Biotech … Bulls/Bears

Fight Between Support & Resistance

Last Friday’s action was volatile with the op-ex short-covering apparently coming into play. Biotech was affected more than any other index.

If it really was short covering, then we already know what’s likely to happen next.

First, we’ll go over the charts and then build a case for the next probable direction.

The focus is on SPBIO, instead of IBB, as it’s the weakest of the two indices.

From a weekly standpoint, this is where SPBIO, left-off this past Friday.

Biotech SPBIO, Weekly Bar

Adding the mark-up to show we’re at support and resistance.

Getting closer in on that area.

We can see based on the price action itself, we’re at an important juncture.

Two years ago, in March of 2020, price action formed a support level.

Fast forward to now.

Price action bounced off that same level, attempted to move higher (for over three weeks), was rejected, moved lower, and last week, came back up for an underside test.

Most Probable Direction

If there was a short squeeze as a result of options expiration, fuel for that move is gone.

The options have expired.

in addition, that fuel was only able to get SPBIO, to the underside of resistance.

So, you can see where this is going.

Upside fuel is gone. SPBIO, is currently at underside resistance; most probable direction is down.

Measured Move

If the action from all-time highs during the week of February 12th, 2021, to the current support/resistance area is a trading range, then we may have a ‘Measured Move’ target as shown.

Under the current conditions, i.e., financial, societal, collapse along with the ‘elephant‘ going mainstream, a downside objective that’s an – 85.6%, decline from all-time highs, is entirely reasonable.

The 3X Inverse LABD, Weekly

The unmarked chart

First, the rule of alternation.

Last time is not this time.

Last time there was a reversal bar and the next week continued lower, then lower again and so on.

The rule of alternation says, whatever happened last time will not happen this time. Price action will (likely) have a different form.

Obviously, if the short squeeze referenced above is over and the trend remains down, one could expect LABD, price action to be higher at the next session (SPBIO, lower).

Positioning

The weekly chart shows progression and location of the stop orders on LABD-22-03 (not advice, not a recommendation).

The initial stop has been moved up to last week’s low.

There may be a trading channel as well.

Potential exit target(s) if not stopped out, would be contact points at the upper channel line.

Summary

If the position is stopped out at the next session, we’ll re-evaluate.

If not, and SPBIO, continues to move lower (LABD, higher), we’ll be looking for additional confirmation of the right-side trend line and the next likely area to move the stop.

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Retail Investor … The Apocalypse

Mass Psychosis, At The Edge

Even before we had gone around the room to introduce ourselves, the instructor at Online Trading Academy, Dallas, said he had a important topic to cover.

He wanted to make sure everyone understood the concept. The rest of the seven-day course hinged on the understanding and acceptance of the idea.

What was it?

You may have already guessed: ‘Short Selling’.

The big money is made on the downside … not after, when the bottom is in, although that may happen as well. No, it’s the downside that has the greatest opportunity for profit.

Fear is a much easier emotion to gauge than greed; in that sense, down is easier than up.

Short Selling: Market Trading 101

You would think it’s a no-brainer; that everyone knows this.

Not so.

Years ago, while discussing the markets with a former broker, he asked me, and I quote: “What’s an inverse fund?”

During a business lunch, I asked another broker if he worked the downside for his clients. The response was “They can’t handle the volatility”.

In his case, he knows the vehicles are there (inverse funds) but he doesn’t use them; only working the upside.

Shorting The Market

My first short sale was back around 1995.

I shorted ‘against the box‘, when you could still do so. The short trade was Alcide.

In the May 1993, edition of my newsletter (see About) ‘Market Order Letter’, published by my firm, Equity Research Corporation, Alcide received initial coverage.

Prior to that edition, I managed to get a phone interview with Mr. John Richards, Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer of the company.

Remember that I was simultaneously employed as Engineering Technical Manager, for an avionics company. So, the interview was performed on my lunch hour.

During the call, I had made it past the receptionist, then secretary, and then to Mr. Richards, specifically.

Initially, the interview was not going well.

I could tell he considered me an annoyance and rightly so. That was, until I mentioned the competition and how they were going to deal with that.

At the time, Isomedix, had a plan to irradiate chicken (carcasses) to prevent salmonella. Conversely, Alcide had a product that was sprayed on (i.e. low-tech) and biodegradable.

When I mentioned Isomedix, the tone of the conversation changed instantly. I had done my work; I knew the market and wasn’t some newbie (even in ’93).

Mr. Richards opened up and gave me a fantastic interview discussing all manner of things. I did not tell him I was on my lunch hour and in the end, had to politely say, ‘You must be busy, so I’ll let you go’; thank you for your input.

