Trading for the week of April 24th through April 28th ended with the 3 major indexes again closing lower. The markets appear overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If June contracts extend this year's rally into uncharted territory, upside targets will be hard...or impossible to project.
So as we like to say....no better time than right now to get the a heads up from our trading partner Michael Seery. We've asked him to give our readers a recap of the this weeks futures markets and give us some insight on where he sees these markets headed. Mike has been a senior analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Natural gas futures in the June contract are currently trading at 3.28 after settling last Friday in New York at 3.19. I have been recommending a short position from the 3.17 level and if you took that trade continue to place your stop loss above the 10 day high standing at 3.33. The original risk was around $800 per 2 mini contracts plus slippage and commission. The chart structure in natural gas is outstanding at the present time as prices are above their 20 and 100 day moving average. Colder temperatures in the Midwestern part of the United States are pushing up prices here the last several days, but I will remain short & place the proper stop loss. Many of the commodity markets have experienced incredibly choppy trends in 2017. However, we are entering the summer months and historically speaking the trends and the volatility come back, so we will have to be patient. Natural gas supplies are still extremely high and that is why this market has been in a bearish trend for several years.
Trend: Lower- Mixed
Chart Structure: Excellent
Get Chris Vermeulen's Short & Long Term Gold Projections
Gold futures in the June contract settled last Friday in New York at 1,289 an ounce while currently trading at 1,267 down about $20 for the week. I'm currently sitting on the sidelines as prices have now hit a 2 week low and my bias is to the downside. I am bullish the stock market & I think money flows are going to continue to come out of the precious metals and into the equity market and I'm looking at a short position in the next week or so. Gold prices are trading under their 20 day but still above their 100 day moving average topping out around the 1,300 level 2 weeks ago. Prices have been in rally mode in 2017 due to geopolitical tensions throughout the world. I've stated in many previous blogs these always seem to fade away and that's exactly what's happening right now as silver prices continue their decline and I think that will start to put pressure on gold prices here in the short term. If you are bearish gold, my recommendation would be to sell at today's price level while placing the stop loss above 1,300 as an exit strategy. I will continue to sit on the sidelines as I'm waiting for better chart structure. Therefore, the monetary risk would be lowered as the risk is too high in my opinion at this point time. However, I am certainly bearish gold.
Trend: Mixed
Chart Structure: Poor
Silver futures in the July contract have traded lower 9 out of the last 10 trading sessions after settling last Friday in New York at 17.93 while currently trading at 17.22 down over $0.70 for the trading week hitting a 6 week low. I'm not currently involved in this market as the chart structure is terrible. Therefore, the monetary risk is too high. Silver prices are now trading under their 20 and 100 day moving average with major support back down at the 17 level as the equity markets in the United States continue to hit all time highs. Money flows are coming out of the precious metals so avoid this market as there really is no trend. At the current time, my only recommendation in the precious metals is a short a copper position. I'm negative on gold, but not involved as I still think stocks move higher. Therefore, the precious metals should continue to drift lower. Avoid this market at the present time & look at other trends with better chart structure and a better risk/reward scenario as the trends in 2017 have been tough to come by.
Trend: Lower - Mixed
Chart Structure: Poor
The NASDAQ 100 settled last Friday in Chicago at 5442 while currently trading at 5581 up about 140 points for the week hitting another record high this week. As I've talked about in previous blogs, I'm not involved in this market. However, I'm extremely bullish and still think higher prices are ahead as I'm certainly not recommending any type of bearish position as this trend is very strong. The problem with this market is the chart structure is poor and there is a price gap around the 5460 level. I'm hoping that the price gets filled before entering into a bullish position as prices are trading far above their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that this trend is strong and who knows how high prices can go. If you take a look at the Dow Jones and the S&P 500, they have not hit all time highs. I think both of those markets will continue to catch up to the NASDAQ as money flows are finally coming out of the precious metals and into the equity market as the Trump administration tax plans are finally starting to be released. That is extremely bullish for companies in the United States as now it could be a fair game worldwide for the first time in decades. Remember Apple Computer did $80 billion last year in profits and if you take a 20% reduction in taxes which is an increase of $16 billion for one company per year. That is why you see these markets explode to the upside and this will continue in my opinion.
Trend: Higher
Chart Structure: Poor
For more calls on this week's commodity trades like Copper, Soybean, Wheat and more....Just Click Here!
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Sunday, April 30, 2017
Mike Seery's Weekly Futures Recap - Natural Gas, Gold, Silver, NASDAQ 100 and More
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
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Sunday, April 23, 2017
Mike Seery's Weekly Futures Recap - Gold, Silver, Copper, Sugar and More
Trading for the week of April 17th through April 21st ended with the 3 major indexes closing lower. This is a tough market to call right now as the different markets are giving mixed signals on the general direction of the economy and each individual market.
So as we like to say....no better time than right now to get the a heads up from our trading partner Michael Seery. We've asked him to give our readers a recap of the this weeks futures markets and give us some insight on where he sees these markets headed. Mike has been a senior analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Gold futures in the June contract are currently trading at 1,286 an ounce after settling last Friday in New York at 1,288 basically unchanged for the trading week as I am not involved in the gold market as prices remain right near contract highs due to tensions between North Korea and the United States coupled with the fact of a weaker U.S dollar in recent weeks. Gold prices are still trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is higher as we are ending the week on a positive note up about $4 as 1,300 is the main resistance and if that is broken I think we could go to levels before the U. S. election around 1,330 an ounce. At the current time I don't have any precious metal recommendations as silver is right near a 2 week low, but there is demand for gold as there is so much uncertainty in the world at this time and if you are bullish a futures position I would place the stop loss under the 10 day low standing at 1,248 which is still $40 away as the chart structure is not solid at the present time, as I do expect volatility to increase in the coming weeks as well.
Trend: Higher
Chart Structure: Improving
Get Chris Vermeulen's Short & Long Term Gold Projections
Silver futures in the July contract settled last Friday in New York at 18.58 an ounce while currently trading at 17.98 down about $0.60 for the trading week as I've been discussing the May contract, but that is near expiration so I will focus on the July contract going forward as I'm not involved in this market at present. Silver prices are trading lower for the 5th consecutive day and if you are long futures contracts I would still place the stop under the 10 day low standing at 17.80 which is just an eyelash way as this market remains very choppy in my opinion. Silver prices are trading under their 20 day but still above their 100 day moving average really going nowhere over the last several months as I do not have any trade recommendations in the precious metals at the current time. The U.S dollar continues to flip flop up and down on a daily basis and that's why you're seeing the choppy commodity markets as gold prices have also stalled out around the 1,300 level as the precious metals had been rallying due to a possible conflict with North Korea & the United States which now seems to be diminishing on a daily basis.
Trend: Mixed
Chart Structure: Excellent
Copper futures in the July contract settled last Friday in New York at 2.5860 a pound while currently trading at 2.5470 down about 400 points for the trading week right near a 3 month low. At present I'm not involved in this market, but I do think lower prices are ahead and if you are short place the stop at the 10 day high which in Monday's trade stands at 2.66 as the chart structure will start to improve in next week's trade, therefore, the monetary risk will be lowered as I'm still looking at a short position on any type of rally. Copper prices are trading under their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is lower as there is major support at the 2.50 level and if that is broken, I think we could head substantially lower as the commodity markets are having a hard time sustaining any real bullish momentum. Copper prices were trading around the 2.10 level just let last October but with the Trump administration's possible stimulus plan sending copper prices to around the 2.80 level around quickly as now were kind of a no man's land, but the trend is lower so stay short.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Improving
Sugar futures in the July contract settled last Friday in New York at 16.57 a pound while currently trading at 16.38 down about 20 points for the trading week still stuck in a 2 week consolidation as prices are still right near a one year low. I'm not currently involved in sugar ,but if you are short as I do have clients who are involved in this marketplace your stop loss above the 10 day high at 17.13 as the next major level of support is the contract low which was hit on April 5th around 16.20 & if that is broken I think prices could head down to the low 15's rather quickly. Sugar prices are still trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average is telling you that the trend is to the downside as overproduction and lack of demand continue to keep a lid on prices as the soft commodities still look weak except for cotton prices. At present, I only have one soft recommendation & that is a bearish trade in the orange juice market, but I am bearish sugar as I do think lower prices are ahead as the chart structure is excellent at present, therefore, allowing you to place a tight stop loss.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Excellent
For more calls on this week's commodity trades like Soybean, Corn, Lean Hog, Cattle, Cotton and more....Just Click Here!
So as we like to say....no better time than right now to get the a heads up from our trading partner Michael Seery. We've asked him to give our readers a recap of the this weeks futures markets and give us some insight on where he sees these markets headed. Mike has been a senior analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Gold futures in the June contract are currently trading at 1,286 an ounce after settling last Friday in New York at 1,288 basically unchanged for the trading week as I am not involved in the gold market as prices remain right near contract highs due to tensions between North Korea and the United States coupled with the fact of a weaker U.S dollar in recent weeks. Gold prices are still trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is higher as we are ending the week on a positive note up about $4 as 1,300 is the main resistance and if that is broken I think we could go to levels before the U. S. election around 1,330 an ounce. At the current time I don't have any precious metal recommendations as silver is right near a 2 week low, but there is demand for gold as there is so much uncertainty in the world at this time and if you are bullish a futures position I would place the stop loss under the 10 day low standing at 1,248 which is still $40 away as the chart structure is not solid at the present time, as I do expect volatility to increase in the coming weeks as well.
Trend: Higher
Chart Structure: Improving
Get Chris Vermeulen's Short & Long Term Gold Projections
Silver futures in the July contract settled last Friday in New York at 18.58 an ounce while currently trading at 17.98 down about $0.60 for the trading week as I've been discussing the May contract, but that is near expiration so I will focus on the July contract going forward as I'm not involved in this market at present. Silver prices are trading lower for the 5th consecutive day and if you are long futures contracts I would still place the stop under the 10 day low standing at 17.80 which is just an eyelash way as this market remains very choppy in my opinion. Silver prices are trading under their 20 day but still above their 100 day moving average really going nowhere over the last several months as I do not have any trade recommendations in the precious metals at the current time. The U.S dollar continues to flip flop up and down on a daily basis and that's why you're seeing the choppy commodity markets as gold prices have also stalled out around the 1,300 level as the precious metals had been rallying due to a possible conflict with North Korea & the United States which now seems to be diminishing on a daily basis.
Trend: Mixed
Chart Structure: Excellent
Copper futures in the July contract settled last Friday in New York at 2.5860 a pound while currently trading at 2.5470 down about 400 points for the trading week right near a 3 month low. At present I'm not involved in this market, but I do think lower prices are ahead and if you are short place the stop at the 10 day high which in Monday's trade stands at 2.66 as the chart structure will start to improve in next week's trade, therefore, the monetary risk will be lowered as I'm still looking at a short position on any type of rally. Copper prices are trading under their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is lower as there is major support at the 2.50 level and if that is broken, I think we could head substantially lower as the commodity markets are having a hard time sustaining any real bullish momentum. Copper prices were trading around the 2.10 level just let last October but with the Trump administration's possible stimulus plan sending copper prices to around the 2.80 level around quickly as now were kind of a no man's land, but the trend is lower so stay short.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Improving
Sugar futures in the July contract settled last Friday in New York at 16.57 a pound while currently trading at 16.38 down about 20 points for the trading week still stuck in a 2 week consolidation as prices are still right near a one year low. I'm not currently involved in sugar ,but if you are short as I do have clients who are involved in this marketplace your stop loss above the 10 day high at 17.13 as the next major level of support is the contract low which was hit on April 5th around 16.20 & if that is broken I think prices could head down to the low 15's rather quickly. Sugar prices are still trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average is telling you that the trend is to the downside as overproduction and lack of demand continue to keep a lid on prices as the soft commodities still look weak except for cotton prices. At present, I only have one soft recommendation & that is a bearish trade in the orange juice market, but I am bearish sugar as I do think lower prices are ahead as the chart structure is excellent at present, therefore, allowing you to place a tight stop loss.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Excellent
For more calls on this week's commodity trades like Soybean, Corn, Lean Hog, Cattle, Cotton and more....Just Click Here!
Monday, April 17, 2017
Crude Oil Seasonality, Inventory Rebalancing and Production Cuts
The historical stock build from December 2014 through July 2016, and subsequent decline from August through December has led some to conclude that global stocks had started to rebalance. Instead, the normal seasonality in stocks had been masked by the high overproduction of OPEC, but then normal seasonality kicked in.
Global OECD inventories from past years demonstrate the normal seasonal patterns, with some variability. As shown in this graph, stocks normal build early in the year and peak around August. Stocks normally drop from September through December. But in 2015, the oversupply was so excessive that stock just kept building through the year. They finally peaked in July 2016, then dropped off due to normal seasonal demand. This normal pattern led to a false conclusion that the rebalancing of stocks had begun.
But according to Energy Department data, OECD stocks in March 2017 are 13 million barrels higher than December. And it projects that stocks are likely to peak in May this year, earlier than normal, but to end 2017 with stocks just 14 million lower than a year ago. This is based on the Energy Information Administration ((EIA)) assumption that OPEC does not hold production to its March level. Furthermore, the EIA projects global stocks to set new record highs in 2018, after the OPEC non OPEC cuts presumably end.
Effect of Production Cuts
Some argue that the 285 million barrel excess above the 5 year average as of the end of December should disappear in five to six months by dividing 285 million by 1.8 million barrels per day, the agreed upon size of the daily cut. But that math first assumes that supply was in balance with demand, makes no allowance for rising supplies, such as in the U.S., and it does not take into account the seasonality.
According to OPEC’s figures, global OECD stocks are likely to build both in the first and second quarters, and then decline in the second half of the year, assuming OPEC production remains at the March level.
There was one development last week, if true, did shift the inventory trend lower. The EIA revised its December estimate of OECD stocks down 105 million barrels, a major revision. That reduced the size of the glut to 201 million above its five year average.
Conclusions
The market dropped sharply in early March as a result of the continued rise in stocks. The market has falsely expected to see inventories to soon decline as a result of the production cuts. But seasonal factors need to be taken into account. We should see global stocks decline in the second half of 2017, assuming OPEC extends its cuts. And the decline may start earlier than normal because U.S. refinery utilization is ramping up faster and earlier than usual, thereby requiring more crude oil.
