U.S. Investing

May Day! May Day! Is Government Out of Control? What It Means to Investors

“It seems monstrously wrong to surrender the world to the looters, and monstrously wrong to live under their rule.” — Francisco d’Anconia (“Atlas Shrugged,” by Ayn Rand)

“Everything will end badly.” — Bill Henry (“Maxims of Wall Street,” p. 111)

The Four Horsemen of Free Enterprise Meet Up!

Yesterday, I co-moderated a unique two-hour MoneyShow webinar, an Economic Summit. Steve Moore, Art Laffer, Steve Forbes and I — labeled the Four Horsemen of Free Enterprise — discussed and debated the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China, on the markets and our liberties. The webinar was hosted by Kim Githler. 

We debated at least five vital subjects on the minds of every investor: economic recovery vs. stagnation; inflation vs. deflation; gold vs. stocks; liberty vs. safety; and the November elections. You can watch the video here.

I highly recommend it. The two hours whizzed by for me as a panelist.

Art Laffer was the most optimistic, predicting a V-shaped recovery. He’s even more upbeat about the coronavirus. It is not as dangerous as we thought, even for him, an 80-year-old. In late February, he told Fox News he was not getting on an airplane to California to speak.

Now he says he’s willing to fly again.

Art, along with the two Steves, are “thought leaders” in the newly appointed White House Committee to Restart America. He said that both Moore and Forbes addressed the audience of 200 members of the Committee, including many business leaders, encouraging them to open their businesses as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, they are hamstrung by government officials who are severely limiting the recovery.

Dangers Ahead

Yesterday, it was announced that gross domestic product (GDP) fell an incredible 4.8%. Two months ago, economists expected a 3.1% increase!

When the economic top-line, gross output (GO), is released for the first quarter, it should be even worse. Now economists are predicting a $4.6 trillion deficit for 2020-21.

The Fed is pumping trillions of dollars into the economy. Money has never been easier.

And where is that money going? Not the economy, which is still reeling from the lockdown. We could see more than 30 million Americans go without work and 30% of all small businesses collapse. Pension funds will go bankrupt.

Why Is the Stock Market Moving Higher?

Rather, the new money is going into the stock market. Stocks are always forward looking, and that means investors are upbeat about the possibility of a turnaround.

Even oil stocks are moving back up!

Thus, we remain fully invested in the market, especially tech stocks, health care, financials and gold.

In yesterday’s MoneyShow webinar, Steve Moore and I discussed the possibility of an L- or U-shaped recovery rather than a V-shaped recovery. Unless the government loosens its stranglehold on the economy, I see an inflationary recession/depression coming on.

The Greatest Danger Ahead: Loss of Our Liberties

My greatest fear is excessive government power. As Tuto Quirago, former president of Bolivia, once said, “More and more, everything is either prohibited or mandated.” 

Without any legislative approval, governors and presidents are signing executive orders requiring us to wear masks, prohibiting us from walking down the beach or telling us we can’t play golf or street basketball. It’s crazy. 

I asked Steve Forbes if he envisions a time when the next virus vaccines will be mandated, or, as Bill Gates wants, forcing us to provide a health certificate to get on an airplane. He says “no,” but I’m not so sure.

There is growing censorship in social media, where Facebook and YouTube, among others, are shutting down people who don’t follow the established line of thinking. It is a serious problem.

Forbes is more bullish on stocks than gold. “Gold is a good hedge in a crisis, but once the crisis is over, stocks are better,” he said.

I’m recommending both. The crisis is far from over.

Robert Wolf, Economic Advisor to Obama, Eyes the November Elections

Robert Wolf, former chairman of USB Americas, and an economic advisor to President Obama, was on the program. I asked him why the Democrats have chosen such a weak candidate as Joe Biden rather than a young, vibrant leader like Mark Cuban (who is considering running as a third-party candidate).

Wolf acknowledged that the Democrats have had their best results with younger presidents, such as John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, but he said that Biden was a good choice because Trump is too divisive and the country needs a “healer” like Biden.

May Day! May Day! Early Bird Discount Ends Today!

We will continue this debate at FreedomFest. We are calling an “Emergency” Meeting at FreedomFest 2020, July 13-16, Paris Resort, Las Vegas, and TODAY is the final day to take advantage of the early-bird discount. See below for details.  

It is absolutely vital for you to attend this meeting in July. We are seeing permanent changes in the United States, and not all for the good — you will need to make important changes in your life, your business and your investment portfolio. That is what our emergency meeting is all about, and will be led by top authorities including Steve Moore, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Steve Forbes, John Fund, Matt Ridley, Tom Woods, Grover Norquist and financial advisors Alex Green, Louis Navellier, Rob Arnott, Jim Woods and Hilary Kramer.

We even have confirmed Hillsdale College as a sponsor, as well as the Club for Growth for the first time.

‘Ten Bagger’ Penny Stock Opportunity!

Good news for my Forecasts & Strategies subscribers: I have come across a potential “ten bagger” in the mining business, and it’s selling for under a buck!

It is literally a penny stock that trades on the over-the-counter market, but with gold in a major upward trend, it could be selling for dollars very quickly. 

It is selling for pennies because the mining company will be producing gold starting in 2021. Fortunately, they already know how much gold there is (6.6 million ounces, which could make it the sixth-largest gold mine in the United States). This is not an exploratory mine, but a mine in the development stage.

It owns a world-class, multi-million ounce, low cost, open-pit mine in a historic district that has been held back from development because of environmental issues. That is all about to change. The feasibility studies have been made, the permitting is moving forward and production is expected to start late next year.

The project is located in the western United States and has quietly attracted some major players, including Franco-Nevada and Barrick Gold, the second largest mining company in the United States.

Moreover, recently a billionaire hedge fund investor was invited to check out the property and bought an entire new funding valued at over $30 million. The whole amount!

But because it’s a micro-cap penny stock, I can’t recommend it in my newsletter, trading services or Skousen CAFE. It can only be made available to a small number of investors.

So, I’m offering to give you the name, symbol and background story of the mining company to the FIRST 200 SUBSCRIBERS of Forecasts & Strategies to sign up for my 40th anniversary celebration at this year’s FreedomFest, July 13-16, 2020, at the Paris Resort in Las Vegas. (Yes, the hotel plans to be open, and we are also offering for the first time “live streaming,” so if you can’t make it, you can still see the show.)

Now is the hour of decision! The longer you wait, the higher the penny stock is likely to move, given the positive outlook for goldAnd over 70 subscribers have already signed up.

Note: If you have already signed up for this year’s FreedomFest, you automatically qualify to receive the name and symbol of this penny stock. Just email me at mskousen@chapman.edu, and I’ll email you back.

I enjoyed stacking silver coins on my ‘Maxims’ book.

Three Special Offers to All Subscribers Who Attend FreedomFest

In addition, when you come to FreedomFest, you will receive (1) a 2020 uncirculated American Eagle silver dollar, and (2) an autographed and numbered copy of the 7th edition of “The Maxims of Wall Street.”

All three gifts — a silver dollar, a copy of the Maxims, and the name of the penny stock — are yours as a big thank you for joining me and celebrating the 40th anniversary of Forecasts & Strategies

We will have a special reception for all my subscribers, a chance to meet and have a picture taken with me, Steve Forbes, Alex Green and other celebrities in attendance. Again, the attendance is limited to 200 subscribers.

Plus, of course, you’ll also enjoy three glorious days of great investment advice and how to survive and prosper in 2020 and beyond. For details about all the speakers, panels and debates, go to www.freedomfest.com.

TO REGISTER: To sign up for this year’s FreedomFest, click here now, or call toll-free 1-855-850-3733 ext. 202. Be sure to use code FF2020EAGLE to receive all your exclusive benefits.

And if you are not a subscriber to my newsletter, go to www.markskousen.com, and sign up for only $99.95, an introductory offer for one-year only. 

May Day! May Day! May Day! 

Note: The early-bird discount ends TODAY!! The full price at the door is $599 per person, but you pay only $399 per person/$299 for spouse/partner. Rates go up on May Day.

P.S. I was pleasantly surprised and honored by the following announcement by the Center for Individualism.

You Blew it! Dr. Anthony Fauci Says No Sports until 2021

The alarmists are still among us, even as the evidence is growing every day that they are wrong and the novel coronavirus is far less fatal than previously thought. 

For example, this report from Dr. Scott W. Atlas, a highly respected Stanford University medical doctor and professor (named one of the “Best Doctors in America”) has been writing and speaking out under the title: “The Data Are In. Stop the Panic and End the Total Isolation.” Click here to read about his findings. 

Dr. Atlas admits that Stanford and other universities made a mistake shutting down schools and sending their kids home. According to him, the fatality rate among students is almost nonexistent.

Or read my son Todd’s summary of the evidence, which has gone viral recently.

Yet, people like Dr. Anthony Fauci, who the New York Times calls “the country’s top infectious disease expert,” are acting as if nothing has changed in the science. 

“Safety, for the players and for the fans, trumps everything,” Fauci said. “If you can’t guarantee safety, then unfortunately you’re going to have to bite the bullet and say, ‘We may have to go without this sport for this season.’”

Earlier, he said that professional sports leagues could return to play, but with no fans in the stands.

“I would love to be able to have all sports back,” Fauci said. “But as a health official and a physician and a scientist, I have to say, right now, when you look at the country, we’re not ready for that yet.”

We need to get back to where individuals, businesses and organizations make their own decisions about the safety and well-being of their employees, customers and suppliers — not overweening government officials who think they know it all. That’s the American way of freedom that we are sadly losing very quickly in this once great country.

Let’s play ball!

Update: Today, we witnessed another example of abuse of power. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a power-hungry bully, has just closed all beaches in the state after witnessing thousands last Saturday leaving their homes and enjoying a fun day at the beaches while ignoring social distancing guidelines. But we only have our “representatives” to blame for giving elected leaders excessive emergency power through “executive orders.” You can say goodbye to the land of the free in 2020.

Mark Skousen

Mark Skousen, Ph. D., is a professional economist, investment expert, university professor, and author of more than 25 books. He earned his Ph. D. in monetary economics at George Washington University in 1977. He has taught economics and finance at Columbia Business School, Columbia University, Grantham University, Barnard College, Mercy College, Rollins College, and is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. He also has been a consultant to IBM, Hutchinson Technology, and other Fortune 500 companies. Since 1980, Skousen has been editor in chief of Forecasts & Strategies, a popular award-winning investment newsletter. He also is editor of four trading services,  Skousen TNT Trader, Skousen Five Star Trader, Skousen Low-Priced Stock Trader, and Skousen Fast Money Alert. He is a former analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, a columnist to Forbes magazine (1997-2001), and past president of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in New York. He has written articles for The Wall Street Journal, Liberty, Reason, Human Events, the Daily Caller, Christian Science Monitor, and The Journal of Economic Perspectives. He has appeared on ABC News, CNBC Power Lunch, CNN, Fox News, and C-SPAN Book TV. In 2008-09, he was a regular contributor to Larry Kudlow & Co. on CNBC. His economic bestsellers include “Economics on Trial” (Irwin, 1991), “Puzzles and Paradoxes on Economics” (Edward Elgar, 1997), “The Making of Modern Economics” (M. E. Sharpe, 2001, 2009), “The Big Three in Economics” (M. E. Sharpe, 2007), “EconoPower” (Wiley, 2008), and “Economic Logic” (2000, 2010). In 2009, “The Making of Modern Economics” won the Choice Book Award for Outstanding Academic Title. His financial bestsellers include “The Complete Guide to Financial Privacy” (Simon & Schuster, 1983), “High Finance on a Low Budget” (Bantam, 1981), co-authored with his wife Jo Ann, “Scrooge Investing” (Little Brown, 1995; McGraw Hill, 1999), and “Investing in One Lesson” (Regnery, 2007). In honor of his work in economics, finance, and management, Grantham University renamed its business school “The Mark Skousen School of Business.” Dr. Skousen has lived in eight nations, and has traveled and lectured throughout the United States and 70 countries. He grew up in Portland, Ore. He and his wife, Jo Ann, and five children have lived in Washington, D.C.; Nassau, the Bahamas; London, England; Orlando, Fla.; and New York. For more information about Mark’s services, go to http://www.markskousen.com/

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