It’s always a good idea to do a little housekeeping with your money. Sometimes it’s helpful to look back at how far you’ve come and consider not where you’re going but how you’re feeling. If you’re in retirement or will soon be in retirement, do you have a rock solid handle on your spending? Are […]

Time To Do a Little Housekeeping
E.J. Smith

You may remember my warnings in 2012 against direct investment in China. I thought then that the country’s numbers looked funny, and that it didn’t play by the rules. One issue I singled out in particular was China’s investments in “Ghost Cities,” which seemed like a real scam. Since then, Evergrande, one of China’s largest […]

China Loses Two Decades of Real Estate Gains
Dick Young

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that US petroleum exports reached a record 13.6 million barrels per day (b/d) in April, driven by increased global demand following disruptions to crude oil and refined product shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The April total was 15% higher than the previous record set in March. Crude […]

US Petroleum Exports Reach Record High in April
Dick Young

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US forces conducted a new round of strikes against Iran on July 7, targeting more than 80 sites with precision weapons in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar, anti-ship missile capabilities, […]

CENTCOM Strikes Iran Targets After Strait of Hormuz Vessel Attacks
Young Research

According to the Financial Times, Apple has signed a $30 billion, five-year deal with Broadcom to buy US-made chips, supporting its $600 billion US investment pledge. The agreement is expected to produce 15 billion chips domestically and includes a $1.5 billion investment in Broadcom’s Colorado facility. The deal strengthens Apple’s US semiconductor supply chain as […]

Apple Commits $30 Billion to US-Made Chips With Broadcom Deal
Young Research

According to the Financial Times, the family behind Cal-Maine Foods earned about $320 million from selling part of its controlling stake after egg prices, profits, and the company’s stock value surged. The sale came amid a federal investigation into allegations that Cal-Maine and other producers manipulated egg price benchmarks. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) […]

A Hard-Boiled Investigation Into the Egg Price Spike
Young Research

In my conversations with a few prospective clients, not all of course, answers to some of my questions are enlightening. For example, when I ask about one’s investment objectives I often hear, “I want preservation of principal with growth.” To which I ask, “with a side of calorie free fries?” Kidding. But you get my […]

“I Want Preservation of Principal and Growth”
E.J. Smith

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that the war in the Middle East is reshaping global natural gas markets by tightening supply and keeping prices elevated. Global gas demand is expected to decline 0.5% in 2026, driven mainly by lower consumption in the power and industrial sectors, marking the third annual contraction in seven years. […]

War-Driven LNG Disruptions Reshape Global Energy Markets
Dick Young

The US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the US goods and services trade deficit rose to $77.6 billion in May 2026, increasing $23.0 billion (42.2%) from April. Exports fell to $317.7 billion, while imports increased to $395.3 billion, causing the deficit to widen. U.S. International Trade in Goods and […]

US Trade Balance Improves From 2025 Levels Despite May Setback
Dick Young

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced another milestone in the American nuclear energy renaissance as Aalo Atomics’ Aalo-X test reactor successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory. The achievement marks the fourth DOE-authorized advanced reactor to reach criticality, surpassing the goal set by President Trump in his 2025 executive order […]

US Nuclear Energy Revival Gains Momentum With Aalo-X Success
Young Research

A Qatari LNG ship was hit by a missile near the Strait of Hormuz, raising new concerns about shipping security and global energy supplies, according to Bloomberg. The incident comes amid fragile US-Iran talks and ongoing tensions in the region. The strike has increased uncertainty over LNG shipments through one of the world’s most important […]

Qatari LNG Ship Hit as Shipping Risks Rise in Middle East
Young Research

You have read the stories of some incredible savers here. Ronald Read, Geoffrey Holt, and Terry Kahn are all in Your Survival Guy’s Save Til It Hurts Hall of Fame. So what makes them so great? Read, a gas station attendant, amassed a fortune of $8 million. Holt gave $3.2 million to his town when […]

There’s Saving, and Saving Til It Hurts
E.J. Smith

The Financial Times reports that the shipping industry is losing confidence in green fuels as high costs, limited availability, and weak demand for a “green premium” push shipowners back toward traditional marine fuels. A survey by the International Chamber of Shipping shows falling optimism for hydrogen and ammonia, while confidence in fossil fuel oil has […]

Shipping Reverts to Fossil Fuels
Dick Young

The Wall Street Journal explains that a surge in global oil supply has created a growing glut, pushing prices down and weakening Iran’s leverage in ongoing talks with the United States. Production increases from Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, along with recovering tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz, are […]

Oil Glut Weakens Iran’s Leverage in Diplomatic Talks
Dick Young

Battery startups are increasingly targeting AI data centers as a new high-margin market, where rapid and extreme power fluctuations created by AI workloads are driving demand for specialized energy storage systems. Operators are using batteries to smooth millisecond-level surges in electricity use that traditional grid connections and backup systems, such as gas turbines, are not […]

AI Infrastructure Fuels Surge in High-Speed Battery Demand
Young Research

The Financial Times reports that Trump’s administration does not plan to create a formal AI licensing regime, according to departing adviser Sriram Krishnan. He said the government favors a light-touch approach, warning that heavy regulation like an “FDA for AI” would slow innovation and weaken US competitiveness. While the White House has used national security […]

White House Rules Out “FDA for AI” Under Trump Policy
Young Research

Celebrating 250 Years of American Independence
Young Research

The US Department of Energy has proposed changes to permanently revise the federal process for setting energy efficiency standards for household appliances, aiming to reduce regulations that the Trump administration says increase costs and limit consumer choice. The proposal would affect household appliances and equipment, including air conditioning units, gas stoves, washing and drying machines, […]

DOE Takes Aim at Appliance Mandates
Dick Young

Iran is struggling to sell its oil despite a temporary easing of US restrictions, with more than 58 million barrels of crude and condensate sitting on tankers and over 90% lacking a confirmed destination, reports Bloomberg. Major buyers in Asia, particularly China and India, remain cautious due to uncertainty over whether US sanctions could be […]

Iran’s Floating Oil Stockpile Swells as Buyers Pull Back
Dick Young

US job growth remained modest in June, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 57,000 while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment gains were led by professional and business services, social assistance, and health care, while leisure and hospitality lost 61,000 jobs due to weaker-than-usual seasonal hiring. […]

US Jobs Report Signals a Slowing but Stable Economy
Dick Young