Category Archives: Geopolitical

Rare Earth Day 2.0

Take a look at Rare Earth (not the band) today.  Lots of market buzz as Molycorp (MCP) up over 10 percent and Rare Earth Elements (REE) up over 22 percent.  Recall our take on the Rare Earth trade as “gold … Continue reading

Posted in Commodities, Geopolitical, Gold, Politics, Rare Earth Elements, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Picture of the Day: The Wealth of Nations

Great shot (magnified 22x) of a wood ant holding a microchip in its teeth.  This picture symbolizes, at least to us, the recipe for the “Wealth of Nations:”  1) the work ethic of the ant;  2) the technology of the … Continue reading

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Japan’s Currency War? Nonsense!

Take a look at a 30-year chart of the Yen to see if Japan is trying to weaken its currency in a “beggar thy neighbor” policy.  The Yen has appreciated 50% against the dollar since 2007 and is at an … Continue reading

Posted in Commodities, Credit, Currency, Geopolitical, Gold, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fed, ECB throwing world into chaos – Stiglitz

These are the headlines from an earlier Reuters report.   Joe Stiglitz is one smart dude (OSD) and was the World Bank’s chief economist during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and 1998 Russian Debt Default.   He says the ultra-loose monetary policy … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, BRICs, China, Commodities, Credit, Currency, Geopolitical, Gold, Monetary Policy, News, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Breakup of the Euro isn’t unthinkable – Peer Steinbrueck

Peer Steinbrueck, who served as finance minister under Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2009, has published, Unterm Strich (“On Balance”), his insider view of the financial crisis. It looks to be a fascinating read.  Bloomberg has a great first look: … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, China, Credit, Geopolitical, Monetary Policy, Policy, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Swan Watch: Cyberwarfare and Iran’s Revenge

Computer World reports Iran has arrested several “spies” connected to a cyber attack on its nuclear program, “According to the Tehran-based Mehr News Agency, Heydar Moslehi, Iran’s minister of intelligence, said that “enemy spy services” were responsible for Stuxnet, the … Continue reading

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Will the Republican “Young Guns” Lasso Gold?

We’ve commented that an off-radar risk to gold is the hard money inclinations of the Republican leadership.  A Republican House in the next Congress is a done deal according to the prediction markets.  Intrade gives the scenario a 75 percent probability. … Continue reading

Posted in Commodities, Currency, Geopolitical, Gold, Monetary Policy | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Black Swans Everywhere

Equities are holding up well given some very ugly headlines (see below).   The markets ignored the strikes in Europe today, which is quite remarkable as it was the live CNBC video feed of the Greek riots that got the flash … Continue reading

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The New Gold Rush?

Rare Earth (REE) stocks,  including Molycorp,  got hammered today and we added a little to our position.  These  stocks are over extended as most are up over 100 percent in the past month. We believe this story has legs and … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, China, Commodities, Equities, Geopolitical, Gold, Rare Earth Elements | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Rare Earth Day

Rare Earth Elements (REE) have shown up on our radar as shares of Molycorp (MCP), one of the largest and only producers outside China,  has doubled in the past month.   REEs have no substitutes and are critical material inputs for … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, China, Commodities, Equities, Geopolitical, Rare Earth Elements | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments