Survival And Prosperity

Pandemic Potential? H7N9 Bird Flu And Novel Coronavirus

Back on April 19, I asked if readers were paying attention to the spread of the H7N9 bird flu virus in China.

That followed a similar post from February 18 about the novel coronavirus (nCoV).

Here’s the latest regarding these deadly respiratory viruses. From the CBS News website Monday morning:

Two outbreaks of new, deadly respiratory infections in two different parts of the world have international health officials on edge, actively researching how to stay head of the new diseases.

In recent months, an outbreak of a new strain of bird flu called H7N9 has hit China while a new coronavirus that first appeared last year has been infecting an increasing number of people in the Middle East — and now Europe.

Last week, the coronavirus related to SARS spread to France, where one patient who probably caught the disease in Dubai infected his hospital roommate. Officials are now trying to track down everyone who went on a tour group holiday to Dubai with the first patient as well as all contacts of the second patient. Since it was first spotted last year, the new coronavirus has infected 34 people, killing 18 of them. Nearly all had some connection to the Middle East.

CBS ran a follow-up article about the novel coronavirus this afternoon. From that later piece:

Saudi Arabia has confirmed four new cases of a deadly new respiratory virus related to SARS that appears centered in the Arabian Peninsula but that has also been reported in Europe…

Other cases have appeared in France, Germany and Britain, possibly linked to travel in the Gulf region.

While the novel coronavirus has infected 34 and killed 18 since last September, the H7N9 bird flu strain in China has infected 131 and killed 32 since March.

So, do either of these viruses have pandemic potential? Possibly. Consider what the World Health Organization (WHO) said in Monday’s CBS piece:

WHO, which is closely monitoring the viruses, says both have the potential to cause a pandemic — a global epidemic — if they evolve into a form easily spread between people.

So far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. And luckily for us, there are no reports of anyone in United States getting infected and sick with either H7N9 or the novel coronavirus.

Just as well, as there are no specific treatments for illnesses caused by the novel coronavirus, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. However, the CDC does say this about treating illnesses caused by the H7N9 avian flu:

CDC received an H7N9 virus sample from China on April 11. Antiviral resistance testing on the first virus isolate at CDC has been completed and indicates that this virus would be sensitive (susceptible) to the two influenza antiviral drugs that are used to treat seasonal flu: the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (Relenza®)

For more information about these viruses, you can visit the CDC website here (novel coronavirus) and here (H7N9).

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Sources:

“Coronavirus and bird flu: Scientists tracking outbreaks of two new infections.” Associated Press. 13 May 2013. (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57584184/coronavirus-and-bird-flu-scientists-tracking-outbreaks-of-two-new-infections/). 14 May 2013.

“New coronavirus infects four more in Saudi Arabia.” Associated Press. 14 May 2013. (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57584412/new-coronavirus-infects-four-more-in-saudi-arabia/). 14 May 2013.

Tags: antiviral drugs, avian flu, bird flu, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, China, drugs, Dubai, flu pandemics, France, Germany, H7N9, influenza, influenza pandemics, NCoV, neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir, novel coronavirus, pandemics, Relenza, SARS, Saudi Arabia, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Tamiflu, UAE, UK, United Arab Emirates, viruses, WHO, World Health Organization, zanamivir

Pentagon: Iran Could Flight-Test ICBM Capable Of Striking U.S. By 2015

Here’s a bit of disturbing news concerning Iran’s advancing nuclear capability I caught yesterday from Defense Update, an online defense magazine published in Israel. From their website:

A new Pentagon assessment of Iran’s military power maintains that in two years time, Iran could flight-test an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the United States, given “sufficient foreign assistance”, is provided to Tehran. The new assessment reiterated a longstanding estimate of the U.S. intelligence community. Iran could test such a missile by 2015 with assistance from nations like North Korea, China or Russia.

Apparently, this comes from an unclassified portion of the Annual Report on Military Power of Iran, dated January 2013 and made available by the Pentagon on April 25, 2013.

