Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at weakening demand and softening prices for new guns. (See the Commodities section.)
Precious Metals:
At Currency Thoughts: Singapore Gold Takes Direct Aim at Comex, LBMA.
o o o
Jesse Columbo, at Gold-Eagle.com: A Report on the Bullish Case for Platinum.
o o o
Video: Andrew Maguire – “You’re About to Miss Silver’s 10x Moment’ (It’s Starting This June).
Economy & Finance:
G7 leaders gather in Canada for summit overshadowed by trade wars and Israel-Iran crisis.
o o o
In The Daily Mail: Ford forced to shutter factories amid worrying parts shortages: ‘Hand-to-mouth right now’ .
o o o
From CNBC: Retail sales fell 0.9% in May, worse than expected, as consumers pulled back.
o o
Senate Version Of ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Sets Up Showdown With House Over Taxes, Medicaid And SALT.
Commodities:
H.L. sent us this: Rubber Futures Plunge In Response To BYD Price Cuts.
o o o
Iraq warns of $300 per barrel oil.
o o o
Gun Sales Continue Decline in May. JWR’s Comments: Never lose sight of the fact that current production guns made for the consumer market are just commodities. It is only rare and out-of-prodction guns that will see any substantial gain above and beyond the prevailing rate of currency inflation. Pre-1899 guns, in particular, have the best prospects for long-term appreciation. The law of supply and demand is unyielding and consistent. I assert that it is best to think of it as relentless, decade after decade.
o o o
With the Iran/Israel war continuing, the oil price charts are looking scary.
Inflation/Deflation Watch:
I’ve had several readers write to ask what is coming: inflation or deflation? My response: Mark your calendar. The results of the scheduled September 16-17, 2025 Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will probably tell us the direction of monetary policy for the remainder of the 2020s. The June FOMC meeting was inconclusive and “befuddled”. If they make a rate cut in September — even if only down by 0.25% — then that could signal a major credit market turn. This could presage a period of high inflation — possibly one that is even worse than what we witnessed during the Biden Administration. A major monetary expansion might give the illusion of prosperity (with new stock market highs), but it will actually mean that the purchasing power of our savings will be wiped out. I once again advise hedging out of Dollars and into tangibles. – JWR
o o o
Walmart staff warn shoppers over avalanche of price hikes on all your favorite products.
o o o
China’s factory-gate deflation worst in 22 months as economic headwinds mount.
o o o
Turkey inflation dips more than expected to near 35% in May.
Forex & Cryptos:
At Currency Thoughts: Several Central Banks Deterred from Cutting Interest Rates by Geopolitical Strains and Tariff Policy Uncertainty.
o o o
USD/JPY Weakness Persists with US PPI Unfazed by Higher Tariffs.
o o o
From the globalist CNBC:
Swiss franc’s safe haven status is proving to be a headache for the nation.
o o o
XRP price prediction: analyst sees 500% breakout as charts mirror 2017 rally.
o o o
Bitcoin trades around $105K amid Middle East tensions: what’s next?
Tangibles Investing:
US Homebuilder Confidence Tumbles Near 13-Year-Lows.
o o o
Our featured Pre-1899 Gun Of The Week, at Elk Creek Company: A Winchester Model 1887 12 Gauge Lever Action Shotgun. By the way, we recently increased our pre-1965 silver payments divisor to an unprecedented 26.9 times value. (If you want to pay for an order in U.S. 90% silver then just take the total with shipping and divide by 26.9. Then round down to the nearest 25 cents. So that shotgun, for example, would be priced at $66.50 face value in silver coinage.
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.
News Tips:
Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant because they come from folks who closely watch specific markets. If you spot any news that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, then please send it in. News items from local news outlets that are missed by the news wire services are especially appreciated. Thanks!
Read the full article here