000-2002 bear market .
So what does this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just one day ’ s worth of data .
And possibly we see the broad market come back and “ catch up ” to the major averages .
Indeed , we are seeing a bit of a reversal in fortunes today .
However , overall , signs of low participation like this during rallies call into doubt the sustainability of such risk-on moves .
And perhaps most meaningful of all is the timing of similar historical precedents .
Specifically , we have ominously seen these types of days almost exclusively during longer-term bear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market can ’ t bounce a bit more in the near-term .
However , investors may think twice about the prospects for a return to bull market environment that we ’ ve witnessed for the past many years .

by Dana Lyons
This furious stock rally has recently been accompanied by signs of historically poor participation.
When judging the quality and potential sustainability of a risk-on rally, we like to see participation by a broad number of stocks in the market. As such, the prospects for the current stock market rally may be less than stellar. That’s because we have seen a recent “thinning out” of participation in this bounce — at least during yesterday’s “rally”. That’s because, while it is but one day’s worth of data, yesterday’s rally in the popular large-cap averages was accompanied by historically poor breadth and participation. Here are a few examples:
The S&P 500 rose by a half a percent yesterday. However, the gain was accompanied by less than 40% of both advancing issues and advancing volume on the NYSE. That has only happened 3 other days in history — all during or leading into cyclical bear markets.
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Likewise, the large-cap Nasdaq 100 was up nearly 2% on the day; yet, less than 45% of Nasdaq issues rose on the day. That is just the 22nd time we’ve seen a day like that — and the first since the 2000-2002 bear market.
Lastly, yesterday’s rally was confined to the mega-caps as evidenced by the fact that while the NDX rallied over 1.5%, the small-cap Russell 2000 fell by more than a half of a percent. That was just the 8th such day, historically — and the only one outside of the 2000-2002 bear market.
So what does this all mean? Again, it is just one day’s worth of data. And possibly we see the broad market come back and “catch up” to the major averages. Indeed, we are seeing a bit of a reversal in fortunes today. However, overall, signs of low participation like this during rallies call into doubt the sustainability of such risk-on moves. And perhaps most meaningful of all is the timing of similar historical precedents. Specifically, we have ominously seen these types of days almost exclusively during longer-term bear markets.
This doesn’t meant the market can’t bounce a bit more in the near-term. However, investors may think twice about the prospects for a return to bull market environment that we’ve witnessed for the past many years.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Apple Comes out with Cheap Phone to Help Government Track You

Creating apps to track everyone is where Gates ’ microchip insertions into our body come into play .
Apple has @ @ @ @ @ its cheaper iPhone SE as it tries to accommodate the new total surveillance post-coronavirus age @ @ @ @ @ iPhone SE starts at $ 399 , making it $ 50 cheaper than the previously @ @ @ @ @ iPhone 8 .
This new device may be only a 4.7-inch screen , but it @ @ @ @ @ as in Minority Report .
It will also have a touch ID , one 12-megapixel @ @ @ @ @ bionic chip as used in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro .
The device @ @ @ @ @ ever developed from Apple to accommodate the need to track people for governments .

by Martin Armstrong
Creating apps to track everyone is where Gates’ microchip insertions into our body come into play. Apple has announced the second generation of its cheaper iPhone SE as it tries to accommodate the new total surveillance post-coronavirus age of authoritarianism. Its new iPhone SE starts at $399, making it $50 cheaper than the previously most affordable model, the iPhone 8.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
This new device may be only a 4.7-inch screen, but it will be a retina screen as in Minority Report. It will also have a touch ID, one 12-megapixel camera, and an A13 bionic chip as used in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. The device is the cheapest mobile phone ever developed from Apple to accommodate the need to track people for governments.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Creating the New War That will Justify the Confiscation of American Assets in China

In Europe , the EU has used this coronavirus to justify nationalizing companies if the Chinese try to invest in any .
In the United States , Congress wants to enact legislation to let Americans sue China over coronavirus damages .
What is astonishing about this is that it has been established law that no American can sue the government with the government ’ s permission .
Just last year , the Supreme Court which previously held that where one state could be sued in another back in 1979 in Nevada v. Hall , they have now overruled that decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt .
The court wrote that the Hall court misinterpreted the framers ’ intention that states should retain their immunity from lawsuits at the founding of the Constitution .
If an American can not sue a state or the federal government unless it expressly waives its sovereign immunity .
I FAIL to understand how Congress can possibly waive the sovereign immunity of China .
This is inviting war because someone will sue China , the decision will be political without proof , and then a judgment would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
This will ONLY invite China to start confiscating American assets in China .
If you wanted to know how hard the West is going to fall , you now have the answer .
This is a political BRAIN DEAD decision .
How about a real special prosecutor to investigate the connections right here in the West that created the lockdown which China did not inflict upon the West .
That might reveal some facts nobody wants to deal with .
Americans should be able to sue their local states for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Commerce Clause .
How about a class-action lawsuit to open that door ?
I am sure they will raise sovereign immunity !

by Martin Armstrong
In Europe, the EU has used this coronavirus to justify nationalizing companies if the Chinese try to invest in any. In the United States, Congress wants to enact legislation to let Americans sue China over coronavirus damages. What is astonishing about this is that it has been established law that no American can sue the government with the government’s permission. Just last year, the Supreme Court which previously held that where one state could be sued in another back in 1979 in Nevada v. Hall, they have now overruled that decision holding that states have sovereign immunity in Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt. The court wrote that the Hall court misinterpreted the framers’ intention that states should retain their immunity from lawsuits at the founding of the Constitution. If an American cannot sue a state or the federal government unless it expressly waives its sovereign immunity. I FAIL to understand how Congress can possibly waive the sovereign immunity of China. This is inviting war because someone will sue China, the decision will be political without proof, and then a judgment would be entered against the assets in the United States. This will ONLY invite China to start confiscating American assets in China. If you wanted to know how hard the West is going to fall, you now have the answer.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
This is a political BRAIN DEAD decision. How about a real special prosecutor to investigate the connections right here in the West that created the lockdown which China did not inflict upon the West. That might reveal some facts nobody wants to deal with. Americans should be able to sue their local states for damages because they violated the Constitution and the Commerce Clause. How about a class-action lawsuit to open that door? I am sure they will raise sovereign immunity!


