Gold

In an attempt to curtail North Korea’s initiative to become a nuclear power, President Trump issued an executive order yesterday that would reprimand any person, company, or country that did business with North Korea. This move was directed at North Korea’s primary trading partners.

Words of elegance rarely fall from the lips of many T.V. financial commentators as they report events that revolve around the world of business news. That’s not their job. Their task is to report financial news in a concise and factual manner, which for the most part they do extremely well.

In their first meeting since July, the Federal Reserve has indicated that there will be one more interest rate hike this year, which is scheduled for December. They also announced the date when they will begin to liquidate portions of their massive $4.5 trillion balance sheet. This will begin in October.

In classic Trump style, the President of the United States has given the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a new nick-name.  “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.”

U.S. equities closed solidly higher today, continuing the risk-on environment that has been prevalent in the marketplace. The Dow Jones closed up 63 points, with the S&P 500 as well as the NASDAQ closing moderately higher on the day.

The “Writing on the Wall” is an idiomatic expression suggesting portent of doom or misfortune, according to Wikipedia. This expression is based on the story of Belshazzar's feast in the book of Daniel. During the feast, Belshazzar sees a hand writing on the wall which he believes is foretelling the fall of Babylon.

Just when you think the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula are safe, Kim Jong Un’s regime once again ramps up the rhetoric by issuing new threats, this time focusing on Japan in addition to the United States.

The global equities rally moved into the United States this morning. Trading today resulted in record closes in the Dow, NASDAQ and Standard & Poor’s 500. The U.S. dollar also found underlying strength, gaining 6/10 of a percent on the day to settle at 92.43.

Consider this: Since July 10th of this year, gold prices have moved from $1200 per ounce to last week’s high of $1363, a new record for the year. In other words, in roughly ten weeks, gold prices have seen an increase of value of $160, which translates to an 8 ½% gain. Given that kind of steep price ascent, one would expect a cycle of peaks and troughs, stair steps to higher pricing.

In what can best be described as a relief rally in U.S. equities, recent events have shifted investor sentiment strongly towards a risk-on environment today. Deep concerns about Irma subsided as the hurricane did less damage than originally forecast. Investors were also relieved that North Korea did not launch another missile during its national holiday, Founder’s Day.