06 March 2015

NAV Premiums of Certain Precious Metal Trusts and Funds


Yes it certainly is a Non-Farm Jobs Payrolls day.

Apparently if you stack low paying part time jobs high enough it means something.

The dollar took off on the 'blowout' jobs number. With the rest of the world in the process of cutting interest rates, the US looks to be getting ready to raise rates, which is certainly boosting the DX index, which is most heavily weighted to the euro.

One thing I have never seen before to my memory is the negative estimate I have on the Sprott Silver Trust's cash position. Keeping in mind of course that this is my estimate based on what numbers they do publish.  And it could be wrong.  But if it is, it is not for a lack on trying to find out.

I believe they have several options to resolve this, but they do not seem to be in any hurry to share this information with their unit holders.  And it doesn't appear to be for any lack of Sprott spokespersons who are available to give their opinions on so many other things.

As I reminder, I recommend nothing to anyone, ever.  I am not in a professional position to do so.  I am actively watching macro-economic developments, and then putting out my own analysis and theories about what is happening and why.  And this does involve watching individual sectors and representative firms.

I am watching these particular trust and funds because they are closed end and publish some timely statistics, meaning that there is a way to track their variance to Net Asset Value.  And they offer a useful cross section of redeemable, non-redeemable, and a mix of gold and silver.  I do not track any open ended funds designed to track the price of an underlying commodity.  Some people do.

Everyone's individual financial position is unique, requiring much more information than a public blog will have.  I put what I know and what I think out there, and people may make their own best judgements.

I bring this up now because people have a tendency to take full credit for all their successes, but their failures are orphans at best.   Sometimes people will ask for my 'opinion' on some particular notion they have, and they provide so little meaningful personal information in their request that it is obvious that they have already made up their minds, but just want to tag someone else with the decision.  It if wins, they are a genius, if it is wrong, they ought not to have listened to that other guy.

And while I have occasionally done it, I no longer like to even disclose what specific positions I may be holding because I do not wish people to 'follow' my own investing or trading, even at a distance.  That is no way to do it.  My circumstances and objectives may be entirely inappropriate for yours.

Leverage, risk and portfolio theory.  If you do not understand them, you ought not to be investing on your own.  And in general I think that in this market no amateurs should be actively trading because the probability that they will lose money is exceptionally high for the reasons I have stated many times.
 


05 March 2015

Gold Daily and Silver Weekly Charts - Walkabout


"The world is ours, we are its lords, and ours it shall remain. As for the host of labor, it has been in the dirt since history began, and I read history aright. And in the dirt it shall remain so long as I and mine and those that come after us have the power.

There is the word. It is the king of words—Power. Not God, not Mammon, but Power. Pour it over your tongue till it tingles with it. Power.”

Jack London, The Iron Heel


At the devil's booth are all things sold. Each ounce of dross, costs its ounce of gold.

James Russell Lowell

 The price action in dross was the usual thing for the bucket shop today.
 
One thing that was a bit surprising is that a good chunk of the Comex deliverable gold went walkabout.    Where it went, I am sure no one can say.  
 
Considering that this is an inactive month, and the gold clearing report continues to be a snoratorium, the big withdrawal of 114,790 ounces of gold out of Scotia Mocatta was a bit of a surprise.
 
There was a lesser withdrawal of 3,890 ounces from HSBC.
 
Silver had the usual ins and outs.
 
Non-Farm Payrolls tomorrow.
 
Have a pleasant evening.


 
 
 
 



SP 500 and NDX Futures Daily Charts - Killing Floor Blues


"We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy."

Phil Gramm, 11 July 2008


"Charles Munger, the billionaire vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., defended the U.S. financial-company rescues of 2008 and told students that people in economic distress should 'suck it in and cope.'"

Bloomberg, Sept 20, 2010
 
There is no recovery.
 
There has been no genuine reform.
 
There is another asset bubble.
 
The careless few are doing very well, and do not care.
 
Have a pleasant evening.
 

 
 
 






Images Caricaturée du Jour



The first cartoon is from William Banzai.

I am not worthy.

And the second was sent my way, artistic origins unknown.