TRENDS ON THE ECONOMIC AND MARKET FRONT
ECONOMIC UPDATE MARKET OVERVIEW
As we had forecast in July, when the U.S. equity markets were still rising high, they would decline sharply in September and October.
MORE AMERICANS FEELING THE FINANCIAL PINCH
Two in three Americans have seen their household expenses climb over the past 12 months, while only one in four says their household income has increased, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
INVESTORS BEAT UP COMPANIES THAT MISS EARNINGS TARGETS
Companies whose third-quarter earnings reports disappoint investors are seeing their share prices drop more sharply than usual, the Financial Times reported.
HIGH T-BOND YIELDS DETERS CORPORATIONS FROM BORROWING
U.S. companies issued less than $70 billion in new bonds in October, making it the slowest month this year for new issues and the weakest October since 2011, the Financial Times reported.
INVESTORS GO LONG IN LONG-DATED BONDS
Blackrock, Janus Henderson, Pacific Investment Management (Pimco), and Vanguard are among the growing number of money managers padding their portfolios with treasury bonds maturing in 10 years or longer.
U.S. ECONOMY GREW 4.9 PERCENT IN THIRD QUARTER
U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.9 percent in this year’s third quarter, the commerce department reported.
HIGH INTEREST RATES THREATEN TO SPARK RECESSION
On 23 October, the yield on the 10-year U.S. treasury bond broke up through 5 percent for the first time in 16 years. On 27 October, the average national interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate home mortgage topped 8 percent, according to Bankrate. The average credit card interest rate has reached 22 percent, the U.S. Federal Reserve reported.
ANOTHER BAD JOKE: BIDEN NAMES 31 U.S. REGIONAL TECH HUBS
The Biden administration has designated 31 locales around the country as “Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs.”
HARD TIMES FOR CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES
In an era of economic uncertainty and high interest rates, lenders are making fewer loans.
TRENDS ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC FRONT
WORLD ON THE BRINK OF ECONOMIC CRISIS
The global economy is increasingly marked by low investment and low growth, financial speculation, declining real incomes, rising social inequality, and greater domination by giant multinational corporations, according to the newest UN Trade and Development Report.
WHEN THE ECONOMY FALLS JOBS GO WITH IT
How much more proof do people need to see the dismal economic future? For the mainstream media, the only numbers that count are stock indexes. Welcome to week 60 or our job layoffs... of a bad situation getting worse.
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS TRENDS
In recent times, the economic landscape has presented an array of challenges that have profoundly affected the business community. Some of the most significant challenges include soaring inflation rates, escalating interest rates, looming fears of a recession, and a tangible decrease in revenues for many sectors…all made worse by the COVID War which destroyed the lives and livelihoods of billions across the globe.
EUROZONE ECONOMY SHRANK IN THIRD QUARTER, PMI INDICATES
The Eurozone’s economy probably contracted in this year’s third quarter, according to the Hamburg Commercial Bank’s newest composite purchasing managers index (PMI).
EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK FREEZES INTEREST RATE
At its meeting on 26 October, the governing council of the European Central Bank (ECB) ended its streak of 10 consecutive interest rate hikes, leaving its deposit rate at 4 percent, its highest since the euro currency was launched on 1 January, 1999.
U.S. ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES HIT THE BRAKES
High interest rates, inflated materials costs, and sticker-shock prices in the $60,000 range have stalled the electric vehicle revolution in the U.S.
SPOTLIGHT: CHINA’S ECONOMY
The Chinese government has announced a trillion-yuan boost (about $1.4 billion) to domestic spending, breaking its long-standing limit of a deficit no larger than 3 percent of GDP. That will dig the annual budget hole deeper than it has been in 30 years, according to figures cited by Bloomberg.
SPOTLIGHT: BIGS GETTING BIGGER
As we have noted since the Central Banksters started to rapidly raise interest rates, the decade’s long merger and acquisition spree is over.
THE ISRAEL WAR
ONLY ONE SIDE ALLOWED: IF YOU ARE NOT PRO-ISRAEL, YOU ARE ATTACKED BY U.S. POLITICIANS AND BIG MONEY AMERICANS
Top politicians in the U.S.—in an attempt to win over pro-Israel voters and rich campaign donors—have spoken out against colleges that allow freedom of thought vis-à-vis Israel’s devastating rampage in Gaza and have been pitching ways to sufficiently punish these institutions.
ERDOGAN: ISRAEL COMMITTED ‘WAR CRIMES’ IN GAZA
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, said Saturday that Israel has been “openly committing war crimes for exactly 22 days,” but there have been no calls for a ceasefire from the West.
U.S. PUMPS MIDDLE EAST REGION WITH WEAPONS AS ISRAELI GROUND INVASION LOOMED
The U.S. has been fortifying its positions in the Middle East in preparation for a direct war with Iran as Israel continues to destroy Gaza, choke off Gazans from life-saving aid, and prepare for a ground invasion that could result in Iranian proxies joining the conflict.
BODIES PILE UP IN GAZA AS ISRAEL’S RELENTLESS BOMBING CAMPAIGN, TERROR BLOCKADE CONTINUES
So many people are being killed by Israel in Gaza that bodies are beginning to pile up.
BLINKEN WARNS IRAN NOT TO GET INVOLVED
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Iran that Washington would have a decisive response if its military or proxies in the Middle East tried to attack American forces in the region.
BIDEN QUESTIONS OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL IN GAZA, DRAWS SCRUTINY FROM AMERICAN MUSLIMS
U.S. President Joe Biden last week questioned the official death toll from the Israeli-orchestrated genocide in Gaza after the 7 October Hamas attack that killed about 1,400.
BIDEN SAYS ISRAELI SETTLER ATTACKS IN OCCUPIED WEST BANK HAVE TO STOP, BUT DOES NOTHING TO STOP THEM
U.S. President Joe Biden urged Israeli “settlers” in the occupied territories in Israel to stop as Israel continues to starve out and bomb Palestinians in Gaza.
ISRAEL ATTACKS UN CHIEF FOR SAYING THEIR SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS AND DESTRUCTION OF GAZA ARE ‘CLEAR VIOLATIONS’ OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres should be forced to resign after he condemned Israel for committing “clear violations of international law” during the massacre in Gaza, top Israeli officials said last week.
PENTAGON REJECTS IRANIAN REPORT THAT AMERICAN FORCES ARE ENGAGED IN GROUND OPERATIONS IN ISRAEL
The Pentagon rejected an Iranian report Saturday that claimed 5,000 American military forces were taking part in the Israeli-led ground operation in Gaza.
SAUDI ARABIA WARNS U.S. AGAINST ISRAELI GROUND INVASION IN GAZA THAT WOULD DESTABILIZE REGION
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made it clear to a U.S. delegation last week that an Israeli ground invasion would be unwise and poses a threat to the stability of the entire region.
SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON IS ISRAEL’S FAR-RIGHT’S MAN
Mike Johnson, the newly elected U.S. House Speaker, wasted no time last week to let the American public know that his first measure of business was to “support” Israel.
HAARETZ NOTES THAT NEARLY HALF OF THOSE KILLED DURING HAMAS ATTACK WERE ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES
The Western media has presented the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel as a USA 9/11 attack that caught a country off guard and ruthlessly targeted unarmed citizens unable to stage any kind of serious kind of self-defense.
UKRAINE WAR UPDATE
RUSSIA AIMS TO TARGET UKRAINIAN POWER GRID AS WINTER LOOMS, ZELENSKY SAYS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using Iranian-made drones to target the Khmelnytsky nuclear facility which would dramatically impact the country’s electrical grid before the long winter months.
ZELENSKY’S APPROVAL IN UKRAINE IS SLIPPING, POLL FINDS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is watching his support at home dwindle as the Ukraine War has reached a stalemate with Russia and headlines in the West have moved on to Israel.
SLOVAKIA HALTS ALL MILITARY AID FOR UKRAINE IN NEW BLOW TO KYIV
Robert Fico, the new prime minister in Slovakia, announced last week that his country will stop sending military aid to Kyiv but did not comment if his nation, which borders Ukraine, will continue to allow train shipments of supplies into its neighbor.
FEATURED TRENDS GUEST ARTICLE by Dr. Joseph Mercola
NAFLD HAS BECOME A HEALTH EMERGENCY AMONG CHILDREN
NAFLD is characterized by excess fat buildup in your liver. Without proper treatment, it can lead to serious liver problems including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which causes inflammation and fibrosis, or scarring of the liver. NAFLD also increases the risk of other health conditions, including cardiovascular disease
FEATURED TRENDS GUEST ARTICLE by John & Nisha Whitehead
AUTHORITARIANS DRUNK ON POWER: IT’S TIME TO RECALIBRATE THE GOVERNMENT
We have arrived at the dystopian future depicted in the 2005 film V for Vendetta, which is no future at all.
TRENDS IN THE MARKETS by Gregory Mannarino
TIPPING POINT: MARKETS DEPENDENT ON WAR
Today market history is being made, but you would hardly know it when it comes to the stock market.
TRENDS IN TECHNOCRACY by Joe Doran
GET READY FOR THE TERM “AI DENIER”
We’re hurtling toward a future where political representatives, as well as average citizens, will be subjected to ridicule and pressure when they espouse policies or opinions that run counter to an “AI consensus.”
MORE TECH CORPS PROMISE TO USE THEIR MEGABILLIONS TO DEFEND THEIR AI IP INFRINGEMENT
Google has now joined Microsoft and Adobe in guaranteeing users of its AI platforms and services that the tech corporation will assume liability for any claims of Intellectual Property (IP) infringement.
MSM CRACKS IN EV NARRATIVES BEGIN TO SHOW
You can’t fake out reality. The realities surrounding the astounding costs, and unsuitability of current technology to actually make an “EV transition” according to radical government dictates, is beginning to hit home—even with mainstream media.
TRENDS IN CRYPTOS
CRYPTO INVESTMENT VS. THE “REAL” ECONOMY?
Even as Bitcoin continues to attract investors as a proposition for holding on to value, and (with the help of layer 2 technologies) facilitating payments, some persist in painting cryptocurrencies as “pretend technology.”
TRENDS IN GEOPOLITICS
U.S. CALLED OUT BY DEVELOPING WORLD FOR BLATANT HYPOCRISY OVER ISRAEL AND RUSSIA
Developing countries have called out the U.S. for its absolute support for Israel while it ravages Gaza and kills thousands of innocent civilians and children, while condemning Russia for its attacks in Ukraine.
PALESTINIAN REFUGEES ADD TO RECORD 114 MILLION PEOPLE DISPLACED GLOBALLY
The United Nations announced last week that more than 114 million people are believed to be displaced around the world, with Palestinians recently adding to the total amid Israel’s bombardment.
NEW HOUSE SPEAKER IDENTIFIES NEW ‘AXIS OF EVIL’: CHINA, IRAN, AND RUSSIA
Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., the newly elected Speaker of the House, who was championed as an America-First “MAGA” politician, has shown in his young speakership that he is an interventionist keen on confrontation with Washington’s greatest rivals.
U.S. ACCUSES CHINESE FIGHTER JET OF FLYING IN UNSAFE MANNER NEAR NUCLEAR-CAPABLE B-52 BOMBER
A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber was buzzed by a Chinese J-11 jet in international airspace over the South China Sea late Tuesday night, resulting in both countries condemning the other for unprofessionalism.
TRENDS-EYE VIEW
TOO FAT TO FIGHT: MAJORITY OF U.S. FORCES ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE
The majority of U.S. service members are either fat or obese, according to a new study.
TRENDS IN HI-TECH SCIENCE by Ben Daviss
SMELLING A MEMORY
Working with a group of people ages 60 to 85, researchers at the University of California Irvine gave each of them seven vials, each containing a different natural oil, and a diffuser. One group of the adults received cartridges that had tiny amounts of the oils; the other group’s containers were full.
SYNTHETIC BACTERIA DETECT CANCER IN YOUR BODY
Scientists have created a bacterium that can find cells in the bloodstream that cancer tumors have shed and signal the presence of cancer through a simple lab test.
TOP TREND 2023, GOING GREEN LIKE IT OR NOT: HYDROGEN SUPPLY WILL MEET ONLY HALF THE DEMAND BY 2050, MCKINSEY SAYS
By 2050, the demand for hydrogen across the economy will grow fivefold to 600 million tons a year, according to a study by consulting firm McKinsey. However, the supply will amount to somewhere between 175 to 291 metric tons, the study found.
TRENDS IN AI
OPEN SOURCE OR CLOSED? THE AI DEBATE HEATS UP.
The Allen Institute for AI is building its own AI as an alternative to that of OpenAI or Google.
AI “GUARDRAILS” WEAKER THAN THOUGHT, STUDY FINDS
In developing their artificial intelligence systems, Google, OpenAI, and other creators installed so-called guardrails that would keep their AIs from disseminating hate speech or disinformation and committing similarly unacceptable acts.
AI-MADE IMAGES OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY COULD FLOOD THE INTERNET, FOUNDATION WARNS
Images of child sexual abuse already are rife on the dark web and the problem could explode now that AI has the power to create deepfake images, the U.K.’s Internet Watch Foundation has warned.
UNIVERSAL MUSIC SUES ANTHROPIC
In the latest face-off between AI and intellectual property, a coalition of music recording and publishing companies has sued young AI company Anthropic for $75 million.
CLEARVIEW AI FOILS BRITISH JUSTICE
Clearview AI harvested millions of photos from the Internet to create a facial recognition AI now used by thousands of U.S. law enforcement agencies.