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Saturday, April 15, 2017
Mike Seery's Weekly Futures Recap - Silver, Copper, Coffee, Sugar and More
Trading for the week of April 10th through April 14th ended with the Dow leading indexes closing lower as markets volatility rears it's ugly head due to fed spooked financials and weaker transports.
So no better time than right now to get the a heads up from our trading partner Michael Seery. We've asked him to give our readers a recap of the this weeks futures markets and give us some insight on where he sees these markets headed. Mike has been a senior analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Silver futures in the May contract are up 27 cents at 18.55 an ounce trading higher for the 3rd consecutive trading session breaking major resistance as I will be recommending a bullish position if prices close above 18.50 while then placing the stop loss under the 10-day low which was also Monday's low around 17.73 risking around $800 per mini contract plus slippage and commission. The chart structure is relatively solid at present as the next major level of resistance is last November's high around $19 an ounce as gold and silver prices have broken out to the upside. The 10 year note is significantly higher once again hitting a 6 month high as interest rates have been heading lower in recent weeks, and that is bullish the precious metals and commodities in general as there seems to be what they call a flight to quality which affects the bond and precious metals market as investors park their money as a so called safe haven. Silver prices are trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is higher so let's look at playing this to the upside as the risk/reward are in your favor in my opinion.
Trend: Higher
Chart Structure: Solid
Get Chris Vermeulen's Short & Long Term Gold Projections
Copper futures in the May contract are higher by 250 points this Thursday in New York currently trading at 2.5700 a pound after hitting a 3 month low in yesterday's trade as I'm looking at a short position, however the chart structure is poor as the 10 day high stands around 2.71 as the risk/reward is not in your favor at present. However, I am certainly not recommending any type of bullish trade as the trend clearly is to the downside. I will wait for the chart structure to improve which could take a couple more days as prices are now trading under their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the trend has turned negative in the short term with the next major level of support down to 2.50 which was tested back in December 2016 on multiple occasions only to rally every single time. This is a unique situation in the precious metals as bullish trends continue in gold and silver, however we have a bearish trend in copper and that can happen at certain times due to the fact that gold and silver are used as a flight to quality where copper is an industrial metal so keep a close eye on this market for a short position.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Poor
Coffee futures in the July contract are trading higher by 100 points at 141.25 in the July contract up in a slow manner with low volatility over the last several months as it looks to me that coffee prices are bottoming out in the short term. I have written about coffee many times in the past as I'm currently not involved in this market and haven't been for several months as I think prices are limited to the downside as it looks to me that the 138 level has held as prices are now at a 3 week high. Coffee prices are now trading above their 20 day but still below their 100 day moving average which stands at 148 as that is the critical level for the bullish momentum to continue in my opinion so keep a close eye on this market to the upside. At present, I am recommending a short position in orange juice and in cotton and I am also bearish sugar. However, coffee prices are starting enter to enter the month of May with the chance of a frost occurring in Brazil, so there could be a price premium put into this market to the upside and if a frost does occur prices move substantially higher & extremely quickly like they did in 1994.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Excellent
Sugar futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 16.77 a pound while currently trading at 16.83 in a lackluster holiday trading week as tomorrow is Good Friday as the markets will be closed. I have not been involved in the sugar market, but I have remained bearish over quite some time. I have clients that are short and if you are in this market to the downside place your stop loss above the 10 day high standing at 17.18 which is just an eyelash away as prices actually traded as high as 17.16 earlier in the trading session. Many of the commodity markets have reacted to the positive side over the last several days due to the fact that bond interest rates in the United States have been going lower and that is supporting prices, however if you're short, continue to place the proper stop and don't 2nd guess as I think that's the kiss of death over the course of time. Sugar futures are still trading under their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you the trend is lower, but for this market to resume its bearish trend the 16 level has to be breached in my opinion.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Excellent
For more calls on this week's commodity trades like Soybean, Wheat, Lean Hogs, Cotton and more....Just Click Here!
So no better time than right now to get the a heads up from our trading partner Michael Seery. We've asked him to give our readers a recap of the this weeks futures markets and give us some insight on where he sees these markets headed. Mike has been a senior analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Silver futures in the May contract are up 27 cents at 18.55 an ounce trading higher for the 3rd consecutive trading session breaking major resistance as I will be recommending a bullish position if prices close above 18.50 while then placing the stop loss under the 10-day low which was also Monday's low around 17.73 risking around $800 per mini contract plus slippage and commission. The chart structure is relatively solid at present as the next major level of resistance is last November's high around $19 an ounce as gold and silver prices have broken out to the upside. The 10 year note is significantly higher once again hitting a 6 month high as interest rates have been heading lower in recent weeks, and that is bullish the precious metals and commodities in general as there seems to be what they call a flight to quality which affects the bond and precious metals market as investors park their money as a so called safe haven. Silver prices are trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is higher so let's look at playing this to the upside as the risk/reward are in your favor in my opinion.
Trend: Higher
Chart Structure: Solid
Get Chris Vermeulen's Short & Long Term Gold Projections
Copper futures in the May contract are higher by 250 points this Thursday in New York currently trading at 2.5700 a pound after hitting a 3 month low in yesterday's trade as I'm looking at a short position, however the chart structure is poor as the 10 day high stands around 2.71 as the risk/reward is not in your favor at present. However, I am certainly not recommending any type of bullish trade as the trend clearly is to the downside. I will wait for the chart structure to improve which could take a couple more days as prices are now trading under their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the trend has turned negative in the short term with the next major level of support down to 2.50 which was tested back in December 2016 on multiple occasions only to rally every single time. This is a unique situation in the precious metals as bullish trends continue in gold and silver, however we have a bearish trend in copper and that can happen at certain times due to the fact that gold and silver are used as a flight to quality where copper is an industrial metal so keep a close eye on this market for a short position.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Poor
Coffee futures in the July contract are trading higher by 100 points at 141.25 in the July contract up in a slow manner with low volatility over the last several months as it looks to me that coffee prices are bottoming out in the short term. I have written about coffee many times in the past as I'm currently not involved in this market and haven't been for several months as I think prices are limited to the downside as it looks to me that the 138 level has held as prices are now at a 3 week high. Coffee prices are now trading above their 20 day but still below their 100 day moving average which stands at 148 as that is the critical level for the bullish momentum to continue in my opinion so keep a close eye on this market to the upside. At present, I am recommending a short position in orange juice and in cotton and I am also bearish sugar. However, coffee prices are starting enter to enter the month of May with the chance of a frost occurring in Brazil, so there could be a price premium put into this market to the upside and if a frost does occur prices move substantially higher & extremely quickly like they did in 1994.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Excellent
Sugar futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 16.77 a pound while currently trading at 16.83 in a lackluster holiday trading week as tomorrow is Good Friday as the markets will be closed. I have not been involved in the sugar market, but I have remained bearish over quite some time. I have clients that are short and if you are in this market to the downside place your stop loss above the 10 day high standing at 17.18 which is just an eyelash away as prices actually traded as high as 17.16 earlier in the trading session. Many of the commodity markets have reacted to the positive side over the last several days due to the fact that bond interest rates in the United States have been going lower and that is supporting prices, however if you're short, continue to place the proper stop and don't 2nd guess as I think that's the kiss of death over the course of time. Sugar futures are still trading under their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you the trend is lower, but for this market to resume its bearish trend the 16 level has to be breached in my opinion.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Excellent
For more calls on this week's commodity trades like Soybean, Wheat, Lean Hogs, Cotton and more....Just Click Here!
Friday, April 7, 2017
Surviving and Thriving During an Economic Collapse
By Nick Giambruno
In just over a century, the international monetary system has collapsed three times: in 1914, in 1939, and in 1971, when Nixon severed the dollar’s last ties to gold. We are due for another major breakdown soon.
This time, the US dollar will lose its status as the world’s premier reserve currency. And the ramifications of that happening are hard to overstate. It will likely be the tipping point at which the US government becomes desperate enough to officially restrict the movement of people and their money… desperate enough to nationalize retirement savings… and desperate enough to make other forms of overt wealth confiscation routine.
For decades, countries around the world have conducted most of their international trade in US dollars. If they want to play in the international sandbox, most have to buy US dollars on the currency market first. This creates a (frequently artificial) demand for dollars, which makes those dollars more valuable.
Imagine the overall boost this arrangement gives to the dollar’s value. It’s enormous.
This system allows the US government and US citizens to live way beyond their means. It also gives the US government immense geopolitical leverage. It can pick and choose which countries can participate in the US-dollar-based financial system—and, by extension, the vast majority of international trade.
All of these unique benefits will disappear when the dollar loses its premier status. No one knows exactly when that will happen, but we’re quickly moving in that direction. Russia, China, Brazil, and India are all making serious moves to dump the dollar and trade in their own currencies. The momentum is quickly gaining critical mass.
I believe it won’t be long before the US government will be desperate enough to enact the restrictive measures we all fear. It’s important to prepare for the economic and financial consequences now. However, you also need to prepare for the sociopolitical consequences of the next economic collapse. It’s probably not going to happen tomorrow, but the direction the bankrupt US government is headed is clear.
Once the dollar loses its status as the world’s premier currency, your options for protecting your savings will have likely narrowed significantly, if not disappeared altogether. It’s important to act before that happens.
P.S. New York Times best-selling author Doug Casey and I think that a crisis for the record books is coming soon. We think your savings are highly vulnerable. There’s a good chance you could be wiped out.
That’s why we released an urgent new video on surviving and thriving during the next financial crisis.
Click here to watch it now.
In just over a century, the international monetary system has collapsed three times: in 1914, in 1939, and in 1971, when Nixon severed the dollar’s last ties to gold. We are due for another major breakdown soon.
This time, the US dollar will lose its status as the world’s premier reserve currency. And the ramifications of that happening are hard to overstate. It will likely be the tipping point at which the US government becomes desperate enough to officially restrict the movement of people and their money… desperate enough to nationalize retirement savings… and desperate enough to make other forms of overt wealth confiscation routine.
For decades, countries around the world have conducted most of their international trade in US dollars. If they want to play in the international sandbox, most have to buy US dollars on the currency market first. This creates a (frequently artificial) demand for dollars, which makes those dollars more valuable.
Imagine the overall boost this arrangement gives to the dollar’s value. It’s enormous.
This system allows the US government and US citizens to live way beyond their means. It also gives the US government immense geopolitical leverage. It can pick and choose which countries can participate in the US-dollar-based financial system—and, by extension, the vast majority of international trade.
All of these unique benefits will disappear when the dollar loses its premier status. No one knows exactly when that will happen, but we’re quickly moving in that direction. Russia, China, Brazil, and India are all making serious moves to dump the dollar and trade in their own currencies. The momentum is quickly gaining critical mass.
I believe it won’t be long before the US government will be desperate enough to enact the restrictive measures we all fear. It’s important to prepare for the economic and financial consequences now. However, you also need to prepare for the sociopolitical consequences of the next economic collapse. It’s probably not going to happen tomorrow, but the direction the bankrupt US government is headed is clear.
Once the dollar loses its status as the world’s premier currency, your options for protecting your savings will have likely narrowed significantly, if not disappeared altogether. It’s important to act before that happens.
P.S. New York Times best-selling author Doug Casey and I think that a crisis for the record books is coming soon. We think your savings are highly vulnerable. There’s a good chance you could be wiped out.
That’s why we released an urgent new video on surviving and thriving during the next financial crisis.
Click here to watch it now.
The article Surviving and Thriving During an Economic Collapse was originally published at caseyresearch.com.
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Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Can You Spot the Pattern That Sent Facebook Soaring?
In the final months of 2016 Facebook stock was all over the place. It traded up, down and sideways. Beneath the surface two primal market forces were at work, fighting to control the stock’s direction. On December 30th these forces collided. What happened next was shocking, Facebook popped 8.32% by January 10th.
Facebook call options were up 235.06% in just 11 days. A $1,000 investment would have paid you $2,350 in less than two weeks. And the crazy thing? These events happen all the time, you just need to know where to find them.
Get The Facts Here
Very few traders know about this phenomenon. Even fewer can spot it at work in a stock before an explosive 196%, 228% or 339% move happens. Now you can find out how it works BEFORE the next event strikes.
Watch Right Now
Ray @ the Crude Oil Trader
Facebook call options were up 235.06% in just 11 days. A $1,000 investment would have paid you $2,350 in less than two weeks. And the crazy thing? These events happen all the time, you just need to know where to find them.
Get The Facts Here
Very few traders know about this phenomenon. Even fewer can spot it at work in a stock before an explosive 196%, 228% or 339% move happens. Now you can find out how it works BEFORE the next event strikes.
Watch Right Now
Ray @ the Crude Oil Trader
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Sunday, April 2, 2017
Mike Seery's Weekly Futures Recap - Gold, Coffee, Sugar, Copper and More
Trading for the week of March 27th through March 31st ended with the SP500 and Dow indexes closing slightly lower as markets consolidated this week's rally. This leaves markets neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term and the same goes for the NASDAQ 100.
So no better time than right now to get the a heads up from our trading partner Michael Seery. We've asked him to give our readers a recap of the this weeks futures markets and give us some insight on where he sees these markets headed. Mike has been a senior analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Gold futures in the June contract settled last Friday at 1,251 an ounce while currently trading at 1,247 in a very nonvolatile trading week right near major resistance as prices are still trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you the short term trend is higher. At present, I am not, involved in the precious metals as the U.S dollar continues to flip flop which had made the commodity markets basically go sideways over the last several months. For the gold rally to continue in my opinion prices, have to break major resistance around 1,268 which is still about $20 away as the U.S stock market continues to hover near all time highs which generally is a negative towards gold prices. Gold prices bottomed out last month around the 1,200 level as that's when the Federal Reserve stated that they might slow down on raising interest rates sending prices back up towards the upper end of the trading range, however prices still remain choppy over the last several months so wait for a true trend to develop as there are very few markets that have strong trends at the current time.
Trend: Mixed - Higher
Chart Structure: Improving
Get Chris Vermeulen's Short & Long Term Gold Projections
Coffee futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 137.60 a pound while currently trading at 138.50 in a very nonvolatile trading week as I am not involved in coffee at present as I'm waiting for a breakout to occur as the chart structure has improved tremendously due to the fact that prices continue to go nowhere. Coffee prices continue to trade under their 20 day moving average as the 100 day stands at 147 as I'm very surprised at how low the volatility is as historically speaking coffee is one of the most explosive commodities in the world with huge price swings and huge risk as I don't see this continuing for much longer. Ideal weather conditions in the country of Brazil continue to keep a lid on prices as Brazil is the largest producer in the world and also the largest producer of many commodities in the world as we are starting to enter the frost season which is about 5 weeks away & certainly will send volatility back into this market, but at the present time look at other markets. In my opinion, I do believe prices are limited to the downside as eventually I do think higher prices are ahead, but there is very little fundamental news to push prices in either direction.