You can read the rest of the article on the Defense Update site here.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Tags: Annual Report on Military Power of Iran, China, ICBMs, intercontinental ballistic missiles, Iran, North Korea, nuclear war, nuclear weapons, Russia, U.S. Department of Defense

Signs Of The Time, Part 61

Late last night I took some “me” time to watch the remake of that 1984 cult classic Red Dawn. I blogged back on August 13, 2012:

“Cold Warriors” might remember the flick, which incidentally was the first film to be released with a PG-13 rating. From the IMDb website:

It is the dawn of World War III. In mid-western America, a group of teenagers bands together to defend their town, and their country, from invading Soviet forces.

I also added:

On November 21, 2012- the day before Thanksgiving- Red Dawn 2012 will be released in American movie theaters. According to the IMDb storyline:

A group of teenagers look to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers.

North Korea?

Already, some are saying that the People’s Republic of China with its fast-growing military should have been cast as America’s fictitious adversary in the remake.

Or even the bad-a** Russians (Soviets) again.

But according to Wikipedia:

In June 2010, release of the film was delayed due to MGM’s financial difficulties. The delay came amid growing controversy in China after excerpts of the script were leaked on the website The Awl. The film drew sharp criticism from the Global Times, one of the leading Chinese state-run newspapers, with headlines such as “U.S. reshoots Cold War movie to demonize China” and “American movie plants hostile seeds against China.” One of the articles stated: “China can still feel U.S. distrust and fear, especially among its people. Americans’ suspicions about China are the best ground for the hawks to disseminate fear and doubt, which is the biggest concern with the movie, Red Dawn…

In March 2011, the Los Angeles Times reported that MGM is changing the villains in its Red Dawn remake from Chinese to North Korean in order to maintain access to China’s lucrative box office.

So, North Korea became the “new” bad guys.

But get a load what was printed up on the Netflix DVD sleeve label:

“When Chinese military forces invade…”

Too funny.

As for the 2013 remake- not bad. I was pleasantly surprised that the storyline wasn’t exactly the same as the original movie. However, the movie ended somewhat abruptly, I thought. Still, the film was better than I expected. I especially liked the North Korean invasion scene- my butt popped off the couch for that part. And Kalashnikov aficionados will be impressed by the prolific use of AK-variants in the movie.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Tags: AK-47, Avtomat Kalashnikova, China, Kalashnikov, Netflix, North Korea, Red Dawn 1984, Red Dawn 2012, Russia, Soviet Union, World War 3

Gold Price Takedown Leads To Buying Frenzy

“My view is that the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan ’caused’ the gold crash. The rest is noise…

The world is still in a contained depression. Sliding commodities tell us global money is if anything too tight. ‘There is a threat of deflation almost everywhere. A lot of central banks will have to follow the Bank of Japan, whatever they say now,’ said Lars Christensen form Danske Bank.

The era of money printing is young yet. Gold will have its day again.”

-Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph (UK), April 17, 2013

Since I started blogging nearly six years ago, if I had a dollar every time I read somewhere “gold is toast,” I’d be a millionaire by now.

Fine. I’d have a hell of a lot of singles.

And a raised eyebrow from my girlfriend.

Seriously though, what is it with people who absolutely detest the precious metal?

I’m not a big fan of paper assets, but I don’t make it my life’s mission to crucify them whenever I get the chance (website and blog comments come to mind here).

My take on investing is- keep an open mind. Lest you squander major money making opportunities. Certain asset classes simply perform better than others at different points in time.

There’s a time for stocks, bonds, currencies, what have you.

And for a number of global investors, now is the time for gold.

Sure, the precious metal really got hammered in the price department the other week. But this resulted in a buying frenzy of the physical bullion. John Noble reported on the Financial Times (UK) website on April 22:

Asia is witnessing one of the strongest waves of physical gold buying in 30 years, with bargain hunters using the drop in prices to secure jewellery and gold bars.

The feverish buying has left many of Hong Kong’s banks, jewellers and even its gold exchange without enough yellow metal to meet demand. In Shanghai, the gold exchange saw volumes – often seen as a proxy for demand – rising to a record on Monday, while queues formed outside some jewellery shops in Beijing.