Alcide (ALCD) was a ten-bagger that ultimately went from about $3/share to above $60/share (actually, a twenty-bagger) before being acquired by Ecolab.

Which brings us back to the ‘Retail Investor’

Still Buying The Dip

One more thing about the trading class mentioned above.

After the short-selling topic was covered, the instructor went on to say, the fact we were sitting in that room, separated us out from the massive herd of ‘investors’.

At that time, there were about 40,000 – 60,000 professional traders in the U.S. Although still neophytes, we were considered in that group.

That’s 60,000 out of 240-million adults, putting the ratio at around 0.03%

Now, on to ‘the dip’.

This article out from ZeroHedge has the data saying, ‘Retail’, is still buying the dips although the average portfolio is down a whopping -34%, for the year.

Without getting into specifics, the most conservative account managed by my firm is up over 30%, for the year, which includes the LABD, whack from this past Friday.

Note: An updated analysis of Biotech SPBIO, inverse LABD, and LABD-22-03, is scheduled for tomorrow.

Fuel, For The Downside

Over a century ago, Wyckoff wrote about the behavior of those on the wrong side of the trade.

That is, they are the ones who provide the fuel for the next move. In our case, that would be fuel for the downside.

Investors are buying the dip, because that’s all they know how to do.

It’s a sign of desperation.

Hoping that somehow, the markets will pull them out and return things to ‘normal’.

If you’ve read this far, you already know, ‘normal’ is gone.

Whatever happens next, (except for the starvation) will be completely new.

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Biotech … Squeeze or Test

Maybe, Both

If we look at it from the perspective of an up-thrust test, as we’ll do below, such tests if they don’t fail are the precursor to dynamic moves.

At the minimum, today’s action allows the stop to be moved on short position LABD-22-03 (not advice, not a recommendation).

It’s interesting, the biotech sector both IBB and SPBIO, with inverse funds BIS, and LABD, respectively are the only ones taking a major hit today.

Using a cue from Nicolas Darvas and his observations (as a dancer), the market will initially go opposite its main direction as if to get ready for the move; like a dancer crouching down before lifting the female partner.

That may or may not be the case now, as we’ll see below.

Biotech SPBIO, Weekly Chart

Next, we’re going to invert the chart (to mimic inverse LABD) and then label the up-thrust as a Wyckoff ‘Spring’.

Biotech SPBIO, Weekly Inverted

Next, we get closer to the action as shown.

Is the ??? area, a test or a failure of the set-up?

The short answer with about 90-minutes to go before the close, is unknown.

If SPBIO, closes down for the week, painting a red bar, probabilities are to the downside.

Closing higher for the week starts to bring a potential failure of the trade into question.

Summary

No matter what happens, the stop on the short position via LABD is going to be moved to the low of this session; currently LABD 49.90 (not advice, not a recommendation).

We may get into speculation later, on why biotech seems to be the only index in a major squeeze, preparing for downside.

Some who monitor this site, and those ‘awake’, may already have a good idea as to the potential why.

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Biotech … The Big (Short) Test

Price Action Follows The Plan

Biotech index SPBIO, has come back to test the underside of resistance.

Leveraged inverse fund LABD, has performed as expected.

That leaves us at the danger point.

It’s no mystery this site’s coming from a bearish perspective … that we may be about to experience an unprecedented decline.

However, the markets are designed to frustrate all except those in control; the ones implementing the ‘agenda’.

With that, biotech can do any number of things, but the most likely action is a downside reversal from these levels.

Biotech SPBIO, Forecast Update

The previous update linked here identified an ‘accumulation zone’ for inverse fund LABD.

Meaning, we’re expecting biotech to test (temporarily) and in so doing, allow opportunity to ‘accumulate’ the LABD position (not advice, not a recommendation).

The original forecast chart is below:

Biotech 3X Inverse Fund, LABD

Back then

And now.

Pointing to where LABD price action is going to go, could be the equivalent of ‘Porter‘ pointing to the outfield, where he is going to hit his home run; agreed?

The Danger Point

For all the major indices, not just biotech, we really are at the danger point.

The Fed has made its announcement.

Somehow, the mass psychosis continues; that the Fed is obligated to ‘help’ the economy.

Let’s review what the Fed is really all about. That link is here.

One has to wonder, if the typical 30-something (or older) has any idea the above link (and associated book) exists?

Summary

Tomorrow’s price action will let us know if we’ve reached some kind of bottom or if the bottom’s going to fall out.

At this juncture, from a probability standpoint, the trend remains down.

Therefore, remaining short the biotech sector via LABD, LABD-22-03 (not advice, note a recommendation).