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--WHO wants to separate families “in a safe and dignified manner”

For this week ’ s round-up of articles , we noticed a theme : the most alarming articles are about governments going over-the-top , grabbing powers in the name of stopping the Coronavirus .
Here are some examples that we found absurd , and downright creepy : WHO officials says next step could be separating families A World Health Organization official said that the next step in controlling the spread of the virus could involve raiding homes , and separating families .
Here is what the Executive Director at the WHO Health Emergencies Program , Dr. Michael Ryan , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the world , due to lockdown , most of the transmission that ’ s actually happening in many countries now is happening in the household , at family level .
In some senses , transmission has been taken off the streets and pushed back into family units .
Now we need to go and look in families and find those people who may be sick and remove them , and isolate them , in a safe and dignified manner.
” Well that escalated quickly .
Now we are talking about raiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick .
Where is the limit on government powers during an emergency ?
Click here for the video .
Colorado County kicks out everyone who isn ’ t an official resident Nonresidents in Gunnison County Colorado could face $ 5,000 fines and 18 months in prison if they don ’ t leave .
But it is not just vacation renters and temporary workers who the town has told to take a hike .
“ Non-resident homeowners ” are also now banned from stepping foot on their own property within county limits .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or second house in the county , unless it is their official legal residence , the county claims the authority to arrest and imprison homeowners .
Prison .
For simply being on your own private property .
Click here for the full story .
Back in February , Chinese scientists were free to publish studies about the coronavirus with normal peer-review standards .
But now , any Chinese researcher looking to publish a study or paper tracing the origins of the CoronaVirus must first gain government approval .
What ’ s interesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , which mandates censorship over research , was itself censored !
Two universities ( who were conducting research on the origins of the coronavirus ) received a censorship order from the government .
The universities then posted the censorship order on their websites .
Then , suddenly , poof… both their research , AND the censorship order , vanished .
The order shows an announcement of new rules from the State Council called “ Notice on the publication of academic papers related to the New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemic.
” In addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges to submit the papers to the government council .
They will decide if it will be approved for publication , in China and abroad .
The Chinese government wants to give the impression that the reason for this is purely high academic standards– making sure false information doesn ’ t get out surrounding the virus .
Or perhaps they might be trying to control the narrative as rumors swirl and criticism mounts .
Click here for the full story .
The California Department of Justice is tight-lipped about a handful of raids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locations , agents confiscated about 50,000 masks from a man they claim does not have a license to resell the masks .
The owner of one warehouse , however , claims he does in fact have a license to sell the masks , and acquired them legally .
He was given a citation anyway .
Others in California have been arrested in sting operations for “ price gouging ” while selling N95 respirator masks .
The state defines “ price gouging ” as selling an emergency item for more than a 10 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the full story .

by Simon Black
For this week’s round-up of articles, we noticed a theme: the most alarming articles are about governments going over-the-top, grabbing powers in the name of stopping the Coronavirus.
Here are some examples that we found absurd, and downright creepy:
WHO officials says next step could be separating families
A World Health Organization official said that the next step in controlling the spread of the virus could involve raiding homes, and separating families.
Here is what the Executive Director at the WHO Health Emergencies Program, Dr. Michael Ryan, said during an interview:
“In most parts of the world, due to lockdown, most of the transmission that’s actually happening in many countries now is happening in the household, at family level. In some senses, transmission has been taken off the streets and pushed back into family units. Now we need to go and look in families and find those people who may be sick and remove them, and isolate them, in a safe and dignified manner.”
Well that escalated quickly. Now we are talking about raiding homes and seizing family members who are sick.
Where is the limit on government powers during an emergency?
Click here for the video.
Colorado County kicks out everyone who isn’t an official resident
Nonresidents in Gunnison County Colorado could face $5,000 fines and 18 months in prison if they don’t leave.
But it is not just vacation renters and temporary workers who the town has told to take a hike.
“Non-resident homeowners” are also now banned from stepping foot on their own property within county limits.
So even if someone owns a vacation home, or second house in the county, unless it is their official legal residence, the county claims the authority to arrest and imprison homeowners.
Prison. For simply being on your own private property.
Click here for the full story.
China censors research on origins of Coronavirus
Back in February, Chinese scientists were free to publish studies about the coronavirus with normal peer-review standards.
But now, any Chinese researcher looking to publish a study or paper tracing the origins of the CoronaVirus must first gain government approval.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
What’s interesting is that even the order from the government, which mandates censorship over research, was itself censored!
Two universities (who were conducting research on the origins of the coronavirus) received a censorship order from the government.
The universities then posted the censorship order on their websites. Then, suddenly, poof… both their research, AND the censorship order, vanished.
(Fortunately the research still exists, and the censorship order was archived by web crawlers. Let that be a lesson: the Internet is forever.)
The order shows an announcement of new rules from the State Council called “Notice on the publication of academic papers related to the New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemic.”
In addition to extra academic scrutiny, the notice tells colleges to submit the papers to the government council. They will decide if it will be approved for publication, in China and abroad.
The Chinese government wants to give the impression that the reason for this is purely high academic standards– making sure false information doesn’t get out surrounding the virus.
Or perhaps they might be trying to control the narrative as rumors swirl and criticism mounts.
Click here for the full story.
California Department of Justice raids private businesses to seize masks
The California Department of Justice is tight-lipped about a handful of raids last week.
In one of three locations, agents confiscated about 50,000 masks from a man they claim does not have a license to resell the masks.
The owner of one warehouse, however, claims he does in fact have a license to sell the masks, and acquired them legally. He was given a citation anyway.
Others in California have been arrested in sting operations for “price gouging” while selling N95 respirator masks. The state defines “price gouging” as selling an emergency item for more than a 10% mark-up during an emergency.
Click here for the full story.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--CFR (case fatality rate) is most likely around 7%!

Chris Martinsen ’ s new video shows they are calculating the CFR around 7 % !
That ’ s CRAZY @ @ @ @ @ ’ t even gotten started !
AND he supports defunding the WHO !
Dear Lord @ @ @ @ @ be over soon ?
So many of us are exhausted by the national lockdown and @ @ @ @ @ get back to “ normal ” soon .
So , will we be able to @ @ @ @ @ Chris .
Which means we need to be planning for the future we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ one we wish we had .
Too many individuals and governments are still making decisions @ @ @ @ @ not actual data .
Bad decisions = bad outcomes .
In today ’ s video @ @ @ @ @ example of people cracking under the strain of covid-19 and making things worse , not @ @ @ @ @ be courageous and realistic if we want to get through this trying time intact .

Chris Martinsen’s new video shows they are calculating the CFR around 7%!
That’s CRAZY! And this thing hasn’t even gotten started!
AND he supports defunding the WHO!
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Peak Prosperity, Released on 4/17/20
Dear Lord, is this going to be over soon? So many of us are exhausted by the national lockdown and hoping we can all just get back to “normal” soon. So, will we be able to? Likely not, says Chris. Which means we need to be planning for the future we’re actually entering, not the one we wish we had. Too many individuals and governments are still making decisions based on false hopes, not actual data. Bad decisions = bad outcomes. In today’s video, Chris gives example after example of people cracking under the strain of covid-19 and making things worse, not better. We need to be courageous and realistic if we want to get through this trying time intact.
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--NYT Tries, Fails to Justify Its Lopsided Joe Biden Allegation Coverage

Kavanaugh is in a public forum .
Biden , apparently , not : In NYT , @ benyt asks top @ @ @ @ @ questions about paper 's Tara Reade coverage versus its Kavanaugh coverage .
Gets weak and @ @ @ @ @ pic.twitter.com/fb3BpXxT1N

Kavanaugh is in a public forum. Biden, apparently, not:
In NYT, @benyt asks top editor Dean Baquet some excellent questions about paper's Tara Reade coverage versus its Kavanaugh coverage. Gets weak and sometimes laughable answers. t.co/2vJpYv5HRr pic.twitter.com/fb3BpXxT1N
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 13, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--600T derivatives market in commodities collapses

