North Korea Confirms It Conducted "Successful Hydrogen Bomb Test" As "Act Of Self-Defense" Against US
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 22:00
Update: North Korea has confirmed that it has "successfully tested a hydrogen bomb." The test was "an act of self-defense" against threats like the US.
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake detected near North Korea’s nuclear test site appears to have been artificial, according to South Korea’s meteorological service, raising the prospect the isolated regime tested a nuclear device. As Bloomberg reports, the "earthquake" follows North Korea’s threat in September that it is ready to use atomic weapons against the U.S. at any time and that its main nuclear facility was fully operational. The Pentagon is reportedly "looking into" the quake reports.
Visualizing How The Global Economy Played Out In 2015
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 22:00
Many people start a new year with renewed optimism. However, "New Year, Same Problems" is the meme of 2016... and recent trading has dashed some of that optimistic 'This time it's different' hope.
Central Bank Money Printing - The Rotten Philosophy That Lies Beneath
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 21:35
Taking away from the government its power of compelling the citizenry to accept money that it monopolistically controls and abuses may serve as an important legal and economic change to force the government and those who live at its spending trough to face the reality of the welfare state’s ideological and fiscal bankruptcy before it is too late to avert a complete collapse of the society.
Dow Futures Plunge 170 Points After Yuan Crashes To 5-Year Lows As PBOC Loses Control
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 21:27
Dow futures are down over 170 points from the cash close, testing the lows of the day following carnage in the Chinese currency markets. Despite the biggest drop in onshore Yuan since August devaluation, Offshore Yuan has collapsed to its lowest since September 2010. What is more worrisome (or positive for Kyle Bass) is that the spread between onshore and offshore Yuan has blown out to 1250 pips - a record - indicating dramatic outflows and/or expectations of further devaluation to come.
China Set To Establish No-Fly Zone Over Islands After Successful Test Flight
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 21:10
"The next step will be, once they've tested it with several flights, they will bring down some of their fighter air power - SU-27s and SU-33's - and they will station them there permanently. That's what they're likely to do."
Will Mideast Allies Drag Us Into War?
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 20:45
Turkey’s shoot-down of a Russian jet and the Saudi execution of a revered Shiite cleric, who threatened no one in prison, should cause the United States to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the alliances and war guarantees we have outstanding, many of them dating back half a century. Do all, do any, still serve U.S. vital national interests?
Is The US Criminalizing Free-Speech?
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 19:55
Eighty-two leading Democrats have cosponsored a House Resolution (H.Res. 569) "Condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States". As of now, H.Res. 569 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Americans had better hope that the House Committee will see it for what it is: An attempt to destroy the First Amendment, shield Islam from criticism, and bring "Death to Free Speech."
Meet The "Trader" Who Earns $30K "On A Bad Month" Working Just One Hour A Day
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 19:36
The Shale Defaults Begin Here: Banks Quietly Shrink These 25 Companies' Credit Facilities
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 19:27
Here are 25 deeply distressed companies, whose banks we found have quietly shrunk the borrowing base of their credit facilities anywhere from 6% in the case of Black Ridge Oil and Gas to a whopping 51% for soon to be insolvent New Source Energy Partners.
Here's The Ultra-Clever Way That The Chinese Are Circumventing Capital Controls
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 19:05
Last year amid China’s ongoing financial crisis, the government there tightened some forms of capital controls (curiously while loosening others). For any Chinese citizen with savings right now, it’s pretty obvious what’s happening. And they want to get their money out of the country. Bitcoin has been a popular alternative in China because people can easily cross borders with vast sums of money encrypted inside their mobile phones. But there’s a new tactic that Chinese are using now: domains.
Caption Contest: "Make America Great Again" Edition
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 18:40
"Shock and awe"...
Nomi Prins' Financial Road Map For 2016: "The Potential For Chaotic Fluctuations Is Greater Than Ever"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 18:15
We are currently in a transitional phase of geo-political-monetary power struggles, capital flow decisions, and fundamental economic choices. This remains a period of artisanal (central bank fabricated) money, high volatility, low growth, excessive wealth inequality, extreme speculation, and policies that preserve the appearance of big bank liquidity and concentration at the expense of long-term stability. The potential for chaotic fluctuations in any element of the capital markets is greater than ever. The butterfly effect - the flutter of a wing in one part of the planet altering the course of seemingly unrelated events in another part - is on center stage.
Islamic State's New "Jihadi John" Was Bouncy Castle Salesman, Nirvana Fan, Aspiring Dentist
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 17:40
"He stopped studying and rented bouncy castles for children's parties while supporting banned militant group Al-Muhajiroun and running 'roadshows' aimed at attracting troubled youngsters in inner-cities"...
Hong Kong Publishers Reportedly Being Kidnapped By Chinese Authorities, Taken To Mainland
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/05/2016 - 17:15
For several years now, we’ve periodically observed that China’s increasingly aggressive crackdown on dissent serves as a harbinger of far more difficult times ahead. The thinking goes that if anyone is privy to the severe fragility the country’s economic situation, it would be Chinese leadership. As such, desperate moves by Chinese leadership should foretell drastically worse economic and social conditions to come.