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Seabridge Gold … Strategy Update

Lying In Wait … For Opportunity

As the ‘About‘ section says, this site provides one leader’s view on the market; what can best be termed as ‘Strategic Leadership’.

So, just what is that, exactly.

A good example is the current biotech analysis and action.

Biotech strategy, thus far.

No. 1:

Recognize biotech (SPBIO), as bear market leader.

No. 2:

Wait for opportunity to position short via LABD, on an upside reversal; A Wyckoff, up-thrust.

No. 3:

Monitor and increase the short position as the market allows. Continue until targets are met or stopped out (not advice, not a recommendation).

As can be seen, hereherehere, and here, the trade LABD-22-03, is progressing well.

It should be noted, this trade could be over in minutes, or go on for months. The price action itself, will decide when it’s complete (not advice, not a recommendation).

Now, on to gold in general and Seabridge, specifically.

The Gold Reversal

We’ve had several updates that show gold (GLD) has changed hands; from strong to weak.

Quite obviously, this assessment is completely opposite the narrative and the crowd consensus.

However, price action itself, has told us there’s been a reversal.

Recent posts here, here, here, here and here, successively build on themselves showing at this juncture, the gold direction, is down.

Leading Edge Chaos

Evidence continues to build, we’re just on the leading edge of chaos; likely to last for years, if not decades.

Go to time stamp 1:12 at this link and observe one of many efforts already in place to take down the current system.

Chaos, Opportunity, and Seabridge

All of the above brings us to Seabridge Gold (SA).

Going way back, 20-months, to the first post on SA, and taking the following from that report:

“If and when the markets (S&P, Dow, NASDAQ) reverse in earnest, there’s likely to be widespread panic. Just like last time [2007 – 2008] and probably worse.

As a side note: If and when we get there (panic selling), and if SA pushes below well-established support (6-area), the initial plan is to open a major long position … but with a significant caveat.

That caveat is:  We’ll take possession of the actual physical shares (not advice, not a recommendation).  The broker could put up a fuss and charge a fee.  So be it.”

Now, that’s a strategy.

Back then, nearly two years ago, it was not so obvious why having the physical shares was important. I think the reasons for doing so now, are clear.

Let’s move on to the actual chart of SA and look at probabilities.

Seabridge Gold (SA), Quarterly Chart

One thing is obvious just looking at the un-marked chart:

The bull market for SA, ended years ago; October of 2007, to be exact.

The actual price of gold (GLD) went on higher for over three-more years. Yet, SA languished.

Now, gold (GLD) has potentially reversed and there’s possibility for significant downside.

How significant? Well, somewhere in the range of $1,300/oz, or even lower.

Which brings us to the same chart of SA but adding Fibonacci projections.

SA, Quarterly Chart, Fibonacci Projection(s)

Getting closer-in with the zoom, we see the market itself has already validated those projections; especially the 38.2, level.

The 50% projection is near 5.00, and the 61.8%, is all the way down to 0.49 – 0.51.

Seabridge down to 50-cents, is that possible?

The Great Depression, 2.0

Those attempting to equate current events with the Great Depression, are at least doing the good work of recognizing the similarities and possibilities.

In the case of Neil McCoy-Ward, (linked above), he recognizes this time, is a whole other animal.

So, the answer is yes … SA could go to 50-cents. If and when it does, nobody will want to buy.

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Gold is Down … What ?

Supposed ‘Safe-Haven’, Goes South

With this morning’s turmoil, gold “should” be higher, right?

Before we even get started, everyone needs to know or be reminded, the word “should” is a ruse; it’s a trap.

Just like there’s no crying in baseball, there’s no “should” in the markets.

Instead, we replace that word with any of the following: Expectation, probability, empirical, set-up, and not the least of which is, ‘price action’.

Case In Point

Gold is down hard but it should be higher.

Coming from that perspective, then leaves you scratching your head, attempting to figure out ‘why’ gold has not moved higher.

With that, off we go on a never-ending rabbit trail having full encouragement of the financial press; making sure you never find the answer.

On the flip side, coming from a Wyckoff perspective, we look at gold (GLD) and ask the following:

What is the market saying about itself?

That brings us to Friday’s action and the chart of gold (GLD), below.

Gold (GLD), Daily

Long-time users of this site may instantly recognize the set-up.

To help make it more clear, we’ll go down to the hourly chart and mark it up.

Gold (GLD) Hourly

There we have it.

The repeating pattern of “Spring-to-Up-Thrust.

Let’s go back to the daily and put in the same notations.

Gold (GLD), Daily

Following on with this morning’s action we have this.