Trend: Mixed - Lower
Chart Structure: Improving
Sugar futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 17.71 a pound while currently trading at 16.78 down nearly 100 points for the trading week continuing its bearish momentum as I am not involved in this commodity at present, but do have clients who are short a futures position and if that is the case place your stop above the 10 day high which now stands at 18.17. Sugar prices are trading well below their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is lower as prices are retesting the May 2016 lows and I do think there's a possibility that we could even go as low as 12.50 which was hit in February 2016 as this market remains bearish in my opinion so stay short. The chart structure will not improve for another week so you're going to have to accept the monetary risk as overproduction and lack of demand continue to put pressure on sugar prices here in the short term as I still do believe lower prices are ahead, however, if you have missed the trade like I did move on and look at other markets that are beginning to trend as the risk/reward is not in your favor.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Poor
Copper futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 2.63 a pound while currently trading at 2.65 as I was recommending a bearish position from around 2.61 getting stopped out in Thursday's trade around the 2.70 level taking the loss and moving on as this market remains choppy. Copper prices are trading right at their 20 day but still above their 100 day moving average telling you that the trend is mixed as prices hit a 3 week high following the stock market which is hovering right near at all time highs as the NASDAQ 100 did hit all time highs as I was also stopped out of that trade as I have no precious metal recommendations at the current time. The chart structure in copper is relatively solid as we could be involved once again in the next couple of weeks so keep a close eye on this market as it still looks expensive.
Trend: Mixed
Chart Structure: Solid
For more calls on this week's commodity trades like Soybean, Cocoa, Lean Hogs, Corn and more....Just Click Here!
So no better time than right now to get the a heads up from our trading partner Michael Seery. We've asked him to give our readers a recap of the this weeks futures markets and give us some insight on where he sees these markets headed. Mike has been a senior analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Gold futures in the June contract settled last Friday at 1,251 an ounce while currently trading at 1,247 in a very nonvolatile trading week right near major resistance as prices are still trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you the short term trend is higher. At present, I am not, involved in the precious metals as the U.S dollar continues to flip flop which had made the commodity markets basically go sideways over the last several months. For the gold rally to continue in my opinion prices, have to break major resistance around 1,268 which is still about $20 away as the U.S stock market continues to hover near all time highs which generally is a negative towards gold prices. Gold prices bottomed out last month around the 1,200 level as that's when the Federal Reserve stated that they might slow down on raising interest rates sending prices back up towards the upper end of the trading range, however prices still remain choppy over the last several months so wait for a true trend to develop as there are very few markets that have strong trends at the current time.
Trend: Mixed - Higher
Chart Structure: Improving
Get Chris Vermeulen's Short & Long Term Gold Projections
Coffee futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 137.60 a pound while currently trading at 138.50 in a very nonvolatile trading week as I am not involved in coffee at present as I'm waiting for a breakout to occur as the chart structure has improved tremendously due to the fact that prices continue to go nowhere. Coffee prices continue to trade under their 20 day moving average as the 100 day stands at 147 as I'm very surprised at how low the volatility is as historically speaking coffee is one of the most explosive commodities in the world with huge price swings and huge risk as I don't see this continuing for much longer. Ideal weather conditions in the country of Brazil continue to keep a lid on prices as Brazil is the largest producer in the world and also the largest producer of many commodities in the world as we are starting to enter the frost season which is about 5 weeks away & certainly will send volatility back into this market, but at the present time look at other markets. In my opinion, I do believe prices are limited to the downside as eventually I do think higher prices are ahead, but there is very little fundamental news to push prices in either direction.
Trend: Mixed - Lower
Chart Structure: Improving
Sugar futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 17.71 a pound while currently trading at 16.78 down nearly 100 points for the trading week continuing its bearish momentum as I am not involved in this commodity at present, but do have clients who are short a futures position and if that is the case place your stop above the 10 day high which now stands at 18.17. Sugar prices are trading well below their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short term trend is lower as prices are retesting the May 2016 lows and I do think there's a possibility that we could even go as low as 12.50 which was hit in February 2016 as this market remains bearish in my opinion so stay short. The chart structure will not improve for another week so you're going to have to accept the monetary risk as overproduction and lack of demand continue to put pressure on sugar prices here in the short term as I still do believe lower prices are ahead, however, if you have missed the trade like I did move on and look at other markets that are beginning to trend as the risk/reward is not in your favor.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Poor
Copper futures in the May contract settled last Friday in New York at 2.63 a pound while currently trading at 2.65 as I was recommending a bearish position from around 2.61 getting stopped out in Thursday's trade around the 2.70 level taking the loss and moving on as this market remains choppy. Copper prices are trading right at their 20 day but still above their 100 day moving average telling you that the trend is mixed as prices hit a 3 week high following the stock market which is hovering right near at all time highs as the NASDAQ 100 did hit all time highs as I was also stopped out of that trade as I have no precious metal recommendations at the current time. The chart structure in copper is relatively solid as we could be involved once again in the next couple of weeks so keep a close eye on this market as it still looks expensive.
Trend: Mixed
Chart Structure: Solid
For more calls on this week's commodity trades like Soybean, Cocoa, Lean Hogs, Corn and more....Just Click Here!
Friday, March 31, 2017
The First Ever ‘Codeword’ Leak
By Porter Stansberry
Today, an emerging story about the secret civil war being waged right now in Washington D.C. It is about to have a HUGE impact on our country. Two warnings before we begin. First, what I know so far is deeply troubling. We're approaching what will be the most dangerous period in our country's political history since the Great Depression. What could happen next scares me. But I continue to be optimistic that what will unfold will be great for our country.
Also, I'm certain that you simply won't believe much of what you'll read in today's essay. In fact, until I did my own follow-up research to verify what I could from my sources, I disregarded this story as "political nonsense" or just another D.C. conspiracy theory. Besides… it was all too horrible to believe. But then… almost everything my sources told me would happen started happening.…
Let's begin here.…
Did you know the U.S. government has a secrecy designation so restricted that virtually nobody – not even lifetime members of the intelligence community – even knows what it's called? It's not "TOP SECRET." It's way beyond that level. In late 2009, President Obama created this new level of secrecy inside our government with an executive order (No. 13526) – so Congress never approved it. Administered by the CIA, this new level of secrecy has created a covert government within the government that almost nobody knows and absolutely nobody is monitoring.
If you've ever heard the term the "Deep State" – the secret government within the government that actually holds power – then you know why a level of secrecy beyond "top secret" is so important. This new, more restricted level of secrecy was created so that the most powerful leaders of our government could communicate in total isolation. This level of secrecy is such a closely guarded secret that the name of the program itself is classified – and divulging the name is a crime, punishable by at least 10 years in a secret prison. So this level of security clearance is known only as "codeword."
At the highest levels of our D.C. government, only two dozen or so people have codeword clearances.…
I learned about this earlier this month. I was invited to lunch with someone who has held that level of security clearance. He told me about the existence of the codeword-level program. This isn't a rumor. It's a fact. For the last 30-plus years, my source has worked for and around the highest levels of our government. He is currently regarded as the president's most likely choice to become our next Federal Reserve chairman. Today, however, his clients include the world's top hedge fund managers and the leaders of America's biggest corporations. He is, in short, America's corporate representative of the Deep State.
We call him the "Metropolitan Man."
We met about a year ago. He reached out to me through a mutual friend – one of the best, young hedge fund managers in New York. He asked me to join him for dinner at the Metropolitan Club in New York, one of the most elite clubs in the United States. (Legendary banker J.P. Morgan founded the club. It's where billionaire investor Warren Buffett held his 50th birthday party. And it sits at the southeast corner of Central Park, across from The Plaza Hotel, with a great vista of Columbus Circle.) At the time, the Metropolitan Man was forecasting correctly that the world's central bankers and their negative interest rate policy were failing and that they would soon trigger a global run out of paper money and into gold. Over the next several months, gold and gold stocks soared (as you may remember).
A few days ago, the Metropolitan Man asked to see me again.…
He wanted to talk about something he had never seen before in all his years working in the government. For the first time ever, a codeword-level secret was leaked to the press. Nothing this sensitive has ever been leaked before – ever. Among senior leaders in D.C., it is widely believed that the director of the CIA himself was responsible for the codeword leak. And the rumor is that this information was then passed to the press through New York Senator Chuck Schumer's office. What was leaked?
A codeword secret briefing the CIA produced about a meeting in Trump Tower last December between a Russian ambassador and two senior Trump administration officials – Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn.
When Flynn lied about the meeting to the White House staff, he was fired. But the deeper question is: How did the CIA know about the meeting? How did it know how long the meeting lasted? How did it know exactly what was discussed? And how did that information end up in the hands of a New York Times reporter?
This backstory explains how Trump knows the CIA was spying on Trump Tower. And the counternarratives – Trump's claim that Obama was spying on him and the Democrats' claim that Trump is in league with Russia – are the beginning of a serious war. A civil war inside the Deep State itself.
Reading the newspapers won't explain how this war is being fought.…
They will never publish a clear explanation of the battle lines – or even who is fighting or why. But the outcome of these battles is likely to determine the fate of our economy for the next several decades. Let me explain why and tell you what this fight is really about. For the last 40 or so years, the U.S. economy has been built around a model that created vast power in D.C. The model has a few important components.
First, we have a highly "progressive" income tax. That ensures that anyone who makes high wages will pay for the lion's share of the government's expenses. Without extremely progressive income tax rates – where about half the country pays nothing and the top 10% pay for roughly 80% – the electorate would never continue to vote for more and more government. But it does, mostly because it doesn't have to pay for it.
Second, the government has an incredibly powerful regulatory regime in place. This allows D.C. to essentially control vast segments of our economy. Take Wall Street, for example. Who gets to sell a bond or a stock to the public? Nobody the Securities and Exchange Commission doesn't like (i.e. yours truly). This power results in tremendous amounts of "tribute" – legal fees, fines, and hidden lobbying that flows into D.C. and feeds its economic ecosystem.
And finally there's the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and "free" trade. Our country has the ability to export all of the inflation generated by our central bank. This has led to decades of lower and lower interest rates and the government's ability to borrow essentially endless amounts of money without any serious inflationary consequences. These three components form the foundations of Washington's power.
Attack any of them and you risk a huge fight with the Deep State. What Trump is doing right now via his border adjustment tax, additional tax reform, and regulatory rollback is targeting all three of them at the same time. If he wins, all of the power that has been consolidated in D.C. over the past 40 years will evaporate.
Trump has put a metaphorical gun to the head of the Deep State…
And now, the Deep State is fighting back, tooth and nail, to protect the system it has built. Look at what has happened to the middle class in America over the last 40 years. Did NAFTA prevent price inflation by allowing America's consumer economy the luxury of accessing the world's cheapest labor? Yes, it did. But the flip side was devastating to the entire manufacturing industry in the U.S. And where did the resulting wealth flow? To D.C. and to the top 1% of America's wealthiest people who were able to access foreign markets and shield the resulting income from America's tax system.
Meanwhile, America remains the only industrial country in the world with global income taxation (you have to pay federal income tax, no matter where you live) and without a value-added tax. In short, we've chosen a system that punishes wage earners, while rewarding individuals and corporations who use overseas labor. The result has been a decline in real, after-tax wages over the last 40 years. That's a recipe to destroy the middle class – and that's what has happened.
Trump's plan to effectively lower income taxes to 25% and implement a value added tax to discourage foreign production of U.S. products will turn this entire economic structure on its ear and disenfranchise the Deep State that controls it. The winners will be the middle class, small business owners, wage earners, and America's manufacturing base. The losers? Those who have invested heavily in the current Deep State regime.
Why is this scary?
Well, unlike the health reform issue, the Metropolitan Man assured me that Trump's tax reform agenda would certainly pass. "It's a done deal," he said. He told me that his job lately "has been to help major corporations understand what will be in the new laws and how they will impact various markets." That means the Deep State has been pushed into a corner. What it might do next, no one knows. "That it would leak a codeword secret. Well, I would have told you that couldn't happen. I've never seen it before, not in more than 30 years in D.C. It's scary because if it'll do that, it'll do anything. Stage a terrorist attack? Start a war with China? Nothing is impossible anymore."
That's the downside. The next several months could see our government erupt into open civil war. The FBI accusing the president of treason… The president accusing a director of the CIA of breaking the law and having him arrested. Who knows where this will lead? On the other hand, assuming the government doesn't collapse into a civil war, Trump's new economic model will become a reality before the end of the year. For some industries (and for most Americans) these changes will bring massive prosperity. And for others – especially for companies and individuals who have been living at the government trough, tough times are looming.
Here's the best part.…
I believe these coming changes are so important and could lead to so much wealth creation that I've convinced the Metropolitan Man to come forward.
We will hold a meeting with him, at our offices in Baltimore, on April 5, 2017.
The meeting with start at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. It will last approximately two hours. Security will be very tight, so plan to arrive early. Everyone will be searched. At this meeting, the Metropolitan Man will "take off his mask" and tell you about his role in the Deep State. He'll explain the importance of the codeword-secret leak. And he'll discuss what the new Trump economic model will mean for various industries and parts of our country. He'll also explain how he knows the tax reform/border adjustment laws are certain to pass Congress and what those policies will mean for our country. If you'd like to attend the meeting via a live conference call, you can listen for only $19.95. Yes, that's right. $19.95.
This is easily the most important and valuable meeting I've ever arranged.
It has taken more than a decade of work to gain access to information like this… And I want you to benefit from the incredible access we've gained. For successful investors and wealthy business leaders, meeting the Metropolitan Man in person and having the opportunity to ask him questions is invaluable. His normal consulting fee is $250,000. So I believe there's tremendous value at both price points. But no matter how you plan to attend, please do whatever you must to be at this meeting. There isn't a more important event you could attend this year.
Sign Up Here
Regards,
Porter Stansberry
Today, an emerging story about the secret civil war being waged right now in Washington D.C. It is about to have a HUGE impact on our country. Two warnings before we begin. First, what I know so far is deeply troubling. We're approaching what will be the most dangerous period in our country's political history since the Great Depression. What could happen next scares me. But I continue to be optimistic that what will unfold will be great for our country.
Also, I'm certain that you simply won't believe much of what you'll read in today's essay. In fact, until I did my own follow-up research to verify what I could from my sources, I disregarded this story as "political nonsense" or just another D.C. conspiracy theory. Besides… it was all too horrible to believe. But then… almost everything my sources told me would happen started happening.…
Let's begin here.…
Did you know the U.S. government has a secrecy designation so restricted that virtually nobody – not even lifetime members of the intelligence community – even knows what it's called? It's not "TOP SECRET." It's way beyond that level. In late 2009, President Obama created this new level of secrecy inside our government with an executive order (No. 13526) – so Congress never approved it. Administered by the CIA, this new level of secrecy has created a covert government within the government that almost nobody knows and absolutely nobody is monitoring.
If you've ever heard the term the "Deep State" – the secret government within the government that actually holds power – then you know why a level of secrecy beyond "top secret" is so important. This new, more restricted level of secrecy was created so that the most powerful leaders of our government could communicate in total isolation. This level of secrecy is such a closely guarded secret that the name of the program itself is classified – and divulging the name is a crime, punishable by at least 10 years in a secret prison. So this level of security clearance is known only as "codeword."
At the highest levels of our D.C. government, only two dozen or so people have codeword clearances.…
I learned about this earlier this month. I was invited to lunch with someone who has held that level of security clearance. He told me about the existence of the codeword-level program. This isn't a rumor. It's a fact. For the last 30-plus years, my source has worked for and around the highest levels of our government. He is currently regarded as the president's most likely choice to become our next Federal Reserve chairman. Today, however, his clients include the world's top hedge fund managers and the leaders of America's biggest corporations. He is, in short, America's corporate representative of the Deep State.
We call him the "Metropolitan Man."
We met about a year ago. He reached out to me through a mutual friend – one of the best, young hedge fund managers in New York. He asked me to join him for dinner at the Metropolitan Club in New York, one of the most elite clubs in the United States. (Legendary banker J.P. Morgan founded the club. It's where billionaire investor Warren Buffett held his 50th birthday party. And it sits at the southeast corner of Central Park, across from The Plaza Hotel, with a great vista of Columbus Circle.) At the time, the Metropolitan Man was forecasting correctly that the world's central bankers and their negative interest rate policy were failing and that they would soon trigger a global run out of paper money and into gold. Over the next several months, gold and gold stocks soared (as you may remember).
A few days ago, the Metropolitan Man asked to see me again.…
He wanted to talk about something he had never seen before in all his years working in the government. For the first time ever, a codeword-level secret was leaked to the press. Nothing this sensitive has ever been leaked before – ever. Among senior leaders in D.C., it is widely believed that the director of the CIA himself was responsible for the codeword leak. And the rumor is that this information was then passed to the press through New York Senator Chuck Schumer's office. What was leaked?
A codeword secret briefing the CIA produced about a meeting in Trump Tower last December between a Russian ambassador and two senior Trump administration officials – Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn.
When Flynn lied about the meeting to the White House staff, he was fired. But the deeper question is: How did the CIA know about the meeting? How did it know how long the meeting lasted? How did it know exactly what was discussed? And how did that information end up in the hands of a New York Times reporter?
This backstory explains how Trump knows the CIA was spying on Trump Tower. And the counternarratives – Trump's claim that Obama was spying on him and the Democrats' claim that Trump is in league with Russia – are the beginning of a serious war. A civil war inside the Deep State itself.
Reading the newspapers won't explain how this war is being fought.…
They will never publish a clear explanation of the battle lines – or even who is fighting or why. But the outcome of these battles is likely to determine the fate of our economy for the next several decades. Let me explain why and tell you what this fight is really about. For the last 40 or so years, the U.S. economy has been built around a model that created vast power in D.C. The model has a few important components.
First, we have a highly "progressive" income tax. That ensures that anyone who makes high wages will pay for the lion's share of the government's expenses. Without extremely progressive income tax rates – where about half the country pays nothing and the top 10% pay for roughly 80% – the electorate would never continue to vote for more and more government. But it does, mostly because it doesn't have to pay for it.
Second, the government has an incredibly powerful regulatory regime in place. This allows D.C. to essentially control vast segments of our economy. Take Wall Street, for example. Who gets to sell a bond or a stock to the public? Nobody the Securities and Exchange Commission doesn't like (i.e. yours truly). This power results in tremendous amounts of "tribute" – legal fees, fines, and hidden lobbying that flows into D.C. and feeds its economic ecosystem.
And finally there's the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and "free" trade. Our country has the ability to export all of the inflation generated by our central bank. This has led to decades of lower and lower interest rates and the government's ability to borrow essentially endless amounts of money without any serious inflationary consequences. These three components form the foundations of Washington's power.
Attack any of them and you risk a huge fight with the Deep State. What Trump is doing right now via his border adjustment tax, additional tax reform, and regulatory rollback is targeting all three of them at the same time. If he wins, all of the power that has been consolidated in D.C. over the past 40 years will evaporate.
Trump has put a metaphorical gun to the head of the Deep State…
And now, the Deep State is fighting back, tooth and nail, to protect the system it has built. Look at what has happened to the middle class in America over the last 40 years. Did NAFTA prevent price inflation by allowing America's consumer economy the luxury of accessing the world's cheapest labor? Yes, it did. But the flip side was devastating to the entire manufacturing industry in the U.S. And where did the resulting wealth flow? To D.C. and to the top 1% of America's wealthiest people who were able to access foreign markets and shield the resulting income from America's tax system.
Meanwhile, America remains the only industrial country in the world with global income taxation (you have to pay federal income tax, no matter where you live) and without a value-added tax. In short, we've chosen a system that punishes wage earners, while rewarding individuals and corporations who use overseas labor. The result has been a decline in real, after-tax wages over the last 40 years. That's a recipe to destroy the middle class – and that's what has happened.
Trump's plan to effectively lower income taxes to 25% and implement a value added tax to discourage foreign production of U.S. products will turn this entire economic structure on its ear and disenfranchise the Deep State that controls it. The winners will be the middle class, small business owners, wage earners, and America's manufacturing base. The losers? Those who have invested heavily in the current Deep State regime.
Why is this scary?
Well, unlike the health reform issue, the Metropolitan Man assured me that Trump's tax reform agenda would certainly pass. "It's a done deal," he said. He told me that his job lately "has been to help major corporations understand what will be in the new laws and how they will impact various markets." That means the Deep State has been pushed into a corner. What it might do next, no one knows. "That it would leak a codeword secret. Well, I would have told you that couldn't happen. I've never seen it before, not in more than 30 years in D.C. It's scary because if it'll do that, it'll do anything. Stage a terrorist attack? Start a war with China? Nothing is impossible anymore."
That's the downside. The next several months could see our government erupt into open civil war. The FBI accusing the president of treason… The president accusing a director of the CIA of breaking the law and having him arrested. Who knows where this will lead? On the other hand, assuming the government doesn't collapse into a civil war, Trump's new economic model will become a reality before the end of the year. For some industries (and for most Americans) these changes will bring massive prosperity. And for others – especially for companies and individuals who have been living at the government trough, tough times are looming.
Here's the best part.…
I believe these coming changes are so important and could lead to so much wealth creation that I've convinced the Metropolitan Man to come forward.
