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Join Us at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida! Nov. 17-19, 2023

2014 War Cyclew 2011 Conference 300x173

Join Us at the 2023 World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida!

? Dates: November 17, 18, and 19 ? Location: Orlando, Florida, USA (or tune in from home with our virtual ticket options)

Are you ready to unlock the future of economics and finance? Prepare for an unforgettable World Economic Conference experience in sunny Orlando, Florida! This premier event is your gateway to insights, networking, and valuable resources that will supercharge your understanding of the global economy.

?️ What’s Included for In-Person Attendees:

  1. Event Admission: Enjoy reserved seating assigned based on the order of ticket sales, ensuring you have a prime view of every presentation.
  2. Presentation Slides: Gain access to the presentation slides from all speakers, allowing you to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
  3. Video Recording: Can’t make it to a session? No worries! You’ll receive access to video recordings of all conference presentations, so you can catch up at your convenience.
  4. WEC Event App: Connect with the conference on a whole new level. Access presentation slides, bonus reports, recordings, and more via the official WEC Event App.
  5. Bonus Conference Materials: Get a package of bonus conference-related materials, including exclusive bonus reports and videos (as provided by Martin Armstrong).
  6. Morning Information Sessions: Don’t miss out on important morning information sessions, screened on-site in the meeting room on Saturday and Sunday.
  7. Networking Opportunities: Exclusive access to the Event App Networking Feature allows you to connect with fellow attendees, both in-person and virtual, fostering valuable professional relationships.
  8. Culinary Delights: Savor delicious breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, prepared to keep you energized throughout the day.
  9. Cocktail Reception: Kick off the conference in style at our Friday evening cocktail reception. Meet and mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying refreshing drinks.
  10. Swag Bag: As a token of our appreciation, each in-person attendee will receive a swag bag filled with goodies, including an Armstrong Economics notebook, pen, and an event collector’s mug!

Unable to travel? We also have two different ticket options for those wishing to attend virtually! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global gathering of economic and financial minds. Secure your spot at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida, and gain the knowledge, connections, and resources you need to thrive in the world of finance and economics.

Space is limited, so act now and reserve your seat! Visit our Events page to register and join us in sunny Orlando this November.

NEW BOOK Now Available : "Mark Antony & Cleopatra"

Mark Antony Cleopatra Cleopatra Proxy War

Now available at all major retailers!

The eBook will be available shortly.

"THE PLOT TO SEIZE RUSSIA - THE UNTOLD HISTORY"

The Plot to Seize Russia_3Dmockup_2 300x225

The second edition of “The Plot to Seize Russia – The Untold History” is now available for purchase in paperback and hardcover on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The ebook will be available shortly.

Book description:

“Take care of Russia,” Boris Yeltsin said as he departed his presidency in August 1999. These words were directed at current Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Yeltsin specifically picked Putin as his predecessor to prevent the takeover of Russia.

So, who was Yeltsin warning against? Newly declassified documents from the Clinton Administration prove that there was a plot to rig the Russian election of 2000. These never-before-seen documents confirm numerous attempts to implement pro-Western policies using the Russian oligarchy headed by Boris Berezovsky.

On the other side were the communists who desired a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union. As one of the largest international hedge fund managers, author Martin Armstrong found himself in the middle of perhaps the greatest espionage, or attempt at a regime change for Russia, in modern history.

The Plot to Seize Russia pulls back the curtain to expose the most extraordinary attempt to seize power in modern history, but with the pen rather than armies. These declassified documents reveal a plot that has altered our thinking about the relations between the United States and Russia. The thirst for power comes seething through every line of these papers that alter our perception of reality, change the course of history, and now threaten us with World War III.

PRIVATE BLOG – The European Fiscal & Debt Crisis Coming to a Head

PRIVATE BLOG

PRIVATE BLOG – The European Fiscal & Debt Crisis Coming to a Head


Private blog posts are exclusively available to Socrates subscribers. To sign-up for Socrates or to learn more, please visit Ask-Socrates.com.

https://ask-socrates.com/

Prejudice in Science Prevented New Discoveries

 

