Money & Markets Report: May 12, 2022

128 Comments

  1. https://www.afr.com/world/asia/shanghai-tightens-lockdown-in-final-push-to-hit-zero-covid-20220509-p5ajpm

    The move shattered optimism in the city last week that restrictions would be eased as the number of reported infections outside quarantine centres and hospitals fell to double digits. Officials said the move was responding to a directive by Mr Xi last week to double down on the “battle” against the virus.

    “We must fight all the way to the end. We are ready to take the risk of being dashed to pieces to reduce the new positive cases to less than 260 by May 10,” Zhu Zhisong, the Party secretary of Pudong New Area, said in a notice issued to residents. Other documents shared by residents said food deliveries would not be allowed from May 7 to May 10.

    1. Word from Chinese people who have little food is to drink ginger + brown sugar tea for sustenance; commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Also, Chinese people are famous for growing food on their rooftops! They still have their farming knowhow.

    2. Word from Shanghai via son in HK: The government is supplying rice and cabbage. People scrounge for what they can, and then trade within their apartment building. Grateful to have basil growing on the widow ledge for additional flavor!

      1. This is a time to not disdain small steps. Do what we can do with what we have available.

  2. Catherine, I am helping advising a veteran retired military with a basic income of $1K(not enough to pay rent), a 100% disability VA $3K monthly, with ZERO savings, credit cards debts and child support (which he cannot pay). How do you see the future for people completely depend upon the gov? He is also planning to ask for SS which is taking a long time to process. Any insight or ideas of what the fed gov will do to affect people like him? Thanks.

    1. I don’t know enough about him to know. He needs to get to a low cost area if he can not live on $4,000. And pick up and learn skills that he can use to trade or barter to others so he is useful even though not charging money and if government money goes away, he will not be stranded or alone. Don’t know what the disability is but he needs to heal himself if possible. Might be a candidate for Wim Hof.

  4. With all of this hubbub about a disinformation board in DHS I am left to wonder if this is actually a cover to direct attention away from the Global Engagement Center in the State Dept that was already established by Obama on his way out. As far as I can tell it’s literally the same thing except kept quiet.

    1. Good sleuthing. What we need to understand is whether they will use DOJ’s asset forfeiture fund or they have another seizure location/pot set up. That will tell us a lot. Also how the “rules” on seizing from Russian oligarchs will translate to seizing from everyone else. This will be State, Treasury, DOJ. Wondering if Dycorp still runs the State diplomatic pouches. Knowing who the contractors and banks are will also tell us a lot.

      1. Hi Catherine, Are you going to continue the coverage of Anthroposophy with Thomas Meyer? I was surprised to see the coverage of a very different spiritual organisation instead today. It’s surprising to see such a turn…

        1. No Turn. Junious is a christian who explores different aspects, traditions and practices. I have great confidence in the integrity of his efforts to understand spiritual matters and the nature of personal transformation. He is free to publish what he finds valuable.

          Yes, one of our team is headed to Basel to record the next two for Spiritual Science. They were going to do it last time – instead Thomas was inspired to record the two part series on Russia, Ukraine etc. Thomas has promised me that next time he will stick to the program!

  6. US market is behaving like crypto. Randomly, stock prices are slashed 40-60% overnight. “official” explanation is earnings results. but that is bs. it does not matter if the company beat /miss estimation if it was off 2% or 20%, if it has a PE of 15 or 100.. And sometimes they press the trigger before earnings.
    And this are not only meme stock companies with zero profit, but big companies with healthy profit like FB, SHOP, …

    The trust in US market will be gone for years

    1. @Sorin, I have come to believe that we are betting against AI when we invest in the stock market. If you don’t catch “the wave,” you lose. AI is bottom- AND top-feeding.

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