To give you an idea of just how crazy the demand is in China, Noble, who’s writing from Hong Kong, added:

Haywood Cheung, president of the Hong Kong Gold & Silver Exchange Society, said the exchange had effectively run out of most of its holdings as members looked to meet a shortfall in supply amid rampant retail demand for gold.

“In terms of volume, I haven’t seen this gold rush for over 20 years,” he said. “Older members who have been in the business for 50 years haven’t seen such a thing.”

The Times piece noted demand for the yellow metal is also strong in India. Something Biman Mukherji and Debiprasad Nayak confirmed on the Wall Street Journal website on April 23. They wrote:

Indian gold retailers are paying more in order to meet immediate demand, as customers scoop up every gold bar they can lay their hands on in the wake of a plunge in international prices.

Indian retailers say they are paying premiums of $8-$10 an ounce over the international gold price, which is around $1,425 a troy ounce. That’s four or five times the premium retailers usually pay for imported gold during periods of peak demand in India, according to traders.

“We have not seen this kind of premium on gold imports in years,” said Suresh Hundia, president emeritus of the Bombay Bullion Association.

Gold demand is not too shabby in nearby Australia either. Jake Lloyd-Smith reported on the Bloomberg website tonight:

Australia’s Perth Mint, which refines nearly all of the nation’s bullion, said that demand has jumped to the highest level in five years after prices plunged, with the factory kept open through the weekend to meet orders.

There’s been strong interest, including from the U.S., with buyers speculating that the metal will rebound from the decline, Ron Currie, sales and marketing director, said in a phone interview from Perth…

“We haven’t seen levels like this since the 2008 global financial crisis,” Currie said yesterday. “Compared to March sales, April sales have doubled or tripled,” he said, without providing figures.

On Friday, April 12, the afternoon fix gold spot price was $1,535.50 per ounce. The price tumbled to $1,380 an ounce by Tuesday, April 16. Today, the London P.M. fix was back up to $1,467.50.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

(Editor’s note: I am not responsible for any personal liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence of the use and application, either directly or indirectly, of any information presented herein)

Sources:

Noble, John. “Asian bargain hunters pile into gold.” Financial Times. 22 Apr. 2013. (http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/56244496-ab39-11e2-ac71-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2RuiP9ndw). 29 Apr. 2013.

Mukherji, Biman and Nayak, Debiprasad. “India Gold Premiums Soar as Demand Outstrips Supply” Wall Street Journal. 23 Apr. 2013. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324874204578440242906344734.html). 29 Apr. 2013.

Lloyd-Smith, Jake. “Perth Mint Works Through Weekend as Gold Demand Surges on Price.” Bloomberg.com. 29 Apr. 2013. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-30/perth-mint-works-through-weekend-as-gold-demand-surges-on-price.html). 29 Apr. 2013.

Tags: Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, Bank of Japan, Beijing, Bombay Bullion Association, central banks, China, gold, gold bullion, gold prices, Haywood Cheung, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Gold & Silver Exchange Society, India, Lars Christensen, money printing, Perth Mint, physical gold, Ron Currie, Shanghai, Suresh Hundia

Watch Out For H7N9 Bird Flu

Anyone been paying attention to the spread of the H7N9 bird flu virus in China? This is something to keep an eye out for. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:

On April 1, 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) first reported 3 human infections with a new influenza A (H7N9) virus in China. Since then, additional cases have been reported. Most reported cases have severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, have died. At this time, no cases of H7N9 outside of China have been reported. The new H7N9 virus has not been detected in people or birds in the United States.

This new H7N9 virus is an avian (bird) influenza (flu) virus. Human infections with avian influenza (AI, or “bird flu”) are rare but have occurred in the past, most commonly after exposure to infected poultry. However, this is the first time that this bird flu subtype (H7N9) has been found in people. This virus is very different from other H7N9 viruses previously found in birds.

An investigation by Chinese authorities is ongoing. H7N9 viruses have been detected in poultry in the same area where human infections have occurred. Many of the human cases of H7N9 are reported to have had contact with poultry. However some cases reportedly have not had such contact. Close contacts of confirmed H7N9 patients are being followed to see if any human-to-human spread of H7N9 might have occurred. Based on previous experience with other avian influenza viruses – most notably H5N1 – some limited human-to-human spread of this H7N9 virus would not be surprising. Most importantly, however, no sustained person-to-person spread of the H7N9 virus has been found at this time. Ongoing (sustained) person-to-person spread is necessary for a pandemic to occur.

This is a “novel” (non-human) virus and therefore has the potential to cause a pandemic if it were to change to become easily and sustainably spread from person-to-person. So far, this virus has not been determined to have that capability. However, influenza viruses constantly change and it’s possible that this virus could gain that ability. CDC takes routine preparedness actions whenever a new virus with pandemic potential is identified, including developing a candidate vaccine virus to make a vaccine if it were to be needed. There is no licensed H7 vaccine available at this time.

According to Bloomberg.com this morning, the CDC is trying to stay on top of this novel bird flu. Anna Edney reported:

U.S. hospitals are being urged to head off a spread of the new H7N9 avian influenza by looking out for people exhibiting flu-like symptoms who have traveled to China or had contact with someone who has the illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a conference call with health-care professionals yesterday to review procedures for treating bird-flu patients and controlling infections, Erin Burns, an agency spokeswoman, said in an e- mail. The Atlanta-based agency today issued interim guidance on the use of antiviral agents to treat H7N9 infections.

Issuing the guidance and holding the clinician calls “would be considered routine preparedness measures for an outbreak with pandemic potential,” Burns said.

China has recorded 92 human infections of the H7N9 strain of bird flu, with 17 of the cases fatal, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from national and provincial governments and the World Health Organization.

Speaking of the WHO, they’re now at ground zero in China investigating the outbreak. From the China Daily website today:

WHO experts are inspecting Chinese regions that have been hit by the H7N9 avian influenza, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

A Friday statement from the commission said the expert team, which is visiting at the commission’s invitation, consists of Chinese and foreign experts in epidemiology and clinical management.

The team members will survey labs, hospitals, clinics, markets and sites where infections were reported in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as familiarize themselves with China’s prevention and control methods.

The commission said the experts will offer suggestions on controlling the virus, as well as issue an initial inspection report on April 24.

Stay tuned…

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Sources:

Edney, Anna. “U.S. Hospitals Told to Be on Lookout for H7N9 Bird Flu.” Bloomberg.com. 19 Apr. 2013. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-19/u-s-hospitals-told-to-be-on-lookout-for-h7n9-bird-flu.html). 19 Apr. 2013.

“WHO experts start H7N9 probe in China.” ChinaDaily.com.cn. 19 Apr. 2013. (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-04/19/content_16424416.htm). 19 Apr. 2013.

Tags: antiviral agents, avian flu, bird flu, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, China, Erin Burns, flu, flu pandemic, H7N9, hospitals, influenza, influenza pandemic, National Health and Family Planning Commission, novel virus, pandemic, vaccines, viruses, WHO, World Health Organization

Billionaire Investors Divided On Gold As Demand Hits Record Value Level In 2012

We’re on a roll today. Consider it make-up material for yesterday. Anyway, let’s turn our attention over to money. “Real” money like gold, that is. The precious metal had another solid year in 2012. From a press release today issued by the London-based World Gold Council, the gold industry’s market development organization:

2012 sees gold demand hit record value level

Q4 2012 up 4% year-on-year as India, China and central banks drive demand

In value terms, gold demand in 2012 was US$236.4bn – an all-time high. Gold demand in value terms for the final quarter of the year was 6% higher year-on-year at US$66.2bn, marking the highest ever Q4 total.

Global gold demand in Q4 2012 was 1,195.9 tonnes(t), up 4% on the same quarter in 2011. In Q4 2012, the average gold price reached a record level of US$1,721.8/oz, up 1% on the previous record average price in Q3 2011. The average price during 2012 was US$1,669.0/oz, up 6% from US$1,571.5/oz in 2011.

The key findings from the report are as follows:

• Whilst Indian full year demand was down 12% on the previous year, the market performed strongly in the final quarter with total demand at 261.9t, an increase of 41% on the same period last year. Both jewellery and investment demand reached their highest levels for six quarters. Demand for jewellery was up 35% year-on-year to reach 153.0t, and strong retail demand led to 108.9t of investment buying. In India the prospect of duty increases, which came in to force in January 2013, may have added to strong buying in the final quarter to beat the anticipated price rises.
• Chinese demand was flat year-on–year, reflecting the impact of economic slowdown. However looking at Q4, total demand was up 1% on the previous quarter to 202.5t. Jewellery demand was137.0t up 1% on Q4 2011 and investment demand was 65.5t, up 2% on the previous year. These increases may reflect the fact that the economic slowdown in China appears to have been shorter than expected.
• Central bank buying for the full year rose by 17% compared to 2011, totalling 534.6t, the highest level since 1964. Central bank purchases stood at 145.0t in Q4, up 29% on the corresponding quarter in the previous year, making this the eighth consecutive quarter in which central banks have been net purchasers of gold.
• Global investment in ETFs in 2012 was up significantly by 51% on the preceding year, though Q4 was down 16% to 88.1t when compared with the high levels recorded in Q3 2012.

“Gold Demand Trends: Full year and Q4 2012″
WGC Video

However, the price of gold hasn’t glimmered too much lately. Debarati Roy and Phoebe Sedgman reported on the Bloomberg website this evening:

Billionaire investors George Soros and Louis Moore Bacon cut their stakes in exchange-traded products backed by gold last quarter as futures dropped the most in more than eight years. John Paulson maintained his holding.

Soros Fund Management LLC reduced its investment in the SPDR Gold Trust, the biggest fund backed by the metal, 55 percent to 600,000 shares as of Dec. 31 from three months earlier, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing showed yesterday. Bacon’s Moore Capital Management LP sold its entire stake in the SPDR fund and lowered holdings in the Sprott Physical Gold Trust. Paulson & Co., the largest investor in SPDR, kept its stake at 21.8 million shares.

Roy and Sedgman noted gold prices fell 5.5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, the most since the second quarter of 2004. Renewed optimism in the U.S. economy was the reason given by a number of observers cited in the piece.

Now, why is it that the “crash prophets” who saw the 2008 global economic crisis and “Great Recession” coming, such as Marc Faber, Jim Rogers, and Peter Schiff, are sounding the alarm about more hard times ahead of us, while those finance- and investing-types who never saw the financial storm approaching until it bit them and their clients in the rear-end are the same ones now predicting “all’s well” for the U.S. economy? Are they not aware of the financial manipulation that’s been required to get us this short-term, artificial prosperity?

My guess is that it registers, but they’re incapable of seeing the big picture.

All I know is this. While I’ll keep an open mind, I’m inclined to cast my lot with those guys who correctly-called the “Panic of ‘08” and have a knack of being correct on a consistent basis.

You can read the entire WGC press release on their website here.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

(Editor’s note: I am not responsible for any personal liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence of the use and application, either directly or indirectly, of any information presented herein)

Source:

Roy, Debarati and Sedgman, Phoebe. “Billionaires Soros, Bacon Cut Gold Holdings on Decline.” Bloomberg. 14 Feb. 2013. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-14/billionaires-soros-bacon-reduce-gold-holdings-as-prices-slump.html). 14 Feb. 2013.

Tags: central banks, China, George Soros, gold, gold demand, gold jewelry, gold prices, India, Jim Rogers, John Paulson, Louis Moore Bacon, Marc Faber, Peter Schiff, SPDR Gold Trust, Sprott Physical Gold Trust, WGC, World Gold Council

Behold The Golden Bear: Russia Now World’s Biggest Gold Buyer

For years I’ve heard the term “Russian Bear” being used to describe Russia and its might.

For example, “NATO better not put too many missiles in Eastern Europe, or they’re going to anger the Russian Bear.”

After reading this morning about Russia acquiring literally tons of gold over the last ten years, perhaps they should be referred to as the “Golden Bear” going forward.

Scott Rose and Olga Tanas reported on the Bloomberg website this morning:

When Vladimir Putin says the U.S. is endangering the global economy by abusing its dollar monopoly, he’s not just talking. He’s betting on it.

Not only has Putin made Russia the world’s largest oil producer, he’s also made it the biggest gold buyer. His central bank has added 570 metric tons of the metal in the past decade, a quarter more than runner-up China, according to IMF data compiled by Bloomberg. The added gold is also almost triple the weight of the Statue of Liberty.

(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)

I’m starting to see what legendary investor Jim Rogers was getting at regarding Russia.

While a number of “developed” countries are selling the precious metal these days- including economically-troubled France, Portugal, and Spain- “developing” nations are acquiring it with a fervor. Rose and Tanas added:

Quantitative easing by major economies to support financial asset prices is driving demand for gold in the emerging world, said Marcus Grubb, head of investment research at the World Gold Council. Before the crisis, central banks were net sellers of 400 to 500 tons a year. Now, led by Russia and China, they’re net buyers by about 450 tons, Grubb said by phone from London, where his industry group is based…

“That’s a very significant switch, and obviously a very positive one for the gold market,” Grubb said.

(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)

Meanwhile, the price of paper gold is taking a hit this morning. Barbara Kollmeyer and Myra Saefong reported this morning on the MarketWatch website:

G-7 nations could release a statement this week reaffirming a commitment to “market-determined” exchange rates, responding to heated talk about a currency war…

The Group of 20 nations will meet later in the week, with currencies expected to be at the top of the agenda.

As gold has benefitted from currency devaluations, traders are wary of these developments.

In addition, light volumes due to Asia’s observance of the Lunar New Year and a lack of economic data being released today are fueling downward pressure on the gold price.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

Sources:

Rose, Scott and Tanas, Olga. “Putin Turns Black Gold to Bullion as Russia Outbuys World.” Bloomberg.com. 11 Feb. 2013. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-10/putin-turns-black-gold-into-bullion-as-russia-out-buys-world.html). 11 Feb. 2013.

Kollmeyer, Barbara and Saefong, Myra. “Gold hit on worry of possible G-7 currency salvo.” MarketWatch. 11 Feb. 2013. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-edges-higher-as-dollar-weakens-2013-02-10). 11 Feb. 2013.

Tags: central banks, China, currency wars, devaluation, France, G-20, G-7, gold prices, Jim Rogers, Marcus Grubb, money printing, Portugal, QE, quantitative easing, Russia, Spain, U.S. dollar, Vladimir Putin, WGC, World Gold Council

Jim Rogers Warns ‘Horrible Headache’ Coming For U.S. Between End Of 2013 And 2015

Investor, financial commentator, and author Jim Rogers recently appeared on the Yahoo! Finance show The Daily Ticker. Lauren Lyster interviewed the former investing partner of George Soros, who talked about a number of money-related topics in video released this morning. This included:

• Noting that gold and silver coins are “hot,” but he wouldn’t rush into them right now- “Don’t sell your gold and don’t sell your silver.”
• Predicting turmoil in currencies- “There is not a sound currency anymore.”
• Reiterating his belief in agriculture as a good investment- “I would rather own agriculture than anything.”
• Revealing he was interested in Russian rubles, Chinese renminbi
• Thinking about buying Japanese yen again
• Investing his family’s “human capital” in Asia
• Comparing America’s future to the decline of the U.K.
• Comparing China to America in the early 20th century
• Predicting China will have its share of setbacks like the U.S. did in the 19th century
• Declaring U.S. higher education a bubble
• Revealing he was “optimistic” on Russia and had invested there. Talked about how to do it.
• Revealing he had invested in North Korea. Talked about how he did that as well.
• Claiming U.S. stocks are going up because of money printing by central banks- “I mean, this is staggering what’s going on. It’s going to end so badly for all of us. We’re all going to wake up one day with a horrible headache. Probably 2014, 2015. Or the end of 2013.

Awesome exchange between Lyster and Rogers, which you can watch on the Yahoo! Finance site here and here.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

(Editor’s notes: Info added to “Crash Prophets” page; I am not responsible for any personal liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence of the use and application, either directly or indirectly, of any information presented herein.)

Tags: central banks, China, Chinese renminbi, gold, gold bullion, gold coins, Japanese yen, Jim Rogers, money printing, North Korea, Russia, Russian rubles, silver, silver bullion, silver coins, United Kingdom

Jim Rogers: China, Myanmar, And Russia Best Prospects For Investors

I happened to stumble on an article tonight on the website of the Sofia News Agency (Bulgaria’s largest English language news provider) about well-known American investor Jim Rogers. In an interview for Gold Radio Café, the former investing partner of George Soros talked about his new book that will be out soon, Street Smarts: Adventures on the Road and in the Markets, and potential investment in Bulgaria. In addition, Rogers discussed what markets he thought had promise for investors. From the piece:

Myanmar, China and Russia are the markets holding the best prospects for investors, according to Rogers.

Myanmar has gone through dramatic and exciting changes, China opened up to the world 30-35 years ago and has been a great success story, while Russia has changed its attitude towards capitalism, which is why the billionaire is considering investments there too.

Rogers has been bullish on China for a while now, while only recently taking a shine to Myanmar and Russia.

Furthermore, the Singapore-based investor who correctly predicted the beginning of the current commodity bull market back in 1999 talked up gold. From the article:

Asked what he would choose if he was to create a legacy portfolio for his grandchildren, Jim Rogers pointed out precious metals put in real assets.

At the end of December, Rogers indicated that he was “sitting and watching” gold for the present time.

By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)

(Editor’s notes: Info added to “Crash Prophets” page; I am not responsible for any personal liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence of the use and application, either directly or indirectly, of any information presented herein)

Source:

“Wall Street Legend Jim Rogers Mulls Investing in Bulgaria.” Sofia News Agency. 21 Jan. 2013. (http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=147060). 21 Jan 2013.

Tags: Bulgaria, China, gold, Jim Rogers, Myanmar, Russia

China, Global Mainstream Media Urge U.S. To Enact More Gun ‘Control’

Since last week’s mass shooting in Newtown Connecticut, the global mainstream media has gone to work pushing the United States to adopt more restrictions on firearms. Reuters’ Edward Krudy and Peter Rudegeair reported Wednesday:

Around the globe, newspaper editorials from the Philippines to South Africa urged U.S. gun-control efforts and said they were long overdue.

“It takes no great deductive genius to understand the link: a violent individual with a gun will be more able to kill, and can kill more people, than a violent individual without a gun. Elsewhere in the world, tighter gun laws have been shown to save lives,” said an editorial in India’s The Hindu newspaper.

(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)

“Elsewhere in the world, tighter gun laws have been shown to save lives.”

I’d really like to see the evidence supporting that statement.

Even the People’s Republic of China is chiming in on this. From state-run Xinhua News Agency on December 14:

Innocent blood demands no delay for U.S. gun control

Every time a tragedy occurs, there are renewed appeals for gun regulation. However, the calls disappointingly always fail…

The latest heartbreaking deaths of the 20 schoolchildren aged five to 10 have made the crime especially unbearable. Many people can’t help but turn to the dim hope once again: the gunman’s cruelty and evil may provide a strong momentum and broader public support for the restart of gun control efforts. Moreover, with no re-election pressure, President Obama is currently in the best position to promote it…

Action speaks louder than words. If Obama wants to take practical measures to control guns, he has to make preparation for a protracted war and considerable political cost.

This brings to mind something China’s Chairman Mao said in Problems of War and Strategy, November 6, 1939:

All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The Communist Party must command all the guns. That way, no guns can ever be used to command the Party.

Sources:

Krudy, Edward and Rudegeair, Peter. “White House readies gun-control plan as more children laid to rest.” Reuters. 19 Dec. 2012. (http://news.yahoo.com/schools-reopen-newtown-washington-talks-gun-control-002828916.html). 21 Dec. 2012.

“Innocent blood demands no delay for U.S. gun control.” Xinhua News Agency. 14 Dec. 2012. (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2012-12/15/c_132042820.htm). 21 Dec. 2012.

Tags: Barack Obama, China, communism, Communists, Connecticut, gun control, India, Mao Zedong, Newtown, Sandy Hook