US Dollar
The USD had a strong week more on the realisation that US interest rates are unlikely to fall as soon as hoped than on particularly strong economic data. In particular USD moved up against JPY. The USD index moved up the most this past week since the beginning of January.
USD/JPY 149.05.
Space VIP
This Florida USA company is offering a dining experience that will definitely be different. Copenhagen chef Rasmus Munk who has two Michelin stars to his name earned at his restaurant Alchemist has been enlisted to provide the magic. Guests will board what is in effect a high tech balloon and ascend to 100,000 feet which is enough to pick out the Florida peninsula. The maximum number of guests is 8 and they will each pay USD 495,000 for the 6 hour experience which includes being dressed in matching Ogier outfits and watching the sun come up. Bargain.
GBP/USD 1.2740.
Bitcoin
With no sense of irony whatsoever a company called Bitwise has released a piece claiming that Bitcoin is losing its status as a volatile “asset”. The irony is that the piece gleefully reports that Bitcoin is up 180% in the past 28 months and up 55% alone this year. As with all such reports it risks among other things hubris as well as being plain wrong.
BTC $ 66,953.
Norway
82% of new cars sold in Norway are electric and the reason can largely be attributed to the generous government subsidies on offer to buyers of electric vehicles as well as the greenness of Norway’s car buyers. While sales of Teslas in Norway are but a fraction in comparison with the global annual figure of 1.8 million of Teslas sold, Elon Musk has been a frequent visitor to monitor buying behaviour. No troll jokes.
USD/NKR 10.61.
Heart of Gold
This day in 1972 Canadian singer Neil Young scored his only US number one with this song which had backing vocals from superstar singing colleagues Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor :
I want to live
I want to give
I’ve been a miner
For a heart of gold
It’s these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old
I’ve been to Hollywood
I’ve been to Redwood
I crossed the ocean
For a heart of gold
I’ve been in my mind
It’s such a fine line
That keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old
Keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
You keep me searching
And I’m growing old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
I’ve been a miner
For a heart of gold…
Discussion and Analysis by Humphrey Percy, Chairman and Founder
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