Sunday, January 07, 2018

Student Debt Slavery II: Time to Level the Playing Field / Politics / Student Finances

By: Ellen_Brown

The lending business is heavily stacked against student borrowers. Bigger players can borrow for almost nothing, and if their investments don’t work out, they can put their corporate shells through bankruptcy and walk away. Not so with students. Their loan rates are high and if they cannot pay, their debts are not normally dischargeable in bankruptcy. Rather, the debts compound and can dog them for life, compromising not only their own futures but the economy itself.

“Students should not be asked to pay more on their debt than they can afford,” said Donald Trump on the presidential campaign trail in October 2016. “And the debt should not be an albatross around their necks for the rest of their lives.”

Sunday, January 07, 2018

Commodities the Return To Inflation? / Commodities / Commodities Trading

By: WMA

The headline in this Thursday’s Financial Times reads: “Commodities prices hit highest point since 2014”.

The FT article begins: “The Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index, which tracks price of 22 raw materials, has hit its highest level since 2014 when the oil market price crash started.”

A small problem might be that the Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index does not include Energy or Precious Metals, which are in other Bloomberg indexes. In fact, in the Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index is a grouping of Raw Industrials and Food Stuffs. The Raw Industrials includes burlap, copper scrap, cotton, hides, lead scrap, print cloth, rosin, rubber, steel scrap, tallow, tin, wool tops, and zinc. Foodstuffs include butter, cocoa beans, corn, cottonseed oil, hogs, lard, steers, sugar, and wheat. 

Sunday, January 07, 2018

Bitcoin Forecast 2018 - Preparing for the Cryptocurrency Black Swan Event / Currencies / Bitcoin

By: Chris_Vermeulen

Many people have speculated that Cryptocurrencies can go to $10k or higher.  Recently, the Chinese government has stepped up policy to regulate and eliminate Crypto ICOs as a means of increased speculation and gray-market capital.  Additionally, Jamie Dimon, of JP Morgan, stated that Bitcoin is a fraud and that it would “blow up” (http://www.msn.com/en-my/news/other/bitcoin-is-a-fraud-that-will-blow-up-says-jp-morgan-boss/ar-AArR1lF).  What is the truth and what should investors expect in the future?  Well, here is my opinion on this topic.

Bitcoin is based on the BlockChain technology architecture.  I believe this architecture will continue to be explored under the basis of an open, distributed ledger method of developing opportunities.  This technology improvement will likely drive advancement in other sectors of the global market as security and accountability continue to increase.  Yet, the growing pains of this technology will likely continue to drive some wild moves over the next few years.

Sunday, January 07, 2018

Natural Gas Got Bomb Cyclone in the New Year / Commodities / Natural Gas

By: EconMatters

Natural gas is the dog that got its day in the New Year trading at $175/MMBtu spot in New York. Less than a month ago, Gas Exporting Countries Forum expected lower natural gas prices “over the next two decades” mostly due to a surge in supplies from unconventional sources.

With the sever winter storm hitting much of North America, temperatures have been tumbling since the start of the New Year. Meteorologists dubbed this arctic winter storm "bomb cyclone" because of the extreme drops in pressure over a short period of time. This unusual freezing cold weather has also had a major impact on U.S. commodity markets, natural gas, in particular.

Sunday, January 07, 2018

What It Takes To Identify A Good Forex Broker / Currencies / Forex Trading

By: Kavinesh_A

The retail forex market is extremely competitive and therefore the task of identifying the right broker is not an easy job to say the least. If you use the keyword and do a search on Google, you will most certainly come across scores of forex brokers. Each one of them would look the same and therefore you will often be confused and also be in a state of indecision as to whom to choose over the other. Unless you do your research properly and go through the right due diligence processes, it is likely that you will end up making the wrong choice. Choosing a wrong forex broker could be a nightmare for you and you could end up losing big money especially if you are new entrant without the best of knowledge about forex trading. Hence, we have put together certain important points and tips which if followed in letter and spirit could help you to make the right choice and avoid falling into a trip. We are sure the next few lines will go a long way in making a correct choice and will help fulfill the objective for which you have entered into this market. Though it may not be foolproof and complete in all respects, it certainly will cover the most important points and attributes to be kept in mind while hiring these professionals. So, without wasting too much of time, let us get started in having a look at some important characteristics and things which a good forex broker should have.

Sunday, January 07, 2018

SMIGGLE Pencil Cases and Water Bottles Craze Parents Nightmare! / ConsumerWatch / Shopping

By: Anika_Walayat

SMIGGLE must be commended for being an A1 first class business, for their marketing and product line very strongly appeals to children. However, SMIGGLE's success comes at a price, and that price is paid for by parents. Our latest video illustrates how the SMIGGLE craze manifests itself that has gone far beyond pencil cases and stationary. Even the ordinary water bottle has turned into an must have accessory for parents to pay for, and not just one bottle but the crazy situation of the need for multiple bottles!

Saturday, January 06, 2018

A Timely Lesson for Today’s Stock Market Investors / Stock-Markets / Stock Markets 2018

By: EWI

"The names may change, but the psychology remains the same."

Have you ever compared chart patterns from history with financial markets today? Elliott Wave International can show you the unique value of doing exactly that.

Why?

Because patterns on market charts repeat themselves. It happens across the globe, regardless of time period. When a still-unfolding pattern in the present looks a lot like a chart from the past, the price action to come may well remain on that earlier path.

Saturday, January 06, 2018

Gold Stocks Upside Huge 2018 / Commodities / Gold and Silver Stocks 2018

By: Zeal_LLC

The gold miners’ stocks have huge upside potential in 2018, likely the best among stock-market sectors.  They really lagged gold last year, so a major mean-reversion catch-up rally is coming.  The gold miners are universally ignored and deeply undervalued relative to the metal which drives their profits.  And gold itself is likely to power dramatically higher this year as euphoric record-high stock markets inevitably start to falter.

Gold has always been the leading contrarian investment, tending to move counter to stock markets.  So not surprisingly investment demand stalled last year as the extreme taxphoria-fueled stock surge blasted relentlessly higher.  When stock markets apparently do nothing but rally indefinitely, investors feel no need to prudently diversify their portfolios with the anti-stock trade gold.  So they ignored the yellow metal in 2017.

Saturday, January 06, 2018

Four Commodity Charts For the “There is No Inflation” Crowd / Commodities / Commodities Trading

By: Graham_Summers

I keep reading articles claiming that inflation is nowhere to be found.

If that is true, explain the following four charts.

Copper has broken out of a 10-year downtrend.

Saturday, January 06, 2018

Precious Metals Markets Outlook 2018 / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2018

By: MoneyMetals

The first trading days of 2018 are confirming signs of renewed investor interest in the precious metals sector after a long period of malaise.

Gold and silver markets entered the year with some stealth momentum after quietly posting gains late in 2017. Gold finished the year above $1,300/oz. – its best yearly close since 2012.

Saturday, January 06, 2018

Used Vauxhall Zafira B 7 Seater MPV 2005-2014 Comprehensive Buyers Review / ConsumerWatch / Motoring

By: N_Walayat

Here's what you need to know if your considering buying a Vauxhall Zafira B that came out in 2005 and ceased production in 2014. This comprehensive review us from someone who has owned and driven the Vauxhall Zafira for near 10 years! So any prospective buyer will get the real run down of what to expect when owning a Zafira and how to deal with the various issues that will tend to come up such as resetting of the service lights, or ensuring the under car spare wheel carrier does not rust etc...

Friday, January 05, 2018

The Gold Market in 2017 / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2018

By: Arkadiusz_Sieron

So another year has passed. How quickly it happened! But we hope that you did not get bored, and instead took time to learn more about the fascinating gold market. At first glance, 2017 seems to be a dull period for the yellow metal, as it was traded within a narrow range of $1,200-$1,300 for most of the year.

However, all that glitters is not gold, and all that does not fluctuate like Bitcoin is not uninteresting. Actually, the price of bullion gained more than 12 percent, as one can see in the chart below.

Friday, January 05, 2018

S&P 500 Grinds Higher, But Stock Market Correction Looms / Stock-Markets / Stock Markets 2018

By: Paul_Rejczak

Briefly:
Intraday trade: Our Thursday's intraday trading outlook was neutral. It proved partly accurate, because the S&P 500 gained 0.4% following higher opening of the trading session (+0.2%). The broad stock market continued its short-term uptrend, but it remained within a relatively narrow intraday trading range. There have been no confirmed negative signals so far. However, we can see some clear short-term overbought conditions along with an overly bullish investors' sentiment. Therefore, intraday short position is favored today. Stop-loss is at the level of 2,750 and potential profit target is at 2,700 (S&P 500 index).

