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Red Sea fallout much greater for containers than tankers, bulkers​

Tuesday’s announcement of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a joint military operation to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea, was met with skepticism — and jokes about the Seychelles, a popular island honeymoon destination off the coast of Africa.

The existing naval security operation in the Red Sea, Combined Task Force 153, is a 39-nation partnership. Operation Prosperity Guardian has just 10 partners: the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Bahrain and the Seychelles.

As of Wednesday, there were no details available on what Operation Prosperity Guardian will do beyond expanded patrols, or how long it will take for escorted convoys to be put in place, if at all.

“Officials have played down the idea that they will provide naval escorts for commercial vessels,” said ship brokerage Braemar on Tuesday.

More:

 

How Czechia plans to connect Europe’s major rivers​

Dec 22, 2023

19:42
 

"The Most Important Economic Data to Watch in Will Be Unemployment." Nobody Special Finance.​

Dec 22, 2023


31:32
 

Wells Fargo workers form 1st union at a US megabank​

December 21, 2023

Workers at a Wells Fargo branch in New Mexico voted to form a union late Wednesday, becoming the first employees at a U.S. megabank to unionize.

Employees at an Albuquerque location favored unionization by a margin of 5-3, establishing a small outpost for organized labor at a company that operates more than 4,000 branches and employs over 225,000 workers in the U.S.

The union breakthrough arrives as Wells Fargo faces a wider labor campaign. Two branches, one in Daytona Beach, Florida, and another in Atwater, California, have filed petitions for union representation that could trigger balloting, according to information from the National Labor Relations Board shared with ABC News.

In response to ABC News' request for comment, a Wells Fargo spokesperson said the company opposes unionization but acknowledged that the decision lies with employees.

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European bourses mixed & US Futures lower, DXY dips & GBP bid post Retail Sales; US PCE due - Newsquawk US Market Open​

  • European bourses are mixed whilst US futures are entirely in the red; Nike (-12.2%) shares slump in the pre-market
  • Dollar remains sub-102, GBP firmer post Retail Sales and Antipodeans softer
  • Fixed benchmarks are around unchanged and Gilts are muted as Retail Sales strength is offset by GDP revisions
  • Crude and Spot Gold benefit from broader weakness in the Dollar whilst Base Metals are mixed
  • Looking ahead, US Personal Income, Core PCE, US Durable Goods, UoM Inflation Expectations (Final), and Canadian GDP
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A Year of Opportunity? - 2024 Construction Industry Trends​

Dec 22, 2023


17:14

“We do feel like things will get better in 2024; however, for the off-highway market, it’s still operating with caution,” says Walt Collier, Americas commercial sector manager, Chevron.

On this episode of The Dirt, Collier outlines the challenges and opportunities the construction industry may face in the year ahead. He points to continued supply chain obstacles and fluctuating earnings due to those variable costs.

Despite that, investment in infrastructure should remain steady and keep contractors busy. Collier says preventative maintenance and equipment uptime must reign supreme in order for contractors to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.

Collier also shares his take on the industry shift toward electrification and how it will be impacted by urbanization and infrastructure development and environmental concerns and regulations.

So check out the latest episode of The Dirt to see what trends lie ahead for 2024.
 

GoldSeek Radio Nugget -- Dr RON PAUL: "I Believe We're in Bankruptcy"​

19 hours ago


20:12

Dr. Ron Paul, former Congressman and Presidential Candidate of Ron Paul Liberty Report; suggests owning gold and silver. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to our listener's and viewers: https://twitter.com/RonPaul?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

- Astronomical monetary expansion and fiscal spending is sending gold higher.
- Eventually, the profligacy will imploded the entire global edifice.
- The US National Debt increased over $2 trillion in merely six months!
- BRICS could be adding several new members in January - big news for gold holders.
- New currencies must be convertible to gold to constrain tyrannical policies.
- Silver may represent the best means for most folks to prepare for economic collapse.
- Precious metals remain the de facto, reliable currency throughout all of history.
 
 
Nothing to see, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab. As with any financial vid / blog take this fwiw and dyodd. One hour long.

"All the World's Currencies Are Toilet Paper." Interview with Doug Casey​

Dec 23, 2023

 
dyodd

Dollar Shot in the Foot Again by New Executive Order​

Dec 24, 2023

16:55
 

GoldSeek Radio Nugget -- Dr RON PAUL: "I Believe We're in Bankruptcy"​

19 hours ago


20:12

Dr. Ron Paul, former Congressman and Presidential Candidate of Ron Paul Liberty Report; suggests owning gold and silver. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to our listener's and viewers: https://twitter.com/RonPaul?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

- Astronomical monetary expansion and fiscal spending is sending gold higher.
- Eventually, the profligacy will imploded the entire global edifice.
- The US National Debt increased over $2 trillion in merely six months!
- BRICS could be adding several new members in January - big news for gold holders.
- New currencies must be convertible to gold to constrain tyrannical policies.
- Silver may represent the best means for most folks to prepare for economic collapse.
- Precious metals remain the de facto, reliable currency throughout all of history.


Good to see Ron.. he still seems pretty sharp and is aging fairly well. As opposed to many these days. And I don't wanna hear no bellyaching about how long ya all been waiting. He started stacking Before Betton Woods.
 

Annual Antarctic Resupply Mission Begins as Sealift Ship Departs California​

The Military Sealift Command’s chartered ship MV Ocean Gladiator (17,700 dwt) kicked off one of the most demanding annual missions, a long-distance supply run known as Operation Deep Freeze to take badly needed resources to the U.S.’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Ships operating for the Military Sealift Command have made the annual voyage to resupply the station every year since 1955.

MSC Pacific and its Expeditionary Port Unit highlight the careful planning that is required for the voyage. The 545-foot Ocean Gladiator managed by Seabulk Fleet Management has been in Port of Hueneme, California since December 13. Navy Reservists working with the Ocean Gladiator’s crew, port workers, stevedores, and members of the National Science Foundation and Ports of America, careful planned out the loading of 407 pieces of cargo.

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Borderlands: Exports of Mexican-built cargo trucks fell in November​

Exports of Mexican-built heavy-duty trucks fell 1% year over year (y/y) in November to 14,114, according to the latest data from Mexico’s National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor Producers (ANPACT).

Members of ANPACT produced 17,848 units in November, a 2% y/y increase compared to the same month last year.

While exports recorded a slight decline in November, 2023 has been a good year overall for Mexico’s truck production and export industry, according to Miguel Elizalde, ANPACT’s president.

Elizalde said from January through November, ANPACT members produced 204,678 units

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Who Runs The Material World? 🪨🌍 | Ed Conway & Christopher Vonheim​

Dec 23, 2023
One of my favorite moments this year was interviewing Ed Conway on his new book Material World. If you still need Christmas Gifts - buy it while you still have time! 🎁🎄 The book has received huge praise from The New York Times, Financial Times, and key business leaders all over the world. In this clip, I ask Conway about who really runs the material, and more fragile world we live in, and why most of us have never heard of them.


8:13

Full episode is available on Spotify and YouTube:
YouTube: • Ed Conway | Material World, Energy, S...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DEm...
 

Switzerland and the Swiss Franc. A Safe Haven Currency?​

Dec 26, 2023

18:15
 

Economic pressures impacting export attractiveness | Weekly Commodity Market Update for 12/26/23​

Dec 26, 2023


10:58
 

What's Going on With Shipping Stocks with J. Mintzmyer​

Dec 26, 2023

A one-hour discussion with Dr. J. Mintzmyer, the founder of Value Investor's Edge. He will be providing updates on Tankers, LNG, LPG, Dry Bulk, Containers and Offshore. Nothing to see, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab.

 

How Britain is turning the North Sea into a massive power plant​

Dec 27, 2023

12:57
 
**Note: If you are interested in the other 2023 wrap up / 2024 prediction vids you can watch them here https://www.youtube.com/@iScrapApp/videos

2023 Wrap Up & 2024 Predictions for Earth Metal Scrap Prices​

Dec 27, 2023


6:49

📈 Check Scrap Prices: https://iScrapApp.com/ - 🌍 Dive into the intricate world of Earth metal scrap prices. See why there was a surprising 35% drop in Nickel prices in 2023. We also discuss the reversal from the peak during the Ukraine War in 2022. Explore the potential shift in demand for Nickel as a battery material for EVs, contrasting with the declining Lead demand due to reduced use of lead-acid batteries. Additionally, grasps the insights into carbide's diminishing demand linked to sluggish industrial growth. AS we move into 2024 we stress the significance of monitoring rare earth materials and commodities, especially as we begin to move over from traditional minerals, such as Lead, into an electrified world powered by nickel.
 

Operation Prosperity Guardian: Whose Prosperity is Being Guarded?​

Dec 27, 2023

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discusses the ongoing situation in and around the Red Sea, Operation Prosperity Guardian, and Maersk's decision to resume traffic through the region.


22:45

00:00 Introduction
01:03 Operation Prosperity Guardian Update
04:15 Maersk Announces Resumption of Red Sea Transits
05:40 US Navy escorts four US-flagged ships through the Red Sea
09:09 Maersk Moves the Needle
12:19 Four Questions
18:17 Whose Prosperity?

- Operation Prosperity Guardian: Whose Prosperity is Being Guarded? https://gcaptain.com/operation-prospe...

- Maersk Operations through Red Sea / Gulf of Aden https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/...

- Opening Video https://www.dvidshub.net/video/908103...
 
The port of Singapore is highlighting its position as a top maritime center as it crossed in 2023 for the first time the three billion gross tonnage mark for ship arrivals. Officials from the port and industry gathered to mark the milestone as Singapore looks to continue to leverage its position to maintain its role as a crossroads in Asia.

 
By Tarso Veloso and Ilena Peng (Bloomberg) Wheat futures climbed after a vessel preparing to load grain from Ukraine hit a mine in the Black Sea, further raising fears of an escalation in the region.

 
There are a few things to see with this one but nothing earthshattering, so if you prefer you can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab. Around an hour and a half long.

What's Going on With Shipping News with John Konrad​

Dec 29, 2023

A one-hour live discussion with John Konrad of gCaptain discussing the past year in shipping news and what to expect in 2024.

 

Restaurant Performance Index sees 0.4% increase | Weekly Livestock Market Update for 12/29/23​


8:50
 

PETER ZEIHAN ON RUSSIA, ECONOMY AND POLITICS AROUND THE WORLD, TODAY CRISIS​

Dec 30, 2023



1 hour long.
 


 

Norway has found the biggest phosphate deposit globally, and the EU is rejoicing​

Norway has discovered a massive underground deposit of high-grade phosphate rock, which could satisfy the world’s demand for fertilisers, solar panels and electric car batteries for the next 100 years.

The deposit, located in the Dalane region in southwestern Norway, is estimated to contain 70 billion to 80 billion tons of ore-containing material, making it the world’s largest phosphate deposit, ahead of Morocco’s 50 billion and China’s 30 billion tons.

The discovery was made by a company called Norge Mining, founded by Swiss investor Michael Wurmser, who obtained five licenses for the lucrative resource in 2018.

“Now, when you find something of that magnitude in Europe, which is larger than all the other sources we know – it is significant,” Mr Wurmser told DW.

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