Asia

European and Asian stocks, S&P futures, bond yields, the dollar and commodity metals are rose, in some cases making new all time highs, lifted by the latest reemergence of the "Trump trades" as hopeful investors once again bet that the U.S. president's tax reform plans will boost economic growth and corporate profits, despite another warning from Goldman that the president's fiscal plan is about to be derailed.

Millions of residents in Hong Kong are being forced to live in inhumane conditions, with some of them living in tiny ‘coffin homes’ as the housing crisis in the city worsens.  As rents soar, citizens are being forced to downsize their homes and live in 20-square-foot cages with barely enough space to lie down in. The United Nations has stepped in and declared the crisis “an insult to human dignity,” as experts claim that the impact of living in such conditions could have serious mental health consequences.

North Korea said it successfully test-fired a new type of medium- to long-range ballistic missile that is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, the country's state-run media said Monday. The North Korean missile flew over 500 kilometers, landing in the sea and stirring up world leaders, with the US rushing to reassure its allies South Korea and Japan.

Back in 1950, close to 30% of the global population lived in cities.

As Visual Capitalist's Jeff Desjardins notes, that has shifted dramatically, and by 2050, a whopping 70% of people will live in urban areas – some of which will be megacities housing tens of millions of people.

This trend of urbanization has been a boon to global growth and the economy. In fact, it is estimated today by McKinsey that the 600 top urban centers contribute a whopping 60% to the world’s total GDP.

Courtesy of: Visual Capitalist

Hold your real assets outside of the banking system in one of many private international facilities  -->    https://www.sprottmoney.com/intlstorage 

The West Will Become The New ‘Third World’: PricewaterhouseCoopers

Written by Jeff Nielson (CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL)

First World