Dow takes plunge by 524 points

Important Takeaways:

  • Inflation driven Dow plunge is worst in 11 months
  • U.S. stocks tumbled in a broad sell-off after a hotter-than-expected inflation report may jeopardize the Federal Reserve’s plan to cut interest rates.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 524 points or 1.3%, trimming a deficit of over 700 points reached during the session. It was the worst trading day in 11 months.
  • The benchmark has erased almost half its gains for 2024 with the 10-year Treasury yield hitting 4.3%.

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Banking trouble as Treasury yields rise

Treasury-Building

Important Takeaways:

  • Banks are bracing for a recession as Treasury yields surge
  • Bank stocks might be on pace for yearly losses as sharply higher interest rates take a toll, but the industry’s reserves are at the highest level in three decades, according to DBRS Morningstar.
  • Bank shares have come under more selling pressure since the Federal Reserve in September signaled it could keep rates higher for longer than earlier anticipated. The tough talk has dampened the year’s rally in stocks and reignited a dramatic selloff in the roughly $25 trillion Treasury market.
  • “Right now, there is nothing standing in the way of higher Treasury yields,” Kathy Jones, chief fixed-income strategist at Schwab Center for Financial Research, told MarketWatch. “It’s fairly obvious it’s not good for banks. The rise in yields has just been relentless.”
  • Higher yields on newly issued Treasury bonds erode the value of portfolios that include lower coupon debt issued when rates were lower. Banks also tend to hold large exposure to commercial property loans that could be difficult to refinance if rates stay higher for longer.

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Layoffs hit the Federal Reserve in a rare reduction first time in a decade

Federal-Reserve-Building

Important Takeaways:

  • Fed is cutting staff after more than a decade of payroll growth
  • The U.S. Federal Reserve system is cutting about 300 people from its payroll this year, a small but rare reduction in headcount across an organization that has grown steadily since 2010 as its reach in the economy and regulatory agenda have expanded.
  • A Fed spokesperson said the cuts are focused on the staff of the U.S. central bank’s 12 regional reserve banks and mainly hit information technology jobs, including some no longer needed because of the spread of cloud-based computer software, and positions connected to the Fed’s various systems for processing payments, which are being consolidated.
  • The spokesperson, who would not speak for direct attribution, said the staff cuts represented a combination of attrition, including retirements, and layoffs.

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Mortgage rates stalling the housing market as the 30-year fixed rate sits above 7%

Advice for Home Buyers

Important Takeaways:

  • The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.19% in the week ending September 21, a tick up from 7.18% the week before, according to data from Freddie Mac released Thursday. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate was 6.29%.
  • “Mortgage rates continue to linger above 7% as the Federal Reserve paused their interest rate hikes,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said. “Given these high rates, housing demand is cooling off and now homebuilders are feeling the effect,” he said. “Builder sentiment declined for the first time in several months and construction levels have dipped to a three-year low, which could have an impact on the already low housing supply,” Khater added.
  • The inventory of existing homes has also dramatically declined as homeowners who previously locked in lower rates are reluctant to sell and become homebuyers with current rates so high. The combination of low inventory and high costs has sent overall home sales 20% lower than last year, year to date.

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One hundred Nations push for Digital Currencies and twelve Central Banks already have pilot programs

Federal-Reserve-statue

Important Takeaways:

  • Trending Toward A Cashless Society: One Hundred Nations Now Exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies
  • The Bible tells us that when the antichrist comes on the scene, he’s going to gain a foothold of global power. The beginning strategy of his power grab will be to first gain control over the world economy. It’s a lot faster and easier to gain economic control with all the means that are available today than it is to achieve military and political power. Once you have that economic control, you control people’s lives, and you can then take them over politically and militarily as well.
  • Recently, a new entity was created called the FedNow Service. The FedNow Service is a portal created by the Federal Reserve, which permits financial institutions to exchange funds digitally in real-time.
  • CoinDesk published an article recently that reads, “Federal Reserve’s ‘FedNow’ Launch Triggers Fresh Speculation Over Digital Dollar,” subheading, “While FedNow is currently not tied to any initiative for a digital U.S. dollar or the crypto space in general, experts warn that the system might end up as a precursor to the infrastructure for a central bank digital currency.”
  • Dave Weisberger, CEO and co-founder of CoinRoutes, said this: “If FedNow does indeed become a programmable CBDC, then it could theoretically be used to block payments for items the government doesn’t favor or to cut out people from the financial system who are seen as threatening in some way to governing authorities, aka, political opponents.”
  • On March 9th, 2022, President Biden signed an executive order that put into motion the machinery and the mechanism to develop a CBDC. In preparation for the G20 Summit, the Bank of International Settlements published a report laying out the Central Bank’s efforts to prepare for a CBDC and all its benefits.
  • At the same time that FedNow was emerging, the World Economic Forum (WEF) published principles of central bank digital currency interoperability.
  • One hundred nations are now exploring CBDC. Twelve central banks have pilot programs for digital currencies, and the EU already has a “digital euro.”
  • The problem with CBDCs is that they are programmable, traceable, expirable, and controllable by the government. For example, if a person goes to a gas station and they have a central bank digital currency, it can be determined how much money they are allowed to spend on gasoline. That’s how they will control the environmental agenda that we see taking place.
  • The trend toward a cashless society, they say, is inexorable. All of this is a striking foreshadowing of what we read in Revelation 13. It’s just another flashing light that the coming of Christ is near.

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CBDCs are coming and the Fed is seeking its architect

Digital Dollar

Important Takeaways:

  • The CBDCs Are Coming, And The Elite Plan To Use These “Digital Currencies” To Enslave Humanity
  • Central bank digital currencies are feverishly being developed all over the globe, and this is something that should deeply alarm all of us. For a moment, I would like for you to imagine a world where the government instantly knows whenever you buy or sell something.  No transaction would ever be truly private, not even your most personal or embarrassing ones.  In addition, your money would not be truly your own under such a system.  Your access to the digital currency system would be a privilege which could potentially be suspended or revoked with the click of a mouse.  All of a sudden you would not be able to buy or sell anything and you would become an outcast from society.  Under no circumstances should any government ever be given such power.
  • Unfortunately, the CBDCs are coming, and they are going to radically change how commerce gets done.
  • Here in the United States, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has posted a job listing for a “Senior Crypto Architect” to work on the development of a digital dollar.
  • S. Representative Warren Davidson is very upset about this, because he believes that a CBDC issued by the Federal Reserve would be the “financial equivalent of the Death Star”…
  • The job description specified that the Federal Reserve seeks a technologist to “perform central bank digital currency (CBDC) research and development.”
  • The expert will work to “ensure the Federal Reserve is well-positioned to design, develop, and implement technology to support a CBDC as may be required by the Board of Governors.”
  • Although the job listing shows that the Federal Reserve is only working on CBDC research, Rep Davidson believes it is a sign of what is to come and described it as the “financial equivalent of the Death Star.”
  • Davidson added that CBDC would turn money into a tool of coercion and control.
  • Sadly, he is right on target.
  • Once “digital dollars” issued by the Federal Reserve become the dominant form of currency in our nation, whoever has power over that system would truly have an unprecedented “tool of coercion and control”.

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Blackrock’s close connections to the Whitehouse and Federal Reserve

BlackRock Larry Fink

Revelations 13:16-18 “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”

Important Takeaways:

  • Here are 9 fascinating facts to know about BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager
  • BlackRock, the world’s largest investment manager, has become an increasingly influential Wall Street player in Washington, DC.
  • Former BlackRock investment executive Brian Deese leads Biden’s National Economic Council, effectively serving as his top advisor on economic matters.
  • Biden also tapped Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, a former chief of staff to BlackRock chief executive and longtime Democrat Larry Fink, to serve as a top official at the Treasury Department.
  • Michael Pyle, BlackRock’s former global chief investment strategist who had worked in the Obama administration before joining the firm, serves as chief economic advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris.
  • So what else should you know:
    • BlackRock oversees $10 trillion, making it the largest money manager in the world.
    • It runs a massive technology platform that oversees at least $21.6 trillion in assets.
      • In 1999, BlackRock started selling Aladdin, which analyses and tracks investors’ portfolios and can help professional money managers spot risks. Today, it is a juggernaut widely used in the money management industry and beyond.
      • “Vanguard and State Street Global Advisors, the largest fund managers after BlackRock, are users, as are half the top 10 insurers by assets, as well as Japan’s $1.5tn government pension fund, the world’s largest. Apple, Microsoft, and Google’s parent firm, Alphabet — the three biggest US public companies — all rely on the system to steward hundreds of billions of dollars in their corporate treasury investment portfolios.
    • BlackRock has hired many former government officials into senior roles.
    • The firm played a significant role in aiding the Federal Reserve in early 2020.
    • The Federal Reserve tapped BlackRock during the last financial crisis, too.
    • Fink has been vocal on matters of climate change, urging other companies’ leaders to consider the associated risks.

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The Feds knew in 2019 there were problems with SVB

Fox News SVB

Revelations 18:9-11 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ 11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore

Important Takeaways:

  • GOP Rep. Meuser: Fed Knew About SVB Problems in 2019, Let Them Double in Size
  • Dan Meuser (R-PA) reacted to reporting from The Wall Street Journal that was confirmed by ABC News that the Federal Reserve knew of problems with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) back in 2019 by pointing out that SVB doubled in size after these warnings and stating that Federal Reserve regulators failed to do their jobs.
  • So, what we have now is we have some investigations [that are] going to take place. Our Financial Services Committee will have the Vice Chair of the Fed, Michael Barr. We’ll have the chairman of the FDIC in next week and look to get answers. But the real reason for the answers, Liz, is so we don’t put blame on the well-managed banks…by these mismanaged banks, because they are outliers.”

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A Must Read from the Federal Reserve: Full Memo

Revelations 18:9-11 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’  11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore

Important Takeaways:

  • Federal Reserve Board announces it will make available additional funding to eligible depository institutions to help assure banks have the ability to meet the needs of all their depositors
  • To support American businesses and households, the Federal Reserve Board on Sunday announced it will make available additional funding to eligible depository institutions to help assure banks have the ability to meet the needs of all their depositors. This action will bolster the capacity of the banking system to safeguard deposits and ensure the ongoing provision of money and credit to the economy.
  • The Federal Reserve is prepared to address any liquidity pressures that may arise.
  • The additional funding will be made available through the creation of a new Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP), offering loans of up to one year in length to banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other eligible depository institutions pledging U.S. Treasuries, agency debt and mortgage-backed securities, and other qualifying assets as collateral. These assets will be valued at par. The BTFP will be an additional source of liquidity against high-quality securities, eliminating an institution’s need to quickly sell those securities in times of stress.
  • With approval of the Treasury Secretary, the Department of the Treasury will make available up to $25 billion from the Exchange Stabilization Fund as a backstop for the BTFP. The Federal Reserve does not anticipate that it will be necessary to draw on these backstop funds.
  • After receiving a recommendation from the boards of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve, Treasury Secretary Yellen, after consultation with the President, approved actions to enable the FDIC to complete its resolutions of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in a manner that fully protects all depositors, both insured and uninsured. These actions will reduce stress across the financial system, support financial stability and minimize any impact on businesses, households, taxpayers, and the broader economy.
  • The Board is carefully monitoring developments in financial markets. The capital and liquidity positions of the U.S. banking system are strong and the U.S. financial system is resilient.
  • Depository institutions may obtain liquidity against a wide range of collateral through the discount window, which remains open and available. In addition, the discount window will apply the same margins used for the securities eligible for the BTFP, further increasing lendable value at the window.
  • The Board is closely monitoring conditions across the financial system and is prepared to use its full range of tools to support households and businesses, and will take additional steps as appropriate.

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Federal Reserve expects unemployment to rise

Job Fait

Revelations 18:23:’For the merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.’

Important Takeaways:

  • More US companies brace for job cuts amid likely recession, survey shows
  • A new survey published on Monday by the National Association for Business Economics, which shows that about 20% of the group’s members expect employment at their company to fall in the coming months.
  • Wage growth has been a big contributor to stubbornly high inflation, which remains about three times higher than the pre-pandemic average.
  • The results “indicate widespread concern about entering a recession this year,” Coronado said. More than half of respondents see the possibility of a recession over the next year at 50% or higher, the survey showed.
  • The economy added just 223,000 jobs in December, the smallest gain in two years, and there have been a number of high-profile tech layoffs over the past month.
  • Federal Reserve officials have made it clear that they expect unemployment to climb as a result of their aggressive interest rate hike campaign
  • That could mean more than 1 million Americans lose their jobs over the course of this year.

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