Economic and Monetary Policy
Trump’s conservative judge appointments and policies aimed at a weaker dollar through protection tariffs, deregulation, and lower cost of capital will significantly impact markets and inflation in his potential second term.
The Euro’s collapse will lead to massive mispricing of European bond yields, causing German yields to rise to 3-5%, potentially bankrupting German banks, while the US benefits from a positive dollar carry as yields rise to 5-7%.
The Federal Reserve under Powell will likely be accommodative, cutting rates to keep asset prices high and ride out inflation, while Trump’s actions will be inflationary in some areas but deflationary in others.
Global Economic Strategies
Oil is criminally underpriced at current levels, with the best way to stabilize the market being to increase the price to $90 per barrel, allowing for a 15-20% increase to offset deflationary pressures in other markets.
Scrapping the ethanol blending credit system (currently trading at $0.65/gallon) and the renewable identification number system (RINs) could reduce gasoline prices by $0.20-0.30/gallon, offsetting inflation and stimulating the economy.
Trump’s proposal to increase NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP is likely a tactic to exit NATO, as no country can afford it, signaling a desire to end US involvement in the alliance.
Financial Innovations and Geopolitics
Judy Shelton’s proposed gold-backed treasury bonds would allow the government to sell debt without paying dollars, effectively recapitalizing the country by mobilizing gold reserves and democratizing them into the hands of Americans.
The beneficial ownership interest database is viewed as an unconstitutional attempt to map all LLC ownership in the US, potentially allowing political enemies to be targeted, and will likely be struck down by the Supreme Court when challenged.
Market Dynamics and Commodity Trends
The pound vs euro currency cross is breaking down, with the euro defending an 83-cent floor vs the pound, but it may eventually drop lower as the UK is targeted by Musk and Trump to break away from Davos globalists.
The oil and gas industry is heavily influenced by politics and geopolitics, not a free market, with oil majors like Shell serving as better indicators of political winds than other industries.
Commodity-producing nations like Canada and Australia could benefit from more favorable administrations, potentially implementing policies to boost oil and gas production and offset the strength of the US dollar.