Price action has already posted a new daily low; adding confirmation, the trend remains down.

The fact there was heavy volume this past Friday, sets the hook even deeper into the bulls.

This action, up-thrust plus volume, may result in yet another sustained pivot to the downside.

Summary

It took me twenty-years of diligent search to eventually find the answers to market behavior.

That answer came in 2007, in the form of Wyckoff analysis and the late David Weis, with his video, linked here.

I was fortunate to be mentored by him before he became somewhat of a star … having a waiting list a mile long.

After that, was the constant study of his daily market updates for more nuggets of wisdom.

In a nutshell:

Gold (GLD) reversed today, because price action got itself into an up-thrust condition after launching from a spring set-up.

That’s it.

There’s no CNBC, no Fed, no Fast Money, no Russians, no Hyper-Inflation; just the market, itself.

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Weekly, Wrap-Up

The Usual Suspects

No. 1

‘Finger Snap’ Offense

As if to drive the point of yesterday’s post home, we have this just out from ‘Economic Ninja‘.

People are offended by him snapping his fingers at the beginning of each video.

You can’t make this stuff up.

But wait, there’s more.

Those same snowflakes go on to say they’re offended that ‘Ninja’ is planning to take advantage of the real estate crash; being liquid at the bottom so he can buy-in, at pennies on the dollar.

I wonder how many of these coneheads are ‘financial advisors’, but I digress.

No. 2

‘Sudden Adult Death’

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, after thousands, if not tens of thousands of years of humanity, we have a brand-new disease.

Doctors are “baffled”. Who can it be now?

Wheels are set in motion for decades of repercussions.

We’re still at that leading edge.

No. 3

More Airplanes Going Down

This would have nothing to do with No. 2, above, right?

Link is here.

No. 4

So, It Was Just The Flu, All Along?

Daivid Knight, in his broadcast talks about the weasels attempting to jump ship.

Take a look.

Good thing this site figured it out long ago and well before it was obvious.

No. 5

It’s The Dollar (for now), Not Gold

When the forecast does not go your way, especially for gold, all you have to do is say, “It’s all rigged”.

That’s not very useful; especially if one is attempting to allocate assets as my firm does.

The article linked here, says part of the problem gold’s not higher is because of the strong dollar.

Wouldn’t it have been nice to know, eighteen months ago, the dollar was in position to rally?

Like this post did, for example. 🙂

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

A War of Attrition

To Survive, Prosper, You Need To Have The ‘Stomach’

There’s nothing like the Vietnam war to remind us, the enemy on their home turf has the advantage and can exercise a war of attrition.

Similar to the Soviets in Afghanistan; the natives, the Mujahideen, wearing down the invading army month after month and year after year.

The Oligarchs and The Proletariat

Day after day, another food processing plant burns down; another fertilizer train mysteriously derails, a natural gas facility unexpectedly blows up.

‘So it goes’, as Vonnegut wrote.

Americans, except for a few, don’t have the stomach for discomfort. The Depression-era generation is long gone.

However, this site, is for that small few.

As can be seen with the above ‘events’, we’re in a long-term chess game. Adding a potential twist is this video at time stamp 12:50; seeds may now be dead-on-arrival.

Is the typical money management firm, or market analysis YouTuber, taking all of this into account?

Or are they still talking about ‘due diligence’, ‘fundamentals’ and what The Fed ‘has to do’?

A good number, if not the vast majority of these firms, may be on a course for self-destruction.

More chaos to come as that industry gets crushed.

With that, let’s review why there’s been so much focus on biotech and specifically, SPBIO.

The Major Indices or ETFs

As of yesterday, Friday, this is where the major indices stood in relation to all-time highs or ‘recovery’ highs.

Listed from smallest percentage loss to the largest.

Biotech SPBIO, has been down five quarters in a row and is working on the sixth.

Because of last week’s action, the sector may be poised for its most dramatic part of the decline (not advice, not a recommendation).

We’ve had an on-going analysis of the sector with recent links provided here, here, here, and here.

Positioning

If we’re about to have a market implosion in the coming week(s), SPBIO, has already set itself up to be the downside leader (not advice, not a recommendation).

That doesn’t mean ‘straight-down’, although it’s always a possibility.

The most likely price action is more SPBIO downside (LABD, higher), with some oscillation in the accumulation area shown on leveraged inverse LABD, below.

SPBIO, 3X Leveraged Inverse, LABD

Un-marked chart

Potential zone for oscillating price action.

Now, adding the trading channel, we see the possibilities.

In the coming week, there’s also the potential for a ‘test’ where SPBIO, rises and LABD, declines.

However, from an empirical standpoint, when a Friday has a violent down move that closes near the low, it increases the odds for downside follow-through the coming Monday.

Positioning

The data below is taken from one of the accounts trading this market. It’s provided as a courtesy; showing entries and exits as the trade, LABD-22-03, unfolds (not advice, not a recommendation).

The expectation is for price action to allow the position to be increased based on more biotech downside.

With the Fed meeting due up this week, it’s going to be interesting.

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279


Biotech … ‘Brace for Impact’

Downside Leader

From the outset of the bull market’s end, biotech has been the downside leader.

Of the two indices being tracked, IBB and SPBIO, the latter of the two, is the weakest.

Over the past several weeks, it’s been like a terrier on a mailman’s leg concerning positioning short this index (not advice, not a recommendation).

In the end (as we’ll see below), it turns out that waiting for an actual penetration, print, and close above resistance, was the best approach.

Now, it’s obvious, we’re in a reversal.

The unfortunate part from an economic standpoint, this could be the next big leg lower.

Biotech SPBIO, Daily Close

Penetration and close above resistance (blue line).

Then, price action retreats below resistance and back into the trading range; Wyckoff, Up-Thrust (reversal).

It’s important to note, if SPBIO closes at this level or lower, the prior analysis of ‘grinding to a halt‘ on a weekly close basis, remains valid.

Positioning

Right or wrong, the short position LABD-22-03, was never fully exited (not advice, not a recommendation).

Everyone has their own style.

From a personal standpoint, I despise ‘chasing’ the market. Chasing is for the lazy or frightened who are too afraid to pull the trigger. No thank you.

In fact, the LABD-22-03, position was increased near the end of yesterday’s session.

The intuition, the gut feel, if you will, was ‘This sector’s going to reverse. When it does, it’s going to reverse hard’.

With today’s pre-market action (about fifteen minutes before the open), LABD, trading higher by 3.10-points, or +6.35%, that intuitive assessment is proving correct.

At this point, an obvious stop level would be yesterday’s LABD, low @ 45.77

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Miner Reversal … 7-Weeks Later

Strategy Update … GDXJ

Wyckoff and Fibonacci analysis allowed the reversal of gold miners GDXJ, to be identified to the week and then, to the day.

A quick review of this post, is the reversal on a weekly basis and this one is a follow-up, showing Fibonacci correlation on a daily basis.

If we want to go way-back, this report, shows the miners were not in a bull market and have not been for some time; for years, actually.

That does not mean there were no trades for upside or downside; there were.

However, from a strategy standpoint, gold miners are not bullish.

So, let’s look at the Junior Miners GDXJ, as it’s the weakest in the sector.

Junior Miners GDXJ, Weekly Chart

Un-marked

First Mark-up

The reversal is at Fibonacci 89-weeks, plus one day.

However, it’s the next chart that’s more disconcerting for the bulls.

Price action reversed right at a Fibonacci 23.6%, retrace; indicating severe weakness (if it holds).

The two black lines above the 23.6%, are 38.2%, and 50%, respectively.

The next chart zooms into the reversal area.

This week has already posted a new weekly low, providing additional confirmation of the reversal.

As gold, silver and the associated miners reverse lower, we have news reports of precious metals purchases going off the charts.

Where was everybody in 2001, as gold was bottoming?

That’s, 2001 – to – 2022, a Fibonacci, 21-years.

Which brings us to the next point.

The YouTube “Herd”, is Forming

Several YouTube sites that have been monitored for years, have recently blown-up, passing 100,000 subscribers; more than a few are past 200,000 or higher.

Recently, they have started giving each other ‘shout-outs’, to indicate their approval of that particular site’s ‘content’.

Viewer, Beware

By definition, the ‘herd’, does not have the right answer.

Each one is now monitoring what the other one is doing; they are all, influencing themselves.

The only way to have a hope of getting unique insight is to remain aloof. Wyckoff described this exact phenomenon in his autobiography.

He had very wealthy clients that wanted to get closer (unlimited) access to him. To this overture, he refused.

He isolated himself and remained cloistered.

Summary

Thus far, the analysis of gold ‘changing hands‘ remains intact. Gold continues to be well off its highs; silver is not anywhere close.

Strategy, Tactics, and Focus.

The Junior Miner’s reversal can’t be disputed … there it is.

If precious metals and the miners are not responding to all the ‘money printing;’, then something else’s afoot that’s not being revealed to us in the proletariat.

That ‘something’, is probably starvation … which gets us back to Genesis 41; corn and grain come first, then gold and silver (not advice, not a recommendation).

Stay Tuned

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Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279