Markets: Yellen, US Dollar and Gold

The US Dollar got a bit of a bounce but very little in the way of upward trajectory despite the the supposed hawkishness and the way the markets are greeting what Janet Yellen said. 

So the US Dollar is already falling but it's not collapsing yet. I mean, it's falling but people are still not completely aware, there's just not enough bearishness yet in the US Dollar. Obviously if there was the price of gold (SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD)) would be taking off but we're not too far away from that point and when the US Dollar starts to fall next time there's gonna be nothing stopping it.

Bitcoin, Gold and The Madness Of The Crowds

In a recent podcast, Peter Schiff advised Bitcoin investors to read the book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds and put gold and Bitcoin in an interesting historic perspective when he mentioned that in a few thousand years, Gold will still be money while bitcoin and the other crypto currencies will be just a blip in history:

"...gold will still be money who knows if anybody will even remember a Bitcoin or any of these crypto currencies that existed for a relative nanosecond in the history of time but I don't know I mean maybe they'll write a new chapter in that book popular delusions and the madness of crowds and by the way if you own some bitcoins get a copy of that  book and read it because it is very applicable to what's going on now."

Related trading instruments: Bitcoin, SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX),

Toys R Us Bankruptcy: Companies Saddled With Debt Can’t Respond to a Changing Marketplace

The air is rushing out of the retail bubble. It’s easy to finger-point at the internet and blame it for the black cloud enveloping the brick and mortar retail sector. But in truth, it’s not all Amazon’s fault. During a podcast last spring, Peter Schiff put his finger on a more fundamental problem. 

While online sales have increased significantly, they still don’t make up for the total decline in sales in brick-and-mortar stores. Peter believes the problems in the retail sector reveal disturbing economic truths about middle America. 

"Another reason people are shopping on the internet, other than just the convenience of not leaving your house when you’re doing your shopping, is the fact that the average American shopper is broke. They can barely afford to buy the stuff that they’re buying. In fact, most people are buying stuff that they can’t afford. They’re just buying anyway and they’re using a credit card…Retailing is a shrinking market because Americans’ pocketbooks are shrinking, their paychecks are shrinking.”

Related: Toys R Us

Jamie Dimon (J.P. Morgan): Bitcoin Is A Fraud

Jamie Dimon came out and said bitcoin is is a fraud so now I'm kind of in his camp although I don't agree with everything that Jamie Dimon said and I think that there are problems that Bitcoin has that he doesn't even understand. He just assumes that the government is gonna shut Bitcoin down and you know if it actually worked he would be right.

Russia and China Are Buying Gold

Russia and China are buying gold specifically to minimize their dependence on the US dollar. (SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD), Newmont Mining (NEM), Barrick Gold (ABX), Market Vector Russia ETF Trust (RSX), iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index ETF(FXI))

Federal Reserve: A Cosmetic Reduction In Its Balance Sheet

Even if the Federal Reserve does get away with a cosmetic reduction in its balance sheet, the total will be completely reversed by the first month of QE4. (SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD), SPDR S&P 500 Index ETF (SPY), Nasdaq 100 Index ETF (QQQ), iShares Russell 2000 Index ETF (IWM), SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA))