Thursday, July 06, 2017

Italy Has Ignored ECB Regulations And Bailed Out Its Banks Again / Interest-Rates / Financial Crisis 2017

By: John_Mauldin

By Xander Snyder : The Italian government has bailed out its banks again. Unwittingly, it has shown just how ineffective the European Central Bank is.

Rome recently finalized a deal to save one of the country’s largest and most important commercial banks, Monte dei Paschi di Siena. In another deal, Intesa Sanpaolo, a much more stable bank, will bail out Veneto Banca and Banca Popolare di Vicenza.

Both agreements involve Italian government funds and prevent senior creditors from incurring losses. That skirts the European Union’s strictest banking regulations, which allow Brussels to impose losses on senior bondholders.

Thursday, July 06, 2017

Mark Yusko Warns to Get Out Of Stock Index Funds Now / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2017

By: John_Mauldin

BY STEPHEN MCBRIDE : The market cap of FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google) are up $260 billion since March 1. Meanwhile, the market cap of the other 495 companies in the S&P 500 are down $260 billion.

This is a textbook example of unsustainable growth, yet it has largely fallen on deaf ears for many investors.

Speaking at the Mauldin Economics’ Strategic Investment Conference, Mark Yusko, Founder and CIO of Morgan Creek Capital Management, dissected this and the other biggest risks—along with opportunities—in financial markets today.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Few People Grasp What Geopolitical Power Shale Oil Gives To The US / Commodities / Shale Oil and Gas

By: John_Mauldin

I know no one else with George Friedman’s breadth and depth of insight into today’s world.

Right at the root of today’s major global issues, we find one little word: oil. So, I’ve asked George to bring us up to speed on the geopolitical implications of a remarkable phenomenon: the US shale oil industry.

There is good news here for the US, but big bad news for Saudi Arabia and Russia—and in fact any country with oil exports as its main source of income.

But without further ado, I’ll let George and his team enlighten you on this development themselves.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Fed Officials Say More Hikes Are on The Way, Markets Disagree / Interest-Rates / US Interest Rates

By: MoneyMetals

By Clint Siegner : Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen says she is planning more hikes in the Fed funds rate, but you wouldn’t know it by watching the markets. So far, the response in foreign exchange, bonds, and equities isn’t what people expected.

Markets have always been notorious for behaving unpredictably.

But in an age when central bankers micromanage virtually all markets, the behavior could be the result of careful planning. Maybe the recent market action was only unpredictable for those of us outside of the FOMC conference room.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

A North Korean EMP Attack: The Dark Possibility / Politics / North Korea

By: HAA

Shannara Johnson : As the tension between North Korea and the US continues to grow, the possibility of war is rapidly evolving into a probability. Now some military experts worry that an attack via EMP (electromagnetic pulse) on the US mainland might be a feasible option for Pyongyang.

The signs are certainly there: Having recently completed the ninth missile test of 2017, Kim Jong-un promised to send the US an even bigger “gift package.”

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Enter The Natural Gas Cartel / Commodities / Natural Gas

By: Jim_Willie_CB

The King Dollar is mortally wounded. Many notice but the masses seem largely unaware. Since 1971, the Gold Standard has been removed from its anchor position. But since 1973, the Petro-Dollar has taken its place. It has called for crude oil sales led by the Saudis and OPEC to be transacted in USDollar terms, for oil surpluses to be stored in USTreasury Bonds, and for some kickbacks from the Saudis to the USMilitary complex for weapons purchases. Of course, the US is ready willing and able to create strife and to foment wars whereby the Arab oil monarchs will need more weapons. Since 2014, many events have pointed to the crippled condition of the important link between the USDollar and crude oil. The price has plunged by 50% of more, and not recovered. It is currently lurching in the nether bounds near the $45 level. Anything less than $65 to $70 per barrel is very dangerous for keeping the oil sovereigns afloat and for keeping the US energy sector solvent. Witness the Wall Street banks having tremendous problems with impaired bonds and toxic energy portfolios. They seem not resolvable. They cannot keep the oil price over $50, a sign of their impotence.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Will Trump Fire Yellen or Vice Versa / Interest-Rates / US Federal Reserve Bank

By: Michael_Pento

Citigroup’s Economic Surprise Index just hit its lowest level since August 2011. But this level of disappointment has ironically emboldened the Fed to step up its hawkish monetary rhetoric. The truth is that the hard economic data is grossly missing analyst estimates to the downside as the economy inexorably grinds towards recession. This anemic growth and inflation data should have been sufficient to stay the Fed's hand for the rest of this year and cause it to forgo the unwinding of its balance sheet.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Stock Market Post-holiday Hangover? / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2017

By: Anthony_Cherniawski

Good Morning!

The bank-heavy Dow made a new all-time high on July 3 in light trading. It was aided and abetted by its largest holding, Goldman Sachs, up 2.42%.

This high may be called an “echo Cycle” since June 29 is exactly 8.6 years from the bottom of Wave 3 of (C) on November 21, 2008. I have seen this before in gold and crude, where we have witnessed “double tops.”

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

USDCAD Broke below 1.2968 Key Support / Currencies / Canadian $

By: Franco_Shao

USDCAD’s bearish movement from the May 5 high of 1.3793 extended to as low as 1.2912, breaking below the January 31 low of 1.2968 key support, indicating that the long term bearish movement from the January 2016 high of 1.4689 has resumed.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

US Dollar Outlook / Currencies / US Dollar

By: Anthony_Cherniawski

I just listened to an interview with Martin Armstrong on YouTube about what to expect from the world financial arena. As much as I respect him, I cannot agree with what he says concerning (1) the direction of the US Dollar and (2) its impact on equities. Of course, his research is far deeper than mine, so I defer on that count. However, The best analysis that I have is that the USD may continue to decline (should I say collapse?) in the near term. That does not bode well for either domestic stocks or bonds.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Robo Advisors Shape the Future of Portfolio Management / Stock-Markets / Investing 2017

By: Boris_Dzhingarov

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

UK House Prices ‘On Brink’ Of Massive 40% Collapse / Housing-Market / UK Housing

By: GoldCore

– UK house prices on brink of massive 40% collapse
– UK  at ‘edge of worst house price collapse since 1990s’
– Two leading economists warn of property crash
– “We are due a significant correction in house prices”
– Brexit and wages failing to keep up with inflation to trigger collapse

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

UK Bank Rewards Current Accounts / Personal_Finance / Current Accounts

By: MoneyFacts

Consumers looking to earn a little back when they switch and spend may have noticed that some current account providers are shrinking the rewards they have on offer. The reason behind this appears to be down to low interest rates, but other factors could also be dampening activity in this area of the market.

The banks are expected to retain more capital, which could result in them spending less on perks for customers - meaning decreasing and disappearing rewards, as we’ve seen since the start of 2017.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Gold Price Broke Below Major Support Trend Line / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2017

By: Franco_Shao

XAUUSD’s downside movement from the June 6 high of 1295.94 extended to as low as 1218.45, breaking below the major support trend line from the January 27 low of 1180.51 to the May 9 low of 1214.17 at 1232 on its daily chart. Gold price is now facing another key support at 1214.17.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Stocks Bear Market Is One Step Closer / Stock-Markets / Stocks Bear Market

By: Enda_Glynn

My Bias: market topping process ongoing
Wave Structure: Impulsive 5 wave structure, possibly topping in an all time high.
Long term wave count: Topping in wave (5)
Important risk events: USD: N/A.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Dow 50,000, Then a Colossal Stock Market Crash / Stock-Markets / Stock Market 2017

By: The_Gold_Report

The markets are heading higher, says Tom Beck, founder of Portfolio Wealth Global, who explains why and discusses the actions that he is taking.
Portfolio Wealth Global wants to show you today why stocks are in the final innings of a "blow-off top" set-up and why the "blow-off top" has begun for all major indices—it is global.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Gold GLD ETF Recognition Day / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2017

By: Rambus_Chartology

Today is called a recognition day when it finally becomes apparent that the trading range is ending and you have a massive breakout move. We can still get a backtest to the breakout point which would represent the 2nd area to take a position. Today GLD gapped below the H&S backtest to the bottom rail of the black bearish rising wedge and that very important S&R line which last week I said came into play around the 117 area.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Shadow Government Hates America's Independence Day / Politics / US Politics

By: BATR

The only conclusion any honest American citizen can come to is that the Republic is dead. Once again the flags wave and the songs play as the parades march to celebrate another 4th of July. Picnic meals are eaten while children frolic in the warn sunshine of summer. Few people reflect on the true meaning that established the solemn commemoration of the nation's birth. The reality of this post federation of independent state sovereignty is that a centralized federal behemoth has superseded the original intent of Thomas Jefferson's vision: "That government is best which governs least". Today the society that exists demands compliance or compels obedience by way of punishment.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Next Elliott Wave Target for Bitcoin BTCUSD / Currencies / Bitcoin

By: ElliottWave-Forecast

Bitcoin is still considered as the currency of the Dark Web, despite the fact that  it was the world’s best performing currency in 2015 & 2016 and currently 1 Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is worth 2 Ounces Of Gold which is significantly important in the financial world. The digital currency continued it’s outstanding performance during this year with and it’s up +260% but Ethereum has taking over the show with +3200% rise since January.

We implemented our Elliott Wave technique in our previous articles to predict the rise of Bitcoin  and how it was looking to make new all time highs. Then we explained that despite BTCUSD was reaching a Warning Stage, it would remain bullish looking for more gains to come.

Monday, July 03, 2017

This Chart Explains Why Germany’s Economic Stability Depends On The US / Economics / Germany

By: John_Mauldin

In our 2017 forecast, we predicted that German exports will fall in 2017, which will weaken Berlin's trade position and slow down economic growth.

However, the latest reports from the German central bank and two other influential institutions have challenged our forecast on two fronts.

First, the German reports say that exports will continue to rise. Second, the German reports insisted that it is the domestic drivers that have made German growth stable.