investmentwatchblog--2020-04-23--Want to See How FAKE NEWS is Developed? HERE is a CLEAR EXAMPLE

Ok..so here is the HEADLINE ( On Drudge no less ) Pretty damning isn ’ t it ?
So lets @ @ @ @ @ .
Virus Guidelines Reject Trump-Backed Drug Combination There it is again..that damning HEADLINE .
NOW…lets @ @ @ @ @ National Institutes of Health Website to see what this panel of doctors actually have to @ @ @ @ @ options ” available as we speak ; Unlike the Bloomberg damning HEADLINES designed for the @ @ @ @ @ President ’ s mere discussion of hope provided by drug hydroxychloroquine the actual report tells @ @ @ @ @ yet .
More studies need to be conducted .
THIS is how they work the @ @ @ @ @ Presidents ( a layperson ) simple talking about potential benefits and make it appear to @ @ @ @ @ ” have rejected these ideas……ANYTHING to make ORANGE MAN look bad…that is how they do @ @ @ @ @ be a HEADLINE READER….this is what they count on…the people who only read the headlines…don @ @ @ @ @

Ok..so here is the HEADLINE (On Drudge no less)
NIH Treatment Guidelines Reject “Trump Backed” Drug Combo
Pretty damning isn’t it? So lets open their link;
news.bloomberglaw.com/coronavirus/u-s-virus-treatment-guidelines-reject-trump-backed-drug-combo
U.S. Virus Guidelines Reject Trump-Backed Drug Combination There it is again..that damning HEADLINE.
NOW…lets go over to the actual National Institutes of Health Website to see what this panel of doctors actually have to say about the “therapeutic options” available as we speak;
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapeutic-options-under-investigation/
Unlike the Bloomberg damning HEADLINES designed for the sole purpose of ridiculing the President’s mere discussion of hope provided by drug hydroxychloroquine the actual report tells us there are no conclusions yet. More studies need to be conducted.
THIS is how they work the TRUTH folks…they focus on the Presidents (a layperson) simple talking about potential benefits and make it appear to the average person “experts” have rejected these ideas……ANYTHING to make ORANGE MAN look bad…that is how they do it!
Please…don’t be a HEADLINE READER….this is what they count on…the people who only read the headlines…don’t do it!
h/t FeedYourHead


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-23--I feel this is needed for those not understanding state rights to lockdown during this pandemic.

The fundamental right of a government to make all necessary laws .
In the United States , state police power comes from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution , which gives states the rights and powers “ not delegated to the United States.
” States are thus granted the power to establish and enforce laws protecting the welfare , safety , and health of the public .
Also please read this : supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/197/11/ # tab-opinion-1921099 In response to an outbreak of smallpox more than a century ago , the Massachusetts Legislature passed a mandatory vaccination law for adults , imposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who refused .
Proclaiming the law to be an invasion of his liberty , Henning Jacobson , a pastor and community leader , refused to be vaccinated , was prosecuted and fined , and subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this edict .
Writing for the 7-2 majority in Jacobson v. Massachusetts ( 1905 ) , Justice John Marshall Harlan rejected Jacobson ’ s argument , upholding the state ’ s right to vaccinate Jacobson against his will .
Citing precedent in which the court had upheld the authority of states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws of every description , ” Harlan wrote that “ the liberty secured by the Constitution of the United States to every person within its jurisdiction does not import an absolute right in each person to be , at all times and in all circumstances , wholly freed from restraint.
” So just remember we can do this the easy way like we have been and people need to take it serious or it could be the hard way later .
Edit for those that seem to need it : As a note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment have not been incorporated , and it is unlikely that they ever will be .
The text of the Tenth Amendment directly interacts with state law , and the Supreme Court rarely relies upon the Ninth Amendment when deciding cases .

by MrE78
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
The fundamental right of a government to make all necessary laws. In the United States, state police power comes from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which gives states the rights and powers “not delegated to the United States.” States are thus granted the power to establish and enforce laws protecting the welfare, safety, and health of the public.
Also please read this : supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/197/11/#tab-opinion-1921099
A quick summary is this :
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In response to an outbreak of smallpox more than a century ago, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a mandatory vaccination law for adults, imposing hefty fines and potential imprisonment for those who refused. Proclaiming the law to be an invasion of his liberty, Henning Jacobson, a pastor and community leader, refused to be vaccinated, was prosecuted and fined, and subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this edict. Writing for the 7-2 majority in Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905), Justice John Marshall Harlan rejected Jacobson’s argument, upholding the state’s right to vaccinate Jacobson against his will. Citing precedent in which the court had upheld the authority of states “to enact quarantine laws and health laws of every description,” Harlan wrote that “the liberty secured by the Constitution of the United States to every person within its jurisdiction does not import an absolute right in each person to be, at all times and in all circumstances, wholly freed from restraint.”
So just remember we can do this the easy way like we have been and people need to take it serious or it could be the hard way later.
Edit for those that seem to need it:
As a note, the Ninth Amendment and the Tenth Amendment have not been incorporated, and it is unlikely that they ever will be. The text of the Tenth Amendment directly interacts with state law, and the Supreme Court rarely relies upon the Ninth Amendment when deciding cases.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-23--Top economist: US coronavirus response is like ‘third world’ country

Donald Trump ’ s botched handling of the Covid-19 crisis has left the US looking like a “ third world ” country and on course for a second Great Depression , one of the world ’ s leading economists has warned .
In a withering attack on the president , Joseph Stiglitz said millions of people were turning to food banks , turning up for work due to a lack of sick pay and dying because of health inequalities .
The Nobel prize-winning economist said : “ The numbers turning to food banks are just enormous and beyond the capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a third world country .
The public social safety net is not working.
” Stiglitz , a long-term critic of Trump , said 14 % of the population was dependent on food stamps and predicted the social infrastructure could not cope with an unemployment rate that could hit 30 % in the coming months .
“ We have a safety net that is inadequate .
The inequality in the US is so large .
This disease has targeted those with the poorest health .
In the advanced world , the US is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health overall and the greatest health inequality .
”

Donald Trump’s botched handling of the Covid-19 crisis has left the US looking like a “third world” country and on course for a second Great Depression, one of the world’s leading economists has warned.
In a withering attack on the president, Joseph Stiglitz said millions of people were turning to food banks, turning up for work due to a lack of sick pay and dying because of health inequalities.
The Nobel prize-winning economist said: “The numbers turning to food banks are just enormous and beyond the capacity of them to supply. It is like a third world country. The public social safety net is not working.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Stiglitz, a long-term critic of Trump, said 14% of the population was dependent on food stamps and predicted the social infrastructure could not cope with an unemployment rate that could hit 30% in the coming months.
“We have a safety net that is inadequate. The inequality in the US is so large. This disease has targeted those with the poorest health. In the advanced world, the US is one of the countries with the poorest health overall and the greatest health inequality.”
www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/22/top-economist-us-coronavirus-response-like-third-world-country-joseph-stiglitz-donald-trump


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--20 Million Barrels Of Oil Stranded As California Runs Out Of Storage Space

Tankers carrying some 20 million barrels of crude oil are idling off the coast of California as onshore storage space runs out and the level of supply remains excessively high .
Bloomberg reported that the tankers , which carry enough oil to satisfy a quarter of global oil demand , are scattered along the coast from Long Beach to San Francisco Bay .
Analysts are warning that storing oil offshore on tankers as onshore storage facilities fill up could end up engaging a third of the global tanker fleet .
This may not be as big pf a problem as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the slump in demand for oil must have affected demand for tankers equally adversely–meaning there is free tanker capacity to use for storage .
Demand for tankers to store oil has intensified significantly , the Wall Street Journal reported this week .
“ We ’ ve reached a point where there must be some kind of halt in production to suck up the glut , ” the daily quoted a tanker broker as saying .
“ It ’ s the first time ever that we get more calls to book ships to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to data reviewed by the WSJ , some 100 of the 815 VLCCs available globally were booked during the 12 days to April 21 , with average daily freight rates at $ 150,000 .
That ’ s compared with $ 10,000 a year earlier , according to shipper Frontline .
Meanwhile , storage space in the United States is getting closer to running out .
“ At the current rate of increase , storage in the U.S. would fill in 7 to 8 weeks , ” a Mizuho analyst warned this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The math is pretty simple .
Current oil production is about 90 million barrels per day , but demand is only 75 million barrels per day.
” Gregory Leo , CIO of IDB Bank , told MarketWatch .
“ While futures contracts expiring later this year are still trading as high as $ 30 , if this supply/demand imbalance is not corrected their fate will be the same .
And with the price of oil so goes the fate of some energy companies .
”

by Irina Slav
Tankers carrying some 20 million barrels of crude oil are idling off the coast of California as onshore storage space runs out and the level of supply remains excessively high.
Bloomberg reported that the tankers, which carry enough oil to satisfy a quarter of global oil demand, are scattered along the coast from Long Beach to San Francisco Bay.
Analysts are warning that storing oil offshore on tankers as onshore storage facilities fill up could end up engaging a third of the global tanker fleet. This may not be as big pf a problem as it would have been at another time since the slump in demand for oil must have affected demand for tankers equally adversely–meaning there is free tanker capacity to use for storage.
Demand for tankers to store oil has intensified significantly, the Wall Street Journal reported this week.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“We’ve reached a point where there must be some kind of halt in production to suck up the glut,” the daily quoted a tanker broker as saying. “It’s the first time ever that we get more calls to book ships to store oil than to move it.”
According to data reviewed by the WSJ, some 100 of the 815 VLCCs available globally were booked during the 12 days to April 21, with average daily freight rates at $150,000. That’s compared with $10,000 a year earlier, according to shipper Frontline.
Meanwhile, storage space in the United States is getting closer to running out. “At the current rate of increase, storage in the U.S. would fill in 7 to 8 weeks,” a Mizuho analyst warned this week, while another expert warned of bankruptcies.
“The math is pretty simple. Current oil production is about 90 million barrels per day, but demand is only 75 million barrels per day.” Gregory Leo, CIO of IDB Bank, told MarketWatch. “While futures contracts expiring later this year are still trading as high as $30, if this supply/demand imbalance is not corrected their fate will be the same. And with the price of oil so goes the fate of some energy companies.”
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--NEW REPORT: PUBLIC COLLEGES CENSOR EXPRESSION ON FACEBOOK PAGES

