Gold Isn't Returning... Confidence Is Leaving

Sweden Will Consider Ways To Limit Energy Use If Iran War Continues, Government Says Authored by Victoria Friedman via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Sweden may need to consider options to reduce energy consumption, including rationing, if the disruption to the flow of fuel supplies continues as a result of the Iran war, the country’s prime minister and finance minister said on on April 23. Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson speaks at a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels on Dec. 19, 2024. Johanna Geron/Reuters “We are not planning any rationing...

A US Air Force pilot suffered shrapnel wounds when a US F-35 fighter jet was struck while flying over Iran last week, Air and Space Forces Magazine has reported, citing people familiar with the matter. US Central Command (CENTCOM) hasn’t shared any details about the incident other than acknowledging that the F-35 was hit, made […]

Jobless Claims Hover Near Record Lows Sustaining 'No Hire, No Fire' Narrative The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the first time was flat from the prior week at 210.5k (215k exp). Simply put, these numbers are hovering near their lowest levels since 1969... Source: Bloomberg Continuing claims also printed below expectations at 1.819 million Americans. This is the lowest level since May 2024... Source: Bloomberg Finally, as a reminder, sentiment surveys suggest the labor market is bifurcated with 'jobs hard to get' but joblessness not surging... Source: Bloomberg That chart reinforces the 'no...