Jerry_Atrick

Here was the recent article I was referring to: https://www.iiss.org/sv/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/03/europes-air-of-dependence/#:~:text=NATO's overall air mobility and air-to-air refuelling,longer and to extend their mission radius. It was more about the amount - or lack thereof - needed versus has.. Either way, Chumps actions just shows how embedded theUSA is in other countries defence, and how reliant other countries are.. some to the point I sovereignty is granteed, not guaranteed by the USA.

Dang it... I fell for a bit of "misinformation".. I checked my source and the article was in 2005!. Must remember to check the dates. However, there was a recent article I am sure that echoed it... Must have fell for it like I did.

As I have said, the fixed income market is the real bellweather of the market's outlook on the economy. This is today's FT headline: As I also mentioned, US Treasuries are considered risk free. I haven't checked my market data terminal today, but this would imply USTs risk free status is being reviewed by the markets. That would cause a problem, because the market would need to put an arbitrary rate value on as theoretical. risk free bond. What it does say is that it there are currently big risks in the US at the moment.. So, you can have your short-term specualtive plays, but investors will start looking for more safe assets if Chump continues his reckless execution of his policies.

I wanted to, but I have to get permission from my employer as a control against insider trading, and they have a 3 day cooling off period to ensure we are buying for investment and not speculation. In addition, we have to hold for a minimum of three months. Punters are crazy buying individual shares. low cost ETFs outperform most mum and dad investors by a long way (I can invest in those without permission as I don't mae a decision on individual trades).

Sorry.. should have said Europe.... It is reported that in all war games here, the US have to lend thm the tankers.

I have said this before, in terms of policy, there are quite a few things I agree with, but I haven't said them all: NATO contributions (from his previous reign): Absolutely right to demand all members pay their membership dues (increase spending to the committed level). Undocumented migrants. These are illegal migrants. Refugees are not illegal, but a refugee has to register in the host country and state their case, and then be assessed. These are not registered and haven't been for a long time. Therefore, a we would expect at home, they should be deported or processed as refugees. The problem has been that previouos administrations have allowed the economy to become to depend on them. Tariffs - There is nothing wrong with tariff equalisation. The US had largely tariff free trade, but have had tariffs on their goods into their trading countries. The US us not required to subsidise other countries' manufacturing at a cost to theirs. Even if, with automation, it would not be a return to previous job levels, intellectual property, employment, indirect positive effects to the economy, etc., are lost. And,m tariffs can be used to convince other countries to fix their human rights abuses, for example. Seeking an end to the middle east and Ukraine wars. Deporting criminal gang members Of course, there are things I disagree with: Political favours such as pardoning criminals who go on to kill or be killed Removal of DEI Destruction of education Tax custs to the wealthy Climate (or lack thereof) policy And a few others I can't think of right now. In fact, on the things I agree with, in some areas, such as immigration and NATO, Biden was actively working on.. his approach was a little soft. What I disagree with, though, is his methods. and some of his motives, which is more about consolidation of authortive power than improving America. But, He has shown other weaknesses in the current global order. For example, the operation of equities markets is banal - it is literally sheep herding. Algos aren't helping but if I were a fundamentals investor, I would be treading very cautiously. It also makes abundantly clear the corporate workd has no morals (as if we didn't know this). Since Chump's election, Apple and a few others have colelctively agreed to spend $1.3tn to move manufacturing back to the USA and thris is driven purely on protecting profit... Also, just how reliant the western world has become on the USA.. it is like it is the heart pumping the blood around the wetern world's body; or maybe it is a siamese sibling to every western country. I found it inconceivable not one other country has its own aerial refuelling tanker, for example. And there is an, albeit late, positive. The west has realised that it can't take for granted absolute reliance on the USA. This means countries (and hopefully Australia) are starting to put in place plans and actions to wean themselves off the USA. This will also mean that the USA's benefits from that reliance is watered down and will give the rest of us and adult's seat at the table rather than the high chairs, if any, we currently have. Of course, it will require a lot of will power and staying power of our governments. Something which may be lacking

Yeah, it's repairabvle. £25 is not worth claiming; it is more finding the time to drop off at the tyre place.

Yeah... wasnt picked up at home. .Was picked up in London, given the speed the tyre deflates and when it was first showing up. I was driving home laast night, and about half way home the warnign came on. Pulled into the next services and topped up the tyre and by the time I got home, it was on again. Could be it moved and opened the hole a bit, but it is wedged in almost sideways; Either way, It has made me very grumpy..

Bought new tyres last week and have already got a leak - ran over a bloomin' screw and it lidged well into the tyre. Bloody thing!

Well, ol' Molly looks like the novelty has worn off

My ride on is in the shop getting its service, a new alternator and a microswitch.. just out of warranty, too

Nope.. The worlds press has lost interest as theres a war in the Middle East and Trump has gone batpoop crazy... Oh, and the Republicans, who when I was a kid swore they would rather be dead than red, are now rather liking the idea of being red. I guess that is, after all, the colour of the republicans.

Ill be right, jack.. we have oil.. no gas.. but we are entering spring.. so since poms allegedly don't have showers, don't need gas for 6 months..

My son loves diving and is coming back to Aus with us,. I have explained ot him that he needs to make sure he doesnt turn into shark ship.

While the press focus on equities in terms of how the economy is going, the real bellweather is the bond markets. These were surprisingly robust over the last couple of days. As most algorithms will head to US Treausry bonds (USTs) as a safe haven, as the stock market came crashing down, the USTs yields came down, which means the prices went up. This is because USTs are considered risk free. However, the credit bond markets, which are bonds made to companies, also was suprisingly robust on Thursday after the announcements. There are three classifications of creit bonds - financial institutions, investment grade corporates and non-investment grade corporates - or junk bonds. The difference between investment grade and "junk" is that investment grade are usually BBB- and up in the Moodys ratings. Junk can have ratings or be non-rated. It is important to note it is normally the credit quality of the bond itself, and not the issuer, that is important. Anyway, the junk bond market sell off started in the US yesterday, and this is because there are fears of recessions. Some of these are fairly string companies, such as US Steel and Dole Foods. The spreads (between the offer and bid price that market markers provide) is the highest in 17 months. At the moment, the markets are saying to Trump, "this dont look too good" If a US Treasury inversion comes, where the 2 year yield curve is higher than the 10 year yield curve, then its run for the hills time.

Theres no shortage of crooks in most games. These days you get jailed for it: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/stuart-bayes-sentenced-insider-dealing (if you get caught).

Be careful posting that stuff, @Marty_d, son likes diving and snorkelling and he has already suggested us move there.

In general, yes.. The trick is what is the right level? Just remember this adage from Warren Buffet: "When the markets get greedy, I get fearful; when the markets get fearful, I get greedy."

This preoccupation with poms not taking a shower (or bathing) is a bit of a furphy. They want you to think that so they can skimp on providing you bathroom facilities in hotels.

It wasn't when I posted it am I am buggered if I can remember what it was

Blimey! What has happened to yhe Dingo Dollar? It's howling, certainly not growling. Last time I looked, it was $1.92 to the £.. now $2.07! I don't mind it going lower when I move out, but would want a reverse very quickly

Or a knighthood.. Lady Spacey does have a ring to it