What lies do they have us now?

Good Day... and a Tub Thumpin' Thursday to one and all! Well, have I got a treat for you today... You'll find it in the FWIW section, but... no skipping ahead.... Do Not pass Go, do not receive $200... I'm finally getting over my stomach problems, thank God! First, I had a nasty cold, and that went right into stomach problems, I can't catch a break! Oh, woe is me, right? Hey! I lived through it and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! To greet me this morning is the band Live... and they are playing one of my fave songs: Lightening Crashes.

In the early 2000's, I listened to Live's CD Throwing Copper so much that I think I wore the CD out! Oh, those were the days... We had just started Everbank and it felt alike lot the wild west... I'm beating around the bush here because, the dollar rose yesterday on false pretenses, and that's all I'll say about that.... (not really, you know me too well).

OK, here we go.. The dollar gained 2 index points yesterday and at one point it was up 4 index points in the BBDXY before calmer heads took over... The dollar gained after a slew of data, especially the PCE showed that inflation still rose, but that lighted the rate hike lovers fire and the dollar was off.... of course, the Fed Heads need to hike rates, but traders all acted like this was the first time they heard that! 

Oh my! The Fed/Cabal/Cartel is going to hike rates what's a mother to do? Well, they bought dollars.

Gold tried to fight the SPTs but had no luck and ended up losing $64 on the day and drop below $4,600 at $4,595... Silver attempted the same thing but was taken to the wood shed by the SPTs and it lost 37-cents to close at $68.24... The new lines in the sand are $4,600 for Gold and $69 for Silver... Let's see how long it takes for the physical buyers to take those lines in the sand out.

The price of Oil saw some non-believers of the fake story that was going round and caused the price see some weakness, but the trend and buy Oil and see its price rise to $81.69... The 10-year Treasury bond didn't see any "yield control" and so the selling returned with the yield rising to 4.66%.

In the overnight markets.... the dollar didn't move off of the 1,194 figure it closed yesterday... But Gold/Silver has had the snot kicked out of them by 1. The SPTs and 2. The rising PCE.

Gold is down $6 to start our day but added to yesterday's loss Gold is down $72 and that's significant.... Silver too, is down this morning, this time it's 37-cents... Copper too got whacked... but else is new?

So, the PCE got higher in July... And the Fed Heads are still not of the frame of mind to hike rates.... But the bond boys are, as the 10-year's yield firmed yesterday and overnight.. This morning its yield sits at 4.67%.

And the price of Oil is gaining more non-believers of the bag-o-lies the U.S. told regarding 15 tankers leaving the Strait, when observers said that there weren't any tankers leaving... The price of Oil has an $82 handle to it this morning.

So, they tell me that the PCE (the fed head's favorite inflation calc) rose to 3.7% and still not a word about inflation rising from the leaders of this country.... I just don't get it.

The dollar should be getting beaten like a rented mule because the Fed is sitting on their respective hands, but it's not... And this is the time you'd be on the ball if you've already diversified your investment portfolio with currencies and metals.... But for those of you haven't diversified, you still have time, and this little dollar blip upward would be an excellent time... I just saying.

I'll end this here, as my thought that my stomach problems were over was that, just a thought.

The U.S. Data Cupboard yesterday showed July Durable Goods Orders were up 1.1% (That's good) and the PCE... Oh, and the 2^nd QTR GDP remained at 1.5%... Maybe, just maybe because you never know (Andujar) the second QTR will be better.

To recap.. The dollar got some wind its sails when the PCE showed that rate cut will be in the cards at the next meeting, as it rose to 3.7%... and the belief that 15 tankers made it out of the strait, as the U.S. claims, is becoming a statement that people cannot believe.

Here's your snippet, that will be just a tongue wetter but what I have is good! Here's Frank:

"Every investor holds a currency position, whether they know it or not.

For example, an American who keeps everything in U.S.-dollar-denominated stocks, bonds and bank deposits has made a concentrated bet on a single piece of paper issued by a single government. For most of the past 15 years, that bet paid off handsomely and invisibly. In the early 2000s and over the past few years, it stopped paying.

The U.S. Dollar Index fell roughly 9.5% in 2025, its worst annual performance since 2017, and it posted the weakest first half since 1973. The euro gained about 13.1% against the dollar, the Swiss franc over 14% and the Norwegian krone over 13%. Investors who assumed currency was background noise discovered it was a very loud instrument.

This Battle Bulletin is about treating currencies as what they are: a distinct asset class with its own drivers, its own risks and its own role in a properly diversified portfolio. This is not a case for speculation or leverage. It is a case for understanding relative value among the world’s major monies and for refusing to let one government’s fiscal choices determine the fate of everything you own.

Of course, all investments carry risk of loss. The value of stocks, bonds, currencies and precious metals can decline. This bulletin is a backgrounder for your consideration, not a personalized recommendation. Discuss this with your financial advisor and always do your own research prior to making any investment.

Let’s Start With the Investable Universe

Not all currencies deserve consideration. Of the roughly 180 circulating currencies in the world, the serious investor should confine attention to the 20 or so largest. Within that group, your focus is best allocated to currencies that float with relatively little management. The currency’s price tells you something only if the price is allowed to move. The Chinese renminbi trades inside a band administered by the People’s Bank of China. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged. The Saudi riyal is pegged. The Danish krone shadows the euro by design. Whatever their other merits, these currencies are policy instruments, and holding them means trusting a bureaucracy to maintain an arrangement that history says bureaucracies eventually abandon, usually at the worst possible moment for the holder."

Chuck Again... On second thought, I think I'll use some more of this article for Monday and every day after that as long as it takes! I've always told Frank he was an excellent writer.

Market Prices 8/27/2026: American Style: A$ .7191, kiwi .5949, C$ .7209, euro 1.1642, sterling 1.3579, Swiss $1.2423, European Style: rand 15.9912, RUB 86.34, yen 159.43, sing 1.2717, HKD 7.8383, INR 95.54, China 6.7210, peso 16.98, BRL 5.1483, BBDXY 1,194, Dollar Index 99.19, Oil $82.21, ten-year 4.67%, Silver $68.22, Platinum $1,826.00, Palladium $1,338.00, Copper $6.66, and Gold... $4,589.

That's It For Today and this week... I'm really not of myself this morning, I can't seem to concentrate on anything, my mind is taken up by what's wrong with my body now.... This is getting ridiculous! My beloved Cardinals took another one on the chin last night... Maybe all the naysayers that said the Cardinals would be a very bad team this year, are finally getting some love.... and now... I have connection problems! UGH! I never seem to come out on top.... Iron Butterfly takes us to the finish line today with their very long song: In-A-Gadda-DA-VIDA... A classic rock song for sure! I hope you have a Tub Thumpin' Thursday today and Please Be Good To Yourself!