Thu, 7 January 2021
Stock markets again ran up dramatically during the month: Dow up nearly 3.3% to record 30606, S&P 500 up 3.7%, Nasdaq finished up 5.6%, Russell 2000 up strong at 8.5%, TSX lagged up 1.4% TSX.V nearly 16.7% again on cryptos and cannabis (gold stocks were way down). It was truly a day tripper's market. VIX calmed to 22.75. Dollar continued its skid off 2.1% to 89.92 and Euro rose 2.2% to 122. 10 Year yield rose to ..94%. Bitcoin went parabolic yet again up 48% to a record 28947. Gold put in a 6.8% gain to 1898. Silver piped up 16.6% to 26.36. PT was again a major winner up 10.5%. PD rose 3.8% for the month to 2336. Copper is still winning up 1.1% to $3.52, with more gains almost certainly ahead. WTI also sailed much higher up 7% to 48.52. Brent also up 8.8% to 51.80. Natgas ran out of gas falling another 12% to 2.63 per mm. Uranium still stuck at or near $30. Ratios: Au/Ag 72 - Pt/Au .56 - Pt/Pd .45 - BRT/WTI 1.07 WT/HH 19.1 and AU/WTI still a hefty 39.1. |
Thu, 7 January 2021
I recently spent 7 days in the hospital, fighting the effects of Covid-19 and Pneumonia. It was touch and go for a couple of days. I was loaded up with antibiotics, steroids, donor plasma, blood thinners and everything else you could imagine. And yet, I pulled through. I believe the reason for my survival is that there's so much more I have to do in life. While the experience was by no means pleasant, it was very instructive and I learned a lot. I wouldn't have done anything differently, other than to have gone to the hospital a week earlier. I made the decision early on to live a normal life or as normal as possible. I have no regrets on that score. My colleague Bill Powers and I have a great conversation about living your best life in the age of Covid. It's up to all of us to find our best angels and proceed accordingly. The only advice I can offer is that if you any symptom whatsoever, get treated. Assume you have the coronavirus and get off to the doctor or hospital and get it treated. You'll likely avoid much of the pain and suffering that I encountered and that's a good thing. Special thanks to Bill Powers and the folks over at Mining Stock Education. |