Everyone wants hard asset now , here the details why the bullion banks blow up The powerful forces of bank credit contraction are at the heart of a rapidly evolving financial crisis in global derivatives , whose gross value is over $ 600 trillion ; an unimaginable sum .
Central banks are on course to destroy their currencies through unlimited monetary expansion , lethal for bullion banks with fractionally reserved unallocated gold accounts , while being dramatically short of Comex futures .
This article explains the dynamics behind the current crisis in precious metal derivatives , and why it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catastrophe that is caught in the tension between contracting bank credit and infinite monetary inflation .
One of the scares at the time of the Lehman crisis was that insolvent counterparties risked collapsing the whole over-the-counter derivative complex .
It was for this reason that AIG , a non-bank originator of many derivative contracts , had to be bailed out by the Fed .
By a mixture of good judgement and fortune a derivative crisis was averted , and by consolidating some of the outstanding positions , the gross value of OTC derivatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank for International Settlements , in mid-June last year all global OTC contracts outstanding were still unimaginably large at $ 640 trillion , a massive sum in anyone ’ s book .
It is unlikely to have changed much by today .
But in bank balance sheets only a net figure is usually shown , and you have to search the notes to financial statements to find evidence of gross exposure .
It is the gross that matters , because each contract bears counterparty risk , sometimes involving several parties , and derivative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now evident in disrupted industrial supply chains look like small beer .
Deutsche Bank ’ s 2019 balance sheet gives us an excellent example of how they are accounted for in commercial banks .
It conceals derivative exposure under the headings “ Trading assets ” and “ Trading liabilities ” on the balance sheet .
You have to go into the notes to discover that under Trading assets , derivative financial instruments total €80.848bn , and under Trading liabilities , derivative financial instruments total €81.910bn , a difference of €1.062bn This is relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheet of €777bn .
But wait , there is another table that breaks derivative exposure down even further into categories , and it turns out the earlier figures are consolidated totals .
The true total of OTC derivatives and exchange traded derivatives to which the bank is exposed is €37.121 trillion .
That is nearly thirty-five thousand times the €1.062bn netted difference in the balance sheet .
And when you bear in mind that valuing OTC derivatives is somewhat subjective , or as the cynics say , mark to myth , it invalidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the mildest of a positive approach to derivatives held as assets , and a slightly more conservative approach to valuing derivatives on the liabilities side , that 35,000:1 leverage at the balance sheet level can make an enormous difference .
Now let us take our imagination a little further .
A large number of these derivatives will have commercial entities as counterparties , businesses that have been shut down by the coronavirus since the balance sheet date .
With the German economy already heading into recession before the coronavirus closed down much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s risk of losses arising from its derivative position could turn out to be in the trillions , not the one billion netted difference shown on the balance sheet .
Not only is there the emergence of counterparty failures to deal with , but there are ever-changing fair values , which will particularly reflect interest rate spreads increasing for Deutsche Bank ’ s €30.25 trillion interest rate-linked derivatives .
We can not know whether it is net positive or negative for shareholders .
And with balance sheet gearing of assets 22 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could wipe them out .
Deutsche Bank is not alone in presenting derivative risk in this manner : it is the elephant in many bank boardrooms .
As a weak link , Deutsche is a relevant illustration of risks in the banking system .
Since the Lehman crisis , its senior management has been on the back foot , retreating from businesses they could neither control nor understand .
They have also made very public mistakes in precious metals , which is our next topic .
While a struggling bank like Deutsche provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a derivative virus can kill a bank , we are now seeing it kill off bullion banks in real time .
A rising gold price , out of the control normally imposed by expandable derivatives , has effectively gone bid only in any size .
We are told this is due to COVID-19 shutting mines and refineries and disrupting logistics , and so is purely temporary .
The LBMA and CME which runs Comex have been issuing calming statements and even announced the introduction of a new 400-ounce gold futures contract alleged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the gold derivative establishment is panicking .
The swaps position on Comex shows why .
With their net short position in very dangerous territory , Comex swaps are badly wrongfooted at a time when the Fed and other central banks have announced unlimited monetary inflation , signalling a paradigm shift in the relationship between sound and unsound money .
For ease of reference and to understand their relevance , a swap dealer is defined by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission , which collates the figures , as follows : Therefore , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derivative markets , and typically will trade in London forwards as well as on Comex .
In a nutshell , it describes a bullion bank ’ s trading desk .
In a further piece of disinformation this week , Jeff Christian , head of CPM Group , in an obviously staged interview for MacroVoices claimed that traders in London were forced by their banks to cover trading risk in the futures market as a condition of their funding .
The implication was shorts on Comex are matched to longs in London ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This may be true of an independent trader looking for arbitrage opportunities between markets but is not how it works in a bank .
A bank which has bullion business will almost certainly have a trading desk and be a member of the LBMA .
Look at it from a banker ’ s point of view .
The bank has business flows in gold , which requires access to the market and a dealing capability .
He will employ one or more gold traders with acknowledged expertise to manage the desk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ skilled trader will require it , he will give the desk discretionary trading limits and monthly or quarterly profit targets .
Part of the deal with the desk is profits will be struck net of the cost of funding the book , usually a reference to Libor , which is effectively the marginal cost to the bank of expanding its credit to back the dealers ’ positions .
When the gold desk has established a profitable track record , the banker will be eager to raise the trading desk ’ s position limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on for years , and while individual trading desks come and go , traders now have a large degree of dealing autonomy .
It is not , as Mr Christian misinforms us , just a covered arbitrage business between forwards in London and futures in America .
The LBMA lists twelve market makers , all of which are well-known banks .
There are thirty-one other banks , some of which run trading desks which take positions .
It is worth noting that dealing in gold is normally one of many banking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank , including forex trading with which this activity is very similar .
All of them are funded by the expansion of bank credit , which is the point of having a banking licence .
Turning to Comex , according to CTFC data there are a maximum of 28 swap dealers which recently have been active in gold futures , either with long or short positions .
These numbers tie in nicely with the likely number of trading desks and designated market makers in the banks which are LBMA members .
An LBMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is likely to offer allocated and unallocated accounts to customers .
Since the point of banking is to operate a fractional reserve-based customer service , a bullion bank discourages allocated ( custodial ) accounts , usually by making them an expensive way for customers to hold bullion .
Unallocated accounts , which under fractional reserve banking will be a multiple of gold or gold derivatives in the possession of the bank , becomes the bank ’ s standard customer offering .
One of the benefits of LBMA membership is it gives a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that it can replace physical bullion held against unallocated client accounts with long positions for forward settlement , positions that can be rolled and rolled without ever having to take delivery .
Another benefit is access to leased gold from central banks which store bullion in the Bank of England ’ s vault .
One can begin to see why dealings between LBMA members are so significant , recently hitting 60 million ounces a day , the equivalent of 1,866 tonnes .
This represents dealings between LBMA members only and excludes dealings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the distant past they were included in LBMA estimates , which inflated the numbers even further by a factor of about five times .
All this is done on minimum bullion liquidity , which when you take away central bank gold , physical ETF custodial bullion , as well as bullion owned or allocated to miscellaneous institutions , family offices and private individuals stored in London bullion vaults , is not the 8,326 tonnes claimed in a recent LBMA press release designed to calm the markets , but is almost certainly significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , running long positions for forward settlement has become a substitute for backing unallocated accounts with a fractional amount of physical metal .
While the trading books in London keep the plates spinning in their dangerously geared operation , the profit opportunities on Comex have become a separate matter instead of just a hedging facility .
Officially described as speculators , but better described as suckers , gold and silver futures are the medium for a repeating cycle whereby market makers supply them contracts by drawing on the ability of their banks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once the suckers run out of buying power , the market makers pull the rug out from under them , taking out their stop-loss points .
It has been an immensely profitable exercise for swap dealers .
Fortunately for swap dealers , the suckers have short memories .
Until last year , it was a frequently repeated exercise , leading to a blasé attitude .
Corruption among traders had become rife and they began to be caught spoofing and rigging the fix against bank customers .
Dealers were sacked , fined and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced out of the twice-daily fix .
A JPMorgan trader pleaded guilty last August to manipulating the precious metals markets for nine years .
Another with the same firm had pleaded guilty the previous October .
In the past five years federal prosecutors have brought twelve spoofing cases against sixteen defendants , most pleading guilty .
This corruption is typical of end-of-cycle behaviour , when the derivative ringmasters in precious metals believe they have risen above the law .
The point behind the current crisis unfolding in the gold derivative markets is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the bankers in charge of bullion desks will be increasingly concerned of the reputational damage .
How the ending of the gold derivative scam started In the past , bullion banks always managed to put a lid on open interest , returning it from an overbought 600,000 contracts to under 400,000 contracts , in the process getting an even book or exceptionally going long , ready for the next pump-and-dump cycle .
But then something changed .
Last year , the pump-and-dump schemes of the bullion banks ’ trading desks went awry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 800,000 contracts by January this year .
After several failed attempts , in June 2019 gold had broken above $ 1350 , which encouraged the speculators to chase the price up even further .
The interest rate outlook then softened along with the global economy , and by early September , with open interest threatening to rise above the historically high 650,000 level , the Fed was forced to inject inflationary liquidity into the US banking system through repos .
At its peak on 23 January 2020 , the sum of all short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,488 tonnes of gold , worth $ 125bn .
The suckers were finally breaking the banks , who held the bulk of the shorts .
This can be seen in the chart below of Comex open interest :

Everyone wants hard asset now, here the details why the bullion banks blow up
Authored by Alasdair Macleod via GoldMoney.com,
The powerful forces of bank credit contraction are at the heart of a rapidly evolving financial crisis in global derivatives, whose gross value is over $600 trillion; an unimaginable sum. Central banks are on course to destroy their currencies through unlimited monetary expansion, lethal for bullion banks with fractionally reserved unallocated gold accounts, while being dramatically short of Comex futures.
This article explains the dynamics behind the current crisis in precious metal derivatives, and why it is the observable part of a wider derivative catastrophe that is caught in the tension between contracting bank credit and infinite monetary inflation.
Introduction
One of the scares at the time of the Lehman crisis was that insolvent counterparties risked collapsing the whole over-the-counter derivative complex. It was for this reason that AIG, a non-bank originator of many derivative contracts, had to be bailed out by the Fed. By a mixture of good judgement and fortune a derivative crisis was averted, and by consolidating some of the outstanding positions, the gross value of OTC derivatives was subsequently reduced.
According to the Bank for International Settlements, in mid-June last year all global OTC contracts outstanding were still unimaginably large at $640 trillion, a massive sum in anyone’s book. It is unlikely to have changed much by today. But in bank balance sheets only a net figure is usually shown, and you have to search the notes to financial statements to find evidence of gross exposure. It is the gross that matters, because each contract bears counterparty risk, sometimes involving several parties, and derivative payment failures could make the payment failures now evident in disrupted industrial supply chains look like small beer.
Deutsche Bank’s 2019 balance sheet gives us an excellent example of how they are accounted for in commercial banks. It conceals derivative exposure under the headings “Trading assets” and “Trading liabilities” on the balance sheet. You have to go into the notes to discover that under Trading assets, derivative financial instruments total €80.848bn, and under Trading liabilities, derivative financial instruments total €81.910bn, a difference of €1.062bn This is relatively trivial for a bank with a balance sheet of €777bn.
But wait, there is another table that breaks derivative exposure down even further into categories, and it turns out the earlier figures are consolidated totals. The true total of OTC derivatives and exchange traded derivatives to which the bank is exposed is €37.121 trillion. That is nearly thirty-five thousand times the €1.062bn netted difference in the balance sheet. And when you bear in mind that valuing OTC derivatives is somewhat subjective, or as the cynics say, mark to myth, it invalidates the valuation exercise.
Clearly, by taking the mildest of a positive approach to derivatives held as assets, and a slightly more conservative approach to valuing derivatives on the liabilities side, that 35,000:1 leverage at the balance sheet level can make an enormous difference.
Now let us take our imagination a little further. A large number of these derivatives will have commercial entities as counterparties, businesses that have been shut down by the coronavirus since the balance sheet date. With the German economy already heading into recession before the coronavirus closed down much of the global economy, Deutsche Bank’s risk of losses arising from its derivative position could turn out to be in the trillions, not the one billion netted difference shown on the balance sheet.
Not only is there the emergence of counterparty failures to deal with, but there are ever-changing fair values, which will particularly reflect interest rate spreads increasing for Deutsche Bank’s €30.25 trillion interest rate-linked derivatives. We cannot know whether it is net positive or negative for shareholders. And with balance sheet gearing of assets 22 times larger than share capital very little change could wipe them out.
Deutsche Bank is not alone in presenting derivative risk in this manner: it is the elephant in many bank boardrooms. As a weak link, Deutsche is a relevant illustration of risks in the banking system. Since the Lehman crisis, its senior management has been on the back foot, retreating from businesses they could neither control nor understand. They have also made very public mistakes in precious metals, which is our next topic.
Gold derivatives in crisis
While a struggling bank like Deutsche provides us with a laboratory experiment for how a derivative virus can kill a bank, we are now seeing it kill off bullion banks in real time. A rising gold price, out of the control normally imposed by expandable derivatives, has effectively gone bid only in any size. We are told this is due to COVID-19 shutting mines and refineries and disrupting logistics, and so is purely temporary. The LBMA and CME which runs Comex have been issuing calming statements and even announced the introduction of a new 400-ounce gold futures contract alleged to ease the supply shortage.
In short, the gold derivative establishment is panicking. The swaps position on Comex shows why.
With their net short position in very dangerous territory, Comex swaps are badly wrongfooted at a time when the Fed and other central banks have announced unlimited monetary inflation, signalling a paradigm shift in the relationship between sound and unsound money. For ease of reference and to understand their relevance, a swap dealer is defined by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which collates the figures, as follows:
An entity that deals primarily in swaps for a commodity and uses the futures markets to manage or hedge risks associated with those swap transactions. The swap dealer’s counterparties may be speculative traders, like hedge funds, or traditional commercial clients that are managing risk arising from their dealings in the physical commodity.
Therefore, a swap dealer is one that operates across derivative markets, and typically will trade in London forwards as well as on Comex. In a nutshell, it describes a bullion bank’s trading desk.
In a further piece of disinformation this week, Jeff Christian, head of CPM Group, in an obviously staged interview for MacroVoices claimed that traders in London were forced by their banks to cover trading risk in the futures market as a condition of their funding. The implication was shorts on Comex are matched to longs in London’s forward market and therefore not a problem. This may be true of an independent trader looking for arbitrage opportunities between markets but is not how it works in a bank.
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The mechanics of gold derivative trading
A bank which has bullion business will almost certainly have a trading desk and be a member of the LBMA. Look at it from a banker’s point of view. The bank has business flows in gold, which requires access to the market and a dealing capability. He will employ one or more gold traders with acknowledged expertise to manage the desk. As a profit centre and because a skilled trader will require it, he will give the desk discretionary trading limits and monthly or quarterly profit targets. Part of the deal with the desk is profits will be struck net of the cost of funding the book, usually a reference to Libor, which is effectively the marginal cost to the bank of expanding its credit to back the dealers’ positions.
When the gold desk has established a profitable track record, the banker will be eager to raise the trading desk’s position limits. For bullion banking this has been going on for years, and while individual trading desks come and go, traders now have a large degree of dealing autonomy. It is not, as Mr Christian misinforms us, just a covered arbitrage business between forwards in London and futures in America.
The LBMA lists twelve market makers, all of which are well-known banks. There are thirty-one other banks, some of which run trading desks which take positions. It is worth noting that dealing in gold is normally one of many banking and trading activities undertaken by an LBMA member bank, including forex trading with which this activity is very similar. All of them are funded by the expansion of bank credit, which is the point of having a banking licence.
Turning to Comex, according to CTFC data there are a maximum of 28 swap dealers which recently have been active in gold futures, either with long or short positions. These numbers tie in nicely with the likely number of trading desks and designated market makers in the banks which are LBMA members.
An LBMA member bank will have physical bullion business and is likely to offer allocated and unallocated accounts to customers. Since the point of banking is to operate a fractional reserve-based customer service, a bullion bank discourages allocated (custodial) accounts, usually by making them an expensive way for customers to hold bullion. Unallocated accounts, which under fractional reserve banking will be a multiple of gold or gold derivatives in the possession of the bank, becomes the bank’s standard customer offering.
One of the benefits of LBMA membership is it gives a bullion bank access to paper markets, so that it can replace physical bullion held against unallocated client accounts with long positions for forward settlement, positions that can be rolled and rolled without ever having to take delivery. Another benefit is access to leased gold from central banks which store bullion in the Bank of England’s vault.
One can begin to see why dealings between LBMA members are so significant, recently hitting 60 million ounces a day, the equivalent of 1,866 tonnes. This represents dealings between LBMA members only and excludes dealings between a member and a non-member. In the distant past they were included in LBMA estimates, which inflated the numbers even further by a factor of about five times.
All this is done on minimum bullion liquidity, which when you take away central bank gold, physical ETF custodial bullion, as well as bullion owned or allocated to miscellaneous institutions, family offices and private individuals stored in London bullion vaults, is not the 8,326 tonnes claimed in a recent LBMA press release designed to calm the markets, but is almost certainly significantly less than a thousand tonnes.
Clearly, running long positions for forward settlement has become a substitute for backing unallocated accounts with a fractional amount of physical metal. While the trading books in London keep the plates spinning in their dangerously geared operation, the profit opportunities on Comex have become a separate matter instead of just a hedging facility.
Officially described as speculators, but better described as suckers, gold and silver futures are the medium for a repeating cycle whereby market makers supply them contracts by drawing on the ability of their banks to create bank credit out of thin air. Once the suckers run out of buying power, the market makers pull the rug out from under them, taking out their stop-loss points. It has been an immensely profitable exercise for swap dealers.
Fortunately for swap dealers, the suckers have short memories. Until last year, it was a frequently repeated exercise, leading to a blasé attitude. Corruption among traders had become rife and they began to be caught spoofing and rigging the fix against bank customers. Dealers were sacked, fined and jailed. Deutsche Bank were fined and forced out of the twice-daily fix. A JPMorgan trader pleaded guilty last August to manipulating the precious metals markets for nine years. Another with the same firm had pleaded guilty the previous October. In the past five years federal prosecutors have brought twelve spoofing cases against sixteen defendants, most pleading guilty.
This corruption is typical of end-of-cycle behaviour, when the derivative ringmasters in precious metals believe they have risen above the law. The point behind the current crisis unfolding in the gold derivative markets is the scam has fully run its course, and the bankers in charge of bullion desks will be increasingly concerned of the reputational damage.
How the ending of the gold derivative scam started
In the past, bullion banks always managed to put a lid on open interest, returning it from an overbought 600,000 contracts to under 400,000 contracts, in the process getting an even book or exceptionally going long, ready for the next pump-and-dump cycle. But then something changed. Last year, the pump-and-dump schemes of the bullion banks’ trading desks went awry, with open interest rocketing to nearly 800,000 contracts by January this year. After several failed attempts, in June 2019 gold had broken above $1350, which encouraged the speculators to chase the price up even further. The interest rate outlook then softened along with the global economy, and by early September, with open interest threatening to rise above the historically high 650,000 level, the Fed was forced to inject inflationary liquidity into the US banking system through repos. At its peak on 23 January 2020, the sum of all short positions on Comex was the equivalent of 2,488 tonnes of gold, worth $125bn. The suckers were finally breaking the banks, who held the bulk of the shorts. This can be seen in the chart below of Comex open interest:
…
…
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--China going back under lockdown

