Stocks and Precious Metals Charts - Metals Weaker For China's Spring Festival

"People are not truly free when they can’t afford to go to the doctor when they are sick.  They are not truly free when they cannot afford to buy the prescription drugs they so desperately need.   People are not truly free when they are exhausted because they are working longer and longer hours for lower wages.   People are not truly free when they cannot afford a decent place in which to live.  People certainly are not free when they cannot afford to feed their families.

The reason that Congress isn’t doing what the overwhelming majority of Americans wants has everything to do with the power of the monied interests.   Let us bring our people together to take on and defeat a ruling class whose greed is destroying our nation.  Our government belongs to each and every one of us, not just the few.”

Bernie Sanders, Response to the SOTU


"Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through ordinary things... Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.  Lacking any other purpose in life, it would be good enough to live for their sake."

Garrison Keillor

Not for any profit, or admiration, or even gratitude which is often enough lacking in this fallen world, but because it is His will, and we are His— in repentance, forgiveness, and thankfulness.

The Dollar strengthened today and so gold and silver were off a bit.

Stocks were wobbly and finished slightly lower.   We shall have to keep a watchful eye on them, as they are pausing at a key technical resistance level that may mark the extent of the recovery rally after the debacle in December.

The gold analyst Koos Jansen is apparently still too ill to be able to write. His analysis is missed.  He has provided some of the best knowledge about the Asian gold market.  Please remember him in your prayers.   Those of us who seek to find a refuge from modern monetary madness in precious metals do not need to allow ourselves to become heartless and uncaring, without feeling or fellowship with others.

I was able to accomplish quite a bit of work around the house today.    A life of work and prayer is a worthy way to live, in peace with yourself and your friends and family.

It is better than to be among the materially fortunate, with closed minds and hardened hearts, seeing only themselves and their restless dissatisfaction.   Even when surrounded they are alone, because they see others as only pale shadows and reflections of their appetites.   They think that they are alive, and that this is just the way that they are— they do not know that they are already dead.
 
The Banks must be restrained, and balance restored to the economy, before there can be any sustainable recovery.

Have a pleasant evening.

Stocks and Precious Metals Charts - Blue Skies - Central Bank Gold Buying At Highest Level in Over Fifty Years

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
     Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before...

Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven

Stocks were drifting higher today.

Gold showed some surprising resilience, even as the Dollar was moving higher and volatility continued to decrease.

Central Bank buying of gold is at its highest level in fifty years.

Something to think about.

Trumpolini will be giving the State of the Union Address this evening.

It was even nicer here today with temperatures in the mid 60's and another bright sunny day with a light breeze.

Thank God for all His kindness, and tender mercies.

The weather turns more seasonal again tomorrow and the rest of the week.

Perhaps the markets will lose some of this unnaturally sunny disposition as well.

Have a pleasant evening.

Stocks and Precious Metals Charts - Ozzy-nomics - Make Hay While the Sun Shines

It was a 'risk on' day for the US equity markets, with the bulls driving stocks higher, reaching their zenith into the close, only to fall back quite a bit again as the retail trade closed.

Gold and silver were off a bit, as the Dollar was higher, stressing emereging markets. And as you know, China is on holiday this week.

These was more action in the February gold contract. The clearing report is enclosed below.

Trumpolini will be delivering his 'State of the Union' address tomorrow.

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day, with blue skies, a gentle breeze, and a high temperature that cracked 60 degrees.

Needless to say it was a good day to open the windows, letting in the fresh air, and take care of those little chores that creep up during the cold weather that require some fresh air to do. I cleaned out the firebox for the fireplace, and am regrouting it. The ash door in the floor is broen, so I ordered a new one and will mortar that back in when it arrives.

And while I had the caulking gun out, did the bathroom and parts of the kitchen. And some touch up painting as well. If this warm weather keeps up and the ground dries out, tomorrow will be a good day to do some of the work outdoors. The yard is a mess full of twigs and the remnants of leaves.

Need little, want less, love more. For those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.

Have a pleasant evening.

Stocks and Precious Metals Charts - Revisionism - Goldman Unloads Gold Contracts, China Goes On Holiday

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised up from +176,000 to +196,000, and the change for December was revised down from +312,000 to +222,000.... (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors. The annual benchmark process also contributed to the November and December revisions.)

BLS, Economic News Announcement, 1 February 2019

The bottom line is that this preoccupation with the 'headline number' for the current month as a single datapoint that is promoted by Wall Street and the Government for official economic data is misleading.

The effective method of considering a heavily adjusted and revised data series like this is with a trend analysis of at least seven to twelve observations, and more if you can get them.  

But, that makes for a much less interesting and convenient narrative.

And as for the median wage and income— it is still too weak to sustain an economic recovery.

Stocks were a bit weak today, despite all this fabulous economic data, having exhausted the sugar rush that was spoonfed to them by their friendly neighborhood Federal Reserve.

Gold and silver were off a bit in traditional observance of the Non-Farm Payrolls report.

I have included the latest Comex Gold clearing report that shows that Goldman issued (unloaded) 4005 futures contracts from its house account at 1,319. 

Next week China will be on holiday for its 'Spring Festival' which is a week long observance that starts with their New Year.

This is typically a weak period for gold and silver.  Let's see what happens.

Need little, want less, love more.   For those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.

Have a pleasant weekend.