Russians buying gold:

Russians bought an all-time record number of gold bars in 2022, finance ministry data showed on Friday, as tax cuts on precious metals encouraged people to stock up on bullion as a safe asset.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/russians-bought-record-number-gold-bars-2022-data-shows-2023-02-03/

More reality unveiled:

At least 17 draft agreements between Russia and Ukraine were prepared by both parties, before the West interrupted negotiations.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett

Appears that after we warned the day the US and EU announced it was freezing Russian Central Bank assets, that it was a grave error of judgement, elements in Beltway finally understand why.

nother indication:

Dell facing plummeting demand for personal computers, will eliminate about 6,650 jobs

Company is experiencing market conditions that continue to erode with an uncertain future. Reductions amount to about 5% of Dell’s global workforce

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-06/dell-dell-lays-off-about-6-650-employees-in-latest-tech-cuts?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=twitter#xj4y7vzkg

Baillie Gifford suffered its worst fall in AUM during 2022, losing more than £100bn.

The fall was largely driven by valuation decreases in its portfolio of investments: net client outflows accounted for around £20bn.

https://www.ft.com/content/ad70bffc-78e1-4370-87e4-9dfe63d5e987

Clown show that never ends:

£3bn warship’s starboard and portside shafts are misaligned.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/04/hms-prince-wales-departure-hit-elementary-blunders/

Nearly two thirds of Americans are living pay cheque to pay cheque, but everything is fine, just look at the economic data.

Reality keeps delivering uncomfortable truths:

July 2022:

The US military is working on using high-altitude balloons to monitor China and Russia.

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/07/06/us-military-balloons/

Now this:

Iranian president due to visit Xi in short order.

Clown show once again:

The US is looking to implement a 200% tariff on Russian aluminium, perhaps within a matter of days.

US has been in decline since at least the Great Depression and arguably earlier, during the Panic of 1907.

It is a fallacy to imagine it is in early stage of its collapse because that ignores key events in last 100+ years.

It is now at the stage of the end of the endgame.

US is demonstrating very clearly why its empire is at end of endgame because it decided to attempt to destroy Russia via Ukraine war and is desperate to provoke China into a war with Taiwan.

These are actions of a failing empire who is trying to end ascendent multipolar world.

Narrative continues to change:

NATO and the West are sending more weapons to defend against Putin’s aggression. Whether it’s enough — or too little, too late — we just don’t know.


https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-02-05/endgame-in-ukraine-isn-t-clear-for-russia-nato-or-the-west-ldre68qs#xj4y7vzkg

Another victim of Russian sanctions, as we predicted the day the war started:

German Industrial Production SA m/m Dec: -3.1% versus estimate -0.7% and previous 0.2%

German Industrial Production NSA y/y Dec: -3.9% versus estimate -0.2% and previous 0.4%

China officially increased gold reserves by 16.5 tons in January.

As ever this excludes the trading in opaque markets.

Profound changes continue:

Mali kicked the French out and have invited Russia to assist in dealing with insurgency in the country.

Another example of narrative shift, all the more telling that it is in the WaPo:

GOP base warms to giving Russia some of Ukraine’s territory.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/06/gop-polls-russia-ukraine-territory/

Subtle changes continue:

Austria has stated that they will issue visas to Russian delegation for Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) session on February 23rd-24th.

Sadly and predictably the death toll in Turkey and Syria is rising but there are also amazing rescue stories too. The devastation to infrastructure and buildings is also immense.

West's behaviour towards Syria and the humanitarian aid and assistance it requires is outrageous.

June 2018:

The German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Business Association stated that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project would keep energy prices in the EU stable and keep the economy competitive.