John Butler: Death of the Dollar

John Butler Chief Investment Officer at Amphora Commodities Alpha and publisher of The Amphora Report talks to Alasdair Macleod about how America’s debt problem and political gridlock in Washington are risking the death of the dollar’s reserve currency status, and potentially leading the country on the road to a serious inflationary crisis.

from goldmoneynews:

Policy-induced inflation will triumph over deflation as a means in which credit deleveraging occurs, according to Butler. This is because it simply is not in governments or banks’ interests for a deflationary collapse to occur. As a result he expects central banks such as the Fed will continue to print money, and may resort to ever more blatant methods of doing so should more conservative policies fail to generate their desired level of inflation. This could result in purchases of corporate debt and perhaps even commodities.

Butler argues that though the eurozone’s debt crisis is a serious problem that should not be taken lightly, not enough attention is being paid to the severity of the debt and deficit issues facing America. He argues that the US is in worse shape than Europe on this score, and that the dollar’s status as a reserve currency actually makes it far more vulnerable than the euro to a currency crisis. Gold and silver will continue to benefit — the latter likely dramatically — from the increasing flight from the greenback. This podcast was recorded on 31 July 2012.

Should We Be Worried About The Truckers?

The Dow Theorists are flipping out.

What this group wants to see is the Dow Jones Transportation Average make new highs whenever the Dow Jones Industrial Average takes out a previous peak. Dow Theory states that they need to confirm each other. In an uptrend both should be making new highs, and when one doesn’t, there’s a problem. Same thing in a down trend – when one average makes a new low, the other should follow. If there is a divergence, it’s considered a positive.

So this Spring, when the Dow Industrials took out their 2011 highs, we were waiting for the Transports to confirm. They never did.

Today I wanted to look at a chart of just the Truckers vs the Dow Jones Industrials Average to show just how weak this space looks right now:

So should we be worried about what the truckers are telling us?

I think so.

Rapidly Approaching Demise of Japan, Martin Armstrong

Rapidly Approaching Demise of Japan



click here to read

Mickey Fulp’s Masterful Monthly Market Review

The Mercenary Geologist and I got together for our monthly review of the markets. There was lots of action, but what a difference a day makes. But the important issues of the day far eclipsed the market wrap-up. The Fed basically said nothing, other than they are very concerned about the poor state of the economy and will do what needs to be done, can anyone say money printing? Oh and by the way, the US Postal Service is broke, insolvent and bankrupt. They’re going to miss a $5.5 billion payment towards retiree health benefits that they would like to do away with anyway. There was another major flash crash that took place at major market maker Knights operation. But never fear, the SEC is on the case and heads are not gonna roll.

Drought - $8.00 Corn – Now What?

By Mark Soderberg, Archer Financial Services

Six weeks ago I wrote a story titled “As Temperatures Heat Up – Will the Corn Crop Shrivel Up?” At that time Dec-12 corn prices were very near the $5.65 level, having just started to rebound off the $5.00 spring lows. I suggested that if the nation’s Corn Belt didn’t receive beneficial rains and relief from the searing heat very soon that prices would continue to soar as crop prospects would diminish. My fear was that if production prospects slipped towards the 13 billion bushel level, prices would have to surge toward the $6.50 - $7.00 level in order to ration demand and ensure supplies didn’t run out. Never did I envision that the record heat and drought conditions would not only persist, but worsen over such a vast area of the Midwest. Recently, the state climatologist in Iowa declared this year’s drought the worst since 1936. Both corn and soybean crop ratings are rapidly declining toward the all time lows recorded in 1988.