• Colleges block over 1,800 unique terms on their social media pages • Secret filters automatically remove comments mentioning political figures , corporate partners , sports teams , faculty members , and even an emoji • 87 % of colleges block users on Facebook or Twitter • Administrators abuse social platform tools to quietly censor posts and users — transforming their pages from public forums into vehicles for positive publicity PHILADELPHIA , April 22 , 2020 — The majority of top public colleges and universities use a blacklist of secret words , created by Facebook , to automatically censor comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education .
As campuses sit empty and much of student life moves online , this censorship has an amplified importance .
Colleges also compile custom lists collectively banning more than 1,800 words and phrases : from profanities to posts referencing matters of local and national concern , campus controversies , criticism of colleges ’ corporate partners or sports teams , and even the weather .
The findings , gleaned from public records from nearly 200 top institutions , show that public universities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are impermissibly censoring public dialogue .
“ There ’ s no social media exception to the First Amendment , ” said Adam Steinbaugh , author of the FIRE report .
“ Government actors can not sanitize public discourse — whether it ’ s President Trump blocking Twitter critics or American colleges filtering dissent on their social media accounts .
By selectively eliminating particular viewpoints , universities are violating the First Amendment.
” FIRE ’ s report , “ No Comment : Public Universities ’ Social Media Use and the First Amendment , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 200 public colleges and universities in 47 states and the District of Columbia .
The records from the 198 responding institutions reveal that almost half of the surveyed institutions — 49 % — use Facebook ’ s “ strong ” profanity filter , and 28 % use the “ medium ” filter to prohibit a list of words not disclosed to the public .
Additionally , 3 in 10 colleges or universities use a custom blacklist , collectively censoring 1,825 unique words and phrases .
The lists provide a fascinating , behind-the-scenes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • The University of Kentucky blocks the words “ birds , ” “ chicken , ” “ chickens , ” and “ filthy , ” presumably to censor criticism of Aramark , the company that provides food for the university under a $ 250 million contract .
• A number of institutions , including Portland State University , Oklahoma State University , the University of Arizona , and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , blocked the names of political candidates , such as “ Trump , ” “ Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During protests over the “ Silent Sam ” Confederate monument , the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill blocked posts containing the phrase “ Silent Sam , ” as well as mentions of “ Nazis.
” • Texas A & M University blocks references to the “ hook em ” horn gesture of their University of Texas at Austin rivals , the Longhorns .
Oklahoma State University blocks mentions of its rival football team , including the phrases “ boomer sooner ” ( OU ’ s fight song ) , “ university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” • Not to be outdone by its rival , the University of Oklahoma blocks an emoji .
• Texas A & M blocked terms “ peta ” and “ abuse ” to frustrate criticism by animal rights activists , including People for Ethical Treatment of Animals , over research conducted on dogs .
Santa Monica College likewise bars “ cats , ” “ dissecting , ” “ torture , ” and “ killing ” following a PETA campaign criticizing cat dissection in an anatomy course .
• Clemson University blocked mentions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet posts , after a controversy in which it denied censoring Harambe memes .
• The University of Arizona automatically removes posts containing the word “ rape ” or the name of a preacher known for holding signs reading , “ You Deserve Rape.
” This restriction presumably removes complaints about the preacher .
• Suffolk County Community College ( NY ) blocks posts concerning inclement weather , including terms that demonstrate that the purpose is to inhibit criticism , barring the words “ blizzard , ” “ snow , ” “ dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scared , ” “ irresponsible , ” “ tragedy , ” and “ accident.
” The college also blocks “ apologize , ” “ resign , ” and “ disgrace.
” Facebook ’ s automated content filters allow state institutions to automatically “ hide ” users ’ comments if they contain words included on either Facebook ’ s undisclosed list of banned words or their own customized list .
These tools enable public colleges and other government actors to quietly remove critical posts , transforming their Facebook pages from public forums into vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country have held government actors ’ social media sites , including those on Facebook and Twitter , to be subject to the First Amendment , which requires — at the very least — that restrictions not be based on viewpoint , and that any regulations be reasonable in light of the purpose of the forum .
The most prominent of these decisions is a successful challenge to President Trump ’ s practice of blocking critics from his Twitter account .
FIRE found that 87 % of colleges blocked particular users on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas blocks “ Boycott Koch Industries , ” a Facebook account referencing America ’ s second-largest privately-held company , which is based in Kansas and is a major donor to the university .
• The University of New Hampshire blocked a Twitter account belonging to “ UNH Students for Gary Johnson , ” a Libertarian Party presidential candidate .
• The University of Alaska Anchorage blocked an “ Alaskans4Trump ” account .

Colleges block over 1,800 unique terms on their social media pages
Secret filters automatically remove comments mentioning political figures, corporate partners, sports teams, faculty members, and even an emoji
87% of colleges block users on Facebook or Twitter
Administrators abuse social platform tools to quietly censor posts and users — transforming their pages from public forums into vehicles for positive publicity
PHILADELPHIA, April 22, 2020 — The majority of top public colleges and universities use a blacklist of secret words, created by Facebook, to automatically censor comments on university social media pages, according to a new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. As campuses sit empty and much of student life moves online, this censorship has an amplified importance.
Colleges also compile custom lists collectively banning more than 1,800 words and phrases: from profanities to posts referencing matters of local and national concern, campus controversies, criticism of colleges’ corporate partners or sports teams, and even the weather. The findings, gleaned from public records from nearly 200 top institutions, show that public universities — bound by the First Amendment — are impermissibly censoring public dialogue.
“There’s no social media exception to the First Amendment,” said Adam Steinbaugh, author of the FIRE report. “Government actors cannot sanitize public discourse — whether it’s President Trump blocking Twitter critics or American colleges filtering dissent on their social media accounts. By selectively eliminating particular viewpoints, universities are violating the First Amendment.”
FIRE’s report, “No Comment: Public Universities’ Social Media Use and the First Amendment,” utilized public records requests sent to more than 200 public colleges and universities in 47 states and the District of Columbia. The records from the 198 responding institutions reveal that almost half of the surveyed institutions — 49% — use Facebook’s “strong” profanity filter, and 28% use the “medium” filter to prohibit a list of words not disclosed to the public.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Additionally, 3 in 10 colleges or universities use a custom blacklist, collectively censoring 1,825 unique words and phrases. The lists provide a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at what institutions censor. Consider:
The University of Kentucky blocks the words “birds,” “chicken,” “chickens,” and “filthy,” presumably to censor criticism of Aramark, the company that provides food for the university under a $250 million contract .
. A number of institutions, including Portland State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Arizona, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, blocked the names of political candidates, such as “Trump,” “Bernie,” or “Hillary.”
During protests over the “Silent Sam” Confederate monument, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill blocked posts containing the phrase “Silent Sam,” as well as mentions of “Nazis.”
Texas A&M University blocks references to the “hook em” horn gesture of their University of Texas at Austin rivals, the Longhorns. Oklahoma State University blocks mentions of its rival football team, including the phrases “boomer sooner” (OU’s fight song), “university of oklahoma,” and “sooners.”
Not to be outdone by its rival, the University of Oklahoma blocks an emoji.
Texas A&M blocked terms “peta” and “abuse” to frustrate criticism by animal rights activists, including People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, over research conducted on dogs. Santa Monica College likewise bars “cats,” “dissecting,” “torture,” and “killing” following a PETA campaign criticizing cat dissection in an anatomy course.
Clemson University blocked mentions of Harambe, a gorilla featured in many internet posts, after a controversy in which it denied censoring Harambe memes.
The University of Arizona automatically removes posts containing the word “rape” or the name of a preacher known for holding signs reading, “You Deserve Rape.” This restriction presumably removes complaints about the preacher.
Suffolk County Community College (NY) blocks posts concerning inclement weather, including terms that demonstrate that the purpose is to inhibit criticism, barring the words “blizzard,” “snow,” “dangerous,” “slip,” “scared,” “irresponsible,” “tragedy,” and “accident.” The college also blocks “apologize,” “resign,” and “disgrace.”
Facebook’s automated content filters allow state institutions to automatically “hide” users’ comments if they contain words included on either Facebook’s undisclosed list of banned words or their own customized list. These tools enable public colleges and other government actors to quietly remove critical posts, transforming their Facebook pages from public forums into vehicles for positive publicity.
Yet courts across the country have held government actors’ social media sites, including those on Facebook and Twitter, to be subject to the First Amendment, which requires — at the very least — that restrictions not be based on viewpoint, and that any regulations be reasonable in light of the purpose of the forum. The most prominent of these decisions is a successful challenge to President Trump’s practice of blocking critics from his Twitter account. FIRE found that 87% of colleges blocked particular users on Facebook or Twitter.
The University of Kansas blocks “Boycott Koch Industries,” a Facebook account referencing America’s second-largest privately-held company, which is based in Kansas and is a major donor to the university.
Georgia State University blocked a “Georgia for Bernie” Twitter account.
The University of New Hampshire blocked a Twitter account belonging to “UNH Students for Gary Johnson,” a Libertarian Party presidential candidate.
Mississippi State University blocks “Legalize Marijuana in Mississippi.”
The University of Utah blocks animal rights activists, including PETA.
The University of Alaska Anchorage blocked an “Alaskans4Trump” account.
www.thefire.org/survey-77-of-colleges-use-secret-social-media-blacklist-to-censor-the-public-in-violation-of-first-amendment/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Business owner ARRESTED for staying open

“ Winslow police released body camera footage of them citing a man for keeping a non-essential business open during the @ @ @

“Winslow police released body camera footage of them citing a man for keeping a non-essential business open during the pandemic.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Laugh of the day! Xi Jinping Demands Leadership of ‘Global War’ Against China’s Coronavirus

Speaking at a “ virtual summit ” of G20 leaders on Tuesday , Chinese dictator Xi Jinping gave a speech stressing the “ shared future ” of humanity and demanding leadership in the “ global war ” against the Wuhan coronavirus .
Needless to say , Xi ’ s speech did not address the origins of the virus or the Chinese Communist Party ’ s ( CCP ) role in spreading it .
Instead , Xi framed all such questions as petty squabbling that distract from the urgency of controlling the pandemic .
The CCP ’ s party-controlled People ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s themes home by mixing lines from his speech with quotes from other speeches , exchanges with world leaders , and open letters he has written .
This had the unintended effect of spotlighting how Xi and other CCP officials keep repeating the same lines over and over again , all of them effectively translating to “ stop blaming China for the virus , stop questioning our absurd claims to have beaten it after only a few thousand infections , and give us a position of global leadership as the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @

Speaking at a “virtual summit” of G20 leaders on Tuesday, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping gave a speech stressing the “shared future” of humanity and demanding leadership in the “global war” against the Wuhan coronavirus.
Needless to say, Xi’s speech did not address the origins of the virus or the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) role in spreading it. Instead, Xi framed all such questions as petty squabbling that distract from the urgency of controlling the pandemic.
The CCP’s party-controlled People’s Daily went overboard hammering Xi’s themes home by mixing lines from his speech with quotes from other speeches, exchanges with world leaders, and open letters he has written. This had the unintended effect of spotlighting how Xi and other CCP officials keep repeating the same lines over and over again, all of them effectively translating to “stop blaming China for the virus, stop questioning our absurd claims to have beaten it after only a few thousand infections, and give us a position of global leadership as the world’s top coronavirus fighters.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
more:
www.breitbart.com/national-security/2020/04/22/xi-jinping-demands-leadership-of-global-war-against-chinas-coronavirus/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Past 24 Hours in US-Iranian Relations:

Past 24 Hours in US-Iranian Relations:

* # Iran launches its first ever military satellite : # Noor .
* @ realDonaldTrump orders the targeting of @ @ @ @ @ regional US Navy assets .
* Regime threatens stronger attacks than on Ayn al Assad @ @ @ @ @ Beaten-down US oil prices rallied Wednesday following dramatic declines earlier this week , lifting global @ @ @ @ @ crude inventories surged closer to capacity levels .
Futures for the benchmark West Texas Intermediate @ @ @ @ @ percent to $ 13.78 a barrel in New York .
WTI sank into negative territory @ @ @ @ @ time , but that was for the May contract that expired Tuesday .
Wednesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump threatened to shoot at Iranian boats in a key waterway for crude @ @ @ @ @ arch-foe of harassing its ships in the Gulf .

* #Iran launches its first ever military satellite: #Noor.
*
@realDonaldTrump
orders the targeting of all IRGC vessels that harass regional US Navy assets.
* Regime threatens stronger attacks than on Ayn al Assad if ships are targeted.
Past 24 Hours in US-Iranian Relations: * #Iran launches its first ever military satellite: #Noor. * @realDonaldTrump orders the targeting of all IRGC vessels that harass regional US Navy assets. * Regime threatens stronger attacks than on Ayn al Assad if ships are targeted. pic.twitter.com/iXnvZdH0m5 — The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) April 22, 2020
Oil rockets higher after Trump threatens Iran
Beaten-down US oil prices rallied Wednesday following dramatic declines earlier this week, lifting global equities, even as American crude inventories surged closer to capacity levels.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Futures for the benchmark West Texas Intermediate for June delivery jumped 19 percent to $13.78 a barrel in New York. WTI sank into negative territory on Monday for the first time, but that was for the May contract that expired Tuesday.
Wednesday’s surge came after US President Donald Trump threatened to shoot at Iranian boats in a key waterway for crude shipments after Washington accused its arch-foe of harassing its ships in the Gulf.
www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/oil-rockets-higher-after-trump-threatens-iran/article/570615#.XqByS-M450t.twitter
h/t Builder


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Confirmation of COVID19 in two pet cats in NewYork

Confirmation of # COVID19 in two pet cats in # NewYork '' At this time , routine testing of animals @ @ @ @ @ – @ USDA pic.twitter.com/SC395G9F1Y

Confirmation of #COVID19 in two pet cats in #NewYork
"At this time, routine testing of animals is not recommended." – @USDA pic.twitter.com/SC395G9F1Y
— 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐞 (@brian_schnee) April 22, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Top options trading mistakes that you should not make

IMO , trading options have similarities to playing poker and in order to be successful in the long run you need to be disciplined and refrain from making common mistakes .
I ’ m going to list common mistakes and some tips here .
Please suggest more .
Hope we all lose less tendies !
• Refrain to trade low volume options .
These contracts will have really wild bid/ask spread , or really low volume , which reduces your chance to make profit significantly .
For example how can you win if you trade $ ROPE 100c when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 96 per contract ?
• Refrain to trade very low price options ( e.g 1-10 cents ) because your broker commissions will eat up a significant amount of the transactions .
Think how much commissions you have to pay to buy 10000 contracts of 0.01 $ ROPE 1000c which costs $ 10000 of premium .
• Refrain to buy near-dated far OTM options , because this is almost a sure way to burn your money .
Even worse , even if you guess the direction right , you may still have a substantial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OTM 2DTE .
Btw $ PEI is a great stock to own .
Example : on 04/13 you bought SPY 496c 04/17 when SPY=280 .
On 04/14 SPY rises to 285 .
Guess how much you made on your call options ?
• Know when to select OTM vs ITM options : in general : OTM is higher risk/higher return .
Have some sense of OTM price movement – even when you guess the direction right , far OTM options won ’ t make you money because of low delta .
ITM is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe choice if you just want to make a directional bet .
• Know theta-crush .
Your options will lose time-value every day , so refrain from buying short-dated options unless you know what you ’ re doing .
• Know the effects of IV ( VIX for SPY ) on options price .
Sometimes even when you guess the direction rights , you may lose money because of VIX movements .
Know how to hedge for VIX movement .
• Refrain from using market orders when possible : limit orders will give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Understand the margin impact of different options strategies .
• Understand the impact of your broker commissions .
• Bank management : never YOLO your entire portfolio into one position , because if you lose , there ’ s 0 % chance to make it back .
Learn www.thepokerbank.com/strategy/basic/bankroll-management/ .
If you want to get in a large ( 50K+ ) position , average in/out may be a good idea .
• Don ’ t open too many positions unless you ’ re a bot .
It ’ s hard to manage manually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Mostly ) don ’ t follow autist DDs that you can ’ t explain .
• Options strategies can be complex to visualized .
Use your broker ’ s performance profile tool to understand the performance implications before making a trade .
Some risky options strategies that you should only do when you know what you ’ re doing • Naked puts , i.e .
short puts : very risky especially in a recession : when the underlying crashes you ’ ll lose lots of money • Synthetic shorts : i.e .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ very risky , only know when you ’ re 90 % sure of the direction .
• Naked calls , i.e .
short calls : also pretty risky if the underlying moons .
• Covered calls : very low risk .
You hold shares , and sell OTM calls to cover them and collect the premium .
• Cash secured puts : sell puts but you have cash to cover it .
This is good when you ’ re willing to buy the shares if it drops , otherwise you collect the premium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long and short position in two options of the same type ( two call options or two put options ) but with different strike prices and different expiration dates .
Typically these structures are on a 1 x 1 ratio .
This is less risky and can hedge you against IV as well .
For example if you bearish on USO , buy a 4p 05/15 and sell a 3.5p 04/24 , that way if USO moves upward on the week ending 04/24 you ’ ll collect the near-dated premium .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake you made as an option buyer is probably a chance for you to profit as an option-seller .
• Use tools to scan top volume options .
www.barchart.com/options/volume-leaders .
This can give you some confirmation .
• Use tools to scan unusual activity options .
www.barchart.com/options/unusual-activity Try to think why people are making that trade .
Your broker also has tools to scan these .
• Take advantage of L2 flow data if your broker provides .
• Sometime when you can ’ t make a long-term directional bet , it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold your positions for 1-3 days ) .
• SPY : everyone knows this .
The most liquid options to trade .
• IWM : tracks Russell 2000 .
Also pretty liquid .
Trade this if you don ’ t want expose to big techs .
• Oil : USO ( make sure you really understand this ; it doesn ’ t track oil price ) • Options of individual stocks : in general , the more liquid the underlying , the more liquid the options , e.g .
AMZN , BA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about economics and business to improve your common sense .
Advanced topics : understand how MM works , gamma hedging , dark pool indicators , probably understand some TAs such as RSI .
• Should you use stop-loss orders or not ?
• When to buy FDs and how much should you spend on FDs ?
• What is the impact of the underlying delisted on put options ?
As example OILU closed on 03/29 materials.proxyvote.com/Approved/MC3724/20200316/SUP_421079.PDF • On March 15 , 2020 ProShares Capital Management LLC announced that it plans to close and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( ticker symbol : OILU ) and ProShares UltraPro 3x Short Crude Oil ETF ( ticker symbol : OILD ) .
Each fund trades on NYSE Arca .
The last day the funds will accept creation orders is March 27 , 2020 .
Trading in each Fund will be suspended prior to market open on March 30 , 2020 .
Proceeds of the liquidation are currently scheduled to be sent to shareholders on or about April 3 , 2020 ( the “ Distribution Date ” ) .
• Shareholders may sell their shares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applicable brokerage or transaction costs ) until the market close on March 27 , 2020 .
From March 30 , 2020 through the Distribution Date , shares of the Funds will not be traded on NYSE Arca and there will not be a secondary market for the shares .
During this period , each Fund will be in the process of liquidating its portfolio and will not be managed in accordance with its investment objective .
• These strategies are intended to allow an Oil Fund to preserve a minimal portion of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movements in a Fund ’ s benchmark .
There can be no guarantee that an Oil Fund will be able to implement such strategies or that such strategies will be successful .
Each Oil Fund will incur additional , potentially substantial , costs as a result of such strategies which may cause or increase tracking error and would be expected to have a substantial adverse impact on performance .
Use of such strategies would cause an Oil Fund to not perform consistent with its investment objective .
Furthermore , in the event that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 70 % or more at any point from its prior day ’ s NAV , as determined by the Sponsor , the Sponsor , in its sole discretion , in order to maintain the integrity of the ongoing operation of the Fund or for other reasons , may cause such Fund to liquidate some or all of its positions and , in lieu of such positions , invest such assets in cash or money market instruments .
The above actions may be taken without prior notification to shareholders and would be expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perform consistent with its investment objective .
Under these circumstances , consistent with its general authority , the Sponsor may , but is not obligated to , cause an Oil Fund to be terminated and dissolved .
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence .

by tinkerprophet
IMO, trading options have similarities to playing poker and in order to be successful in the long run you need to be disciplined and refrain from making common mistakes. I’m going to list common mistakes and some tips here. Please suggest more. Hope we all lose less tendies!
Refrain to trade low volume options . These contracts will have really wild bid/ask spread, or really low volume, which reduces your chance to make profit significantly. For example how can you win if you trade $ROPE 100c when the bid ask spread is $69/$96 per contract? Refrain to trade very low price options (e.g 1-10 cents) because your broker commissions will eat up a significant amount of the transactions. Think how much commissions you have to pay to buy 10000 contracts of 0.01 $ROPE 1000c which costs $10000 of premium. Refrain to buy near-dated far OTM options, because this is almost a sure way to burn your money. Even worse, even if you guess the direction right, you may still have a substantial loss. Think $PEI 500% OTM 2DTE. Btw $PEI is a great stock to own. Example: on 04/13 you bought SPY 496c 04/17 when SPY=280. On 04/14 SPY rises to 285. Guess how much you made on your call options? Know when to select OTM vs ITM options: in general: OTM is higher risk/higher return. Have some sense of OTM price movement – even when you guess the direction right, far OTM options won’t make you money because of low delta. ITM is more expensive. ATM is typically a safe choice if you just want to make a directional bet. Know theta-crush. Your options will lose time-value every day, so refrain from buying short-dated options unless you know what you’re doing. Know the effects of IV (VIX for SPY) on options price. Sometimes even when you guess the direction rights, you may lose money because of VIX movements. Know how to hedge for VIX movement. Refrain from using market orders when possible: limit orders will give you the price you want. Understand the margin impact of different options strategies. Understand the impact of your broker commissions. Bank management: never YOLO your entire portfolio into one position, because if you lose, there’s 0% chance to make it back. Learn www.thepokerbank.com/strategy/basic/bankroll-management/. If you want to get in a large (50K+) position, average in/out may be a good idea. Don’t open too many positions unless you’re a bot. It’s hard to manage manually and easy to make mistakes. (Mostly) don’t follow autist DDs that you can’t explain. Learn the market hours! Options strategies can be complex to visualized. Use your broker’s performance profile tool to understand the performance implications before making a trade.
Some risky options strategies that you should only do when you know what you’re doing
Naked puts, i.e. short puts: very risky especially in a recession: when the underlying crashes you’ll lose lots of money
Synthetic shorts: i.e. long puts + sell calls, also very risky, only know when you’re 90% sure of the direction.
Naked calls, i.e. short calls: also pretty risky if the underlying moons.
…
Less risky options strategies:
Covered calls: very low risk. You hold shares, and sell OTM calls to cover them and collect the premium. Cash secured puts: sell puts but you have cash to cover it. This is good when you’re willing to buy the shares if it drops, otherwise you collect the premium. Diagonal: Simultaneously entering into a long and short position in two options of the same type (two call options or two put options) but with different strike prices and different expiration dates. Typically these structures are on a 1 x 1 ratio. This is less risky and can hedge you against IV as well. For example if you bearish on USO, buy a 4p 05/15 and sell a 3.5p 04/24, that way if USO moves upward on the week ending 04/24 you’ll collect the near-dated premium. Learn how to sell options. Every mistake you made as an option buyer is probably a chance for you to profit as an option-seller.
Practical tips
Use tools to scan top volume options. www.barchart.com/options/volume-leaders . This can give you some confirmation. Use tools to scan unusual activity options. www.barchart.com/options/unusual-activity Try to think why people are making that trade. Your broker also has tools to scan these. Take advantage of L2 flow data if your broker provides. Sometime when you can’t make a long-term directional bet, it may be profitable to day-trade or swing-trade (hold your positions for 1-3 days). Know common ETFs:
SPY: everyone knows this. The most liquid options to trade.
IWM: tracks Russell 2000. Also pretty liquid. Trade this if you don’t want expose to big techs.
Sector specific ETFs: XLE, XLF, XLC, etc. Also highly liquid.
Country specific ETFs: EWU, EWG, EWC, EWA, EWJ … fairly liquid.
Gold: GLD
Silver: SLV
Oil: USO (make sure you really understand this; it doesn’t track oil price)
Options of individual stocks: in general, the more liquid the underlying, the more liquid the options, e.g. AMZN, BA, FB, TSLA, …
Tips to improve
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Learn more about economics and business to improve your common sense.
Advanced topics: understand how MM works, gamma hedging, dark pool indicators, probably understand some TAs such as RSI.
Day trade dynamics: power hours.
Things to debate
Should you use stop-loss orders or not? When to buy FDs and how much should you spend on FDs? What is the impact of the underlying delisted on put options? As example OILU closed on 03/29 materials.proxyvote.com/Approved/MC3724/20200316/SUP_421079.PDF
On March 15, 2020 ProShares Capital Management LLC announced that it plans to close and liquidate ProShares UltraPro 3x Crude Oil ETF (ticker symbol: OILU) and ProShares UltraPro 3x Short Crude Oil ETF (ticker symbol: OILD). Each fund trades on NYSE Arca. The last day the funds will accept creation orders is March 27, 2020. Trading in each Fund will be suspended prior to market open on March 30, 2020. Proceeds of the liquidation are currently scheduled to be sent to shareholders on or about April 3, 2020 (the “Distribution Date”).
Shareholders may sell their shares of a Fund (subject to any applicable brokerage or transaction costs) until the market close on March 27, 2020. From March 30, 2020 through the Distribution Date, shares of the Funds will not be traded on NYSE Arca and there will not be a secondary market for the shares. During this period, each Fund will be in the process of liquidating its portfolio and will not be managed in accordance with its investment objective.
These strategies are intended to allow an Oil Fund to preserve a minimal portion of its value in the event of significant adverse movements in a Fund’s benchmark. There can be no guarantee that an Oil Fund will be able to implement such strategies or that such strategies will be successful. Each Oil Fund will incur additional, potentially substantial, costs as a result of such strategies which may cause or increase tracking error and would be expected to have a substantial adverse impact on performance. Use of such strategies would cause an Oil Fund to not perform consistent with its investment objective. Furthermore, in the event that an Oil Fund’s value decreases by 70% or more at any point from its prior day’s NAV, as determined by the Sponsor, the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, in order to maintain the integrity of the ongoing operation of the Fund or for other reasons, may cause such Fund to liquidate some or all of its positions and, in lieu of such positions, invest such assets in cash or money market instruments. The above actions may be taken without prior notification to shareholders and would be expected to cause an Oil Fund not to perform consistent with its investment objective. Under these circumstances, consistent with its general authority, the Sponsor may, but is not obligated to, cause an Oil Fund to be terminated and dissolved.
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--BOMBSHELL: Autopsy Reveals COVID-19 Hit California In Early February, Not March

New evidence indicates that COVID-19 hit the state of California at least as far back as early February .
On @ @ @ @ @ Public Health officials announced that an autopsy revealed a patient died of the virus , @ @ @ @ @ on February 6 , roughly three weeks prior to the first U.S. confirmed COVID-19 death @ @ @ @ @ 29 .
The first coronavirus death in Santa Clara County was initially marked on March @ @ @ @ @ writing , the county has 88 coronavirus-related deaths with another 1,948 reported cases .
“ @ @ @ @ @ on two individuals who died at home on February 6 , 2020 and February 17 @ @ @ @ @ announcement said .
“ Samples from the two individuals were sent to the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ Today , the Medical Examiner-Coroner received confirmation from the CDC that tissue samples from both @ @ @ @ @ ( the virus that causes COVID-19 ) .
”

New evidence indicates that COVID-19 hit the state of California at least as far back as early February.
On Tuesday, Santa Clara County Public Health officials announced that an autopsy revealed a patient died of the virus, which originated in China, on February 6, roughly three weeks prior to the first U.S. confirmed COVID-19 death in Washington State on February 29.
The first coronavirus death in Santa Clara County was initially marked on March 9. As of this writing, the county has 88 coronavirus-related deaths with another 1,948 reported cases.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“The Medical Examiner-Coroner performed autopsies on two individuals who died at home on February 6, 2020 and February 17, 2020,” the announcement said. “Samples from the two individuals were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today, the Medical Examiner-Coroner received confirmation from the CDC that tissue samples from both cases are positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). ”
www.dailywire.com/news/bombshell-autopsy-reveals-covid-19-hit-california-in-early-february-not-march??utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dwtwitter


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Chase Bank took a $100,000 fee on Ruth’s Chris Steak House zero risk PPP loan

“ on April 7 , RCSH Operations LLC , the parent company of Ruth ’ s Chris Steak House , @ @ @ @ @ 10 million .
JPMorgan Chase & Co. , acting as the lender , took a @ @ @ @ @ one-time transaction for which it assumed no risk and could pass through with fewer requirements @ @ @ @ @ .
”

“on April 7, RCSH Operations LLC, the parent company of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, received a loan of $10 million. JPMorgan Chase & Co., acting as the lender, took a $100,000 fee on the one-time transaction for which it assumed no risk and could pass through with fewer requirements than for a regular loan.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.npr.org/2020/04/22/840678984/small-business-rescue-earned-banks-10-billion-in-fees


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--JPMorgan’s Small Business Loans Instead Went to Its Biggest Customers — Only 6% of smaller customers

JPMorgan’s Small Business Loans Instead Went to Its Biggest Customers — Only 6% of smaller customers got paycheck-protection loans | Most of Chase’s larger Commercial clients got Small-biz loans

• Only 6 % of smaller customers got paycheck-protection loans • Most of Chase ’ s larger commercial clients got small-biz loans JPMorgan Chase & Co. provided loans to virtually all of its commercial banking customers that sought financing through the small business relief program , while the lender ’ s smallest customers were almost entirely shut out , according to data disclosed by the bank .
More than 300,000 customers of JPMorgan ’ s business banking unit , which serves smaller firms , applied for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program , part of the $ 2 trillion Cares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About 18,000 were funded , for a 6 % success rate .
By comparison , about 5,500 larger , and sometimes more sophisticated , customers of the commercial banking business applied for funding .
Nearly all of them got loans , according to the bank ’ s data .
JPMorgan made a total of $ 14 billion in small-business loans through the program .
The data reveal that , in the race to get a loan in the first-come , first-served program , larger businesses had a leg up over smaller ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank .

Only 6% of smaller customers got paycheck-protection loans
Most of Chase’s larger commercial clients got small-biz loans
JPMorgan Chase & Co. provided loans to virtually all of its commercial banking customers that sought financing through the small business relief program, while the lender’s smallest customers were almost entirely shut out, according to data disclosed by the bank.
More than 300,000 customers of JPMorgan’s business banking unit, which serves smaller firms, applied for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, part of the $2 trillion Cares Act that Congress adopted in late March. About 18,000 were funded, for a 6% success rate.
By comparison, about 5,500 larger, and sometimes more sophisticated, customers of the commercial banking business applied for funding. Nearly all of them got loans, according to the bank’s data. JPMorgan made a total of $14 billion in small-business loans through the program.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The data reveal that, in the race to get a loan in the first-come, first-served program, larger businesses had a leg up over smaller ones — even when applying through the same bank.
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/jpmorgan-commercial-clients-beat-out-smaller-ones-for-sba-loans


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Barstool CEO accidentally buys 580 shares of Amazon instead of selling

Tried to sell and I bought .
Looks like I 'm riding Bezos into the night .
# ddtg # @ @

Tried to sell and I bought. Looks like I'm riding Bezos into the night. #ddtg #fintwit pic.twitter.com/Hlraqlx09E
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) April 22, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--A Nebraskan farmer asked members of a pro-fracking oil and gas committee if they would drink water t

A Nebraskan farmer asked members of a pro-fracking oil and gas committee if they would drink water that was tainted @ @ @ @ @

A Nebraskan farmer asked members of a pro-fracking oil and gas committee if they would drink water that was tainted by fracking wastewater. pic.twitter.com/E28mvNiKPM
— Ninja Economics (@NinjaEconomics) April 22, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--What’s Collapsing Can’t Be Saved: Our Fraudulent Economy

Pulling the sleeve down to hide the tracks doesn ’ t mean the addict is cured .
Just for a change of pace , can we be bluntly honest about the U.S. economy ?
It ’ s difficult to do because we ’ ve chosen to ignore all the realities , much like a family that hides all the addictions , drunkenness and lies in a dysfunctional household to maintain the outward illusion of a happy functioning family .
It ’ s extraordinarily costly to maintain such a demanding masquerade .
The psychological toll is immense , and the financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapse the flimsy facade feeds the most destructive coping strategies .
Please don ’ t claim that Daddy and Mommy aren ’ t really addicts , addicted to lies , cheating and stealing to fund their corruption and maintain the absurdly threadbare happy-story mask of normalcy .
Being honest is painful but freeing .
Once all the ugliness is exposed to sunlight , then healing becomes possible .
As long as reality is cloaked , hidden , explained away , etc.
, the destruction only deepens until complete collapse of the masquerade is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve reached that point : we can no longer deny the U.S. economy is little more than a grab-bag of skims , scams , fraud and corruption .
Even if Covid-19 vanished from the Earth tomorrow , or the entire economy opened tomorrow , the collapsing of the fraud bubble can not be reversed , any more than the addict can be “ cured ” with some makeup to mask the devastation and clean clothing to hide all the tracks .
Let ’ s start with the most risible fraud : “ value.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ creating value ” for shareholders , customers , the planet , etc .
But it ’ s all fraud and lies .
No value is being created ; what ’ s really happening is entrenched insiders have established corrupt relationships that funnel income streams into their own pockets at the expense of everyone else , who must be kept in the dark about how the skim/scam actually works .
“ Value ” is now defined as private gains skimmed under the false claim of “ value to customers.
” Behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slashed , quantity reductions are hidden by larger packaging , planned obsolescence is the Prime Directive of every corporation because all these frauds increase profits , which flow to an increasingly thin slice of America ’ s financial elites .
The entire stock market rally of the past 20 years is nothing but a gigantic fraud based on stock buybacks funded by debt .
Stocks go up because the majority owners of the stock borrow money from a banking sector that gives nearly free money to financiers and corporations .
The corporate insiders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the company services the loan .
The company ’ s income is devoted to paying the debt taken on to boost the personal wealth of insiders .
That ’ s fraud .
Or if you prefer , embezzlement .
Take away the stock buyback scam and the U.S. stock market collapses .
Take away a Federal Reserve devoted to lavishing nearly free money on financiers and corporations and the buyback scam collapses .
Consider WeWork , all the scooter start-ups , Netflix and Tesla .
WeWork was a scam from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money to be skimmed in selling the fraud to the public that everyone in Wall Street and the corporate media promoted the scam by refusing to look at the actual business .
The same dynamic fueled the absurd explosion of scooter start-ups , as if the business model could ever be profitable .
No , the business could never be profitable , but unloading worthless shares in multiple rounds of venture capital was extremely profitable–for insiders .
As for Netflix and Tesla , the more money they lose , the more valuable they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ disruption.
” If a company can be promoted as a “ disruptor , ” the sky ’ s the limit , Baby , because “ disruptors ” , well , disrupt , and presto-magico , somewhere down the road they become immensely profitable because , um , they disrupted something or other .
The greater the emotional pull of the scam , the easier it is to promote .
Garsh , isn ’ t it wunnerful how a college degree guarantees a lifetime of high earnings and financial security .
Except that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What ’ s guaranteed is insiders are skimming fortunes in the higher education cartel and its fraudulent handmaiden , the student loan industry .
Then there ’ s sickcare , Corporate America ’ s rip-off skimming operation masquerading as “ healthcare.
” Caring has nothing to do with it ; the driver is greed , maximizing profits by establishing corrupt relationships with politicos and regulators to insure staggering sums of federal monies are sluiced into sickcare ’ s insatiable maw .
National defense is another emotional cover for boondoggles and insider profiteering .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so just ignore the $ 1,000 hammers and the $ 100 billion over-runs .
Every institution in America is little more than a cover for insider profiteering via skims , scams , rackets , fraud and embezzling schemes , all sanctified as “ legal ” via a thoroughly corrupted legal system and judiciary .
Debt-serfdom is packaged and sold as a “ middle class lifestyle.
” Political neutering , i.e .
powerlessness , is sold as “ party loyalty.
” And so on , in an endless parade of skims and scams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ascendancy of greed , fraud and lies .
We live in a constantly distorted house of mirrors devoted to maintaining useful illusions of “ democracy , ” “ free markets ” and other fairy tales we tell ourselves to reduce the pain of living a vast , all-encompassing fraud in which everyone who isn ’ t a grifting insider is the loser .
We don ’ t just have financial bubbles that are popping ; we have bubbles in trust and credibility that are popping , too .
All the lies , skims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bezzles , artifices , profiteering , promotional schemes and rackets are unraveling , not because the virus shut down the economy but because the enormity of all the corruption , lies and fraud is now so great that the entire status quo is collapsing under its own weight .
Pulling the sleeve down to hide the tracks doesn ’ t mean the addict is cured .
The illusion , the facade , the masquerading of normalcy , are no longer sustainable .
The Monster Id can no longer be hidden , and simulacra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , credibility , transparency and accountability have all been sacrificed for personal gain , at the expense of the stability of the entire system .
Once the system collapses , we all lose , even the insiders who have traded every shred of their soul for financial gains , at the expense of everything that was once held dear .

BY CHARLES HUGH SMITH
Pulling the sleeve down to hide the tracks doesn’t mean the addict is cured.
Just for a change of pace, can we be bluntly honest about the U.S. economy? It’s difficult to do because we’ve chosen to ignore all the realities, much like a family that hides all the addictions, drunkenness and lies in a dysfunctional household to maintain the outward illusion of a happy functioning family.
It’s extraordinarily costly to maintain such a demanding masquerade. The psychological toll is immense, and the financial ruin that’s always threatening to collapse the flimsy facade feeds the most destructive coping strategies.
Please don’t claim that Daddy and Mommy aren’t really addicts, addicted to lies, cheating and stealing to fund their corruption and maintain the absurdly threadbare happy-story mask of normalcy.
Being honest is painful but freeing. Once all the ugliness is exposed to sunlight, then healing becomes possible. As long as reality is cloaked, hidden, explained away, etc., the destruction only deepens until complete collapse of the masquerade is the only possible outcome.
We’ve reached that point: we can no longer deny the U.S. economy is little more than a grab-bag of skims, scams, fraud and corruption. Even if Covid-19 vanished from the Earth tomorrow, or the entire economy opened tomorrow, the collapsing of the fraud bubble cannot be reversed, any more than the addict can be “cured” with some makeup to mask the devastation and clean clothing to hide all the tracks.
Let’s start with the most risible fraud: “value.” Every skim and scam claims to be “creating value” for shareholders, customers, the planet, etc. But it’s all fraud and lies. No value is being created; what’s really happening is entrenched insiders have established corrupt relationships that funnel income streams into their own pockets at the expense of everyone else, who must be kept in the dark about how the skim/scam actually works.
“Value” is now defined as private gains skimmed under the false claim of “value to customers.” Behind the bogus PR, product quality is ruthlessly slashed, quantity reductions are hidden by larger packaging, planned obsolescence is the Prime Directive of every corporation because all these frauds increase profits, which flow to an increasingly thin slice of America’s financial elites.
The entire stock market rally of the past 20 years is nothing but a gigantic fraud based on stock buybacks funded by debt. Stocks go up because the majority owners of the stock borrow money from a banking sector that gives nearly free money to financiers and corporations. The corporate insiders buy back shares with the borrowed money, and the company services the loan.
The company’s income is devoted to paying the debt taken on to boost the personal wealth of insiders. That’s fraud. Or if you prefer, embezzlement.
Take away the stock buyback scam and the U.S. stock market collapses. Take away a Federal Reserve devoted to lavishing nearly free money on financiers and corporations and the buyback scam collapses.
Consider WeWork, all the scooter start-ups, Netflix and Tesla. WeWork was a scam from the start, but there was so much money to be skimmed in selling the fraud to the public that everyone in Wall Street and the corporate media promoted the scam by refusing to look at the actual business.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The same dynamic fueled the absurd explosion of scooter start-ups, as if the business model could ever be profitable. No, the business could never be profitable, but unloading worthless shares in multiple rounds of venture capital was extremely profitable–for insiders.
As for Netflix and Tesla, the more money they lose, the more valuable they become. The key fraud here is “disruption.” If a company can be promoted as a “disruptor,” the sky’s the limit, Baby, because “disruptors”, well, disrupt, and presto-magico, somewhere down the road they become immensely profitable because, um, they disrupted something or other.
The greater the emotional pull of the scam, the easier it is to promote. Garsh, isn’t it wunnerful how a college degree guarantees a lifetime of high earnings and financial security. Except that isn’t guaranteed at all. What’s guaranteed is insiders are skimming fortunes in the higher education cartel and its fraudulent handmaiden, the student loan industry.
Then there’s sickcare, Corporate America’s rip-off skimming operation masquerading as “healthcare.” Caring has nothing to do with it; the driver is greed, maximizing profits by establishing corrupt relationships with politicos and regulators to insure staggering sums of federal monies are sluiced into sickcare’s insatiable maw.
National defense is another emotional cover for boondoggles and insider profiteering. We won World War II, doggonnit, so just ignore the $1,000 hammers and the $100 billion over-runs.
Every institution in America is little more than a cover for insider profiteering via skims, scams, rackets, fraud and embezzling schemes, all sanctified as “legal” via a thoroughly corrupted legal system and judiciary.
Debt-serfdom is packaged and sold as a “middle class lifestyle.” Political neutering, i.e. powerlessness, is sold as “party loyalty.” And so on, in an endless parade of skims and scams packaged and sold to cloak the ugly ascendancy of greed, fraud and lies.
We live in a constantly distorted house of mirrors devoted to maintaining useful illusions of “democracy,” “free markets” and other fairy tales we tell ourselves to reduce the pain of living a vast, all-encompassing fraud in which everyone who isn’t a grifting insider is the loser.
We don’t just have financial bubbles that are popping; we have bubbles in trust and credibility that are popping, too. All the lies, skims, scams, excuses, frauds, bezzles, artifices, profiteering, promotional schemes and rackets are unraveling, not because the virus shut down the economy but because the enormity of all the corruption, lies and fraud is now so great that the entire status quo is collapsing under its own weight.
Pulling the sleeve down to hide the tracks doesn’t mean the addict is cured. The illusion, the facade, the masquerading of normalcy, are no longer sustainable. The Monster Id can no longer be hidden, and simulacra no longer substitute for reality.
Trust, credibility, transparency and accountability have all been sacrificed for personal gain, at the expense of the stability of the entire system.
Once the system collapses, we all lose, even the insiders who have traded every shred of their soul for financial gains, at the expense of everything that was once held dear.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Coronavirus Job Losses & Pay Cuts Are Hitting These Households the Hardest; 11% of Global CEOs Fear

Coronavirus Job Losses & Pay Cuts Are Hitting These Households the Hardest; 11% of Global CEOs Fear Their Business Won’t Survive Coronavirus

Over half of CEOs around the world say the coronavirus is a significant threat to their business ; 11 % say it could bring their demise , according to a survey from YPO .
• A survey of 3,500 chief executive officers around the globe conducted by YPO last week shows a marked downturn in the business confidence of corporate leaders .
• The hospitality and restaurant sector has the most dire outlook , with more than 40 % of CEOs saying their businesses may not survive the coronavirus crisis .
• More than 40 % of CEOs globally expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year from now .
Coronavirus Job Losses & Pay Cuts Are Hitting These Households the Hardest U.S. households that already were less prepared to absorb a sudden drop of income are experiencing the greatest share of unemployment and pay cuts , new research shows .
U.S. households that already were less prepared to weather a financial storm are getting hit hardest from the recent rash of job losses across the country , research shows .
Adults with lower income ( under about $ 37,500 annually ) and middle income ( $ 37,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share of those who have lost their job or taken a pay cut due to the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic , according to the Pew Research Center .
Those groups also report having less in emergency savings than their higher-income ( above $ 112,600 ) counterparts .
“ I think we ’ re seeing a deepening of the inequality that was already there , ” said Anna Brown , a Pew research associate .
How Bad Might It Get ?
Think the Great Depression ( Bloomberg Opinion ) — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic continues , a long-forbidden word is starting to creep onto people ’ s lips : “ depression.
” In the 19th and early 20th centuries , there was no commonly accepted word for a slowdown in the economy .
“ Panic ” was the term typically used for financial crises , while long slumps were commonly called depressions .
Presidents such as James Monroe and Calvin Coolidge used the d-word to describe downturns during their administrations .
There was even a slump in the 1870s that many referred to as the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But then 1929 came , and there was no longer any doubt as to which depression deserved the modifier “ great.
” The crash hit the entire world , reducing economic output 15 % .
And it ground on mercilessly for years — by 1933 , unemployment in the U.S. was at 25 % .
The Great Depression was so severe that governments permanently expanded their role in the economy .

Over half of CEOs around the world say the coronavirus is a significant threat to their business; 11% say it could bring their demise, according to a survey from YPO.
A survey of 3,500 chief executive officers around the globe conducted by YPO last week shows a marked downturn in the business confidence of corporate leaders.
The hospitality and restaurant sector has the most dire outlook, with more than 40% of CEOs saying their businesses may not survive the coronavirus crisis.
More than 40% of CEOs globally expect revenue to be down by 20% a year from now.
U.S. households that already were less prepared to absorb a sudden drop of income are experiencing the greatest share of unemployment and pay cuts, new research shows.
Among lower-income adults, 52% say they or someone they live with has lost their job or experienced a reduction in pay.
In the middle-income tier, the share is 42%, and among upper-income households, it’s 32%.
About 22 million individuals filed for unemployment in the four weeks ending April 11.
U.S. households that already were less prepared to weather a financial storm are getting hit hardest from the recent rash of job losses across the country, research shows. Adults with lower income (under about $37,500 annually) and middle income ($37,500 to $112,600) comprise a greater share of those who have lost their job or taken a pay cut due to the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Pew Research Center. Those groups also report having less in emergency savings than their higher-income (above $112,600) counterparts. “I think we’re seeing a deepening of the inequality that was already there,” said Anna Brown, a Pew research associate. We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us! How Bad Might It Get? Think the Great Depression
(Bloomberg Opinion) — As the economic carnage from the coronavirus pandemic continues, a long-forbidden word is starting to creep onto people’s lips: “depression.”
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, there was no commonly accepted word for a slowdown in the economy. “Panic” was the term typically used for financial crises, while long slumps were commonly called depressions. Presidents such as James Monroe and Calvin Coolidge used the d-word to describe downturns during their administrations. There was even a slump in the 1870s that many referred to as the “Great Depression” at the time.
But then 1929 came, and there was no longer any doubt as to which depression deserved the modifier “great.” The crash hit the entire world, reducing economic output 15%. And it ground on mercilessly for years — by 1933, unemployment in the U.S. was at 25%. The Great Depression was so severe that governments permanently expanded their role in the economy.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Do we know where we are going in terms of inflation and house prices?

The credit crunch has posed lots of questions for economic statistics but the Covid-19 epidemic is proving an even harsher episode .
Let me illustrate with an example from my home country the UK this morning .
So the March figures as we had been expecting exhibited signs of a a downwards trend .
But in terms of an economic signal one of the features required is timeliness and through no fault of those compiling these numbers the world has changed in the meantime .
But we do learn some things as we note this .
The existing world economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goods and we are also able to note that domestic inflationary pressure was higher .
So if it is not too painful to use a football analogy at a time like this the inflation story was one of two halves .
Although as ever the picture is complex as I note this .
Not only has the RPI risen but the gap between it and CPI is back up to 1.1 % .
Of this some 0.4 % relates to the housing market and the way that CPI has somehow managed to forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two decades now .
Some episode of amnesia that !
Also in a rather curious development the RPI had been lower due to different weighting of products ( partly due to CPI omitting owner-occupied housing ) which pretty much washed out this month giving us a 0.3 % shift on the month .
Of course the RPI is unpopular with the UK establishment because it gives higher numbers and in truth is much more trusted by the wider population for that reason .
But let me give you an irony for my work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued house prices should be in consumer inflation measures as they are in the RPI albeit via a depreciation system .
But we are about to see them fall and if we had trade going on I would be expecting some large falls .
Apologies to the central bankers who read my blog if I have just made your heart race .
Via this factor we could see the RPI go negative again like it did in 2009 although of course the mortgage rate cuts which also helped back then are pretty much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the widely ignored measure that HM Treasury is so desperately pushing we will see changes here as well .
Rises in rents are from the past .
I have been told of examples of rents being cut to keep tenants .
Of course that is only anecdotal evidence but if we look at the timeliness issue at a time like this it is all we have .
Returning to the conceptual issue the whole CPIH and Imputed Rents effort may yet implode as we mull this announcement .
Oh well !
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at a clear disinflationary trend via the inflation data and to be fair our official statisticians are awake .
Actually Brent Crude futures for June are now US $ 18 so more is on its way than they thought but it is a fast moving situation .
If we look at diesel prices we see that falls were already being noted as per litre prices had gone £1.33 , £1.28 and £1.24 so far this year .
As of Monday that was £1.16 which of course is well before the recent plunge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the inflation data in two ways .
Also in another way because the annual comparison will be affected by this .
If we switch to the producer price series we see that the Russo/Saudi oil price turf war was already having an impact .
Roughly they will be recording about half the fall we are seeing now .
These times are providing lots of challenges for economic statistics .
For example if we stay with oil above then it is welcome that consumers will see lower prices but it is also true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weights are wrong ( too high ) .
As to this next bit I hardly know where to start .
I could of course simply look at the skies over Battersea which are rather empty these days .
I could go on by looking at the way foreign holidays are in the RPI and so on .
There will of course be elements which are booming for example off-licence alcohol sales .
DIY is booming if the tweet I received yesterday saying paint for garden fences had sold out is any guide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Returning to other issues the UK remains prone to inflation as this suggests .
We learnt last week that some areas are seeing a fair bit of it as the new HDP ( Higher Demand Products ) inflation measure recorded 4.4 % in just 4 weeks .
So there are plenty of challenges .
Let me give you an example from house prices where volumes will be so low can we calculate an index at all ?
Regular readers may recall I have pointed this out when wild swings have been recorded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 sales that month .
What could go wrong ?
Also we are in strange times .
After all someone maybe have borrowed at negative interest-rates this week to buy oil at negative prices and then maybe lost money .
If so let us hope they get some solace from some glam-rock from the 70s which is rather sweet .

