A Couple Financial Dance Steps You Need For Sadie Hawkins Day

     It's Sadie Hawkins' Day. Wanna dance? 

    Let's start with the two-step, or in the case of the G-20 Summit, the sidestep. Begin by moving the left foot out to the side, quickly joined by the right foot; feet together. The 20 Central Bankers traveled to Shanghai over the weekend to obtain assurances from the China Bank it would take no further action to devalue the yuan. The BOC responded with a declaration there was no such planned action, but if something happens, well, the yuan is tied to a basket of foreign currencies. Blame them. Sidestep complete. Pivot and repeat.

     Monday saw Asian markets close lower than anytime during the past four weeks. Seems BOC lowered the required reserves in order to free up money in the banks for lending. Investors are still nervous and missed a step. The whole cotillion fell. The yuan fell again against the US dollar which fell against the Japanese yen, bringing stocks down at the opening bell while the German bond market stumbled. 

     As the expression goes, with all this manure, there must be a pony around here somewhere. There is. A Palomino. A Golden Palomino. As the other dancers lost the beat and fell down, that golden horse was stepping high. In overseas markets gold hit $1260 before settling at $1231, a brilliant 9.8% increase for February and 16% for the year so far, the biggest gain since January 2012.

     There's another old saying, "Dance with the one that brung ya." Gold brought people through for over six thousand years. Gold buys the same things today, it bought back then. I wrote yesterday how the same amount of gold buys comparable houses 65 years apart. I have no doubt 65 years from now, gold will buy the same house again. 

     Now about that dance...how about a square dance?

Banking on debt has gotten old, 

so hold your partner like she's gold. 

Here we go, we're rollin' dough,

Swing around and dough-see-dough. 

Dance With Me To a Golden Future? I'll lead

Rockin' To The Golden Oldies

     It was a time to swoon to Frank Sinatra and Elvis, or head to the sock hop with Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, and Frankie Avalon. Post World War II brought the GI Bill, the advent of community colleges, the suburbs and affordable home loans.

     In 1950 the average family income was $3,300 and the median home price was $7,354. A Ford car ranged in price from $1,339 to $2,262 depending on the model. The average price of gold was $40.25 an ounce and it backed the value of the US Dollar.

     By 2015 the average family earned $53,657 while living in an average existing home priced at $215,000. A 2015 Ford ranged in price from $14,090 to $27,110 depending on the model. The 2015 average price of gold was $1,200 an ounce, but gold no longer backed the dollar. President Richard Nixon removed the dollar for the gold standard and tied its value to the price of oil instead.

     Let's look at the price of the two houses in terms of the relative price of gold. The cost of the house in 1950 was 180 ounces of gold. Care to venture a guess as to the cost of the house in 2015? The house in 2015 would have cost in current gold 179.16 ounces. Over the course of 65 years with inflation and the devaluation of the dollar, the gold required to buy a family home remained statistically unchanged. 

     Think about this. Why buy gold? The answer is obvious. Why buy gold now? There is no time like the present.
     Here's an interview with Bo Polny about the timeliness of converting fiat, paper money into gold now.

Listen To Bo Polny

   
     Know something else? Sinatra is still makes people swoon.

Do It For Yourself. Do It For Your Family. Do It Now.

Thanks to Thomas T. for suggesting this topic. If you have a question or a special topic you'd like me to investigate and answer for you here, let me know. I'm always on the lookout for new things to learn and share.

     

The Synchronicity of Money & Politics

          For some time now, China has been selling off their foreign currency, their US Bonds, and buying gold in historic quantities. The reason for the moves is twofold; to bolster the Shanghai Composite Index  and to weaken the yuan in order to increase exports. Somehow today, it all went wrong. 

     The trading session finished down 6.4%, the worst drop in a month and 47% down since last summer. On top of that 960 billion in short-term loans to commercial banks by China's central bank are set to mature this week. As evidenced in Japan earlier this week, a major life insurance company, Zhongrong Life Insurance, was banned by the Bank of China from adding stock investments due to solvency risks, according to The Wall Street Journal. A vote of no confidence by BOC in it's own economy?

     All  this, adds WSJ, a day before the G-20 meets in  Shanghai to address global anxiety over the Chinese economy and financial markets. This is the same day the US and China announced an agreement to sanction North Korea. A major change of China's position on a matter than has been an on-going point of contention between the two nations. Keep in mind the US plays a key role in the G-20. 

     The implications of a single day's events are a matter of amazing synchronicity. 

Peanut, Peanut, Where's The Peanut?

     Brexit. A single word question: will Britain leave the EU or not? The referendum has set Conservatives against each other as the debate continues. London Mayor Boris Johnson added his support to the leaving side causing sterling to slip a bit. Such a slip adds to the argument to stay. Some analysts suggest in or out won't impact sterling too much either way. Stay tuned. The media remains focused.

     Meanwhile, Xavier Rolet, a former Lehman Brothers banker serving London Stock Exchange as CEO since 2009, is pushing for a merger between London Stock Exchange Group, PLC and Deutsche Borse, AG. Mr Rolet is quoted as saying, "The world of exchanges is primed for consolidation into a handful of powerhouses." According to Richard Repetto, an analyst at Sandler O'Neil+Partners LP who interviewed Mr. Rolet, Mr. Rolet believes exchanges are similar to the investment banking industry. That's quite a statement from someone whose former employer was ruined in the bubble burst of 2008.

     The Wall Street Journal reports antitrust regulators are wary of allowing one group to control so much trading because of the ability to raise fees. WSJ goes on to say, "Both groups operate clearing houses, so regulators might balk at allowing any single institution control a majority of clearing and settlement for a large swath of derivatives in Europe.'

     It appears Brexit may not matter in the long run if this merger is permitted. The tentacles of banking are constantly reaching for a grip on centralised power, ever more control. So as the media moves the shells around, bets are being placed on where's the peanut.

'You Can Fool Some Of The People Some Of The Time' --just not in Japan

     The Wall Street Journal reports the Bank of Japan surprised everyone by dropping their ZERO % interest rate to MINUS 0.1%. Haruhiko Kuroda, the governor of the BOJ stated at the time the move will benefit the economy by lowering interest rates on mortgages and other loans. Depositors were expected to spend money.

     The people of Japan are indeed spending their money. They bought every available home safe available so they can hoard their cash without paying banks for the privilege of deposits. The most popular model retails for $700. It is out of stock for a month. 

     Here are two reasons for the public rebellion: first of all, the new interest rate yields a penny in annual interest on a deposit of $1000. A single weekend ATM transaction fee is one dollar. Secondly, the negative interest rate makes the yield on 10-year government bonds minus 0.05% in exchange for their ten-year commitment, bond investors will have less money at term than they put in.

     Money market funds and life insurance companies have halted sales of some of their products.      64-year-old Kazuo Matsumoto told a reporter he plans to turn some of his cash into gold. 

    There was no warning. The Bank of Japan made no announcement of the plan to change the interest rate, it just happened January 29th of this year. The world financial community was as surprised as the people of Japan.

     What is the ultimate significance of these moves? The elimination of cash, of course. Willem Buiter of Citibank, formerly with the Bank of England told the BBC this is a very real future possibility. 

     People buy lottery tickets in the belief as long as someone wins, they can win. The same philosophy applies to the interest rate ambush. If one national bank can get away with it, any national bank can. Keep in mind, BOJ isn't the first; Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Spain led the way. Given how the dominoes are falling, there is every reason to believe the US Federal Reserve will follow suit. There is every reason to prepare now. 

     Gold is proving to be the recourse to preserving earnings. As more and more people turn to gold, the demand will raise the price. Open your gold account today.

The Road To Gold Starts Here 

     

Blame It On Johann

     Might as well blame the current banking problems on Johann.  Had Gutenberg not invented the movable printing press, there wouldn't have been paper currency. Governments would not have the means to print themselves out of debt. After all, who else is there? Name anyone in the US who has faced charges for their role in the calamity of 2008? Name anyone from whom the government demanded restitution to the citizens who lost everything as a result of their actions. Name anyone who has been barred from trading for what they did. Right. Might as well blame Johann.

     The only major changes to occur since 2008 is the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law by President Obama in May 2009. I've mentioned this bill before. Signed into law in 2009, but the text continues to grow above the presidential signature, like a trusted secretary who gets her bosses signature on a blank sheet and then types the letter above it. Dodd-Frank is the bill which protects consumers from bail-outs by establishing the means for bail-ins. The legal confiscation of consumer deposits so banks have an in-house resource to use against default caused by bank mistakes. Who made a 30,000 page law possible? Johann.

     2008 was a wake-up call. Instead of allowing nature take its course to self correct, the world's central banks hit the snooze button and printed $10 trillion to prop themselves up. We cannot live by the belief, 'checks in the book means money in the account.' and neither can Wall Street bankers. 

Yet, Johann is still at it, but it isn't only fiat currency he's printing. He's also printing bundles of debt to sell to risk addicted Wall Street gamblers. No one, it seems, learned anything from 2008.

     That whirling sound lulling us into sleep? It's Johann running his printing press. 

     We have a way out: Gold.

Learn How To Get Gold Here

   
     

1 Thing Weary Leaders Should Always Remember

     Ever feel tired of being a one-man band? Ever wonder if what you're doing matters? Ever wonder if people go beyond hearing to listen?

     I once worked for a woman in Dallas, Texas who gave me something guaranteed to bust this kind of pity party. For twenty-six years her single statement has restored my drive to continue any job until it's done. 'Darlin', she said, yes she said darlin' this was Texas after all. 'Darlin' remember one thing to get you through any and all rough spots. always remember Jesus was nobody in Jerusalem.' 

     Her point was everyone who has ever accomplished anything worthwhile has experienced doubt; has experienced frustration when the message seems wasted breath. Even someone whose message has had worldwide impact.

     I'll tell you another story. I recently reconnected with a friend from high school. He said he hoped someday he would be able to thank me for a 'talking to' I gave him one night because what I said changed his life. Words. Words have an impact we often never know. These two life lessons keep me going, even in my darkest John the Baptist moments.

     I read about banks, secret laws brought to light, and financial matters partly because I love intrigue. I admit it. I also read and write mysteries. However, the things I learn about banks, and governments  impact my life. I share that information on this blog because they also impact yours. I spread the word because none of us can protect ourselves from something we can't see. Preparation is not fear-mongering; it's common sense. Buckminster Fuller once wrote God wants everyone to be prosperous. The earth wasn't created so a few could be rich and the others poor. There is plenty for everyone to be rich. 

     I share Mr. Fuller's belief and make it my mission.

'Just Like A Paperback Novel'

     Gordon Lightfoot's hit If You Could Read My Mind provides the soundtrack for the John LeCarre type events occurring in Asian financial news this week.

     Our story opens with President Obama hosting Southeast Asian leaders in Ranch Mirage, California for what is termed the US-ASEAN SUNNYLANDS SUMMIT. The first ever such meeting between these leaders and the US signals the importance the president places on the strategic new partnership. 

     Though some criticized the outcome as vague, the resulting 14-page document outlines how the US-ASEAN Partnership will advance through the year 2020, as reported by THE DIPLOMAT. Under the heading: peace, prosperity, progress, policies are laid out to 'promote the rule of law, good governance, accountable institutions [my italics added], and universal human rights.

     The emphasis on 'accountable institutions' reflects to events involving Industrial and Commercial Bank of China operating in Spain. Five ICBC directors were arrested by Spanish police as a result of an ongoing investigation into money laundering and tax fraud. THE DIPLOMAT reports that Spain's Civil Guard and Anti-Corruption Office and Europol suspect the Chinese bankers of laundering as much as 40 million euros or approximately $44.6 million. The report states the scheme of Spanish as well as Chinese crime syndicates used ICBC for funds earned through smuggling, tax and excise fraud, and labor exploitation. 

El Pais suspects the total operation could have processed up to 300 million euros.

     This wasn't the first time China found itself in this sort of situation.

     The Chinese banks and stock market which continue to send ripples throughout the world and Spain's central banks straining under mounting national debt certainly owe gratitude to the vigilance of the Spanish and Europol officials. Perhaps they should be assigned watch over the accountable institutions in the Southeast Asian sector. 

     Gordon Lightfoot continues: 

when you reach the part

where the heartaches start,

the hero would be...

GOLD

Here's Your Change: Dumbing Down The Public

     When was the last time you paid cash for something in a store and the person at the register --I mean terminal since it's a computer now-- counted your change back to you? I think I may well have been a brunet back then.

     The phrase, 'when I was your age' or 'back when I was a kid' caused major eye-rolls when I was a kid. Now those dreaded phrases begin most of my stories. For instance, back when I was a kid in school I remember practising with my parents making change. We not only learned to count it back, we made the money out of construction paper. We learned to play Monopoly with paper money.

     Store employees today are told by the terminal how much money a customer is due, pulls that amount from the cash drawer and hands it in one lump with the receipt. Is counting back change a lost art?

     Counting change was the first lesson about money. The second was the game Monopoly, a board game invented in 1933. The Great Depression was certainly a time to teach children about money even though the lesson came late to some adults. Now Monopoly has gone digital. Players use debit cards on an ATM device. No wonder I often overhear children begging a parent to buy something by saying, 'Just use your card.' They have no concept of what $50 is, just that somehow their parents buy things with the use of a card.

     The financial segment of the morning news yesterday featured another scheme to dumb down the public by distancing them from cash. A smart phone app now will allow you to loan a friend some money and be repaid the same way. Baby-sitters will have an earnings record. All tips will have to be recorded. No one will be able to earn cash under the table. 'Cards and apps are safer than carrying cash' the report said. 

     Cards and apps are safer until a hacker hits the bank or a chain of stores, like that doesn't ever happen. Cards and apps are novelty now. The focus is on convenience. What about the trail every single thing you do with your money using those apps creates? What about privacy?

     The transparency for banks and government bantered about is just that: your transparency for the banks and government; not their transparency for you.

     Just think, no more coins in a jar, saved for a special treat. No more extra cash to stash in the safe in the closet for emergencies. Everything we have, everything we we purchase, everything we give away will be a matter of record. 

     The frog I mentioned yesterday sat in the skillet because he thought it was a convenient place to sit. Modern digital conveniences are turning up the heat on us and we don't even realize it.  We know what happened to the frog.

     Some change is best left on the counter.

Read. Learn. Take defensive action.
     
     

Is Kintsugi Enough?

     Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing porcelain and pottery with lacquer mixed with gold, silver, or platinum dating back to the 15th century. The broken piece is made whole again rather than thrown away. The mend is considered to enhance its beauty. A case of honoring the emergence from an emergency with a vein of a precious metal like gold.

     As witnessed by the Venezuelan economic emergency caused by the downturn in oil prices, the downturn in the Chinese stock market, the tottering Italian banks, as well as the Central Banks in several other countries, gold is once again being used to make repairs. Countries who no longer valued gold to back their currencies because that would have kept them from printing more currency as a remedy for their debts, now want gold to perform a miracle for them.

     Gold will work for those who own enough of it. There are no guarantees the monetary system which emerges will be the same as it was. Whatever happens, with gold and silver on call, the banking emergency will yield something stronger and more beautiful than we have.

     We cannot fight what we can't see. It's like the frog in a frying pan on which the fire is turned up gradually. The frog doesn't realize he's in danger and dies. Everything I learn I share in social media. I don't want my associates to be frogs. My information about the detrimental effects of the downturn in oil prices was correct. My information is right about gold. You can't use it to hold your world together if you don't own any, or enough. Just look around.

     Like health, car, or home insurance, I hope we don't need gold. My biggest hope is that we own enough should the time come. 

Buy Gold Here

7 Things You Ought To Know About Gold And The World

     When I asked myself how I could be of more service to people, I was introduced to gold. I continue to be astonished by how much there is to know about this shiny metal beyond jewelry. This morning I offer you 7 things you ought to know about gold because none of us can defend ourselves from something we can't see.

1. Central Banks continue to buy and repatriate gold. Repatriation means they are converting currency into gold. An example we ought to all follow.

2. Texas began building its own gold reserves prior to June 2015. The only state to do so.

3. 2015 delivery of physical gold from the Shanghai Gold Exchange reached a record 2,596 tonnes, representing 90% of the total gold output for the year.