We will hold a meeting with him, at our offices in Baltimore, on April 5, 2017.
The meeting with start at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. It will last approximately two hours. Security will be very tight, so plan to arrive early. Everyone will be searched. At this meeting, the Metropolitan Man will "take off his mask" and tell you about his role in the Deep State. He'll explain the importance of the codeword-secret leak. And he'll discuss what the new Trump economic model will mean for various industries and parts of our country. He'll also explain how he knows the tax reform/border adjustment laws are certain to pass Congress and what those policies will mean for our country. If you'd like to attend the meeting via a live conference call, you can listen for only $19.95. Yes, that's right. $19.95.
This is easily the most important and valuable meeting I've ever arranged.
It has taken more than a decade of work to gain access to information like this… And I want you to benefit from the incredible access we've gained. For successful investors and wealthy business leaders, meeting the Metropolitan Man in person and having the opportunity to ask him questions is invaluable. His normal consulting fee is $250,000. So I believe there's tremendous value at both price points. But no matter how you plan to attend, please do whatever you must to be at this meeting. There isn't a more important event you could attend this year.
Sign Up Here
Regards,
Porter Stansberry
Labels:
CIA,
Congress,
conspiracy,
deep state,
hedge fund,
Obama,
Trump,
Washington
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
The Dancing Bears
By Jeff Thomas
In the early 2000s, I recommended to associates that we were in for a major gold boom. Most thought that this was a ridiculous suggestion and didn’t buy a single ounce. I continued to recommend the purchase of gold regularly over the ensuing years, and the price continued to rise. Only in 2011 did they start to buy, at a time when gold was peaking. We were due for a correction and in late 2011, it arrived. For several years, the price has remained in the neighbourhood of $1,200—roughly the price it needs to be to bother removing it from the ground.During that time, gold has periodically risen a bit, then gotten knocked down again. It’s understandable that this should happen. Central banks have a stake in holding down the gold price, since a rising gold price makes it appear more attractive than storing cash in banks. We’ve reached the point that the central banks have run out of tricks to float the economy and we’re already past due for a crash.
But crashes don’t always occur as soon as they become logical. As long as the public can be fooled into remaining confident in the system, a doomed economy can limp along for a bit before toppling. Statistics on unemployment and inflation can be fudged (and they have been). The stock market can be falsely pumped up (and it has been) in order to create the illusion that all is well. These factors, taken together with knocking down the price of gold periodically, helps to convince people that they should keep their money in cash and their cash in the bank, not in gold.
Just as in 2000, the number of people who understand that gold is not the equivalent of a stock but a store of wealth during dramatically changing times is quite small—certainly less than 1% and more likely less than 1/10th of 1%. Those that possess this understanding tend to hold gold long-term and are relatively unconcerned about fluctuations—even if they’re over $100 in a given month. They’re in it for the long haul and believe that, eventually, gold will rise dramatically and may well be the only safe haven after a crash.
But let’s go back to those speculators that waited until gold had risen dramatically before jumping on board the gold train. During the last four-year period, whenever gold rose as a result of economic and political developments, many of them would buy in once more, after it had risen significantly. Then, when it had been knocked down again, they tended to sell—often at the new bottom.
Of course, this behaviour is not limited just to the purchase of gold. In fact, a very high percentage of investors “play” the stock market in this way. They wait until everyone and his dog is buying in and the price is peaking, often buying on margin in order to maximize their positions. Then, when the bubble pops, they tend to ride the market down, hoping in vain that the price will return at least to what it was when they bought in. In essence, they tend to buy high and sell low almost every time.
The gold bears—those investors who don’t truly understand that gold is a very different animal from stocks—typically dislike gold but buy high when it becomes trendy to do so and sell low after it’s been knocked down. This dance is guaranteed to cause the gold bears to lose money time after time.
The dance is sometimes described as “chasing the market,” or “following the trends.” Brokers keep the dance going by advising their clients of established trends, telling them that they’re “missing out if they don’t get in now.” They serve as the market’s equivalent of a caller in a square dance: “Swing your client to and fro—watch his investment dollars go.”
Just as few investors understand the economic nature of gold, they also tend to overlook the fact that the broker doesn’t benefit from the success of the client—he makes his money when the client buys and sells frequently. So, of course his advice is going to be for the client to keep dancing.
So, will this dance go on as it is, ad infinitum? Well, no. There will be a dramatic change following a crash in the markets. Following any major crash, a panic occurs and whatever money is left on the table scrambles to find a new (hopefully safe) home. Following the coming crash, a portion of that money will head into gold. The price will rise dramatically, very possibly to such a degree that it can no longer be easily knocked down by the central banks.
At first the gold bears will assume that it’s an anomaly. Then, as gold passes $1,500, some will dip their toes in. As it passes $1,800, some will wade in. Beyond $2,000, this trend will strengthen quite a bit. As the crash deepens, stocks will tumble further. The bond bubble may also pop, increasing gold’s shine. At some point, bankers may begin to freeze accounts, create bank holidays, and/or confiscate deposits. At that point, gold will head into its long-predicted mania phase and the bears will be falling over each other, chasing the buying trend.
Gold will rise to a logical price in keeping with its value as a hedge against a collapsing economy. At that point, it would make sense for it to stop, but that’s not what will happen. Those who understand gold will cease their purchases and sit on what they have. But then a new dance will begin. The bears will become decidedly bullish. It’s important to note that, at this point, they will not fully understand why gold is rising so dramatically; they’ll just know that it is. They’ll want to get in on the gold rush and will do whatever they have to in order to keep buying.
They’ll find that physical gold is in short supply, as traditional holders are unwilling to sell, seemingly at any price. Potential buyers will offer $50 above spot, then $100 above spot, then more. They’ll additionally buy on margin in order to increase their position. It will be at this point that the mania will take hold. Irrationally high prices will become the new norm. How high will it go? $10,000? $20,000? Impossible to say. It will rise as high as desperation makes it rise, and we cannot now determine what that level of desperation will be.
A new bubble will be created, but this time, it won’t be in stocks or bonds. It’ll be in gold and, like all bubbles, it will eventually pop. This will occur when those who understand the nature of gold recognize that the price has far exceeded what’s logical and, as much as they value gold, they’ll sell a portion of their holdings and use the proceeds to invest in whatever assets have already bottomed and have nowhere to go but up.
They’re likely to retain a portion of their gold holdings for the same reason they always have, but will be happy to release a portion when it becomes significantly overvalued. This will cause the gold bubble to pop and the gold bears, who have recently become bulls, will wonder where it all went wrong. At this point, they still won’t understand gold; they’ll simply have chased yet another trend and lost.
So, is there a moral here? Well, if so, it’s simply that an investor should not become involved in a market that he doesn’t understand. Nor should he trust his broker to understand it for him. Ironically, as long as there have been markets, there have been those who go out on the dance floor without first learning the dance. A great deal of profit will be made by some gold investors, but the majority are likely to leave the floor with empty dance cards.
Regards,
Jeff Thomas
Editor’s Note: Gold is crisis insurance. Without it, you’re highly vulnerable. And there’s a good chance the next financial crisis could wipe you out.
New York Times best selling author Doug Casey thinks that crisis is coming soon. He shares all the details in this urgent video. Click here to watch it now.
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