Awesome Stocks

[ombowstring]

Anything you would buy today, bar? Where do you think stocks are headed near-term? Would you wait to buy or sell? What stocks do you like here?

[ombowstring]

Every company was a start-up at some point.

[bar1080]

Viruses and malware don't usually kill computers. Quite the opposite. They want the virus to spread. I've been on IHUB for years and never had a problem like that. But unlike you, I'm not stalked by the NSA or the Deep State.

[bar1080]

I follow many "perpetual startups." Never saw one of them turn into a real company that made profits and paid dividends to investors. By the way, I'm watching your faux food stock, BABYF, nearing all time lows as that sector fades to black.

[ombowstring]

KEYS

https://www.keysight.com/us/en/home.html

[gfp927z]

Bar, >> symptoms of the viruses and malware <<

Sorry for the delayed response (due to 1 post/day limit). Here's a brief synopsis of what happened with the computer -

Not long after I-Hub deleted several dozen posts and imposed a 1 post/day limit for this board, I clicked on a prominent poster's name on an unrelated board (to check his info page for any new posts) and zap, the computer instantly stopped working altogether. The timing of the virus attack may have been a coincidence, and not associated with that poster (who doesn't post on my boards), but to be safe I have stayed off of his boards. Anyway, the virus appeared to be associated with clicking that poster's name, as opposed to clicking a link within a post. So very unusual, though like I said the timing may have been a coincidence, with the virus possibly having already infected the computer, lying dormant waiting to be activated.

Also, it's no secret that the NSA is increasingly monitoring social media, and pressuring social media sites to censor their content (Twitter), so that could have played a role (?) I had been posting some RFK related stuff, Tucker Carlson, etc. Who knows, but the internet is already laden with viruses and malware, so If you surf the web enough eventually the odds are you encounter a 'mega virus from hell'. This thing bypassed the anti-virus and anti-malware software like it wasn't even there. In years past I could almost always nurse an infected computer back to life via a factory reset / reinstallation, etc, but this computer was totally fried.



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[ombowstring]

"The next earthquake: Is time running out for Europe’s largest city?"

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/08/23/the-next-earthquake-is-time-running-out-for-europes-largest-city.html

[ombowstring]

I figure it shouldn't be too difficult for Archer to get FAA approval for their craft. The airplane has already been invented and aerodynamics is well understood. Do the research and see what you think.

[gfp927z]

Hi Ombow, Archer Aviation (ACHR) looks like a very interesting company, thanks for mentioning it. Their competitor Joby Aviation (JOBY) also looks interesting. Long time / no see, hope you are doing well :o)

Btw, until further notice (from I-Hub) I can only post 1 post / day on this board, so Bigworld and I have been mainly using another board for now - https://investorshub.advfn.com/Mining-Sector-Ideas-25504


EVTOL Taxi service companies - ACHR, JOBY -


>>> Archer Aviation Inc. (ACHR), an urban air mobility company, engages in designs, develops, manufactures, and operates electric vertical takeoff and landing aircrafts to carry passengers. The company was formerly known as Atlas Crest Investment Corp. and changed its name to Archer Aviation Inc. Archer Aviation Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. <<<


>>> Joby Aviation, Inc. (JOBY), a vertically integrated air mobility company, engages in building an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft optimized to deliver air transportation as a service. The company intends to build an aerial ridesharing service, as well as developing an application-based platform that will enable consumers to book rides. Joby Aviation, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California.

<<<


https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ACHR/profile?p=ACHR


Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation related videos -

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[ombowstring]

The greedy universities should be paying down student debt, not the American taxpayer.
The greedy billionaires and multi-millionaires serve mammon, not God.

[ombowstring]

All this inflation, including higher labor costs - https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/21/american-workers-are-demanding-almost-80000-a-year-to-take-a-new-job.html - is hurting the people with not a lot of money the most. Higher labor costs are passed along into the goods and services we pay for.

[ombowstring]

Bought me some shares of ACHR...

[bar1080]

What are the symptoms of the viruses and malware you've encountered lately?

[ProfitScout]

$AMIH in the oil exploration and development field has high earnings potential ahead. You don't attract multi-million dollar funding in today's frugal investment environment unless you have a business plan that inspires real confidence.

Funding Commitment of Up To $20 Million https://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-international-holdings-corp-receives-132000450.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr

[gfp927z]

Bar, >> dicier sites <<

Viruses and malware have become a bigger problem all over the web, and sites like I-Hub are loaded with them. I stopped clicking on links within posts, or even clicking on a poster's info page, and also no longer post full articles since the act of copy / pasting increases the risks. I'm also staying off of most 'Alt news' sites like Rumble, Zero Hedge, etc, and even mainstream sites like Yahoo and MSN have become riskier. It sucks, but better than having to get a new computer. Over the years I've been able to resurrect most zapped computers, but this time it was totally kaput and couldn't be salvaged. Bigworld's computer also got zapped the same week that mine did.



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[bar1080]

Stay away from those "dicier sites" (is that what they call porn nowadays. LOL.

The insurance business has become treacherous lately. Heck, my one kid is stuck in a hurricane right now... in Southern California

[gfp927z]

Bar, >> 1 post/day <<

They (I-Hub) said there were too many OT political type posts. Also around that time one of my computers got zapped by a virus while here on I-Hub, so I've scaled back my social media activities considerably, and have been avoiding the dicier sites on the web.

Btw, some interesting recent moves at Berkshire, with new positions in the 3 homebuilders (DHI, LEN, NVR). I was surprised to see Buffett selling some of his insurance holdings - MMC and GL, which have been phenomenal long term buy/hold type stocks.


>>> Warren Buffett’s portfolio: Here are the stocks Berkshire Hathaway is buying or selling <<<


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/warren-buffett-portfolio-stocks-berkshire-224701231.html



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[bar1080]

Why limited? "Btw, I'm still limited to 1 post/day on this board." Bigworld and I moved over to another board for now." [mining]

Notice that BABFY, the Canadian/Israeli penny stock, has tumbled. Just as I always expected. Most of the the faux food sector is in the same doldrums,

[wow_happens28]

My guess is this was planned. They can't sell a company for the tax losses only. They need a quarter of growth in earnings or revenue or both. In Q3 they could do it. They sold the unprofitable parts of the company . And now the stock won't crash much on the meantime.

[gfp927z]

>> the bad Q2 is stopping a sale of the rest of the company <<

Just a guess, but whoever is looking to buy the company would see all the numbers anyway, so that doesn't seem like a reason to delay filing the 10-Q (ie to hide the bad results from a prospective buyer). More likely, the reason for the delayed 10-Q is what they said - the accountants just didn't have enough time to get all the paperwork together from the June sale transaction.

One key question is whether the company has enough cash and credit available (or can get it) to stay afloat and remain an independent company? If not then they have to sell. But if they have sufficient cash / credit they at least have the ability to keep going for a while. Ideally, if they could keep going for a few more quarters to demonstrate that business is indeed improving, with more revenues and lower expenditures, then it wouldn't be such a desperation sale. Or they might even decide to stay independent. Another question is whether current management wants to continue, or would they prefer to just fold up the tent?

Anyway, like a lot of microcaps, it sounds like an extended saga / soap opera. From my own misadventures, I figure that having strict position limits is important, and to never get too emotionally attached to the stock. With a $1000 limit, there's no big payday, but no major angst either.



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[wow_happens28]

$RIBT gfp, here are 2 posts I put up at RIBT and one of another poster who I know well in the middle. These will sum it up.
Me>>>
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=172618442

Besdin>>>
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=172623900

Me>>>
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=172633248

Summary, they brought in an "expert closer" who replaced Todd Mitchel the CFO. His l last name is Keneally. I feel the bad Q2 is stopping a sale of the rest of the company. So, he found a legal way to postpone Q2 and it comes out like 2 days before Q3, and I hope Q3 does cash flow positive or better. The the sale might go through and they can use the NOLS,(losses carried over). They can't sell it for the NOLS alone. The company must have something else going for it like growth and or profits. It could happen in Q3, reported in mid November. If not it's good then, Chapter 7. If it is, I would hope $3+ which would have the buyer using 33% of the NOLS and and extra $1 for the company doing well. Sources say the buyers never pay the full amount of the NOLS, as they can just use a small portion per year, guessing 5% plus or minus per year. State NOLS are more complicated and some states don't allow them to be used or make it complicated.

I hope we learn more at the shareholder meeting Wednesday. I am not recommending it a buy or sell now. I hope the "Expert" is one. He did recover $300,000 from the original CEO 2005 to 2008, who had a court order to pay the company reparations when he got money for his thievery.. No CEO or CFO even tried in the last in the last 11-12 years to get any.

Keneally>>>
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ricebran-technologies-names-william-j-200600370.html

Shareholder meeting.>>>
https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1063537/000143774923023121/ribt20230810_8k.htm

[wow_happens28]

Iteris is doing it's thing here in Minneapolis on our Interstate 494, just South of Minneapolis. It is the main artery to the Mpls/St. Paul airport, It is in tear 1 of a 4 year project. It is going OK, so far

[gfp927z]

Iteris does look interesting, I'll check them out :o)

Btw, I see RIBT delayed filing their quarterly results. Looks like the accountants haven't had time to complete all the paperwork for the June 23 sale of their rice bran business (below). They said there was a net loss of $10.3 million (compared to a net loss of $2.6 million a year ago), but $8.6 mil of that was from the sale of the SRB Business. The stock got hit, but it might not be as dire as the market response would suggest (?)

Btw, I'm still limited to 1 post/day on this board, so will have to squeeze everything into one post, lol. Bigworld and I moved over to another board for now -

https://investorshub.advfn.com/Mining-Sector-Ideas-25504


>>> RiceBran Technologies (the “Registrant”) is unable to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”) within the prescribed time period due to a delay experienced by the Registrant in completing its financial statements and other disclosures in the Quarterly Report after the sale of its stabilized rice bran business on June 23, 2023. As a result, the Registrant is still in the process of compiling required information to complete the Quarterly Report and its independent registered public accounting firm requires additional time to complete its review of the financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, to be incorporated in the Quarterly Report. The Registrant anticipates that it will file the Quarterly Report no later than the 5th calendar day following the prescribed filing date. <<<

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1063537/000143774923023852/ribt20230814_nt10q.htm



_________________________________


>>> Iteris, Inc. (ITI) provides intelligent transportation systems technology solutions in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The company offers smart mobility infrastructure solutions include traveler information systems, transportation performance measurement software, traffic analytics software, transportation operations software, transportation-related data sets, advanced sensing devices, managed services, traffic engineering services, and mobility consulting services. Its products include ClearGuide, ClearRoute, Commercial Vehicle Operations, BlueArgus, TrafficCarma, Vantage Apex, Vantage Fusion, Vantage Next, VantagePegasus, VantageRadius, Vantage Vector, Velocity, SmartCycle, SmartCycle Bike Indicator, SmartSpan, VersiCam, PedTrax, and P-Series products.

The company sells original equipment manufacturer products for the traffic intersection markets, such as traffic signal controllers and traffic signal equipment cabinets. In addition, it offers traffic management centers design, staffing, and operations services; traffic engineering and mobility consulting services include planning, design, development, and implementation of software and hardware-based ITS systems that integrate sensors, video surveillance, computers, and advanced communications equipment; distributes real-time information about traffic conditions; and surface transportation infrastructure systems implementation, and operation and management.

Further, the company provides travel demand forecasting and systems engineering, and identify mitigation measures to reduce traffic congestion; ClearMobility platform; and ClearMobility Cloud that enables mobility data management engine, application programming interface framework, and microservices ecosystem. It serves public transportation agencies, municipalities, commercial entities, government agencies, and other transportation infrastructure providers. Iteris, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

<<<



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[ProfitScout]

$LLLI Lamperd Less Lethal is a leading innovator for all types of products that police and military need to keep order in riot and other crisis situations. Lamperd has been in business for more than 50 years and served customers all over the world. The company's focus is on effectiveness and safety. In all of Lamperd's history no one has ever been killed or even seriously injured by any Lamperd product. Here's a recent video from one of their product developers:

[wow_happens28]

LLLI, ProfitScout. It sure sounds like a stock for these trying times, I will watch the chart, could be fun.

https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=LLLI&p=D&yr=5&mn=0&dy=0&id=p93145761780

[wow_happens28]

Solid picks Me seb. The infrastructure bill fits CAT well. DE and EV, yes a future. A spec stock for highway reconstruction is ITI, Iteris, Inc. provides intelligent transportation systems technology solutions in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia It has solid institutional holdings, follow the money?

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ITI/profile?p=ITI

https://fintel.io/so/us/iti

https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=ITI&p=D&yr=5&mn=0&dy=0&id=p31383770136

[Mr seb]

Caterpillar (CAT) and Deere (DE) seem poised to benefit from construction, mining, and the EV-driven demand for equipment. CAT's heavy machinery presence, amid a surge in global mining for EV minerals, is promising. Despite cyclical industries, diversified product lines and innovation may curb volatility. Both leaders historically adapt well. Prioritize thorough research, financial assessment, and market trends. Diversification manages risk, even in promising sectors. Factor in risk tolerance and goals before decisions. The article also highlights the surge in https://www.gwequipment.com/equipment/equipment-rental/ sales as a positive trend.

[gfp927z]

Looks like a Fed pause in Sept might be in the cards, based on Nick Timiraos' recent WSJ article (link below). Rickards says that Timiraos has been anointed by the Fed as their unofficial mouthpiece for providing current Fed guidance to Wall St. He has always been accurate since the info comes directly from the Fed. Just reading his headlines is enough to get the gist of Fed policy -


>>> Cooler July Inflation Opens Door to Fed Pause on Rates <<<

https://www.wsj.com/news/author/nick-timiraos



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[gfp927z]

>>> Warren Buffett's favorite market gauge hits 171%, signaling stocks are overheated and a crash may be coming <<<


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/warren-buffetts-favorite-market-gauge-204209174.html




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[ProfitScout]

$LLLI for Riot Control: Much Quicker Order Fulfilment Than Competitors for Less Lethal Weapons, Riot Shields and Other Vital Security Products Marketed Worldwide: Lamperd Less Lethal, Inc. (Stock Symbol: LLLI)
by ABNewswire
July 17, 2023
https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/23/07/ab33259191/much-quicker-order-fulfilment-than-competitors-for-less-lethal-weapons-riot-shields-and-other-vi

From the article:

Developer and Manufacturer of Less Lethal Weapons for Riot Control and Related Uses by Police, Corrections, Military and Other Security Forces Worldwide.

Products Manufactured In-House with Local Raw Materials Suppliers for Much Quicker Order Fulfilment Than Competitors Who Outsource Production.

Perfect Safety Record with Zero Deaths in All Company History.

Global Non-Lethal Weapons Market Size Estimated at Over $4.9 Billion in 2023 and Expected to Reach $6.1 Billion by 2028.

Two New Orders for Humane Animal Distraction Products in Canada.

Order Received for Special Munitions Rounds from New International Customer.

Prepared to Deliver Advanced Riot Shields in a Range of Sizes and Types.

[gfp927z]

Looks like China announced a stimulus plan to get their economy moving again -


>>> Hedge funds rush to buy China stocks on economy stimulus prospects, Goldman Sachs says


Reuters

By Summer Zhen

July 27, 2023


https://www.reuters.com/markets/hedge-funds-rush-buy-china-stocks-economy-stimulus-prospects-goldman-2023-07-27/

<<<

_______________________________________


>>> China to step up policy adjustments amid tortuous recovery

Reuters

By Ellen Zhang and Kevin Yao

July 24, 2023

https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/china-step-up-policy-adjustments-focus-demand-politburo-2023-07-24/

<<<



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[wow_happens28]

12 of the top 15 ETF's today were Chinese>>>>

Why? No story.

https://www.barchart.com/stocks/performance/percent-change/advances?screener=unleveraged_etf&orderBy=percentChange&orderDir=desc

[bigworld]

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/john-hussman-stock-market-bubble-will-end-tears

[bar1080]

BRK's 5 Japanese trading houses appreciating and paying fat dividends. Have no idea how the Yen's value against the buck would have figured in an investment in them. Those were rare cases where I had thought about taking a flyer. The strongest of the bunch, MSBHF, is up about 59% YTD, or slightly less since Buffett's involvement was publicized. 2nd number below was the market cap.

Itochu Corp (ITOCY) - 47 Bil, 3.1%
Marubeni Corp (MARUY) - 24 Bil, 4.2%
Mitsubishi (MSBHF) - 53 Bil, 4.3%
Mitsui & Co (MITSY) - 47 Bil, 3.1%
Sumitomo (SSUMY) - 23 Bil, 5.3%

[gfp927z]

Ominous - >>> Great King’s Days Are Numbered


BY JAMES RICKARDS

JULY 18, 2023


https://dailyreckoning.com/great-kings-days-are-numbered/


Great King’s Days Are Numbered

As I’ve been warning my readers, the most significant development in international finance since 1971 will be unveiled just over one month from today.

A new BRICS gold-linked currency will be announced on Aug. 22 at the BRICS Leader’s Summit conference in Durban, South Africa (the BRICS are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

The fact is the global desire to move away from the dollar as a medium of exchange for international trade in goods and services has gone from a discussion point to a novelty to a looming reality in a remarkably short period of time.

The new BRICS currency has the potential to displace the U.S. dollar as the leading payment currency and reserve currency from a standing start in just a few years. It won’t happen overnight, but it could happen much faster than many realize.

Time’s up for King Dollar

The bigger-picture reality is that after 79 years under the Bretton Woods arrangements, 52 years since Nixon closed the gold window and 49 years since the petrodollar agreement with Saudi Arabia, the reign of King Dollar as the world’s leading payment currency is rapidly coming to an end.

This should come as no surprise since global monetary arrangements usually change every 40 years or so.

Nonetheless, the world is unprepared for this geopolitical shock wave. Western elites appear to have been asleep at the switch for the past several years as the BRICS rose in prominence. They’re still asleep.

The BRICS nations are a substantial and credible alternative to Western hegemony. Acting together, they represent one pole of a new multipolar or even bipolar world.

This play for global reserve currency status by the BRICS will affect world trade, direct foreign investment and investor portfolios in dramatic and unforeseen ways.

The process by which this will happen is unprecedented although it bears some resemblance to the elevation of the dollar under Bretton Woods in 1944 and the creation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in 1969.

NOT a Gold Standard

What Bretton Woods, SDRs and the BRICS gambit have in common is gold.

But there has been a lot of hype and misunderstanding about just how this new currency will work. Let’s clear up some of the confusion.

Some claim this will be a “gold-backed yuan,” which will be a new global reserve currency. This has been touted for years, but it’s nonsense. China has increased its gold reserves significantly in the past 10 years, but it does not have nearly enough to back up their money supply.

There is also no significant yuan-denominated bond market, so there’s nothing to invest in. You can’t have a reserve currency without a huge, liquid bond market. Only the U.S. Treasury market and, to a lesser extent, the bond markets of Japan, Germany and Italy qualify. There will be no Chinese reserve currency with or without gold.

The same is true for the Russian ruble and the currencies of the other BRICS members. What will happen instead is that the BRICS will launch a new currency. We don’t know the name yet, but we’ll call it a Bric for convenience.

Many people seem to think that this new currency represents the return of the gold standard. But it’s not true. There will not be a new gold standard.

How It’ll Work

What will happen is that the value of one Bric will be determined by reference to the weight of gold.

This plays to the strengths of BRICS members Russia and China, who are the two largest gold producers in the world and are ranked sixth and seventh respectively among the 100 nations with gold reserves.

We don’t know the weight yet, but 8 grams seems a reasonable estimate. That would make one Bric = 8 grams = $485 at today’s market. That’s just my estimate; other weights are possible.

So what you’ll notice from this calculation is that 1 Bric = $485. Still, that is not a fixed exchange rate between the Bric and the U.S. dollar. If the dollar price of gold goes to $2,500 per ounce, then 1 Bric = 8 grams = $643.

In this case, the Bric is unchanged in terms of gold (by weight) but has gained 32% against the dollar. What has really happened is that the Bric is constant (in gold), but the dollar has collapsed.

This does not mean that Bric holders can redeem for gold at an issuing central bank. In all likelihood, the new currency would not be available in the form of paper notes for use in everyday transactions.That’s not how the currency would work.

But Bric holders can buy gold in the open market. It also means that the Bric has maintained its value in gold while the dollar has crashed.

Clearly Not a “Barbarous Relic”

Meanwhile, central banks bought a record 1,136 tonnes of gold last year. That’s the greatest amount since 1950. You have to ask yourself why. Clearly, they don’t think gold is just a “barbarous relic.”

Clearly, gold still has a powerful role to play in the international monetary system with or without a gold standard.

At the same time, countries are demanding that their gold be returned to their own vaults. Right now, most foreign gold is held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Bank of England. But countries from Vietnam to Brazil want their gold back because they fear the U.S. or U.K. might seize it if the price soars and the dollar collapse begins.

They also want their gold returned because they perceive it will soon be much more valuable.

Again, the introduction of this gold-backed currency will begin on Aug. 22, after years of development. Except for direct participants, the world has mostly ignored this prospect. The result will be an upheaval of the international monetary system coming in a matter of weeks.

Since the currency will be gold backed, and since participants in the scheme will continue to buy gold in order to maintain the needed backing support for the new currency, the price of gold will remain strong and steadily grow.

A gold investor can effectively hitch a ride on this train and be part of the future of international finance. Investors can anticipate the monetary earthquake by buying gold today.

I’ll have a lot more to say about the new Bric currency and its impact on gold in the weeks to come.

<<<



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[wow_happens28]

MLEC is a start up. One of the co founders is Henk Hoogankamp Jr. His father, Henk Hoogankamp is like one of the fathers of plant protein. I have communicated with Henk Sr. for a few years, so I have a little emotional interest, so I may buy a token starter. The chart is of interest.

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/MLEC/?p=MLEC

https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=MLEC&p=D&yr=0&mn=4&dy=0&id=p51062414880

About Moolec Science SA

Moolec Science is a science-based food ingredient company focused on producing animal proteins in plants through Molecular Farming, a disruptive technology in the alternative protein landscape. Its purpose is to upgrade the taste, nutrition, and affordability of alternative protein products while building a more sustainable and equitable food system. The company's technological approach aims to have the cost structure of plant-based solutions with the organoleptic properties and functionality of animal-based ones. Moolec Science's technology has been under development for more than a decade and is known for pioneering the production of a bovine protein in a crop for the food industry. The company's product portfolio and pipeline leverages the agronomic efficiency of broadly used target crops, like soybeans and peas and Moolec Science has a growing international patent portfolio (23, both granted and pending) for its Molecular Farming technology. The company is run by a diverse team of Ph.Ds and Food Insiders, and operates in the United States, Europe, and South America. For more information, visit www.moolecscience.com.

The father, not involved directly involved(maybe, LOL)>>>
https://henkhoogenkamp.com/Articles

[gfp927z]

>>> Massive volcano could erupt IMMEDIATELY after enormous 7.2-magnitude earthquake


Daily Express US

by Claire Anderson

July 17, 2023


https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/massive-volcano-could-erupt-immediately-after-enormous-7-2-magnitude-earthquake/ar-AA1dW4p4?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=be8ffde83adc486a854c515b40a72fb8&ei=30;


A massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake has increased the risk of a volcano in Alaska erupting imminently as the aviation level was raised to red.

The Shishaldin Volcano has been spewing great plumes of ash into the air since July 11, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO).

A US Coast Guard overflight confirmed lava erupted the same day within the summit crater.

The latest data from the AVO, as of just before midnight on July 15, showed frequent explosion signals are being detected, with some explosions sending plumes of ash as high as 20,000 ft above sea level.

It said: "Due to the duration of this current activity and the extent of the distributing ash cloud the Aviation Colour Code is being raised to RED and the Volcano Alert Level is being raised to WARNING."

The volcano alert level code is set at warning, which means "Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, OR eruption is underway but poses limited hazards."

It comes as a significant explosion at 1:09 a.m. Friday produced an ash cloud that reached up to 40,000 feet (12,192 meters) and drifted south over the Pacific Ocean.

A second smaller explosion at 7:10 a.m. Friday reached about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters).

The National Weather Service issued a inflight weather advisory due to the drifting ash cloud.

Volcanic ash is angular and sharp and has been used as an industrial abrasive. The powdered rock can cause a jet engine to shut down.

The volcano is 679 miles (1,093 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage near the center of Unimak Island, the largest island in the Aleutians. False Pass, a village of 40 people, is on the island's east side.

The volcano is a symmetrical cone that is 10 miles (16 kilometers) in diameter at its base. It rises to 9,373 feet (2,857 meters) and is the highest peak in the Aleutians.

Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc. Most eruptions are small. An event in 1999 spewed an ash column that reached 45,000 feet (13,716 meters).

The volcano is monitored with seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data, a web camera and distant infrasound and lightning networks.

<<<


(--> What we need are CO2 pipelines to remove these dangerous fumes from the atmosphere! Build more windmills and solar arrays before it's too late, and the ocean levels rise and reach Kansas! And forget about starving people, we need to reduce global population anyway, while saving the endangered spotted owl and snail darter!).




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[gfp927z]

>>> The BRICs Go For Gold


Forbes

by Nathan Lewis

Jul 16, 2023


https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanlewis/2023/07/16/the-brics-go-for-gold/?sh=5b386765eb35;


After months of debate about various currency and commodity baskets, a Russia- and China-led consortium has apparently settled on using gold as the basis of a planned new international currency system separate from the US dollar and euro. As recently reported by state-funded Russia Today, an upcoming meeting of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China in August may include the formal introduction of the new initiative.

This would be similar to the Bretton Woods meeting in 1944, where, after the floating currency chaos of the Great Depression, a new gold-based international currency architecture was laid out. The centerpiece was the US dollar, which in turn would be linked to gold at $35/oz., its gold parity since 1933. This laid the foundation for two decades of peace, prosperity, and fixed exchange rates, which sadly came to an end when the US dollar was floated from its golden anchor in 1971.

Since then, various governments have attempted to move back toward an international arrangement based on gold. In 2019, Malaysia's prime minister Mahathir Mohammad proposed a Pan-Asian currency based on gold. "At the moment we have to depend upon the U.S. dollar but the U.S. dollar is also not stable. So the currency that we propose should be based on gold because gold is much more stable," Mahathir described. This too mirrored the Bretton Woods debates, where John Maynard Keynes' "bancor" proposal, which amounted to a global floating fiat currency, was abandoned in favor of the gold-based U.S. dollar at the heart of the system.

In 2009, Libya's Muammar Gaddafi proposed a Pan-African currency, the gold dinar, echoing the gold dinar coins of the Arab Caliphates that once ruled North Africa. But, unrest in Libya in 2011 put an end to such ambitions.

Also in 2009, the head of China's central bank, Zhou Xiaochuan, wrote: "An international reserve currency should first be anchored to a stable benchmark and issued according to a clear set of rules … [Its] adjustments should be disconnected from economic conditions and sovereign interests of any single country. The acceptance of credit-based national currencies, as is the case in the current system, is a rare special case in history."

Although Xiaochuan did not say how these goals might be achieved, we can assume it would be done exactly the same way that Mao Zedong ended hyperinflation in China in 1950: By fixing the yuan to gold.

In Moscow, leading intellectual Sergey Glazyev recently proposed a "Gold Ruble 3.0," referencing the gold-based rubles of both the Czarist era, and then the Soviet Union. Russian media reported that Russia and Iran are in talks to establish a gold-based cryptocurrency for international trade.

All of this rumbling may have come to nothing, if not for the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine. This was immediately followed by the isolation of Russia from the entirety of the Western financial system, including US and EU banks, and the SWIFT system for international bank payments. The Russian government was ready to make interest and principal payments on its euro-based bonds, but it literally could not do so. To add both insult and injury, roughly $600 billion of foreign reserves, held in custody in the US and EU, were "frozen," and likely to be confiscated.

This was a wake-up-call to all governments worldwide that held dollar or euro foreign reserves, or used the SWIFT banking system. The time had come to set up alternative arrangements.

This would also require a degree of independence from the International Monetary Fund. Although the IMF was set up at Bretton Woods in 1944 explicitly to reinforce the system built around the golden dollar, by 1978 that mission had become obsolete. In a 1978 revision to its Articles, the IMF allowed governments to link their currencies' value to anything "other than gold" (Article IV, Sec. 2a). The IMF itself would follow "the objective of avoiding the management of the price, or the establishment of a fixed price, in the gold market." (Article V, Sec. 12a) In other words, the IMF banned the gold standard among all member countries. The effect was to maintain the floating fiat dollar's primacy in international affairs.

Today, a "gold standard" proposal comes with a cloud of fallacious ideas, having to do with the "balance of payments" and other odd notions. It is best understood as simply a means to stabilize currency value. Today, many countries' currencies are linked to the euro, including Bulgaria, which uses a euro currency board. A gold standard system is the same basic idea, but using gold instead of a floating fiat euro. All of today's electronic payment systems would remain the same.

This was the principle that all of the Western World (and actually the Eastern World as well) followed for the past 600 years since the Renaissance. It worked very well. Gold was indeed tolerably stable in value, in the short and long term — stable enough that countries that stuck to it suffered no ill consequences as a result. They may have suffered for other reasons: Mao's Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) resulted in mass starvation, even though the yuan remained linked to gold. But, gold never failed to serve its role as a reliably stable standard of value.

"The only adequate guarantee for the uniform and stable value of a paper currency is its convertibility into specie [gold or silver] — the least fluctuating and only universal currency," said President James Madison, the primary author of the US Constitution. Today, much of the world wants a basis for their currencies that is stable in value, and also "universal" — that is, something everyone can agree on. Just as at Bretton Woods in 1944, there is only one thing that meets this need, and we all know what it is.


(--> GOLD baby !! But what happens to the value of my Treasuries, gulp)



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[gfp927z]

>>> Hedge funds rush to unwind bearish stock positions


Reuters

July 14, 2023

By Carolina Mandl and Nell Mackenzie


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hedge-funds-rush-unwind-bearish-194851877.html


NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Global hedge funds rushed to unwind bets that U.S.-listed stocks will fall, as a persistent rally threatens their performance, JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs told clients in reports.

"For hedge funds, shorts have been a challenge since early June especially," JPMorgan said, adding the unwinding of short positions got "extreme" in recent days.

Goldman Sachs said in a note on Friday short covering in the so-called U.S. macro products, which include equity index and exchanged-traded funds, reached the largest amount seen since November 2020.

A U.S. bull market has caught portfolio managers off guard, as they positioned earlier in the year for an economic downturn amid interest rates hikes, sticky inflation and geopolitical tension. Such short covering could, in turn, give fuel to the equity rally, further complicating the picture for remaining short-sellers.

The performance of the main U.S. indexes, however, has challenged their gloomy positions. The Nasdaq skyrocketed over 42% this year and the S&P 500 surged over 17%, while a basket of the most-shorted U.S. stocks is up 40% since early May, JPMorgan said.

The outcome for hedge funds has not been good. Overall, hedge funds went up 3.45% in the first half of the year, lagging the main stock indexes.

Amid the rally's persistence, investor sentiment has turned more positive, JPMorgan added in its note dated July 13.

Net buying, which excludes stocks sold, reached its largest level since October last year, according to Goldman Sachs. The move, however, was mainly driven by investors buying shares to cover their short positions.

Still, hedge funds also shorted more single stocks, mainly in sectors like staples, communication services and info tech, according to Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan run two of the world's biggest prime brokerages, a banking sector provides lending and trading services to investors and is able to see how large hedge funds and asset managers are moving.

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[bar1080]

You think wealthy people dwell on missing occasional market spikes such as QQQ in late 2021? Does Buffett worry about a bad move he made in 1968? My two kids have owned QQQ since 2009 and they've owned the S&P continuously since birth.

Stop watching the inevitable zigs and zags.... unless you like paying capital gains taxes and being out of the market during the next upturn.

Here's an idea: Try thinking like a multi millionaire for a change.

[gfp927z]

Bar, >> QQQ .. portfolio couldn't be doing much better <<


QQQ is still below where it was in Nov 2021, and the broader Nasdaq is still almost 15% below its Nov 2021 peak. So cash/T-Bills have beaten stocks handily over the last several years. Of course longer term it's a different story, and sticking with stocks has been a winning strategy.

Concerning the naked shorting topic, it looks like 'institutional crooks' like Goldman Sachs may be the perennial offenders?


>>> Goldman Snared In Naked Shorting Probe <<<

https://www.forbes.com/2007/03/14/goldman-naked-shorts-biz-cx_lm_0314naked.html?sh=444c03344358

>>> Goldman Sachs settles naked short selling issue <<<

https://www.securitiesfinancetimes.com/securitieslendingnews/industryarticle.php?article_id=222179&navigationaction=industrynews&newssection=industry




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[bar1080]

LOLOLOL!. As a student of finance history I'd like to see valid data on that. My own portfolio couldn't be doing much better.... especially my kids' long-held QQQ

">> so many naked shorts now compared to 1929 or even 1987 <<
Just curious where those stats can be found? Thanks :o)"

[wow_happens28]

Here is a posts from a man who follows it>>>>

https://franknez.com/wes-christian-says-naked-shorting-is-a-big-worldwide-problem/

More market maker hanky panky>>>

https://www.sec.gov/enforce/34-87155-s

[gfp927z]

>> so many naked shorts now compared to 1929 or even 1987 <<

Just curious where those stats can be found? Thanks :o)

This site (link below) has some short interest data, and for the S+P 500 it doesn't look out of line, in fact it might be on the low side, compared to the past two years' monthly figures. But data for 'naked' shorting, I would assume this isn't readily available since naked shorting is (supposedly) illegal (?)


https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY/short-interest



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[wow_happens28]

"immediacy bias", good point. I feel we need to look at psychological manipulation as well, 2 stories.

1. A buddy of mine and I were buying and holding gold and silver stocks in the late 90's. Even with inflation, they kept inching down. Then one of my best calls ever, maybe the only good one, lol, after 911 I noticed gold and silver did not fall with all that bad news. I thought "BUY". In late 2005 and early 2006, a nice rally finally happened after inching up from 2001. My downfall was I had a lot on Sunshine Mining that had a positive annual report about their future, a $1.00 stock, which was my biggest holding. 6 months after the glowing report, it went Chapter 7, and that was six months before the big gold and silver rally. I ended up with a slight gain in my accounts, would have been a double is Sunshine had gone up with the rest of them.

2. I called stocks a sell in the mid to late 90's. I would have been right on, but the internet stocks exploded and carried the averages much higher in 98 and 99. I can bet that the non internet stocks went nowhere the last 2 years or even fell. Is there a new trend now? Well, they are trying to make AI the newby, but I can't see it getting huge now. EV's just replace other car sales, so no net gain.

A third point now is mutual funds own incredible amount of shares of all the big and midcap stocks and control many employees for the Deep State. And so many naked shorts now compared to 1929 or even 1987. The Deep State can make a big profit off of a big fall now or at least largely soften the blow to cover their losses. Many stocks they don't control may go BK and they buy them for pennies. They think longer term that us little guys.

Tractor Supply that sells to conservative farmers put out "WOK" PR. If they did not, would they still have 100 or more funds owning their stock? The Deep State can destroy anybody they want?

https://fintel.io/so/gb/tsco

[bigworld]

wow: Investors have short memories. And they also have a immediacy bias. They see things like the Nasdaq going up and they jump on board. I bet if you polled 100 investors only a handful would tell you that we a ripe for a crash. Most think we are are in a new bull market, despite the fundamentals. Despite the narrow breadth of the gains. Despite the puny trading volumes. You see the headlines about the index gains today. You won't hear that trading volumes in the S&P and the Dow are about 1/3 of average, and that even the Nasdaq volumes are way below average. Shorting her looks like suicide. Which is why I am attracted to doing it. I have had "DOG" for a while, and while I'm down it isn't that significant. I picked up some "SH" last week. And I just bought some "PSQ" an hour ago. Only 1,000 shares. Just dipping my toe in. Probing for a market top in this bull phase of a secular bear market. The bear will be out of hibernation before too long, and he's going to emerge hungry.

[bigworld]

wow: Investors have short memories. And they also have a immediacy bias. They see things like the Nasdaq going up and they jump on board. I bet if you polled 100 investors only a handful would tell you that we a ripe for a crash. Most think we are are in a new bull market, despite the fundamentals. Despite the narrow breadth of the gains. Despite the puny trading volumes. You see the headlines about the index gains today. You won't hear that trading volumes in the S&P and the Dow are about 1/3 of average, and that even the Nasdaq volumes are way below average. Shorting her looks like suicide. Which is why I am attracted to doing it. I have had "DOG" for a while, and while I'm down it isn't that significant. I picked up some "SH" last week. And I just bought some "PSQ" an hour ago. Only 1,000 shares. Just dipping my toe in. Probing for a market top in this bull phase of a secular bear market. The bear will be out of hibernation before too long, and he's going to emerge hungry.

[bigworld]

gfp: The US DOllar Bear ETF sounds like a good bet o ver the next several years. Peter Schiff said recently that the DXY is showing weakness, and when it drops below 100 it will fairly quickly drop to @ 90 before it hits support. He also said that the DXY would eventually drop to at least 70, if not lower. Countries will be selling even more Dollars once the BRIC's gold backed currency gets rolling. We have twin deficit..the US Budget deficit which is running at about $2 Trillion a year now, and the stubborn trade deficit which is around $1 Trillion. That is wealth leaving the country. Inflation is not tamed. Not by a long shot. I just read where auto insurers are significantly jacking up rates, some raising over 30% year over year. Look for a return of creeping inflation. Dementia Joe has sold as much of the Strategic Oil Reserve as he could to suppress gas prices. But oil is slowly creeping up. All my energy stocks and ETFs have been performing nicely. Think what inflation is going to look like when oil hits $100 again.

[wow_happens28]

The US has not had a major short term crash since Black Monday 1987, and in 1987 most averages ended up for the year, unlike 1929 that took a few years to come back. Few investors were around in 1987 and that was mild compared to what can happen. But, "irrational" is what the markets specialize in, especially metals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Monday_(1987)

Good luck with the knee!

[gfp927z]

Bigworld, Thanks, I'll check out the latest from McAlvany. Looks like the metals are having a big rebound today, as the dollar gets clobbered, down over 1%.

On the stock front, I decided to return to a 10% allocation, figuring it's best to have all bases covered, especially with inflation coming down considerably. But when profits build up it will be very tempting to grab them again, before to the next 'evaporation phase' arrives.

That BRICS currency launch next month sure seems ominous. The US/Western media will try to ignore / downplay it, but looks like big trouble ahead, especially with dozens of countries clamoring to join BRICS, including Saudi Arabia, yikes. With the US dollar heading for trouble, the US Dollar Bearish ETF (UDN) might be something to look at (?)




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