Reflections Over 2020
2021-01-05
Wow, it has been a heckuva year! One thought leads to another on this sunny-but-cool January 1. Having watched a few seasons of Forged in Fire, I’ve gained an appreciation of how difficult it is to pound and grind a lump of steel into a blade, even with power tools. There are many ways for it to go wrong.
This Pandemic Has Too Many Predictable “I Told You So’s”
2020-12-06
Most of Europe is back in lockdown, presumably as punishment for our sins of going outside during the summer, and as preparation for the Christmas holidays. It feels like being back in school, where a patronizing teacher indicates that the children are incapable of behaving themselves. To some Europeans, this is a surprising development. Yet to lovers of liberty, the fact that power leads to ever-expanding power is no news.
Oil market outlook: Land in sight but rough seas ahead
2020-12-07
In November, new vaccines showed great promise in fighting Covid-19, and the exhilaration was clear in markets around the world. However, the enthusiasm was not sustained. Many experts and political leaders rushed to warn that while a vaccine could mean the end of the health crisis, the economy – and oil markets in particular – are still in for a rough ride.
The Costs of Coronavirus Lockdowns
2020-12-11
Throughout the next weeks, we will regularly feature statistics showing some of the costs of the prevailing lockdown politics. This article is an introduction to this new series. All over Europe, life has come to a halt again. As a second wave of Coronavirus infections has arrived, social and economic life has largely once more, as was already the case in spring when COVID-19 first spread across the world.
Deflation: Friend or Foe?
2020-12-20
Deflation is the most feared economic phenomenon of our time. The reason behind this a priori irrational fear (why should we be afraid of prices going down?) is the Great Depression.
A Future Hunger Pandemic
2020-12-29
The coronavirus has dominated all of our lives in recent months. Radical paths were taken by politicians in the form of lockdowns to contain the pandemic. But we should recognize that even if the coronavirus is a (major) challenge for us, we always have to keep a holistic view of world events.
Vaccine Passports Are a Terrible Idea
2021-01-20
Vaccine rollout is advancing at snail pace in the European Union. At the same time, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel are moving quickly to get large parts of the population vaccinated as promptly as possible. As Europe debates the success or failure of its vaccine policy, some countries want to be one step ahead and discuss the possibility of so-called vaccine passports.
Value of gold stored by Irish metals broker GoldCore surges past €100m
2020-08-16
Investment in gold has risen during pandemic. The value of gold coins and bars stored for clients by Irish precious metals broker GoldCore has surged 68pc so far this year to more than €100m.
The value of gold coins and bars stored for clients by Irish precious metals broker GoldCore has surged 68pc so far this year to more than €100m.
Gold prices last week topped the $2,000-per-ounce level for the first time as investors seek havens from the pandemic.
“We are seeing demand on a scale which has not been seen since the early stages of the global financial crisis in 2009 and we expect that to continue in the coming months,” said GoldCore CEO Stephen Flood.
NEWS and COMMENTARY
Gold loses ground as dollar firms; investors eye U.S. stimulusSilver rallies over 6%; Gold ends higher as China-U.S. tensions seen escalatingWhy Is Everyone Buying Gold?Yields hold near historic lows on economic slowdown fears
Dollar