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This Toxic, Drying U.S. Lake Could Turn Into the ‘Saudi Arabia of Lithium' | WSJ​

Feb 12, 2024
The region surrounding California’s toxic Salton Sea is a treasure trove of lithium – a critical ingredient for powering the country’s clean energy future. The estimated 18 million metric tons of lithium suspended in hot geothermal brine is enough to power more than 375 million EV batteries. So what kinds of new tech are companies using to get to this lithium despite the corrosive conditions?

WSJ takes you behind the scenes to understand how companies are building entirely new ways to extract lithium from the area and what it means for the future of domestic lithium production.

9:02
 

Dow slides more than 100 points Friday, major averages end 5-week winning run: Live updates​

Stocks slid Friday after yet another hot inflation report stoked fears that Federal Reserve rate cuts may not arrive until later than anticipated this year.

The S&P 500 fell 0.48% to end at 5,005.57, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 145.13 points, or 0.37%, settling at 38,627.99. The Nasdaq Composite lost 0.82% to finish at 15,775.65.

All three major indexes broke their five-week winning streaks to end the week in the negative. The S&P 500 ended the week lower by 0.42%, while the Dow slipped 0.11%. The Nasdaq tumbled 1.34%.

The producer price index for January, a measure of wholesale inflation, increased 0.3%. Economists polled by Dow Jones had anticipated a gain of 0.1%. Excluding food and energy, core PPI rose increased 0.5%, higher than the expectations for a 0.1% advance.

The 10-year Treasury yield spiked above 4.3% following the hot PPI reading. At one point, the 2-year Treasury yield topped 4.7%, the highest since December.

More:

Dow slides more than 100 points Friday, major averages end 5-week winning run: Live updates

Another hotter-than-anticipated inflation report sent the major stock indexes down on Friday.
www.cnbc.com
 

How Ghost Kitchens Went From $1 Trillion Hype To A Struggling Business Model​

Feb 16, 2024

Food delivery is a booming business in 2024. There's one food delivery trend, however, that hasn't gone along for the ride: ghost kitchens.
Once a pandemic darling that raised more than $3 billion in venture funding, the ghost kitchen industry is falling short of lofty expectations. Euromonitor International estimated that the ghost kitchen industry could reach a market size of $1 trillion by 2030.
Big brands wanted a piece of the pie. Companies such as Wendy's, Ruby Tuesday, TGI Fridays and Wingstop all joined the wave of ghost kitchens."It is clear that the impact of ghost kitchens was overestimated," said Evert Gruyaert, restaurant food and service leader at Deloitte. "And we see that today with the decline in ghost kitchens."
Consumers complained about the clandestine nature of ghost kitchens, and food delivery apps shuttered thousands of the virtual kitchens. Then consumers shifted back to brick-and-mortar restaurants in droves, forcing investor pullback and mass closures of ghost kitchens.
Now the smaller businesses left in the industry are pivoting to a new business model to survive. Some hope to diversify the food business to expand to events and catering, not just delivery. One such business is New York City-based Nimbus Kitchen, a co-cooking space hoping to shed the negative connotation of ghost kitchens.
"Shared kitchens and co-cooking infrastructure like Nimbus is here to stay," said Camilla Opperman, Nimbus Kitchen co-founder. "We believe that the future of the industry is catering towards not only the delivery concepts, but to all of these different kinds of food businesses that ultimately need the kitchen space to legally sell to the end consumer."

12:30

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:57 Ch 1. The rise of ghost kitchen
4:31 Ch. 2. Consumer backlash
7:35 Ch. 3. Changing the delivery model
10:31 Ch. 4. What’s next?
 
Little bit of this, little bit of that. Take it fwiw and dyodd. 16 mins long.

Silver and War​

Feb 17, 2024

 
Labor Action Tracker, Annual Report 2023 Cornell University ILR School, University of Illinois LER School, “…the number of work stoppages increased by ~9% (433 to 470) between 2022 and 2023, the number of workers involved in work stoppages increased by ~141% (224,000 to 539,000).”
 

2024 Commodity Market Outlook with Expert Analysis | February 16, 2023​

Feb 16, 2024

Markets: This week we are looking back at a recent conversation we had with Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting President Mike Zuzolo to see what his outlook on the commodity market is for the 2024 production year.

8:04
 

Urgent Call for U.S. Sealift Capacity Expansion to Counter China​

Feb 18, 2024

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - examines the letter from Congressman Mike Gallagher's House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party addressing the "woefully inadequate" sealift fleet capacity to counter China in the event of an Indo-Pacific Conflict

22:58

Congressman Makes Urgent Call for U.S. Sealift Capacity Expansion to Counter Chinahttps://gcaptain.com/congressman-make...

For anyone interested here's a link to the Military Sealift Command

MSC: Military Sealift Command

MSC careers are some of the best in the maritime industry. That’s because we combine job security with training and advancement opportunities. This combination will take your career further, faster than you thought possible. Considering that this path includes federal benefits, paid leave...
sealiftcommand.com
 

Teamsters ousted at Dr Pepper Wisconsin, face off against Anheuser-Busch

The Teamsters, which have been mostly winning lately, saw their union kicked out by some workers in Wisconsin.
www.freightwaves.com

Borderlands: Cross-border logistics firms expand operations into Mexico

This week in Borderlands: Cross-border logistics firms expand operations into Mexico; Texas State Highway 130 toll road truck traffic up over 9%; Karat packaging opens new distribution facility in Arizona; and Pirelli opens Mexico training center, hits 50M-tire milestone. rive Logistics and...
www.freightwaves.com
 

Inside look at U.S. Navy response to Houthi Red Sea attacks | 60 Minutes​

Feb 18, 2024

For months, the U.S. Navy has operated out of the Red Sea at a pace not seen in decades, as the military responds to Houthi targeting of commercial ships. Norah ’O'Donnell reports.

13:08
 

Trump-supporting truckers boycott loads to New York City

Pro-Trump truckers said they will refuse to take loads to New York City after the former president was fined $355 million in a civil fraud verdict last week. Pro-Trump truckers plan to boycott deliveries to New York City in protest of Trump's fraud verdict.
www.freightwaves.com

Moved from the lunatic political chat thread into commodities.
 
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Some interesting reading concerning the oil spill here:

Identifying the Mystery Vessel at the Site of Trinidad & Tobago’s National Emergency Oil Spill​

February 14, 2024
On February 7th, 2024, a mystery vessel began leaking oil and ran aground on a reef off the coast of Tobago, one of the two main islands of the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

The resulting spill has coated beaches, wildlife, and over 80 kilometres of the Caribbean Sea, leading the government to proclaim a “national emergency”. Over a week later, the vessel remains unidentified by authorities.

Dive teams and an autonomous submersible have found a name for the vessel — the “Gulfstream” — but have been unable to locate an International Maritime Organization (IMO) registration number that would conclusively identify it.

Research by Bellingcat, including volunteers in our Discord community, suggests an explanation: the mystery vessel is an unpowered barge, part of a so-called articulated tug and barge system that did not have a registration number to begin with.

More:

Identifying the Mystery Vessel at the Site of Trinidad & Tobago’s National Emergency Oil Spill - bellingcat

Earlier this month, a mystery vessel began leaking oil and ran aground on a reef off the coast of Tobago. Open source evidence points to a potential answer.
www.bellingcat.com
 

Danish International Ship Register under threat - Splash247

A Danish expert group has proposed to abolish the Danish International Ship Register (DIS) scheme, under which seafarers do not pay income tax — a move the country’s shipowners’ organisation Danish Shipping, has come out strongly against. The so-called Frigast committee has included the DIS...
splash247.com
 

Morning Bid: Rates angst, China cut and credit card deal​

February 20, 2024

A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike Dolan

Wall St returns from its long weekend to a mix of interest rate cut doubts, retailer updates and the biggest U.S. corporate deal of the year - while China's latest monetary easing was brushed off by markets overseas.

With the Federal Reserve releasing minutes of its January policy meeting on Wednesday, the rates market has been dragged kicking and screaming back closer to where the Fed had originally indicated at the end of last year.

After sparky new year consumer and producer price readings last week, two and 10-year Treasury yields hit their highest for 2024 on Friday and Fed futures pricing now has little more than 90 basis points of cuts in the mix for the year.

That's now within range of the 75bps of 2024 cuts indicated by Fed policymakers in December.

Don't fight the Fed?

More:

 

Should have posted this in the commodities thread.

Just a few independents. No major company would tolerate their drivers refusing a load in a company owned truck. Teamsters wouldn't back members doing this.

MAGA Trucker Does A 180 After Trying To Start A Boycott Of NYC Over Donald Trump’s $355M Fine

A trucker who supports Donald Trump has taken back his call to action for truckers to boycott sending packages to New York City. The man, “Chicago Ray,” made the remarks after a New York court fined Trump $355 million for fraudulently increasing the value of his assets in financial documents...
www.yahoo.com

Moved into commodities from lunatic political chat thread.
 
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Weekly Commodity Market Update: Crop markets likely to continue fall​

Feb 20, 2024

This week Will and Ben track falling crop prices and where they might be headed.

10:44
 

Shipping in the Year of the Dragon: Containers - Splash247

The Year of the Dragon, the most auspicious of animals in the Chinese zodiac, is upon us. What does the following year have in store for shipping’s fortunes? Maritime CEO is back with a unique annual outlook looking at the prospects for the main shipping sectors, as well as having deep dives...
splash247.com
 
Podcast, nothing to see, you know the drill.

Where the Market is Headed For Gold, Silver, Energy, and More: Todd Horwitz​

Feb 21, 2024
Todd Horwitz sees a lot of potential in the commodities market over the long haul, and he outlines his current positions, both long and short, in a variety of asset classes, including gold, silver, oil, copper, agriculture, and much more. Todd also gives his outlook on the broad markets and the state of the U.S. and global economy, along with providing valuable words of wisdom for those seeking to trade commodities. 30 mins long.


00:00 Introduction
00:36 Faulty Government Statistics
02:45 The Fed is Manipulating Markets
05:09 Biden Regime Extorting Americans
07:09 Forecast for U.S. Economy
09:05 Is the Broad Market Due for a Correction?
12:04 Outlook for Gold
13:05 Thoughts on Silver
13:59 Bullish or Bearish on Oil?
14:56 Natural Gas
15:30 Copper15:57 Uranium
16:53 Platinum17:38 Agriculture
21:00 Where Else is Todd Seeing Value?
22:25 Areas of the Market to Avoid
23:58 How to Decide to Go Short or Long
26:51 Time Horizon
 

White House to Issue Executive Order to Fortify U.S. Ports and Maritime Cybersecurity

The White House has announced plans to issue an Executive Order enhancing the security of the nation’s ports in a bid to bolster national security, in addition to several other...
gcaptain.com

MARAD Advisory Warns of Potential Cybersecurity Threats from Chinese-Manufactured Port Equipment

The U.S. Maritime Administration has issued a new advisory to alert industry stakeholders about potential vulnerabilities in maritime port equipment, networks, operational systems, software, and infrastructure. This warning is particularly...
gcaptain.com
 
Podcast, nothing to see, you know the score.

Doug Casey's Take [ep.#306] Welcome to The Crazy Years​

Feb 21, 2024

Things are getting wild. What to do? 42 mins long.


- 00:00 Intro
- Robert Mugabe and Malcolm X (00:00:15) Discussion of Mugabe's role in Rhodesia and the Shona and Ndebele tribes, and Malcolm X's libertarian views.
- Gideon Gono and the Zimbabwe Dollar (00:05:26) Gideon Gono's role in Zimbabwe's economic crisis and the printing of the $100 trillion bill.
- The Courage to Serve Act (00:12:13) Discussion of the bill to draft migrants into the military and its practical implications.
- Michelle Obama's Potential Replacement of Joe Biden (00:13:48) Speculation about the possibility of Michelle Obama replacing Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
- Dynastic Ambitions in American Politics (00:15:00) Exploration of the trend of political dynasties in American politics and examples of political families.
- Impact of Migrants in Denver (00:21:33) Stories of the impact of Venezuelan migrants in Denver, including housing, city budget, and social issues.
- The "Courage to Serve Act" (00:22:50)Critique of the act inviting foreigners to serve in the armed forces, concerns about foreign influence and cultural differences.
- National Guard in Schools (00:27:27) Discussion on the controversial request to deploy the National Guard in a high school to address student violence, skepticism about the effectiveness of such intervention.
- Migrant Influx and Potential Consequences (00:32:41) Concerns about the impact of migrant influx on urban black communities, speculation on the potential increase in numbers and the challenges of accommodating and integrating migrants.
- Housing Migrants in Private Homes (00:35:16) Exploration of the idea of individuals housing migrants in their homes, including the potential financial incentives and the implications of this arrangement.
- Consequences of Government Programs (00:40:44) Caution against accepting government offers and the potential long-term consequences, including the scrutiny and consequences faced by those who accepted government aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.


​

 

EPIC NYC Trucker BOYCOTT CANCELLED!​

Feb 21, 2024
A few days ago a trucker by the name of Chicago Ray, posted on his X account how him and other truckers were going to boycott taking all deliveries to NYC in support of the Trump ruling that left him with a massive fine. However, now Chicago Ray has changed his mind and no longer wants to lead the movement.

20:11
 

Shipping in the Year of the Dragon: Dry bulk - Splash247

How will dry bulk fortunes differ from what materialised last year? The second installment in our brand new issue of Maritime CEO giving readers a sense of what to expect in the months ahead. Any dry bulk forecast must start with the state of the Chinese economy. In late January, a Hong Kong...
splash247.com
 

Nikkei parties like it's 1989; scales record high​

  • Buybacks and big caps drive Nikkei beyond 1980's bubble era
  • Foreigners return in force to lead rally after long absence
  • Valuations aren't excessive; analysts see further gains
SINGAPORE, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks raced to a record peak on Thursday, breaking levels last seen in 1989 during the halcyon days of the bubble economy, as cheap valuations and corporate reforms lure foreign money looking for alternatives to battered Chinese markets.

The Nikkei share average (.N225), opens new tab rose as high as 39,156.97 points, above the previous intraday all-time peak of 38,957.44 points touched on the final trading day of 1989. On that day, the benchmark index closed at 38,915.87 while on Thursday the Nikkei finished 2.19% higher at 39,098.68.

The 34 years it has taken to regain its footing is a record, too, for a major market and is a decade longer than Wall Street took to recoup losses from the 1929 crash and Great Depression.

"For us traders, this marks the arrival of a new era," said Tsutomu Yamada, senior market analyst at Au Kabucom Securities in Tokyo. "It feels like the stock market is telling us that we've finally escaped from deflation and a new world has opened up."

More:

 

Gold climbs on dollar retreat and conflict-driven demand​

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose on Thursday, driven by a retreating U.S. dollar and safe haven demand on the back of the Middle East conflict while investors await further U.S. economic data for a steer on interest rate expectations.
Spot gold gained 0.3% to $2,030 an ounce by 0951 GMT, having hit $2031.99 on Wednesday for its highest since Feb. 9. U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,030.

More:

 

Weekly iScrap Report: Copper Prices Rising With Chinese Market Re-entry​

Check Scrap Prices: https://iScrapApp.com/ - Dive into the latest iScrap App Report to hear about developments in the scrap metal industry! This week's highlights include the surge in oil prices, a promising uptick in copper post-Chinese New Year, and the enduring resilience of steel demand. Discover the subtle recovery in catalytic converter markets and explore how the US oil and gas boom impacts the auto sector. Stay informed with our market recommendations as we navigate the dynamic scrapping landscape. 15 mins long.


Read more: https://iscrapapp.com/blog/weekly-scr...
 

Dr. Marc Faber - Debt Is The Money of Slaves​

Patrick Vierra from SBTV spoke with Dr. Doom Marc Faber. As always Dr. Faber offers his no holds barred points of view and it is eye-opening for sure. A half hour of knowledge and power from Dr. Doom is here ready for you. See it now! 38 mins long.


Discussed in this interview:
01:26 The West is in trouble
06:13 Wards of the State
16:21 Enslavement by force
22:42 Current state of the U.S.
30:14 Gloom, boom, doom meter
 

Shipping in the Year of the Dragon: Tankers - Splash247

More than healthy earnings are on the cards for tanker owners in 2024. The latest installment in Maritime CEO’s annual outlook. A potential scrapping of much of the dark fleet, belated ordering en masse, and a highly profitable year. That’s the tanker outlook in the Year of the Dragon without...
splash247.com
 
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