Europe

Last night we reported that according to Reuters, with a private bailout off the table now that Italy is in political limbo, a nationalization in the form of a government debt-to-equity bailout of Monte Paschi was imminent, however there was a snag: political opposition from Brussels - which has insisted on a bail-in resolution mechanism instead of a bail out - could scuttle the transaction which is meant to make whole junior bondholders - mostly retail investors - courtesy of other taxpayers.

Alex Jones has urged independent media outlets and their readers to sign a petition asking the incoming Trump administration end the war on alternative media.  As the mainstream media ramp up their efforts to label anything independent “fake news,” new regulations have been passed in the U.S. and Europe to censor all types of dissent from appearing online.

Continuing in the tradition of making a selection of calls aimed at provoking conversation on what might surprise or shock the investment returns in the year ahead this year's predictions cover a range of scenarios, including a Chinese growth rebound, an Italian bank rally, Brexit giving way to Bremain and the EU's willingness to change in the face of populist backlash, among others.

Submitted by Ronan Manly, BullionStar.com

 
Introduction

When discussing bullion banking mechanics, it’s important to understand what a bullion bank actually is, and what activities bullion banks engage in. This appreciation also helps highlight the major concerns which modern bullion banking poses.

Buy Silver - May Replace Gold as Preferred Money of India
Silver replacing gold as India's preferred investment option again after 100 years?

by Fergal O'Connor, Senior Lecturer in Finance, University of York