swissie

According to the gospel of Donald, the rest of the world has been "leeching" off the US. The whole MAGA concept is nothing more than: "The Empire strikes back". The Empire: Military expenses 956 Billion. Only to service the current dept costs 794 Billion per year. (Increasing rapidly) Under such circumstances, I can't see how any Empire would be able "to strike back" at the rest of the world in any form or shape. "The rest of the world" has been buying US T-Bills/T-Bonds for a very long time, helping to finance the American Dream. If "faith/trust" is gone, money will find other destinations.

5 years from now, the FOREX may agree.

Question: Have you entered "the standing order" with a "fixed price" = Exchange rate? Or: Execution of order "at current exchange rate" ?

Hopes that "in the end" Trump will settle for 10% tariffs are unrealistic. Trump needs higher tariffs, to at least partially finance the BBB law. Should an average of 30% become the US tariff benchmark, other countries will raise tariffs on US goods. We would have a nice little trade war on our hands. Wall Street & Co have so far refused to take such a scenario into account. The general consensus still is: Everything is going to be allright. At some point, Wall Street & Co will have to realise, that "not everything is going to be allright". Resulting in a "nice little market correction".

I never thought that I would have to return to this subject again. At first, the 2nd radio I bought seemed to work OK, but on closer examination, it "stumbled", words/sound getting lost for a second, this happening 3 to 4 times per minute. To eliminate this problem, I had to move the radio close to a window. DAB was advertised as "the future of hearing Radio". (Only if you are near a window????). Needless to say I miss my old fashioned FM Radio days where I could listen to the Radio in the Toilet, 6 meters away from the nearest window.

I agree 100%. Actually most retail day traders lose money. According to my (honest) trading platform, 76% of short term traders lose money. It's a turf that should be left to the big players. They know where the "stops" are, so running the retail stops is a major source of "income" for them. I see it from a different angle these day. Formerly, I used to chase skirts in my spare time. As an old geezer, I day trade in my spare time nowadays instead. Only with little money and considering a "break-even" day as a success, while my long term investments remain strictly seperated from my trading. It gives me a little "adrenalin-kick", no more no less. Just something, I don't get on the Golf course. He He.

So much truth and wisdom here. But why is that all so hard to understand. 20 years ago everything was cheap in Thailand. The "frozen pensions" in combination with Thai inflation has messed up so many "retirement plans". Having burnt all the bridges to the "home country" before. Having no clue how to "incorporate" back in cold Europe again, why not complain under a palm tree, instead of complaining in a cold Europe that usually does not welcome "pennyless elderly citizens". I would rather complain under a palm tree, if necessary with limited financial resources, instead of..........

Foreighn buyers of T-Bills and T-Bonds WILL care. Foreighn buyers of US equities generally will have to look at an ever declining US $.

My Thai Ex Wife, age 64 (my best friend) sleeps 2 to 5 hours a night. Regardless of weather, she walks 4 to 5 hours every day. (no joke). Took her to University Hospital. Verdict: As long as all measurable "body functions" remain positive" = no cause for worries. AND: Every human body is a individualistic biological entity, that obeyes it's individualistic personal needs. Amen. PS: Some historical sources claim, that Napoleon slept only 4 hours a night. That's encouraging me thinks.

But you have nothing against the new BBB? Solution: Instead of contributing 10$ per week at the church on Sunday morning you raise it to 15$. That will fill the financial gap for "the food stamp crowd". A very low cost way to show that you care for people.

Main thing is, that Donald sees the perspective of anyone else.

During my time in the US, I had the opportunity to talk to very affluent people. Job related. Among them, a good number of them told me that they are basically opposed to any sort of "social security". - The "mild" version: "Why support the losers of the Nation with tax money". - The more radical version: "Let them eat s*it and let them die".

Just for once, Financial analysts and the Financial Press are in agreement, indeed something very rare. They conclude (in a nutshell): The benefits of this bill are questionable, but the budget deficit will increase massively.

Fast foreward. If the US abandons first the Ukraine and later Europe, the US will be without any friends left. Remember, outside of Europe, the US has no true friends left. Look at the global picture . If the bondage between the US and Europe fails, the world will be ruled by "dictators/local warlords".

A "undermilitarised Europe" has nothing left to "give away". Only warm handshakes.