Friday, January 05, 2018

Spectre and Meltdown Highlight Online Banking and Digital Gold Risks / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2018

By: GoldCore

– Critical hardware flaw breaks basic security: risks to online banking & digital assets
– Nearly all computers worldwide, smartphones and other devices – exposed to major security risk
– Two separate security flaws identified in devices powered by Intel, ARM and AMD chips
– Vulnerability known about for six months by tech insiders
– Cyber crime represents the biggest transfer of economic wealth in history
– Cyber crime damage costs to hit $6 trillion annually by 2021
– All digital assets and information at risk
– Crypto currencies, digital assets including gold exposed
– Physical gold’s benefits highlighted

Editor: Mark O’Byrne

Friday, January 05, 2018

The 10 Key Charts For Global Multi-Asset Investors In 2018 / Stock-Markets / Financial Markets 2018

By: Submissions

Callum Thomas writes: As interesting and sometimes even amusing as it is to look back in time and reflect, as investors we get paid for looking forward and anticipating what may come. In this respect there’s a few existing trends and themes that will remain front of mind for me this year and will be key to keep on your radar in understanding the risks and opportunities in 2018.

Following is a selection of the key charts and indicators, the themes span inflation, monetary policy, commodities, China, emerging markets, corporate bonds, global equities, volatility, and bond yields. In other words, all the issues and topics that most active asset allocators should be thinking about. I'll be covering these topics in more detail in the coming weeks.

Friday, January 05, 2018

Three Key Takeaways from December 2017 FOMC Minutes for Gold / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2018

By: Arkadiusz_Sieron

Yesterday, the minutes of the FOMC December meeting were released. What do they say about the Fed’s stance and what do they mean for the gold market?

The Fed Is Divided over Number of Hikes in 2018

At the December meeting, the U.S. central bank increased the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point to a range 1.25-1.50 percent. The move was widely expected by investors, but there was no unanimity at the meeting as two FOMC members dissented. The Fed officials were also divided over the forecast of three rate hikes in 2018. The hawks noted that more hikes would be appropriate as financial conditions had not tightened since the Fed started raising rates at the end of 2015. On the other hand, the doves pointed out that too aggressive hiking might prevent a sustained return of inflation:

Friday, January 05, 2018

Don’t Look Now, but Gold Just Finished Its Best Year Since 2011 / Commodities / Gold and Silver 2018

By: MoneyMetals

Metals investors may have missed it given the gloomy sentiment that plagued markets for much of 2017, but gold just finished its best year since 2011.

Perhaps in a year like the one just passed, 13% gains are simply not inspiring. U.S. stocks finished about 25% higher for the year, and crypto-currencies including Bitcoin left all other asset classes in the dust. Bitcoin gained roughly 1,400%.

Friday, January 05, 2018

How Arboriculturalists Shredded Their Reputation at Sheffield Tree Felling's 2017 / Local / Environmental Issues

By: N_Walayat

Many Arboriculturalists' fantasise that their 'profession' is all about looking after the well being of Trees, perhaps even dreaming of themselves as being real life LORAX's. However, the Arb rampage across the city of Sheffield during 2017 revealed the reality that Arboriculturalists are Once-ler's NOT LORAX. For 2017 clearly illustrated that it the ordinary people of Sheffield ARE the REAL LORAX, who with everything stacked against them from Judges in their robes, council evidence gatherers, to recruiting bouncer platoons from the north, had ordinary people in vane try to protect Sheffield's remaining street trees from the Arb Army Once-ler onslaught, that likely claimed near 1000 more big tree's bringing the total felled to date to approx 6,000, MOST of which were HEALTHY TREES!

Friday, January 05, 2018

European Bonds Are 2018’s Number One Risk / Interest-Rates / International Bond Market

By: John_Mauldin

BY JARED DILLIAN : No shortage of stupid things these days:

• Bitcoin

• Litecoin

• Pizzacoin

• Canadian real estate

• Swedish real estate

• Australian real estate

• FANG

• Venture capital

Friday, January 05, 2018

Financial Markets Outlook 2018 / Stock-Markets / Financial Markets 2018

By: WMA

Williams Market Analytics write: