Silver stood at $27 on January 3 2021 and is now $27 ie unchanged. Gold on the other hand was $1,941 on January 3 2021 and is now $1,726 down 11%. In these days of pundits recommending buying gold as a hedge or more racily, buying bitcoin as a surrogate for gold, it is worth looking at the gold silver ratio. In the past 5 years that ratio has been at a high of 124 and a low of 62. Currently the ratio is at 66 so on historic grounds, given that the range has been mostly between 70 and 90, gold bugs would be more inclined to sell Silver and Buy Gold.
Hands up all those (swots) who knew that Stellantis is the 4th largest car manufacturer in the world. In the stable Stellantis has 14 different car brands including Peugeot, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel and Ram. Like all car manufacturers the impact on Stellantis of the world shortage of semi conductor chips is unclear. The shortage is expected to be solved in the second half of 2021 of the chips which are vital for modern cars to govern fuel economy and electric windows. However before dismissing the chips as being nice to have, it should be understood that they also deliver more fundamental functions such as steering and braking. 20 years ago electronic components accounted for 18% of the cost of a car. And now? 40%.
It was this day in 1983 that Michael Jackson’s hit Billie Jean went straight to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for 7 weeks. Named as the greatest dance record of all time, here is Billie Jean:
She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said don’t mind, but what do you mean, I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round?
She said I am the one, who will dance on the floor in the round
She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene
Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
And mother always told me be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do ’cause the lie becomes the truth
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
For forty days and forty nights
The law was on her side
But who can stand when she’s in demand
Her schemes and plans
‘Cause we danced on the floor in the round
So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice
(Do think twice, do think twice)
She told my baby we’d danced ’til three, then she looked at me
Then showed a photo my baby cried his eyes were like mine (oh, no)
‘Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby
Have a Great Weekend!
Discussion and Analysis by Humphrey Percy, Chairman and Founder
A revised 2024 The Dollar opens stronger this morning following the Federal Reserve’s decision last night. The decision confirmed interest rates were to stay on hold following this meeting. As we have highlighted following previous decisions, the forward guidance offered by the Chair Jay Powell was once again underwhelming. However, the Dollar’s bid this morning […]
GBP While the Bank of England’s decision to pause on raising rates by the narrowest of margins with voting 5-4, that resulted in GBP being sold sharply which reflects the market’s view that while inflation at 6.7% looked better than expected yesterday, the effect of higher oil prices and petrol and diesel at the pumps […]
OECD Those fun loving folk at the Organisation for Economic and Cultural Development are at it again by forecasting that the UK will in 2023 stand at the very top of the G7 for….our rate of inflation at 7.2% which is a great deal more than the promised rate by the UK Government for the […]