Peter's Blog

The Tax-Man Cometh

With April 15 falling on Easter weekend this year, tax day in the United States was moved to April 18. Although Americans got a few days reprieve, the tax-man inevitably made his annual appearance, and we are all poorer for it.

The Auto Industry’s Check Engine Light Is On

Hey, auto industry. Your check engine light is on! A couple of weeks ago, we reported on the strained retail bubble. But that’s not the only balloon that Fed has managed to inflate with almost a decade of easy money. For the last several years, the auto loan market has ballooned to record levels – nearly […]

Wars and Rumors of Wars

The world is nervous. With the recent US missile strike in Syria and escalating tensions in North Korea, people have turned their thoughts to war. Google searches for “world war 3” have hit all-time highs according to info available on Google Trends. Related searches such as “Trump war,” “Syria war,” and “nuclear war” are also trending […]

Cash Crisis in India, ATMs Running Dry

Indians are facing a major shortage of cash, with as many as 90% of ATMs in some regions of the country running completely out of currency. The cash crisis stems from a policy of demonetization the Indian government launched over five months ago. On Nov. 8, the Indian government declared that 1,000 and 500 rupee notes would […]

Two Teens Charged in Craigslist Gold Scam

Two 17-year-old high school students allegedly raked in nearly $60,000 selling fake gold bars on Craigslist, underscoring the importance of buying gold and silver from a reputable dealer.

Putting a Damper on the Dollar

President Donald Trump put a damper on the dollar earlier this week when he claimed, in a Wall Street Journal interview, it was “getting too strong.” “I think our dollar is getting too strong, and partially that’s my fault because people have confidence in me. But that’s hurting — that will hurt ultimately … It’s […]

Day 84: Trump Flexes Military Muscle, Causes More Uncertainty

This week, Trump made military moves on two fronts, positioning ships off the coast of North Korea, and firing missiles into a key target in Syria. These quick, emotional moves sent ripples throughout the world markets. Uncertainty in the economy has been further amplified by an ever-extending timeline for tax reform.

Making America Confused Again

President Donald Trump is making America confused again. Within one week, Trump has spun complete 180s on policies that were central to his campaign. CNN dubbed it “extraordinary political shape-shifting.” It appears America may be entering an unprecedented era of regime uncertainty. That doesn’t bode well for the economy, but it could be a boon […]

China and Russia Cozying Up Around Gold

Russia and China have gotten much cozier over the last several months, and the two countries are reportedly working to develop a joint organization of trade in gold. This could have a significant impact on both the dollar and the price of gold. The Chinese began laying the foundation two years ago.

Jim Rickards: Implementing Trump’s Economic Plan is “Sheer Fantasy”

Is the so-called Trump Trade about to unravel? Economic analyst Jim Rickards thinks so. The Trump Trade rests on the idea that the president’s proposed policies of lower taxes, infrastructure spending, Obamacare repeal, and decreasing government regulations will juice the economy. As a result, corporate earnings will increase and the stock market will rise with […]