4. The Peoples Bank of China added 16.44 tonnes of gold in January 2016. Remember this was a shaky month for the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

5. According to Frank Holmes, money managers and hedge funds continue to increase bets on gold's ascendancy. Data published February 2, 2016 by the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) reveal net long position contracts rose to a 3-month high of 100, 566 in one week, while short terms declined by 7,412. 

6. According to the WALL STREET JOURNAL even though the Federal Reserve Bank bumped interest rates in December, it has already dropped hints it will follow Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, and Japan by dropping rates into the negative zone. These countries combined represent 23.1 per cent of global GDP. Negative interest rates gives banks the authorization to charge depositors a percentage for holding their money. Remember, we used to get 5-10% interest paid to us for having a savings account or certificate of deposit. Gold holds its value and there are no hidden charges.

Here's a bonus point for you: Robert Kiyosaki recommends owning gold and silver to protect the value of our earnings. He also suggests partaking an MLM as a source of passive income or perhaps an step toward entrepreneurship.  

So, here a 7 reasons we should rethink our growth strategy to include gold in our future. After all, if the Central Banks and money experts are doing it, why shouldn't we?

You Future Starts Here

A Love Poem

Lovely to look at,

A pleasure to hold,

If it's certified .999 pure,

It's Karatbars gold.

Nothing feels as good as owning gold and knowing your value is secure. Now that's something to wax poetic about!

Say, Don't You Remember Sweet Betsy From Pike?

     The American songbook contains many stories about the California Gold Rush of 1849. Like Sweet Betsy From Pike, they recount more about the hardships and disappointments rather than success stories of '49-ers striking it rich.

Oh don't you remember sweet Betsy from Pike,
Who crossed the wide prairie with her lover Ike,
With two yoke of oxen, a big yellow dog,
A tall Shangai rooster, and one spotted hog?

CHORUS:
Singing dang fol dee dido,
Singing dang fol dee day.

One evening quite early they camped on the Platte.
'Twas near by the road on a green shady flat.
Where Betsy, sore-footed, lay down to repose --
With wonder Ike gazed on that Pike County rose.

The Shanghai ran off, and their cattle all died;
That morning the last piece of bacon was fried;
Poor Ike was discouraged and Betsy got mad,
The dog drooped his tail and looked wondrously sad.

     That's not to say all efforts failed; far from it. By 1852 $81 Million had been taken from the ground, leveling off by 1857 to about $45 Million. Most of this gold was pulled by mining companies than individual stakes. Yet, men from the eastern United States left their wives and children behind to sail either to Panama or around Cape Horn to seek their fortunes based on the story of James Marshall, a shopkeeper and his bottle of gold dust he panned from the American River in 1848. It's noteworthy Marshall died on his claim in 1885 without enough money to pay for his funeral.

     Thanks to a letter written by S. Shurfelt, now in the Smithsonian, we have a first hand account of the details his journey from New York to San Francisco and the trials of panning for gold once he arrived. In it he lists his weekly earnings totalling $9342. For this he went temporarily insane due to malnutrition and nearly died.

     Today, we don't have to sail off into the sunset, purchase pack mules or oxen to carry equipment and provisions to be able to own gold. In 2016 we have the luxury of buying gold from several sources from the comfort of our home computers. 

     One of these is Karatbars, the only company who offers gold in affordable units of 1g, 2.5g, and 5g. As a customer, the full purchase price isn't required as the account offers a plan for weekly deposits until the purchase price is accumulated. Similar to the law-away plan at a retail store. As an affiliate, the savings plan is enhanced with the opportunity to earn additional gold when a referral signs up for the program. 

     We tell other people about restaurants and movies, so why not tell them about how you buy gold and get free gold for it? Certainly helping someone secure their financial future is more important than a night out, right? 

     So pop yourself some popcorn and watch these videos and then start saving with gold today!

Your Future Starts Here

     

How To Survive Another Market Close Call

     The Dow dropped over 400 points Thursday. The PPT came to the rescue so it closed down only 250 points by the end of the day.

     Too close for comfort? For you and thousands of other people who rushed to buy gold, driving the price up $50/ounce. 

     At this point in time with these volatile market and currency conditions, you don't have to be a leader, but you must be a doer in order to survive. 

     I invite you to use me, my knowledge, and the power of my network to secure your earnings with the security of gold. You can't control world events, but you can control your future if you want to. It's up to you.

Read. Learn. Take defensive action.

The gateway to a more secure future starts here.

WE INTERRUPT OUR REGULAR BLOG FOR THIS SPECIAL BULLETIN

The falling price of oil is expected to cause the Venezuelan government to default on its debt. 

The National Bank of Venezuela reaches out to Deutsche Bank (with severe problems of its own) for help to liquidate the country's gold reserves in an attempt to cover the February debt payment of $1.5 Billion due at the end of the month. Venezuela as approximately $15 Billion in the bank with 64% of this in gold bars, according to BUSINESS INSIDER'S Linette Lopez.

Lopez also reveals the government has additional debt payments of  $9.5 Billion in the pipeline for the year.

  

The WALL STREET JOURNAL says Venezuela has teetered on the precipice of default since 2014, but has managed until now to pull through by selling bonds which have paid brave investors 17%. The question now is: will the cavalry arrive in time again?

As we wait to see what happens in the final reel, it is important to note that gold is the life raft buying the government time to deal with this crisis.

How big is your life raft? It's never too late to begin building your own gold reserve. Karatbars can help by offering gold in increments that fit your budget. It's up to you.

Your Raft Awaits

     

Paper Gold vs. Physical Gold

     From time to time I've encountered people who tell me they have been buying gold stocks (paper gold) for a number of years and see no reason to join me in purchasing physical gold since they are the same thing.  They couldn't be more wrong.

     Paper gold to date has sold 300 ounces for each ounce of physical gold in existence.  The derivative bubble created by paper gold is 1.5 quatrillion. So when those people were to decide to cash out their certificates, they will discover they hold a lot of scrap paper. 

     Paper gold is about as valuable as paper currency. As cycle analyst Bo Polny says, currency requires faith and confidence. Take away the faith and confidence and you're left with so much paper. Physical gold requires no faith and confidence to maintain the value it has had for over 6,000 years. 

     Funny thing about derivative bubbles, when they burst they leave only paper debris behind.

     Think it's time to consider changing you paper for physical gold? It's up to you.

     Read. Learn. Take defensive action.

        

  The Path To Gold Security

     

The Race For Gold Ain't The Olympics

     Countries have competed for gold since the modern Olympic games began in Athens during the Summer of 1896. The race for gold became so intense the governing committee allowed professional athletes into the competition in 1986.

Chariots of Fire Theme

     Today's race for physical gold has China in the lead. According to Frank Holmes, the CEO of US Global Investments, due to the shaky Chinese stock market, the Chinese people have consumed 90% of the total annual global output of gold. 180 tonnes from imported from Switzerland marks an 86% increase since December 2014. India, the Middle East, and other Asian markets have upped their gold by 21%. 

     Now with Deutsche Bank set to make what happened in 2008 to Lehman Brothers look like child's play, expect the Germans to step up their game for gold. Even without German participation forecasters agree this level of demand could drive the price of gold to $1400 an ounce. Gold now sits at $1200.

     Race ya to some gold. What do you say?

Your Starting Line

It's Been Little Brother All Along

     Big Brother is watching --we hear it daily. The usual protest against having to register something like guns, refugees, sex offenders or Wall Street deals made with politicians or the Fed in private.

     Privacy? Like a private teenager telephone conversation with a boyfriend or girlfriend or secret conversations during a sleepover about a party where there will be booze and sex and out of nowhere a voice exclaims, I'm gonna tell Mom! 

     Think of the Internet as the new mom. Everywhere the invisible and ignored take in whatever is being discussed and tells Mom through social media.

     I didn't know is no longer an acceptable excuse. Pay attention to all the little brothers and sisters. They know things and they tell.

     Read. Learn. Take action. It's up to you.

Read This; I Have Nothing To Add

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/12141369/Dollar-tumbles-as-Fed-rescues-China-in-the-nick-of-time.html

Your Wealth Is Not A Matter Of Faith

     'Keep the faith.' 

     'It all works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out it isn't the end.'

     

     Politico-finance-speak sounds like a montage of greeting cards. Pablum to distract us from what we really need to know; from what we really need to do.

     As I said in the beginning of this blog, my mission is to inform and encourage action. When I read this article from CNN MONEY I knew this was news you need. It's about world markets down again. It's about world markets down again because the price of oil is down again. The US Dollar is backed by oil. Other countries' currencies are based on the US Dollar. See what's happening?

     Your wealth is not a matter of faith. Your wealth is a matter of action inspired by awareness. 

     Your wealth is up to you.

     Read the article from CNN, then watch the video THIS MAY BE OF INTEREST. The next step is to use the third link to begin protecting your savings with gold. 

     Three things that will change your life, or not. It's up to you.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/19/investing/world-markets-oil/index.html?iid=ob_quote_footer&iid=obnetwork

THIS MIGHT BE OF INTEREST

Sign Up Here To Begin Saving

The Rein-In Spain

     Every tragedy brings with it a lesson to prevent another tragedy from occurring. Case in point: Spain's banks. In 2011 seven of Spain's banks sinking under the weight of bad debt merged to form Bankia Caja Madrid. Two years later BCM was taken over by the Bank of Spain after posting further losses of 3.3 billion euros.

     Sound familiar? Yesterday I told you about the Italian plan to take similar action to create a so-called bad bank to take on all of the bad debt. It didn't work in Spain. It certainly didn't work in the US, in fact such moves brought about the bursting of the housing bubble we're still living with, and I don't give it much of a chance of working in Italy. Keep in mind the Italian plan comes after depositors with accounts of 100,000 euros or more lost everything. The confiscation wasn't enough.

     Someone once told me the definition of insanity is to persist in repeating an action with the expectation of a different result. Could this be a possible example of that phenomena?

     The Spaniards came up with a different idea. Their idea comes under my heading everything old is new again. The Spanish savings banks are returning to their roots, by growing their pawnshop business according to Santiago Gil, the director of Caja Madrid's pawnshop The Monte de Piedad de Madrid. A recent auction brought in 909,000 euros.

     What are they selling? GOLD. The savings banks of Spain are buying and selling gold. Jewelry, coins; it's all gold.

     Tell me again why you don't think gold can enhance your wealth? 

     

     Read about world financial events.
     Learn how gold can protect your hard earned savings.
     Take action to convert your paper into gold.

     Your future security begins here:
     http://www.thismightbeofinterest.com/

     After you watch the journey continues here:
     Become A Karatbars Affiliate

     It's up to you.
   
   
   
     

     

'Stuck In The Middle With You'

     I know it's a cliche to say the more things change, the more they stay the same. Another one along the same line says everything old is new again. The 1972 Stealers Wheel song 'Stuck In The Middle With You' comes to mind with the news of banks resorting to negative interest rates and bail-ins. People we don't know continue to make business decisions people like us are forced to pay for. The media would like people to believe bank and stock market failures are new, but such events span decades.
     The succession of costly bailouts across Europe resulted in the establishment of the EEC and the euro, a fiat currency backed by nothing but debt. This limited partnership of governments was designed to lower the risk and cost of economic failures by spreading such costs across most of the world economies. The alliance also allowed countries like Cypress and Greece to live beyond their means. The citizenry of these two countries are still living with the painful effects caused when these governments went into default.
     More recently, there was news of the four largest and oldest banks of Italy experiencing difficulty to the point of taking control of depositors' money in an attempt to bail-in salvation. Yet, last week, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Rinzi travelled to Berlin to visit with Ms. Merkel.
   

Update On Italian Banks In Crisis

     Part of Italy's new plan is to create bad banks into which all the bad debt will be transferred, bundled, and resold. In the US we know this as The Big Short. Not so new; not so viable. But certainly this is different, right?

Il Grande Breve

   
      Last week also saw Japanese banks turn to negative interest rates. Business leaders are said to disagree with aspects of this old as new recovery plan as it trims their profits. So much for Japanese Zen Banking.

The Japanese Backstory

     Just for the record, I didn't coin the phrase Japanese Zen Banking. That honor goes to the New York Times from 1998. Even the news of Japanese negative interest rates turns out to be something old made new again.

Negative Zen Japanese Banking

     As the Stealers Wheel song says:

 Clowns to the left of me,

        Jokers to the right, here I am,

       Stuck in the middle with you.

Catchy name for a band or a bank, don't you think? Stealers.