Senate Report Reveals Powerful Manipulative Positions of Goldman, JPM In Global Commodities

"We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Why is JP Morgan getting so much heat?   Maybe because it is a massive international crime syndicate."

Matt Taibbi, Talking JPM With Sam Seder

JPM and Goldman sought and obtained manipulative powers in global commodities, even while they were being bailed out on the back of the American people?   Oh no, nothing like this could be true, or so the shills and toadies of the moneyed interests will say.  Just get the government out of our way, and everything will be all right.  The market is naturally rational and efficient, pure and pristine.   No Bank would risk its reputation by doing anything illegal.

Especially when they buy off and intimidate enforcement, write the laws, and do what they will. 

I doubt that anything meaningful will be done about this.  The corruption runs deep.  In corporatism the private and public elites are largely interchangeable.  Different roles, similar objectives.

The politicians may make a good show of it, and talk harshly to their witnesses.  And then take their money, and lick their hands.

But at least we know more about what is true, and what is not.

Perhaps this may help you understand those who do not wish to remain under the power of the Banking cartel, and may be in a better position to do something about it.

Related: Wiseguys: Drawing Parallels Between the Mafia and Wall Street

Dealbook

Senate Report Criticizes Goldman and JPMorgan Over Their Roles in Commodities Market

By Nathaniel Popper and Peter Eavis

November 19, 2014

A two-year Senate-led investigation is throwing back the curtain on the outsize and sometimes hidden sway that Wall Street banks have gained over the markets for essential commodities like oil, aluminum and coal.

The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found that Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase assumed a role of such significance in the commodities markets that it became possible for the banks to influence the prices that consumers pay while also securing inside information about the markets that could be used by the banks’ own traders

Bankers from both firms, along with other industry executives and regulators, will testify about the allegations at hearings on Thursday and Friday.

The 400-page report, which was made public on Wednesday evening, included case studies on nine different commodities in which banks have taken big positions, including the 100 oil tankers and 55 million barrels of oil storage that were owned by Morgan Stanley, and the 31 power plants owned by JPMorgan at one point.

The subcommittee discussed several reasons that these commodity operations could create problems. The potential for price manipulation and the unfair advantage that banks can gain in these markets were among the top concerns expressed by Senator Levin and Senator John McCain, the top Republican on the subcommittee.

But both senators also echoed previous warnings that the enormous holdings of oil, uranium and other hazardous materials could expose the banks to significant legal liability that could, in turn, lead to runs on the banks.

A 2012 study by the Federal Reserve, cited in the report, found that banks have not put aside enough money and insurance to adequately prepare for the “extreme loss scenarios” involving commodities...

Read the entire article here.

Commodity Wars: Why Just Trade Milk When You Can Buy the Cow (Cheaply)?

As you may recall, I was speaking about the Currency War long before it became a recognized issue. From my analysis of history and the major monetary trends it seemed inevitable even in 1999, and events shortly after that confirmed it.

Those who see what is going on behind the scenes are securing supplies of key commodities and hard assets. And this is not limited to the large national banks and financial firms.

Consolidation in the mining sector is going to happen in a rush when the panic for supply ensues. But it will be the same for several key sectors.

This is a recurring macro theme and major trend, an extension of the Currency Wars as the US dollar regime that has existed since the end of World War II shifts and changes.

Since the outcome is uncertain, the major players are grabbing assets now that will likely be playable chips no matter what the eventual resolution.

The status quo will continue to posture, running their bluffs and trying to hide the facts, while lining their own pockets I might add, as they are untrue, frightened, and unworthy.

So do not be fooled if the path continues to twist and wind with bumps along the way. These things happen slowly over a long period of time, but then often seem to come at you all in a rush.

"In the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and swept them all away."

Secure your wealth, look to your family and especially remember whom you chosen to serve, and hold your own self tight in your fingers, hoping for the best with a steady faith, a good conscience, and a loving heart.

I still believe that serious stagflation is the more likely outcome, as compared to the less likely hyperinflation or protracted deflation. However we may see a significant devaluing of the euro and the dollar against 'hard assets' that may or may not include the Asian currencies.

Batten down the hatches. Rough waters ahead.

Guardian
Glencore and Xstrata in talks over $82bn 'merger of equals'
By Rupert Neate
2 February 2012 04.13 EST

Commodities trader Glencore and mining giant Xstrata are in discussions on an $82bn (£50bn) merger to create a company that would dominate the global mining industry.

Xstrata, already one of the world's largest mining companies, confirmed on Thursday morning that Glencore, the world's biggest commodity trading company, had formally approached it with plans for a "merger of equals". The announcement sent shares in Xstrata rocketing 12% in early trading to £12.56. Glencore shares were up almost 4% at 448.6p.

"Xstrata confirms that it has received an approach from and is in discussions with Glencore International regarding an all-share merger of equals which may or may not lead to an offer being made by Glencore for Xstrata. There can be no certainty that any offer will be made," the company said in the statement that follows a flurry on speculation.

UK "put up or shut up" takeover rules mean Glencore has until 1 March to make a formal offer...

Commodity Wars: JP Morgan Stockpiling Inventory to Influence Prices, the Flow of Goods, and Rents

"We are witnessing the death of abundance and the borning of austerity, for what may be a long, long time."

Bill Gross

Crony capitalists are never interested in the risk and rigor of 'free markets,' only in the surety of monopolies and obtaining a license from the authorities for extracting rents from them. They alternately create artificial abundance and scarcity to influence prices, with the objective of lining their pockets.

This move by JP Morgan to enlarge their warehouses and stockpile key commodities helps to demonstrate the growing scramble for resources which is a recurrent theme, and at the same time it shows the pernicious influence of mingling government guaranteed customer money and subsidized Federal Reserve funds with what is essentially private speculation.

JP Morgan is a bank that was rescued by public funds, and that exists at the sufferance of the US government and their money. Some of the pampered princes of the Republic would like to turn the financial sector into a new House of Lords.

Still, there may be a mutual interest between the government and their bankers in influencing the world's flow of key commodities. And if a few friends become wealthy in the process, well, so much the better.

Reuters
JP Morgan adds muscle to metal warehousing money
By Josephine Mason and Susan Thomas

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Investment bank JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM - News) is bulking up its metal warehousing facilities in Rotterdam and Chicago, industry sources say, in a business that consumers complain deliberately delays delivery of metals to boost revenues from rent.

London Metal Exchange rules allow warehouse companies to release only a fraction of their inventories per day, much less than is regularly taken in for storage, creating long queues to get metal out and guaranteeing rental income.

JP Morgan's aim is to fill its Henry Bath warehousing arm with inventory in the two port cities large enough to rival trading house Glencore's Pacorini and U.S. bank Goldman Sachs'(NYSE:GS - News) Metro.

The Pacorini and Metro facilities in Vlissingen, Netherlands and Detroit combined are estimated to hold around half of the global London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium stocks which stand at just under 5 million tonnes.

Sources at JPM say the bank is pursuing a strategy to consolidate warehousing in the two locations to create the next Detroit or Vlissingen. A JPMorgan spokesman declined to comment.

"They (JPMorgan) are rebuilding stocks again," a high-level industry source in the Netherlands said.

Complaints about long queues, particularly in Detroit, prompted the LME to raise minimum delivery rates - 3,000 tonnes a day for operators with stocks of over 900,000 tonnes in one city - but traders and analysts say the new rules will make little difference when they come into effect in April.

The JPM strategy is likely to inflame consumers and traders already angry about the influence of warehousing companies on the flow of metal.

J.P. Morgan is already preparing to store aluminium in Europe's largest port, Rotterdam, where it has over 30 sheds.

The bank, the largest by assets in the United States, was behind the cancellation of 500,000 tonnes of LME aluminium warrants in Vlissingen, just 50 miles away from Rotterdam, on December 21, traders and warehousing sources told Reuters. Cancelled warrants show metal is earmarked for delivery.

"They are taking material from producers or traders, or trying to get it out of the market place - they were lucky to get 500,000 tonnes out of Vlissingen -- and moving it to Rotterdam," said the industry source.

Citigroup analyst David Wilson said there had been a large number of copper cancelled warrants in St Louis and New Orleans, many carried out by JP Morgan.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if they wanted to move metal into their own warehouses," Wilson said. "The cancellations don't fit in with the underlying demand picture."

It is unclear how much metal JPM wants to eventually hold in the two locations, but to compete with its two closest rivals, it will require millions of tonnes, most likely aluminium which has the most ideal characteristics for long-term storage deals.

Glencore drove Pacorini's emergence as a dominant force in New Orleans and Vlissingen. The Dutch port holds nearly one million tonnes of aluminium.

Traders said Metro holds most of Detroit's 1.4 million tonnes of aluminium stocks, and is ideally located to attract surplus aluminium in North America.

There were other signs in recent weeks that the bank's focus has shifted after traders reported JPM sold a large number of warrants, or ownership titles to metal, to release funds.

"JPM have dumped a large amount of warrants or sold very cheaply," a senior source at a warehousing company said. "They've let go of a lot of warrants they were holding onto."

Read the rest here.