by Shaun Richards
The credit crunch has posed lots of questions for economic statistics but the Covid-19 epidemic is proving an even harsher episode. Let me illustrate with an example from my home country the UK this morning.
The all items CPI annual rate is 1.5%, down from 1.7% in February…….The all items CPI is 108.6, unchanged from last month.
So the March figures as we had been expecting exhibited signs of a a downwards trend. But in terms of an economic signal one of the features required is timeliness and through no fault of those compiling these numbers the world has changed in the meantime. But we do learn some things as we note this.
The CPI all goods index annual rate is 0.6%, down from 1.0% last month…..The CPI all goods index is 105.7, down from 105.8 in February.
The existing world economic slow down was providing disinflationary pressure for goods and we are also able to note that domestic inflationary pressure was higher.
The CPI all services index annual rate is 2.5%, unchanged from last month.
So if it is not too painful to use a football analogy at a time like this the inflation story was one of two halves.
Although as ever the picture is complex as I note this.
The all items RPI annual rate is 2.6%, up from 2.5% last month.
Not only has the RPI risen but the gap between it and CPI is back up to 1.1%. Of this some 0.4% relates to the housing market and the way that CPI has somehow managed to forget that owner occupied housing exists for around two decades now. Some episode of amnesia that! Also in a rather curious development the RPI had been lower due to different weighting of products ( partly due to CPI omitting owner-occupied housing) which pretty much washed out this month giving us a 0.3% shift on the month.
Of course the RPI is unpopular with the UK establishment because it gives higher numbers and in truth is much more trusted by the wider population for that reason.
But let me give you an irony for my work from a different release.
UK average house prices increased by 1.1% over the year to February 2020, down from 1.5% in January 2020.
I have argued house prices should be in consumer inflation measures as they are in the RPI albeit via a depreciation system. But we are about to see them fall and if we had trade going on I would be expecting some large falls. Apologies to the central bankers who read my blog if I have just made your heart race. Via this factor we could see the RPI go negative again like it did in 2009 although of course the mortgage rate cuts which also helped back then are pretty much maxxed out now.
If we switch to the widely ignored measure that HM Treasury is so desperately pushing we will see changes here as well.
Private rental prices paid by tenants in the UK rose by 1.4% in the 12 months to March 2020, unchanged since February 2020…..Private rental prices grew by 1.4% in England, 1.2% in Wales and by 0.6% in Scotland in the 12 months to March 2020…..London private rental prices rose by 1.2% in the 12 months to March 2020.
Rises in rents are from the past. I have been told of examples of rents being cut to keep tenants. Of course that is only anecdotal evidence but if we look at the timeliness issue at a time like this it is all we have. Returning to the conceptual issue the whole CPIH and Imputed Rents effort may yet implode as we mull this announcement.
Cancelled The comparison of private rental measures between the Office for National Statistics and private sector data will be published in the Index of Private Housing Rental Prices bulletin released on 22 April 2020.
Oh well! As Fleetwood Mac would say.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Oil Prices
We can look at a clear disinflationary trend via the inflation data and to be fair our official statisticians are awake.
U.S. crude oil futures turned negative for the first time in history, falling to minus $37.63 a
barrel as traders sold heavily because of rapidly filling storage space at a key delivery point.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, also slumped, but that contract is not as weak
because more storage is available worldwide. The May U.S. WTI contract fell to settle at a
discount of $37.63 a barrel after touching an all-time low of -$40.32 a barrel. Brent was down
to $25.57 a barrel. (uk.reuters.com 19 April 2020)
Actually Brent Crude futures for June are now US $18 so more is on its way than they thought but it is a fast moving situation. If we look at diesel prices we see that falls were already being noted as per litre prices had gone £1.33, £1.28 and £1.24 so far this year. As of Monday that was £1.16 which of course is well before the recent plunge in oil prices. This feeds in to the inflation data in two ways.
A 1 pence change on average in the cost of a litre of motor fuel contributes approximately 0.02 percentage points to the 1-month change in the CPIH.
Also in another way because the annual comparison will be affected by this.
When considering the price of petrol between March and April 2020, it may be useful to note
that the average price of petrol rose by 3.8 pence per litre between March and April 2019, to
stand at 124.1 pence per litre as measured in the CPIH.
If we switch to the producer price series we see that the Russo/Saudi oil price turf war was already having an impact.
The annual rate of inflation for materials and fuels purchased by manufacturers (input prices) fell by 2.9% in March 2020, down from negative 0.2% in February 2020. This is the lowest the rate has been since October 2019 and the sixth time in the last eight months that the rate has been negative. The monthly rate for materials and fuels purchased was negative 3.6% in March 2020, down from negative 0.9% in February 2020. This is the lowest the rate has been since January 2015.
Roughly they will be recording about half the fall we are seeing now.
Comment
These times are providing lots of challenges for economic statistics. For example if we stay with oil above then it is welcome that consumers will see lower prices but it is also true we are using less of it so the weights are wrong ( too high). As to this next bit I hardly know where to start.
Air fares have shown variable movements in April which can depend on the position of Easter.
I could of course simply look at the skies over Battersea which are rather empty these days. I could go on by looking at the way foreign holidays are in the RPI and so on. There will of course be elements which are booming for example off-licence alcohol sales. DIY is booming if the tweet I received yesterday saying paint for garden fences had sold out is any guide. So you get the drift.
Returning to other issues the UK remains prone to inflation as this suggests.
“It’s right that retailers charge a fair price for fuel that reflects the price of the raw product, and in theory petrol prices could fall below £1 per litre if the lower wholesale costs were reflected at the pumps – but at the same time people are driving very few miles so they’re selling vastly lower quantities of petrol and diesel at the moment. This means many will be at pains to trim their prices any further.” ( RAC)
We learnt last week that some areas are seeing a fair bit of it as the new HDP ( Higher Demand Products) inflation measure recorded 4.4% in just 4 weeks.
So there are plenty of challenges. Let me give you an example from house prices where volumes will be so low can we calculate an index at all? Regular readers may recall I have pointed this out when wild swings have been recorded in Kensington and Chelsea but based on only 2 sales that month. What could go wrong?
Also we are in strange times. After all someone maybe have borrowed at negative interest-rates this week to buy oil at negative prices and then maybe lost money. If so let us hope they get some solace from some glam-rock from the 70s which is rather sweet.
Does anyone know the way?
Did we hear someone say
“We just haven’t got a clue what to do!”
Does anyone know the way?
There’s got to be a way
To Block Buster!


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--AMAZON sued over ‘price gouging’; Cost of essentials soared 1,000%

AMAZON is facing a lawsuit in California over its alleged price gouging of health products during the coronavirus .
In documents filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California , Amazon.com Inc is accused of “ unlawful price increases during the COVID-19 pandemic ” .
California ’ s Unfair Competition Law prohibits raising the price of some consumer goods and services by more than 10 per cent after an emergency has been declared .
Goods include food and drink , cleaning products , personal hygiene products – such as toilet paper – medical supplies , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candles and batteries .
Amazon is accused of selling face masks at a 500 per cent price hike , increasing from less than $ 20 to $ 120 ; Amazon is accused of hiking prices of pain reliever from $ 18.75 to $ 62.40 , an increase of 233 per cent .
Flour allegedly increased up to 400 per cent , from $ 22 to $ 110 , according to the suit .
The price rose from $ 4.65 up to $ 35.99 , an increase of up to 674 per cent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hiking prices by 100 per cent , from $ 14.99 to $ 29.99 .
Consumers who believe they may have paid unfair prices can sign up for potential compensation .
The suit says the unlawful increases occurred on third party sales , as well as Amazon ’ s own product sales , and Amazon is responsible for sets of both alleged violations .
“ Some of the unlawful increases were on sales of products supplied by third parties , sales which Amazon controls and reaps huge profits from , ” the suit @ @

AMAZON is facing a lawsuit in California over its alleged price gouging of health products during the coronavirus.
In documents filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Amazon.com Inc is accused of “unlawful price increases during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
California’s Unfair Competition Law prohibits raising the price of some consumer goods and services by more than 10 per cent after an emergency has been declared.
Goods include food and drink, cleaning products, personal hygiene products – such as toilet paper – medical supplies, and emergency supplies, such as water, candles and batteries.
Face masks
Amazon is accused of selling face masks at a 500 per cent price hike, increasing from less than $20 to $120;
Pain reliever
Amazon is accused of hiking prices of pain reliever from $18.75 to $62.40, an increase of 233 per cent.
Flour
Flour allegedly increased up to 400 per cent, from $22 to $110, according to the suit.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Black beans
The price rose from $4.65 up to $35.99, an increase of up to 674 per cent, the suit alleges.
Disinfectants
Amazon is accused of hiking prices by 100 per cent, from $14.99 to $29.99.
Consumers who believe they may have paid unfair prices can sign up for potential compensation.
The suit says the unlawful increases occurred on third party sales, as well as Amazon’s own product sales, and Amazon is responsible for sets of both alleged violations.
“Some of the unlawful increases were on sales of products supplied by third parties, sales which Amazon controls and reaps huge profits from,” the suit alleges.
www.the-sun.com/news/721253/amazon-sued-price-gouging-essential-items-coronavirus/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Martin Armstrong – President Has Power to Reopen Country

Legendary financial and geopolitical cycle analyst Martin Armstrong says the President has the power to reopen the entire country .
Armstrong explains , “ He doesn ’ t want to use it , but he actually has the power to open up the entire country .
I wrote a piece on this , and it ’ s called the Commerce Clause ( in the U.S. Constitution ) which governs .
They ( the governors ) have no legal authority to shut down the economy—period .
They can not do that .
The Commerce Clause prohibits interference with interstate commerce—period .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is what the Fed is doing right now , is not going to save the day because the amount of money lost on a leverage basis is 20 to 30 times that .
It ’ s like throwing a bucket of water into the wind , it ’ s going to come right back in their face .
They can ’ t stimulate enough .
It ’ s impossible to overcome this .
.
.
.
The only way to overcome this is to open up the economy .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is what wealth is and you are destroying that .
70 % of employment is with small business .
”

Legendary financial and geopolitical cycle analyst Martin Armstrong says the President has the power to reopen the entire country. Armstrong explains, “He doesn’t want to use it, but he actually has the power to open up the entire country. I wrote a piece on this, and it’s called the Commerce Clause (in the U.S. Constitution) which governs. They (the governors) have no legal authority to shut down the economy—period. They cannot do that. The Commerce Clause prohibits interference with interstate commerce—period. . . . Increasing the money supply, which is what the Fed is doing right now, is not going to save the day because the amount of money lost on a leverage basis is 20 to 30 times that. It’s like throwing a bucket of water into the wind, it’s going to come right back in their face. They can’t stimulate enough. It’s impossible to overcome this. . . . The only way to overcome this is to open up the economy. We have to get the productive capacity back up, which is what wealth is and you are destroying that. 70% of employment is with small business.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--84% of global PMIs are in contraction;JPM is literally sitting on a death bench; Counter party to ev

84% of global PMIs are in contraction;JPM is literally sitting on a death bench; Counter party to everyone and everything

investors are out there chasing snap, facebook, google, shale companies. i mean literally nothing but junk. while at the same time $jpm is literally sitting on a death bench. you know the $jpm with 3 trillion in assets. largest US bank. counter party to everyone and everything pic.twitter.com/9XcHNyhGo2 — hks55 (@hks55) April 22, 2020
just a big ole bull trap. bloody rare barely cooked hamburger patties served all day tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/pI9xa0jzke — hks55 (@hks55) April 22, 2020
catch down tomorrow? fuck everyone in the ass for putting their faith in gov manipulation pic.twitter.com/KyUIT0anOl — hks55 (@hks55) April 22, 2020
Dow Jones: This is your captain speaking… Landing gear has failed and we are running on fumes ..Assume crash position pic.twitter.com/E7s53q7FoW — The Great Martis (@great_martis) April 22, 2020
As it stands, 84% of global PMIs are in contraction w/ 43% of US industries reporting negative EPS growth YoY. In ‘01 & ‘08, over 70% of US industries reported negative EPS growth YoY. PMI breadth leads by 10M indicating broad based downward pressure to EPS all of ‘20 & into ‘21. pic.twitter.com/E0RmXRVbOV — Julien Bittel, CFA (@BittelJulien) April 22, 2020
EUROZONE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE LOWEST SINCE MARCH 1349 — Rudy Havenstein, spraying Windex on everything. (@RudyHavenstein) April 22, 2020
Amazing what happens when a little volume comes into this market. pic.twitter.com/6SWqhKf5r7 — Sven Henrich (@NorthmanTrader) April 22, 2020
FED opened up USD swap lines to 13 countries and USD can not stay under 100 for a hot minute.. this is telling — 𝕮𝖍𝖎 🛢 (@chigrl) April 22, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Argentina is defaulting today on the bonds it issued to get out of the 2016 default. You cannot make

Argentina is defaulting today on the bonds it issued to get out of the 2016 default. You cannot make this up.

Argentina 🇦🇷 is defaulting today on the bonds it issued to get out of the 2016 default .
You can @ @ @ @ @ pic.twitter.com/keMnDewWRu

Argentina 🇦🇷 is defaulting today on the bonds it issued to get out of the 2016 default. You cannot make this up. pic.twitter.com/keMnDewWRu
— Daniel Lacalle (@dlacalle_IA) April 22, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Do you expect a worldwide recession that will last until 2021-2022 as a consequence of COVID-19?

I don ’ t think this is a normal recession-recovery situation .
It ’ s not a business event .
It ’ s a completely artificial event .
That means that looking at how this is going to unfold in terms of past recessions — and particularly a lot of people are going back to the Great Recession about a decade ago — is probably not going to provide much in the way of useful guidance , at least that ’ s my opinion .
The worst weeks for unemployment in U.S. history were recorded over the past three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 , 6.9 million on March 28 and 6.6 million on April 4 .
Before the pandemic , the previous worst unemployment week was recorded in October 1982 when 695,000 people filed jobless claims .
I wanted to share some insights / stats with you and get your opinions .
The best-case scenario for the COVID crisis is a V-shaped recession .
If this happens , the economy will rebound as quickly as it has declined , with minimal long-lasting financial damage .
A sharp downturn followed by a quick rebound in growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 recession to be V-shaped , we would need to set up enough coronavirus testing so that people could safely go back to work without creating another surge in cases , and effectively treat existing cases .
Around 38 % of companies believe that the recovery will be V-shaped , with the economy rebounding by the third quarter of 2020 , according to a survey from EY .
If COVID-19 causes a longer , U-shaped recovery , that could mean the economy wouldn ’ t begin recovering until the end of 2020 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54 % of companies believe that a U-shaped recession is likely .
Those arguing for the V-shaped recovery are making two wildly unrealistic assumptions .
One , we re-open the economy pretty much all at once , and two , consumers won ’ t change their behaviors .
For example , they start going back to bars and baseball games immediately .
I just sold most of my indices and am thinking about shorting S & P500 .
The recent rise in the equity indices appears based more on FOMO than on medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I suspect markets will test previous lows set in March , similar to 2008-2009 .
What do you think about an upcoming recession , and about the steps needed for a economic recovery ?
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence .

by TweeMansLeger
I don’t think this is a normal recession-recovery situation. It’s not a business event. It’s a completely artificial event. That means that looking at how this is going to unfold in terms of past recessions — and particularly a lot of people are going back to the Great Recession about a decade ago — is probably not going to provide much in the way of useful guidance, at least that’s my opinion.
The worst weeks for unemployment in U.S. history were recorded over the past three weeks: 3.3 million were reported on March 21, 6.9 million on March 28 and 6.6 million on April 4. Before the pandemic, the previous worst unemployment week was recorded in October 1982 when 695,000 people filed jobless claims.
I wanted to share some insights / stats with you and get your opinions.
The best-case scenario for the COVID crisis is a V-shaped recession. If this happens, the economy will rebound as quickly as it has declined, with minimal long-lasting financial damage. A sharp downturn followed by a quick rebound in growth defines the V-shaped recession. For the COVID-19 recession to be V-shaped, we would need to set up enough coronavirus testing so that people could safely go back to work without creating another surge in cases, and effectively treat existing cases. Around 38% of companies believe that the recovery will be V-shaped, with the economy rebounding by the third quarter of 2020, according to a survey from EY.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
If COVID-19 causes a longer, U-shaped recovery, that could mean the economy wouldn’t begin recovering until the end of 2020 or even early 2021. EY found that 54% of companies believe that a U-shaped recession is likely.
Those arguing for the V-shaped recovery are making two wildly unrealistic assumptions. One, we re-open the economy pretty much all at once, and two, consumers won’t change their behaviors. For example, they start going back to bars and baseball games immediately.
I just sold most of my indices and am thinking about shorting S&P500. The recent rise in the equity indices appears based more on FOMO than on medical developments for dealing with the pandemic. I suspect markets will test previous lows set in March, similar to 2008-2009.
What do you think about an upcoming recession, and about the steps needed for a economic recovery?
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-22--Bill Fleckenstein On How To Profit From Central Bank Mistakes

It ’ s been three years since I made the trek up to Seattle to interview celebrated short seller Bill @ @ @ @ @ , “ Central Bankers , Financial Bubbles and White Burgundy.
” With a global pandemic @ @ @ @ @ bubbles , forcing central bankers into even more extreme monetary policies , I thought it @ @ @ @ @ reconnect with Bill and get his thoughts on how these things are evolving and how @ @ @ @ @ in their midst .
Below are several notes and links related to our conversation : @ @ @ @ @ book : Greenspan ’ s Bubbles : The Age Of Ignorance At The Federal Reserve @ @ @ @ @ conversation here : Bill Fleckenstein On Central Bankers , Financial Bubbles And White Burgundy • @ @ @ @ @ Fed Now • William White On The Undesired Side Effects Of Experimental Monetary Policy

by jessefelder
It’s been three years since I made the trek up to Seattle to interview celebrated short seller Bill Fleckenstein on the topics of, “Central Bankers, Financial Bubbles and White Burgundy.” With a global pandemic now threatening to burst these bubbles, forcing central bankers into even more extreme monetary policies, I thought it was an opportune time to reconnect with Bill and get his thoughts on how these things are evolving and how investors might seek to profit in their midst. Below are several notes and links related to our conversation:
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Other links: