Peter's Blog

Liberty & Inflation for All: Fireworks Shows Are Scaling Down

While the cost of fireworks is down compared to last year, prices of just about everything else are way up. That means individuals are still buying fireworks to light off themselves, but the size and scope of municipal fireworks shows are being downgraded in many towns and cities across the country — and in some […]

Is France the Next Greece?

French markets have found some relief after the first round of its latest election, with stocks recovering somewhat and bond yields falling after reaching a 12-year high. But no matter which side wins in France, the market is afraid that an increase in unsustainable spending could be the common denominator. 

The Modern Myth of “Wage Slavery”

The idea of ‘wage slavery’ unfairly compares today’s suffering job market to historical chattel slavery, using outdated 19th-century arguments to criticize modern work. This oversimplification overlooks the significant improvements in workers’ freedom and their right to work.  Some will choose to work at a lower wage than accept a worse alternative.

COTs Report: The Options Market Shows Speculators Are Back

Please note: the CoTs report was published 06/28/2024 for the period ending 06/25/2024. “Managed Money” and “Hedge Funds” are used interchangeably. The Commitment of Traders report is a weekly publication that shows the breakdown of ownership in the Futures market. For every contract, there is a long and a short, so the net positioning will […]

The FED-Induced Housing Crisis

While the Federal Reserve’s inflationary policies are publicized as protecting the American people, they are causing the American dream of homeownership to slip away. By raising the federal funds rate to combat their self-inflicted inflation, the Fed has driven up mortgage costs, making it harder for aspiring homeowners to secure a place in the housing […]

Markets, Watch Out: Russia Threatens Retaliations Against U.S.

“Retaliatory measures will definitely follow,” Kremlin officials promise the U.S. ambassador after a Ukrainian missile strike was allegedly conducted with U.S.-supplied weapons and intelligence.

Money Supply is Moving Back Up

Money Supply is a very important indicator. It helps show how tight or loose current monetary conditions are regardless of what the Fed is doing with interest rates. Even if the Fed is tight, if Money Supply is increasing, it has an inflationary effect.

WaPo: No Matter Who Gets Elected, Expect More Debt

An article in yesterday’s Washington Post assured readers that no matter who wins the 2024 US presidential election, we can count on massive expansion of the national debt to be among the common denominators. The article looked at a recent report from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, or CRFB, analyzing the debt increases […]

ZIRP-Addicted Japan Is Crumbling Under Higher Rates

The message is loud and clear: The Japanese economy has no tolerance for higher interest rates after the Bank of Japan has kept them artificially near zero for decades. Meanwhile, as the largest holders of US Treasury debt, Japan’s economic well-being has become inextricably dependent on the capricious whims of Federal Reserve monetary policy — […]

Comex: Gold Sees Highest Delivery Volume in Nearly 2 Years

The Comex report for last month correctly identified a potential big move in silver while the same report two months ago preceded a massive up move for the price of gold. The data this month is not as obvious or compelling, but it is clear the stress on the Comex continues to build.