At the moment only 24% of the nation’s corn crop is rated good or excellent, while 48% of the crop is rated poor to very poor. Given the current crop conditions I sense the market has discounted an average yield for this year’s corn at 130 bu. per acre, well below the current USDA forecast of 146 bpa. In addition we’ll likely see the harvested acre’s be reduced as a larger percentage of this year’s crop is abandoned. At present as Dec-12 corn prices chop around the $8.00 level I sense the market has discounted this year’s corn crop at just under 11.2 bil. bu. If demand for the 2012 corn crop were left unchanged at 12.720 bil. bu., the resulting ending stocks would fall to negative 600 mil. bu. Obviously prices had to surge to levels high enough to reduce demand by at least 1 bil. bu. in order to maintain minimal supplies ahead of the 2013 harvest. At the moment it is unclear if the $8 level has accomplished this. What is also unclear is whether the crop can still manage to reach the 11.2 bil. bu. level. I’ve seen estimates as low as 10.5 bil. bu.

Chart provided by APEX

The good news is, we are already seeing evidence that the rationing process has begun. Ethanol production for the last four weeks has fallen below levels needed to reach the corn usage estimate of 5.050 bil. bu. My guess is it is over estimated by 30 – 50 mil. bu. Also export demand has completely collapsed as demand shifts to cheaper supplies from South America. Here too, I expect the USDA’s export forecast is 30 – 50 mil. bu. too high. The end result is likely to show an extra 60 to 100 mil. bu. of corn supplies left over from last year. Going forward however, I suspect we have not yet seen the highs in Dec-12 corn. I believe a correction will be limited to the $7.40 - $7.60 area before prices surge back above the current highs of $8.20 once harvest is under way and the true extent of damage to this year’s corn crop is more evident. How high will prices ultimately go? At 11 bil. bu. I suspect Dec-12 corn will peak between $8.50 - $9.00. If production were to slip to 10.5 bil. bu., prices will likely have to reach $9.50, possibly $10.00 per bu. There is already a growing list of livestock, hog, and poultry groups lobbying the EPA to reduce or eliminate the ethanol mandate for the balance of 2012 and all of 2013. Given the elections this coming November, I’m near certain action this drastic will not occur. However if the $10 price level is attained post election, I’d argue the odds of the mandate being lifted would grow dramatically.

Richard Russell - Brutal Times, Here Is The Key Going Forward

Today the Godfather of newsletter writers, Richard Russell, wrote about life during the Great Depression and the unknown but extremely important index that everyone needs to watch going forward: “The 30 Dow Industrial stocks portray the industrial capabilities of the US. But suppose there was an Index that portrayed the industrial capabilities of the entire civilized world? Happily, we now have just such an index. Dow Jones developed it, and they call it GDOW. It's made up of 150 major blue chip international stocks, and it includes all 30 D-J Industrial stocks plus over 100 other major international blue chips.” (more)

The Next Four Years by Gerald Celente

In the summer, 2012, issue of the Trends Journal, Gerald Celente explains that, despite Obama’s or anyone else’s promises, change will not occur until we as individuals change. Those who wait for a leader to emerge who will do the right thing wait in vain:

I the Person = We the People

What will it take to change the course of the future? As America, the world superpower, gears up to elect its commander-in-chief, each candidate touts his leadership experience; Obama the Osama Slayer vs. Romney the Corporate Commando. Each lists his credentials, saying in effect, “this is why I should lead and why you should follow your leader.”

And what will they lead us to? Economic nirvana, world peace, environmental renewal, social harmony, cultural foment, spiritual enlightenment? (more)

Wednesdays Stock Market Activity Is EXACTLY What Happened Days Before 911, – Video

By Josey Wales

Wednesday`s Stock Exchange trading went off the charts with 2000% increases instantly. This is EXACTLY what happened 2 days before 911. It's happening again!

The stock market was already on edge because of the financial crisis in Greece. Images of mobs demonstrating in Athens were fueling an underlying panic. There's a growing fear that a financial collapse in Greece could trigger a wave of financial trouble across Europe (and possibly even the world).

Early in the morning, some stocks swung wildly on unusually high trading volume, after what appeared to be technical miscues. The New York Stock Exchange said it was investigating unusual trades in 140 stocks.

Here are some of the stocks that had astronomical activity at 10AM this morning for no reason. I don't know what the abbreviations stand for, but I do know that at the top of the list is the US Government: This is the same group that increased 800% 1 day before 911 and made BILLIONS OF 911.

Kass also provides a list of stocks that are seeing WAY abnormally high volume compared to normal.

1973% GOV US Equity <- Same govt. funds that made billions off 911 !
Who's increase was 800% 2 days before 911.
1063% PL US Equity
747% MTZ US Equity
672% EXG US Equity
578% N US Equity
518% BG US Equity
420% HOG US Equity
407% TRN US Equity
401% PIR US Equity
388% PPO US Equity
316% KRO US Equity
314% DDD US Equity
305% DOLE US Equity
298% JWN US Equity
262% HLF US Equity
248% MCP US Equity
248% NOK US Equity
247% FRX US Equity
238% FSL US Equity
237% LH US Equity

Unusual Option Activity

Listed below are options with unusually high volume for the most recent trading session compared with average daily volume. The relative level of activity is expressed in the daily volume ratio, which represents the current day's volume divided by the average daily volume for the past month.

As Of 12:00 P.M. EDT Wednesday, August 01, 2012 Unusual Call Option Activity (intraday) Unusual Put Option Activity (intraday)

Data provided by SchaeffersResearch.com

Ticker symbol Put Volume Average Put Volume Daily Volume Ratio DD 12,179 1,450 8.4 HLF 11,726 1,819 6.4 VZ 25,132 3,909 6.4 HOG 7,076 1,192 5.9 XOP 27,471 4,878 5.6 DE 10,258 2,200 4.7 JNPR 4,995 1,310 3.8 FSLR 8,883 2,383 3.7 GDX 29,379 7,902 3.7 GM 7,088 1,920 3.7 NOK 26,227 7,706 3.4 MA 6,343 2,072 3.1 F 21,175 7,672 2.8 ZNGA 5,001 1,935 2.6 FXI 29,145 11,438 2.5 ABX 4,611 1,878 2.5 WFC 16,778 6,949 2.4 SBUX 10,965 4,657 2.4 EFA 12,407 5,370 2.3 GG 2,947 1,291 2.3

The SEC's Investigation

Shortly after the 911 attacks the SEC circulated a list of stocks to securities firms around the world seeking information. ¹⁶ A widely circulated article states that the stocks flagged by the SEC included those of the following corporations: American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, US Airways airlines, Martin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corp., AIG, American Express Corp, American International Group, AMR Corporation, AXA SA, Bank of America Corp, Bank of New York Corp, Bank One Corp, Cigna Group, CNA Financial, Carnival Corp, Chubb Group, John Hancock Financial Services, Hercules Inc., L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., LTV Corporation, Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc., MetLife, Progressive Corp., General Motors, Raytheon, W.R. Grace, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Lone Star Technologies, American Express, the Citigroup Inc., Royal & Sun Alliance, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., Vornado Reality Trust, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter & Co., XL Capital Ltd., and Bear Stearns.

An October 19 article in the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the SEC, after a period of silence, had undertaken the unprecedented action of deputizing hundreds of private officials in its investigation:

The proposed system, which would go into effect immediately, effectively deputizes hundreds, if not thousands, of key players in the private sector.
…
In a two-page statement issued to "all securities-related entities" nationwide, the SEC asked companies to designate senior personnel who appreciate "the sensitive nature" of the case and can be relied upon to "exercise appropriate discretion" as "point" people linking government investigators and the industry. ¹⁷

Michael Ruppert, a former LAPD officer, explains the consequences of this action:

What happens when you deputize someone in a national security or criminal investigation is that you make it illegal for them to disclose publicly what they know. Smart move. In effect, they become government agents and are controlled by government regulations rather than their own conscience. In fact, they can be thrown in jail without a hearing if they talk publicly. I have seen this implied threat time and again with federal investigations, intelligence agents, and even members of the United States Congress who are bound so tightly by secrecy oaths and agreements that they are not even able to disclose criminal activities inside the government for fear of incarceration. ¹⁸

The New York Stock Exchange said it was investigating unusual trades in 140 stocks. But don't expect a different result than the SEC!