China going back under lockdown

This is a video from Timcast IRL , and he is reading a tweet directive from China Coronavirus Pneumonia Control Offices .
I can ’ t confirm if it ’ s true or not , but I thought I would at least post his video .
Well it ’ s not confirmed but some media are questioning if it is occurring .
This is an new article from International Business Times .
Chinese officials have been claiming the coronavirus epidemic is under control in China .
But many cities are going back under lockdown suggesting a second wave of outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little about the virus until it ’ s too late ?
An internal document issued by the Chinese regime , known as Document No .
3 seems to explain .
“ China in Focus ” is a new Youtube channel created by NTD to provide viewers with fast , compelling , first-hand news from China .
“ NTD is a New York-based global news and entertainment media company founded in 2001 .
We believe the integrity of our world hinges on the accurate and truthful spread of information .
We dedicate ourselves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost , and shedding light on major issues .
We cover the stories that others don ’ t .
Our unbiased news provides critical information and insight .
Our exclusive analyses cut through the complicated political landscape and provide a clear perspective .
We hold ourselves responsible to society by steering clear of sensationalism and producing news with the utmost integrity.
” NTD refers to the novel coronavirus , which causes the disease COVID-19 , as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party ’ s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .

This is a video from Timcast IRL, and he is reading a tweet directive from China Coronavirus Pneumonia Control Offices.
I can’t confirm if it’s true or not, but I thought I would at least post his video.
Well it’s not confirmed but some media are questioning if it is occurring.
This is an new article from International Business Times.
www.ibtimes.sg/did-china-issue-urgent-lockdown-orders-hubei-after-surge-new-coronavirus-cases-42533
Signs suggest 2nd coronavirus outbreak wave has begun in China
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China in Focus – NTD, Released on 4/16/20
Chinese officials have been claiming the coronavirus epidemic is under control in China. But many cities are going back under lockdown suggesting a second wave of outbreaks.
Why does the world know so little about the virus until it’s too late? An internal document issued by the Chinese regime, known as Document No. 3 seems to explain.
“China in Focus” is a new Youtube channel created by NTD to provide viewers with fast, compelling, first-hand news from China.
“NTD is a New York-based global news and entertainment media company founded in 2001. We believe the integrity of our world hinges on the accurate and truthful spread of information. We dedicate ourselves to providing the truth, no matter the cost, and shedding light on major issues. We cover the stories that others don’t. Our unbiased news provides critical information and insight. Our exclusive analyses cut through the complicated political landscape and provide a clear perspective. We hold ourselves responsible to society by steering clear of sensationalism and producing news with the utmost integrity.”
NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Celente: ‘This is just the beginning of the Greatest Depression’

“ The freaks are leading the charge .
The same sick people that send you to war are the same @ @ @ @ @ their war on covid-19.
” Gerald Celente is a pioneer trend strategist and founder of @ @ @ @ @ He is the author of the national bestseller Trends 2000 : How to Prepare for @ @ @ @ @ of the 21st Century and publisher of the internationally circulated Trends Journal newsletter .
Gerald @ @ @ @ @ .
Unencumbered by political dogma , rigid ideology or conventional wisdom , Celente , whose @ @ @ @ @ yourself , ” observes and analyzes the current events forming future trends for what they @ @ @ @ @ way he wants them to be .
Gerald Celente has earned his reputation as “ @ @ @ @ @ trends ” by accurately forecasting hundreds of social , business , consumer , environmental , @ @ @ @ @ , and technology trends .

Trends Research, Released on 4/17/20
“The freaks are leading the charge. The same sick people that send you to war are the same ones doing it now with their war on covid-19.”
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Gerald Celente is a pioneer trend strategist and founder of The Trends Research Institute. He is the author of the national bestseller Trends 2000: How to Prepare for and Profit from the Changes of the 21st Century and publisher of the internationally circulated Trends Journal newsletter. Gerald Celente is a political atheist. Unencumbered by political dogma, rigid ideology or conventional wisdom, Celente, whose motto is “think for yourself,” observes and analyzes the current events forming future trends for what they are – not for the way he wants them to be. Gerald Celente has earned his reputation as “The most trusted name in trends” by accurately forecasting hundreds of social, business, consumer, environmental, economic, political, entertainment, and technology trends.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Chris Cuomo caught in hamptons NOT quarantined

The Long Island resident blasted as a “ jackass loser fat-tire biker ” by Chris Cuomo in a radio rant told The Post on Tuesday that the CNN host is nothing but a bully — and he has even filed a complaint with cops against him .
“ Sometimes he ’ s scary stupid , ” the East Hampton man , who asked to only be identified by his first name , David , said of Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s little brother .
Chris Cuomo launched into a tirade on his SiriusXM show Monday night about how he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a living anymore — and ranted about a confrontation he had with a bike rider outside his property Easter Sunday , when the coronavirus-infected TV star was hanging out with his family .
David , who had been riding by , started hassling Chris Cuomo about social distancing , and the CNN star later seethed on his radio show that one big downside to money and fame is that he couldn ’ t tell the guy to “ go to hell.
” “ I don ’ t want some jackass , loser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over and get in my space and talk bulls–t to me , I don ’ t want to hear it , ” Cuomo raged .
“ I want to be able to tell you to go to hell , to shut your mouth … I don ’ t get that doing what I do for a living : me being able to tell you to shut your mouth or I will do you the way you guys do each other .
”

The Long Island resident blasted as a “jackass loser fat-tire biker” by Chris Cuomo in a radio rant told The Post on Tuesday that the CNN host is nothing but a bully — and he has even filed a complaint with cops against him.
“Sometimes he’s scary stupid,” the East Hampton man, who asked to only be identified by his first name, David, said of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s little brother.
Chris Cuomo launched into a tirade on his SiriusXM show Monday night about how he didn’t like what he did for a living anymore — and ranted about a confrontation he had with a bike rider outside his property Easter Sunday, when the coronavirus-infected TV star was hanging out with his family.
David, who had been riding by, started hassling Chris Cuomo about social distancing, and the CNN star later seethed on his radio show that one big downside to money and fame is that he couldn’t tell the guy to “go to hell.”
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“I don’t want some jackass, loser, fat-tire biker being able to pull over and get in my space and talk bulls–t to me, I don’t want to hear it,” Cuomo raged.
“I want to be able to tell you to go to hell, to shut your mouth … I don’t get that doing what I do for a living: me being able to tell you to shut your mouth or I will do you the way you guys do each other.”
nypost.com/2020/04/14/long-island-bicyclist-verbally-attacked-by-chris-cuomo-fires-back/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Reopening Plans Conceal One Horrific Change That Will Alter Our Lives Forever!

For More Information See : www.scribd.com/document/45675…

For More Information See:
www.scribd.com/document/45675…
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investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick calls on Congress to take a paycut amid coronavirus

Texas is rolling out its plan to re-open slowly , smartly and safely , says Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick @

Texas is rolling out its plan to re-open slowly, smartly and safely, says Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--Moscow updates its COVID-19 digital pass system to a completely automated check

The Russian capital has introduced a digital passe system to limit non-essential travel and slow spread of the # coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ , the city had to update this system to a completely automated form as the @ @ @ @ @ did not get off to a smooth start .

The Russian capital has introduced a digital passe system to limit non-essential travel and slow spread of the #coronavirus outbreak. A week afer, the city had to update this system to a completely automated form as the enforcement of this new measure did not get off to a smooth start.
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investmentwatchblog--2020-04-18--The Job CUTS Will Be PERMANENT. Expect Massive Defaults At A Historic Scale.

The Federal Reserve has expanded its balance sheet again .
No surprise there .
The government has long ago run out of funds , increasing their deficits at record speed .
No surprise there either .
The jobs are going away in many cases permanently .
That puts extreme deflationary pressure on the economy as a whole .
Which in turn gives the Fed an excuse to keep the printing presses rolling , funnelling money directly to their friends in high places .
Now watch the docile many , cling to their $ 1200 , beg and plead for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single fact about them .
Americans Agonize Over $ 1,200 Relief Payments That Won ’ t Be Enough Cantor Plans Hundreds of Job Cuts in Break From Wall Street – Bloomberg Guggenheim ’ s Minerd Sees Chance of S & P Falling as Low as 1,200 – Bloomberg Give Me 5 Minutes and I ’ ll Prove Why You Must Sell All of Your Stocks and Buy Just THESE 4 !
– YouTube U.S. leading economic indicators sink record 6.7 % in March as coronavirus spreads – MarketWatch Half of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief says IMF says half the world has asked for a bailout – CNN These 10 colleges are receiving the most federal bailout money Tampa Bay Times gets federal loan to help with revenue losses caused by pandemic Charlie Munger : ‘ The Phone Is Not Ringing Off the Hook ’ – WSJ Moody ’ s May Cut $ 22 Billlion of CLO Bonds on Pandemic Losses – Bloomberg

The Federal Reserve has expanded its balance sheet again. No surprise there. The government has long ago run out of funds, increasing their deficits at record speed. No surprise there either. The jobs are going away in many cases permanently. That puts extreme deflationary pressure on the economy as a whole. Which in turn gives the Fed an excuse to keep the printing presses rolling, funnelling money directly to their friends in high places. Now watch the docile many, cling to their $1200, beg and plead for more from the Federal Reserve, not knowing a single fact about them.
Assets: Total Assets: Total Assets (Less Eliminations From Consolidation): Wednesday Level (WALCL) | FRED | St. Louis Fed
fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WALCL
Americans Agonize Over $1,200 Relief Payments That Won’t Be Enough
www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/at-kitchen-tables-agonizing-over-1-200-that-won-t-be-enough
2020-04-16 (2)_0.png (811×592)
www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/2020-04-16%20%282%29_0.png?itok=QoOxNe02
Cantor Plans Hundreds of Job Cuts in Break From Wall Street – Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-16/cantor-to-cut-hundreds-of-jobs-in-break-from-wall-street-pledge
Guggenheim’s Minerd Sees Chance of S&P Falling as Low as 1,200 – Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-17/guggenheim-s-minerd-sees-chance-of-s-p-falling-as-low-as-1-200?sref=6uww027M
SPX most concentrated ever.jpg (1119×706)
www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/SPX%20most%20concentrated%20ever.jpg?itok=e7i7B_NI
Give Me 5 Minutes and I’ll Prove Why You Must Sell All of Your Stocks and Buy Just THESE 4! – YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFXLdyFQC9w
bfm447C.jpg (976×509)
www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/bfm447C.jpg?itok=Bi8LzCy5
U.S. leading economic indicators sink record 6.7% in March as coronavirus spreads – MarketWatch
www.marketwatch.com/story/us-leading-economic-indicators-post-record-67-plunge-in-march-as-covid-19-pandemic-broke-out-2020-04-17
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2020-04-17_7-10-09.jpg (797×457)
www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/2020-04-17_7-10-09.jpg?itok=ZnuCykNN
2020-04-17_7-08-53.jpg (1194×707)
www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/2020-04-17_7-08-53.jpg?itok=GFJJ_LVX
Half of the world has asked the IMF for a bailout, chief says
www.cnbc.com/2020/04/15/half-of-the-world-has-asked-the-imf-for-a-bailout-chief-says.html
IMF says half the world has asked for a bailout – CNN
edition.cnn.com/2020/04/16/economy/imf-global-bailout/index.html
These 10 colleges are receiving the most federal bailout money
www.campusreform.org/?ID=14730
Tampa Bay Times gets federal loan to help with revenue losses caused by pandemic
www.tampabay.com/news/business/2020/04/17/tampa-bay-times-gets-federal-loan-to-help-with-revenue-losses-caused-by-pandemic/
Charlie Munger: ‘The Phone Is Not Ringing Off the Hook’ – WSJ
www.wsj.com/articles/charlie-munger-the-phone-is-not-ringing-off-the-hook-11587132006?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=4
Moody’s May Cut $22 Billlion of CLO Bonds on Pandemic Losses – Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-18/moody-s-may-downgrade-22-billlion-of-clo-bonds-on-covid-risk?srnd=premium-canada
Research: Rating Action: Moody’s downgrades Mexico’s ratings to Baa1, maintains negative outlook – Moody’s
www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-downgrades-Mexicos-ratings-to-Baa1-maintains-negative-outlook–PR_422013