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‘Tis The Season To Invest In Gold?

“We should treat market truisms with respect but not as gospel.” — Dick Davis On Tuesday, “MarketWatch” released a seasonal chart showing that September is the best month to invest in gold. Click here to read the article. Nobody knows why…

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“We should treat market truisms with respect but not as gospel.” — Dick Davis

On Tuesday, “MarketWatch” released a seasonal chart showing that September is the best month to invest in gold. Click here to read the article.

Nobody knows why September is a good time to buy gold. One gold expert told me that the Indian wedding season and the Hindu festival of lights in October are always cited as one of the main drivers for gold in September. But who knows?

So far, the monthly pattern hasn’t held up for gold — it fell in January and February, then recovered from March through June and has been down during the summer.

Last week, international veteran investor Mark Mobius told Bloomberg that investors should hold 10% physical gold in their portfolio. He said, “Currency devaluation globally is going to be quite significant next year given the incredible amount of money supply that has been printed.”

“Mark Mobius endorses my book Maxims of Wall Street at the MoneyShow.”

The broad-based money supply increased 25% in the past year, but this factor is well known by gold bugs and built into the price. Yet gold continues to struggle to go above $1,900 an ounce. It’s done it now three times and faltered each time.

Gold has faced several new inflationary hedges, such as Bitcoin and even Rolex watches, which are suddenly in short supply.

I hope Mobius is right since I have a 15% position in precious metals and mining companies in my portfolio. So far, they have failed to deliver positive returns this year, despite a sharp rise in inflation. Gold can’t hold a candle to my technology stocks and funds, which are ahead 23% or more in 2021.

Maybe it’s time for gold to shine.

What About Stocks in September?

Stocks have traditionally struggled in September and, in fact, September is the most volatile month on Wall Street, even more so than October.

According to Wall Street lore, you should buy in late October and take advantage of the Santa Claus rally during the November through January holiday season. An old saying is “Buy when it snows, sell when it goes.”

Then there’s the other well-known verse, “Sell in May and go away, and don’t come back til Labor Day.” (Maxims of Wall Street, p. 115, www.skousenbooks.com)

Yet if you had followed this old ditty, you would have missed out on a nice summer rally.

As a professional economist, I prefer taking a more fundamental economic approach. I am bullish on stocks, especially in technology, because government policy has adopted big-spending, easy money policies. I say, “Don’t fight the Fed.”

But I also am recommending gold, oil and commodities as hedges against inflation. You should do the same.

‘Are We Rome?’

On Saturday, Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I’ve been asked to speak on the topic, “Are We Rome?”

After the Biden blunder in Afghanistan, many Americans are wondering if we are going downhill as the world’s number one military power.

In 2013, FreedomFest addressed this issue. Watch the moving award-winning three-minute video here.

Come join me at the Liberty United Festival, Saturday, Sept. 11, Grove Park, Vineyard, Utah, 3-6 p.m.: This is a free event. There will also be live music, food, games and spirited talks. Invite your friends and neighbors!

Las Vegas MoneyShow to Host FreedomFest and Anthem Film Sessions!

Las Vegas MoneyShow, September 12-14, Bally’s: Jo Ann and I will be speakers, along with Steve Forbes, Steve Moore, Keith Fitz-Gerald, Jim Woods, Wayne Allyn Root and many others.

My sessions will cover the following: “Bears Make Headlines, Bulls Make Money: My Top Investment Recommendations from the Maxims of Wall Street” and “Puzzles and Paradoxes in Money & the Economy,” where I’ll be auctioning off a jar of pennies to demonstrate both the wisdom of crowds and the madness of crowds. If you haven’t seen this experiment, you’re in for a treat. I’ll also be moderating a debate on cryptocurrencies vs. gold.

Kim Githler, president of the MoneyShow, is a HUGE fan of FreedomFest, and she has asked me to put together several FreedomFest sessions at the Las Vegas MoneyShow to give investors an idea of what they missed in South Dakota last month.

She has arranged for us to have an exhibit booth at the Las Vegas MoneyShow, and we will offer several special sessions on Tuesday, Sept. 14, that were popular at this year’s FreedomFest.

Jo Ann will speak on “The Misguided Appeal of Socialism,” followed by my own presentation, “My Most Successful Technique to Change the Minds of Students about Socialism, Keynesianism and the $15 Minimum Wage.” There will also be a talk called “Geopolitical Hotspots in Asia and the Middle East: Will China Replace America as the World Superpower?”

Meanwhile, the Anthem Film Festival will present “Days Before the Dawn,” an award-winning short documentary about the student protests in Hong Kong, followed by panelists Simon Lee (of the Lion Rock Institute in Hong Kong), Keith Fitz-Gerald and director Trevor Klein. The panel will be moderated by Jo Ann Skousen.

Following the panel, the film festival will screen the award-winning short documentary, “Saber Rock.” Afghan interpreter Saber Rock worked with American troops for several years and is currently working to rescue his family from Afghanistan. He will join the panel and answer questions about the documentary and current events.

If you didn’t go to FreedomFest in South Dakota, come to the Las Vegas Money Show and find out what you missed.

The current registration fee for the MoneyShow is $199, but I’ve arranged for my subscribers to get the “early bird” discount of $149 if they register before Sept. 1. After that, it goes up to $199. The fee includes all the general and breakout sessions (with a few exceptions), and it includes the special FreedomFest sessions on Sept. 14.

To take advantage of the early-bird discount, call the MoneyShow at 1-800-970-4355, and ask for Kathy. Use code 054072 to get the $149 price. Also ask about the special hotel rates at Bally’s, including a reduced resort fee of only $20. Parking is free at the Bally’s Hotel. You can also click here to purchase tickets!

Celebrate My Birthday in New Orleans!

New Orleans Investment Conference, Oct. 19-22, New Orleans Hilton Hotel: Join me on my birthday (Oct. 19) as I discuss the significance of the October 19, 1987, crash… Other speakers include former congressman Ron Paul, Jim Grant, Rick Rule, James Rickards and Brien Lundin… To read more about the “granddaddy of investment conferences,” go to www.neworleansconference.com. To register, click here, and be sure to mention you are a subscriber to Investor Cafe!

Good investing, AEIOU,

Mark Skousen

You Nailed It!

There’s a Better Way to Survive COVID-19

Certainly, the medical scientists who came up with the coronavirus vaccines in record time deserve our praise.

But the focus of our efforts to beat this disease should look beyond dealing with the symptoms, such as social distancing, wearing of face coverings and getting the vaccine.

I’m surprised and disappointed that our government, civic and religious leaders have not advanced a nationwide healthy living program to encourage citizens to eat better and exercise more. Instead, they did the opposite — closing gyms, telling people to stay at home and not go outside and ordering processed foods.

Study after study tells us that if you exercise regularly, eat nutritious meals, take vitamins, have goals and get socially involved, your chances of surviving the virus are high.

The real killers of this disease are the comorbidities: obesity, depression, heart disease and diabetes.

Yes, a few healthy people die from the COVID-19 virus, but they are the exception to the rule.

Recently, two conferences offered sessions on healthy living. One took place last month at the BYU Education Week in Provo, Utah. The Latter-day Saints are famous for their sports programs and “Word of Wisdom” health code, abstaining from smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages and are known for living long lives.

Dr. Matthew B. Morgan, an M.D. at the University of Utah School of Medicine, taught four classes on the importance of eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep.

“Eating processed foods has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other diseases,” he said. It’s best to eat “whole” vegetables, fruits and nuts.

“Exercise combats disease, helps manage weight, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep and can be fun or social.” It is best to engage in social sports.

Finally, he stated “short sleep, or getting six hours or less of sleep a night as opposed to seven to nine hours, activates the sympathetic nervous system, which chronically increases blood pressure and heart rate and can exacerbate coronary artery calcification.” It is best to get plenty of rest, including naps during the day.

See a summary here:

https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2021-08-16/byu-education-week-2021-diet-exercise-and-sleep-222414

The second conference was FreedomFest, held in July in South Dakota. We had several sessions on healthy living, led by keynote speaker Dr. Drew Pinski. He spoke on “The Media and Healthcare System Response to Coronavirus and What You Need to Know Now,” followed by a luncheon where he answered questions. We also had health experts talking about how to extend life up to 30 years and the unseen effects on children who live in fear from the COVID-19 crisis. Finally, health expert Jeff Riley spoke on “Healthy Aging with Nutrition and Exercise to Achieve Freedom of Body, Mind and Spirit.” They are highly recommended.

All the audio recordings of FreedomFest sessions are available now on a thumb drive by going to www.miracleofamerica.com. The entire set of 200 sessions costs only $195. Listen to them while you are exercising!

This coronavirus isn’t going away soon. As the old Fram oil filter ad said, “You either pay me now or pay me later.” Dealing with the symptoms is all fine and good, but it’s time to emphasize dealing with the root of the problem.

The post ‘Tis The Season To Invest In Gold? appeared first on Stock Investor.

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Low Iron Levels In Blood Could Trigger Long COVID: Study

Low Iron Levels In Blood Could Trigger Long COVID: Study

Authored by Amie Dahnke via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

People with inadequate…

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1 hour ago

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March 9, 2024

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Low Iron Levels In Blood Could Trigger Long COVID: Study

Authored by Amie Dahnke via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

People with inadequate iron levels in their blood due to a COVID-19 infection could be at greater risk of long COVID.

(Shutterstock)

A new study indicates that problems with iron levels in the bloodstream likely trigger chronic inflammation and other conditions associated with the post-COVID phenomenon. The findings, published on March 1 in Nature Immunology, could offer new ways to treat or prevent the condition.

Long COVID Patients Have Low Iron Levels

Researchers at the University of Cambridge pinpointed low iron as a potential link to long-COVID symptoms thanks to a study they initiated shortly after the start of the pandemic. They recruited people who tested positive for the virus to provide blood samples for analysis over a year, which allowed the researchers to look for post-infection changes in the blood. The researchers looked at 214 samples and found that 45 percent of patients reported symptoms of long COVID that lasted between three and 10 months.

In analyzing the blood samples, the research team noticed that people experiencing long COVID had low iron levels, contributing to anemia and low red blood cell production, just two weeks after they were diagnosed with COVID-19. This was true for patients regardless of age, sex, or the initial severity of their infection.

According to one of the study co-authors, the removal of iron from the bloodstream is a natural process and defense mechanism of the body.

But it can jeopardize a person’s recovery.

“When the body has an infection, it responds by removing iron from the bloodstream. This protects us from potentially lethal bacteria that capture the iron in the bloodstream and grow rapidly. It’s an evolutionary response that redistributes iron in the body, and the blood plasma becomes an iron desert,” University of Oxford professor Hal Drakesmith said in a press release. “However, if this goes on for a long time, there is less iron for red blood cells, so oxygen is transported less efficiently affecting metabolism and energy production, and for white blood cells, which need iron to work properly. The protective mechanism ends up becoming a problem.”

The research team believes that consistently low iron levels could explain why individuals with long COVID continue to experience fatigue and difficulty exercising. As such, the researchers suggested iron supplementation to help regulate and prevent the often debilitating symptoms associated with long COVID.

“It isn’t necessarily the case that individuals don’t have enough iron in their body, it’s just that it’s trapped in the wrong place,” Aimee Hanson, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge who worked on the study, said in the press release. “What we need is a way to remobilize the iron and pull it back into the bloodstream, where it becomes more useful to the red blood cells.”

The research team pointed out that iron supplementation isn’t always straightforward. Achieving the right level of iron varies from person to person. Too much iron can cause stomach issues, ranging from constipation, nausea, and abdominal pain to gastritis and gastric lesions.

1 in 5 Still Affected by Long COVID

COVID-19 has affected nearly 40 percent of Americans, with one in five of those still suffering from symptoms of long COVID, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Long COVID is marked by health issues that continue at least four weeks after an individual was initially diagnosed with COVID-19. Symptoms can last for days, weeks, months, or years and may include fatigue, cough or chest pain, headache, brain fog, depression or anxiety, digestive issues, and joint or muscle pain.

Tyler Durden Sat, 03/09/2024 - 12:50

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February Employment Situation

By Paul Gomme and Peter Rupert The establishment data from the BLS showed a 275,000 increase in payroll employment for February, outpacing the 230,000…

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March 9, 2024

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By Paul Gomme and Peter Rupert

The establishment data from the BLS showed a 275,000 increase in payroll employment for February, outpacing the 230,000 average over the previous 12 months. The payroll data for January and December were revised down by a total of 167,000. The private sector added 223,000 new jobs, the largest gain since May of last year.

Temporary help services employment continues a steep decline after a sharp post-pandemic rise.

Average hours of work increased from 34.2 to 34.3. The increase, along with the 223,000 private employment increase led to a hefty increase in total hours of 5.6% at an annualized rate, also the largest increase since May of last year.

The establishment report, once again, beat “expectations;” the WSJ survey of economists was 198,000. Other than the downward revisions, mentioned above, another bit of negative news was a smallish increase in wage growth, from $34.52 to $34.57.

The household survey shows that the labor force increased 150,000, a drop in employment of 184,000 and an increase in the number of unemployed persons of 334,000. The labor force participation rate held steady at 62.5, the employment to population ratio decreased from 60.2 to 60.1 and the unemployment rate increased from 3.66 to 3.86. Remember that the unemployment rate is the number of unemployed relative to the labor force (the number employed plus the number unemployed). Consequently, the unemployment rate can go up if the number of unemployed rises holding fixed the labor force, or if the labor force shrinks holding the number unemployed unchanged. An increase in the unemployment rate is not necessarily a bad thing: it may reflect a strong labor market drawing “marginally attached” individuals from outside the labor force. Indeed, there was a 96,000 decline in those workers.

Earlier in the week, the BLS announced JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) data for January. There isn’t much to report here as the job openings changed little at 8.9 million, the number of hires and total separations were little changed at 5.7 million and 5.3 million, respectively.

As has been the case for the last couple of years, the number of job openings remains higher than the number of unemployed persons.

Also earlier in the week the BLS announced that productivity increased 3.2% in the 4th quarter with output rising 3.5% and hours of work rising 0.3%.

The bottom line is that the labor market continues its surprisingly (to some) strong performance, once again proving stronger than many had expected. This strength makes it difficult to justify any interest rate cuts soon, particularly given the recent inflation spike.

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Spread & Containment

Another beloved brewery files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The beer industry has been devastated by covid, changing tastes, and maybe fallout from the Bud Light scandal.

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March 9, 2024

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Before the covid pandemic, craft beer was having a moment. Most cities had multiple breweries and taprooms with some having so many that people put together the brewery version of a pub crawl.

It was a period where beer snobbery ruled the day and it was not uncommon to hear bar patrons discuss the makeup of the beer the beer they were drinking. This boom period always seemed destined for failure, or at least a retraction as many markets seemed to have more craft breweries than they could support.

Related: Fast-food chain closes more stores after Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The pandemic, however, hastened that downfall. Many of these local and regional craft breweries counted on in-person sales to drive their business. 

And while many had local and regional distribution, selling through a third party comes with much lower margins. Direct sales drove their business and the pandemic forced many breweries to shut down their taprooms during the period where social distancing rules were in effect.

During those months the breweries still had rent and employees to pay while little money was coming in. That led to a number of popular beermakers including San Francisco's nationally-known Anchor Brewing as well as many regional favorites including Chicago’s Metropolitan Brewing, New Jersey’s Flying Fish, Denver’s Joyride Brewing, Tampa’s Zydeco Brew Werks, and Cleveland’s Terrestrial Brewing filing bankruptcy.

Some of these brands hope to survive, but others, including Anchor Brewing, fell into Chapter 7 liquidation. Now, another domino has fallen as a popular regional brewery has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Overall beer sales have fallen.

Image source: Shutterstock

Covid is not the only reason for brewery bankruptcies

While covid deserves some of the blame for brewery failures, it's not the only reason why so many have filed for bankruptcy protection. Overall beer sales have fallen driven by younger people embracing non-alcoholic cocktails, and the rise in popularity of non-beer alcoholic offerings,

Beer sales have fallen to their lowest levels since 1999 and some industry analysts

"Sales declined by more than 5% in the first nine months of the year, dragged down not only by the backlash and boycotts against Anheuser-Busch-owned Bud Light but the changing habits of younger drinkers," according to data from Beer Marketer’s Insights published by the New York Post.

Bud Light parent Anheuser Busch InBev (BUD) faced massive boycotts after it partnered with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. It was a very small partnership but it led to a right-wing backlash spurred on by Kid Rock, who posted a video on social media where he chastised the company before shooting up cases of Bud Light with an automatic weapon.

Another brewery files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Gizmo Brew Works, which does business under the name Roth Brewing Company LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 8. In its filing, the company checked the box that indicates that its debts are less than $7.5 million and it chooses to proceed under Subchapter V of Chapter 11. 

"Both small business and subchapter V cases are treated differently than a traditional chapter 11 case primarily due to accelerated deadlines and the speed with which the plan is confirmed," USCourts.gov explained. 

Roth Brewing/Gizmo Brew Works shared that it has 50-99 creditors and assets $100,000 and $500,000. The filing noted that the company does expect to have funds available for unsecured creditors. 

The popular brewery operates three taprooms and sells its beer to go at those locations.

"Join us at Gizmo Brew Works Craft Brewery and Taprooms located in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Find us for entertainment, live music, food trucks, beer specials, and most importantly, great-tasting craft beer by Gizmo Brew Works," the company shared on its website.

The company estimates that it has between $1 and $10 million in liabilities (a broad range as the bankruptcy form does not provide a space to be more specific).

Gizmo Brew Works/Roth Brewing did not share a reorganization or funding plan in its bankruptcy filing. An email request for comment sent through the company's contact page was not immediately returned.

 

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