money

“It Could Never Happen Here”

"Of course, not everyone in Greece is hurting. Many people saw this coming and took action. They took all their money out of the banks, put it under the mattress, or maybe stored it in a safe. Maybe they bought gold, or diamonds, or something else. These people aren’t standing in lines at ATMs. They aren’t going to go homeless or hungry. But these people get a pretty bad rap—at least here in the US, where we call them 'doomsday preppers.' Or 'bunker monkeys.' Or 'conspiracy theorists.' Or 'gold bugs.' They take a beating. Jim Rickards tweeted the other day, 'I’ll bet there a lot of Greeks saying, ‘I wish I had bought some gold.’' Truer words have never been spoken." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“It Could Never Happen Here”

Greeks awake to shuttered banks on day after voters reject austerity

"Greeks awoke Monday to the stark reality of the country's accelerating crisis — shuttered banks and ATMs with little cash — hours after they voted resoundingly to reject more austerity measures in exchange for another bailout. The results — 61% voted 'no,' compared with 39% for 'yes' — left the bankrupt country's future in the European Union and its euro currency uncertain. Greece entered a second week of severe restrictions on financial transactions and faced the prospect of even limited amounts of cash drying out, with no prospect of an immediate infusion. Greece imposed the restrictions to stem a bank run after the vote was called and its bailout program expired." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreeks awake to shuttered banks on day after voters reject austerity

Greece defaults on $1.7 billion IMF payment

"Greece became the first developed country to default to the IMF, an organization of 188 nations that tries to keep the world economy stable. Greece will now be cut off from access to IMF resources until the payment is made. The move came hours after the country made a desperate attempt Tuesday to halt its plunge into economic chaos by requesting a new European bailout. Greece asked for a two-year bailout from Europe, its third in six years. Greek banks remained shut Tuesday and limits on cash withdrawals were in place as the country tried to stave off financial collapse before the vote. Daily withdrawals are limited to 60 euros, or about $67." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreece defaults on $1.7 billion IMF payment

Greece Closes Banks and Stock Markets, Introduces Capital Controls

"The banks in Greece and the Athens Stock Exchange will remain closed until at least July 6, the day after the referendum on the austerity measures demanded by the country’s creditors. In the meantime, cash withdrawals at ATMs will be limited to 60 euros ($66) and transfers abroad will be forbidden. Greece is the second Eurozone country, after Cyprus in 2013, to impose capital controls. The move is evidently aimed at preventing panicked Greek investors and savers from taking their money out of the nation’s banks and moving it elsewhere. In the days before the predictable stall of the negotiations with Europe, many Greeks rushed to withdraw their money." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreece Closes Banks and Stock Markets, Introduces Capital Controls

Swiss Bank Refuses Request for Cash Withdrawal, Backed By Central Bank

"A Swiss pension fund manager calculated that he could save his clients a substantial amount of money by withdrawing cash from his fund's bank account, which was yielding a negative interest return, and depositing the cash in an insured vault. Exercising his fiduciary responsibility, he notified his bank of an impending large withdrawal of CHF. The bank rebuffed the fund manager's request: 'We are sorry, that within the time period specified, no solution corresponding to your expectations could be found.' One banking expert argues that the bank's action 'is most definitely not legal' because the pension fund holds a 'sight account,' which gives the holder the right to withdraw cash on demand." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSwiss Bank Refuses Request for Cash Withdrawal, Backed By Central Bank

The Ominous Warning in Denny Hastert’s Downfall

"The speaker who pushed through financial monitoring provisions of the USA Patriot Act found himself ensnared in the same law. By 'structuring' his cash withdrawals to avoid reporting requirements, he aroused suspicions at his bank and gave the FBI reason to investigate. As delightful as it is to see the mighty brought low, Hastert may also be victim of a grave injustice. If the government thinks it can prove Hastert committed a sex crime, the right course would be to file charges and let a jury decide. Law enforcement now has the power to bypass courts and inflict punishment without trial. Before we relish Hastert's downfall, we should remember that any one of us could be next." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Ominous Warning in Denny Hastert’s Downfall

Texas Senate Passes Bill to Establish Gold & Silver Bullion Depository

"A bill taking a step towards gold and silver as commonly-used legal tender in Texas passed in the state Senate today by an overwhelming 29-2 vote. What the bill essentially does is create a means for transactions to occur in precious metals. It allows people to open an account and deposit their precious metals in the state depository. They could then use the electronic system to make payments to any other business or person who also holds an account. This opening of the market is considered by many insiders to be the most important first step towards bringing sound money to mainstream acceptance." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas Senate Passes Bill to Establish Gold & Silver Bullion Depository

BRICS establish $100bn bank and currency pool to cut out West

"The group of emerging economies signed the long-anticipated document to create the $100 bn BRICS Development Bank and a reserve currency pool worth over another $100 bn. Both will counter the influence of Western-based lending institutions and the dollar. The new bank will provide money for infrastructure and development projects in BRICS countries, and unlike the IMF or World Bank, each nation has equal say, regardless of GDP size. Each BRICS member is expected to put an equal share into establishing the startup capital of $50 billion with a goal to reach $100 billion. The BRICS bank will be headquartered in Shanghai." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBRICS establish $100bn bank and currency pool to cut out West

Cyprus: 16 months of capital controls, banks still pitifully capitalized

"It’s been over a year since the banking system in Cyprus officially went bust. On Friday, March 15, 2013, practically everyone in the country went to bed thinking that everything was just fine. Many had probably gone to the bank that very day to do business, or logged on to an Internet banking platform. Yet the very next morning, they woke to a completely new reality: the nation’s banks were broke, and the government was in no position to rescue them. All the promises they had been told about government guarantees and having a ‘well-regulated’, sound banking system turned out to be lies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCyprus: 16 months of capital controls, banks still pitifully capitalized

IMF pronounces Bulgaria’s banks safe, 2 weeks before bank run

"Earlier this summer, IMF bureaucrats went to Sofia, Bulgaria to study the country’s economic progress. And roughly a month ago, they released an official report which stated, among other things, that Bulgarian banks are 'stable and liquid.' Talk about epic timing. Because less than two weeks later, Bulgaria’s banking system was in the throes of a full-blown crisis. There was a run on two of the nation’s largest banks—several hundred million dollars had been withdrawn in a matter of hours. And the Bulgarian central bank had to step in and take over both of them or risk a collapse in the entire system." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIMF pronounces Bulgaria’s banks safe, 2 weeks before bank run