SOCRATES FORECASTS JULY 6, 2026

Market Talk – July 10, 2026

Market Talk 2017

ASIA:
The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:
• NIKKEI 225 increased 813.88 points or 1.20% to 68,557.73
• Shanghai decreased 40.426 points or -1.00% to 3,996.162
• Hang Seng increased 144.94 points or 0.60% to 24,175.12
• ASX 200 increased 43.50 points or 0.50% to 8,806.00
• SENSEX increased 827.57 points or 1.08% to 77,569.39
• Nifty50 increased 244.10 points or 1.02% to 24,206.90
The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:
• AUDUSD increased 0.0011 or 0.16% to 0.69519
• NZDUSD increased 0.0008 or 0.14% to 0.57630
• USDJPY decreased 0.659 or -0.41% to 161.723
• USDCNY decreased 0.01379 or -0.20% to 6.78219
The above data was collected around 14:44 EST.
Precious Metals:
•  Gold decreased 24.65 USD/t oz. or -0.60% to 4,099.07
•  Silver decreased 0.401 USD/t. oz. or -0.67% to 59.550
The above data was collected around 14:46 EST.
EUROPE/EMEA:
The major Europe stock markets had a mixed day today:
•  CAC 40 increased 12.35 points or 0.15% to 8,338.97
•  FTSE 100 increased 24.84 points or 0.24% to 10,497.29
•  DAX 30 decreased 51.18 points or -0.20% to 25,067.09
The major Europe currency markets had a mixed day today:
• EURUSD decreased 0.00151 or -0.13% to 1.14149
• GBPUSD decreased 0.00126 or -0.09% to 1.33957
• USDCHF increased 0.00169 or 0.21% to 0.80865
The above data was collected around 14:52 EST.

AMERICAS:

US Markets:

  • DJIA advanced by 149.60 points (0.29%) to 52,637.01
  • S&P 500 advanced by 31.75 points (0.42%) to 7,575.39
  • NASDAQ advanced by 74.72 points (0.29%) to 26,281.607
  • Russell 2000 declined by 14.74 points (-0.49%) to 2,977.805

Canada:

  • TSX Composite advanced by 104.86 points (0.30%) to 35,305.31
  • TSX 60 advanced by 9.21 points (0.44%) to 2,082.89

Brazil:

  • Bovespa advanced by 5,124.25 points (2.97%) to 177,866.37
ENERGY:
The oil markets had a negative day today:
•  Crude Oil decreased 0.558 USD/BBL or -0.77% to 71.522
•  Brent decreased 0.195 USD/BBL or -0.26% to 76.105
•  Natural gas decreased 0.0693 USD/MMBtu or -2.30% to 2.9427
•  Gasoline decreased 0.046 USD/GAL -1.51% to 2.9927
•  Heating oil decreased 0.0181 USD/GAL or -0.51% to 3.5535
The above data was collected around 14:55 EST.
•  Top commodity gainers: Soybeans (1.23%), Wheat (3.08%), Corn (1.98%) and Palladium (1.79%)
•  Top commodity losers: Lithium (-2.21%), Coffee (-2.87%), Natural Gas (-2.30%) and Cocoa (-7.42%)
The above data was collected around 15:01 EST.
BONDS:
Japan 2.7620% (-12.2bp), US 2’s 4.21% (+0.025%), US 10’s 4.570% (+1.2bps); US 30’s 5.07 (+0.006%), Bunds 3.0451% (-0.77bp), France 3.721% (-2.82bp), Italy 3.8100% (-4.41bp), Turkey 31.460% (+0bp), Greece 3.7210% (-2.85bp), Portugal 3.411% (-2.51bp); Spain 3.522% (-1.4bp) and UK Gilts 4.8877% (-1.7bp)
The above data was collected around 15:04 EST.

The American Dream Now Comes with an $800 Monthly Car Payment

Joliet Used Cars | Low Priced High Quality Pre Owned

FOX Business reported that the average monthly payment for a new vehicle reached a record $770 during the first quarter of 2026, according to LendingTree’s analysis of Experian data. Lease payments climbed to $619 per month, while used vehicle payments reached $531. The average amount financed for a new vehicle rose to $43,925, and outstanding auto loan debt surged to a record $1.685 trillion, exceeding the nation’s total student loan debt for the first time. This is not merely an automobile story. It is another warning that the purchasing power of the average American continues to deteriorate.

The average family is financing nearly $44,000 just to buy a depreciating asset because wages have failed to keep pace with the real cost of living. Government tells us inflation is under control, yet Americans are borrowing more money than ever simply to drive to work. If inflation were truly only 2%, car payments would not have doubled over the past generation while household budgets continue to buckle under the weight of necessities.

The debt statistics are becoming alarming. Auto loan balances have risen from $1.071 trillion in 2016 to $1.685 trillion today, an increase of more than 57% in just ten years. Auto debt now represents roughly 9% of all consumer debt, narrowly surpassing student loans. Americans originated another $182.1 billion in auto loans during the first quarter alone. We are borrowing at record levels to finance assets that lose value the moment they leave the dealership.

Borrowers with credit scores between 601 and 660 actually carried the highest average monthly payment at $811, while even subprime borrowers averaged $792. The system is trapping the middle class in perpetual debt. The better your credit, the lower your payment. Those already struggling financially are paying the greatest monthly burden, making it even harder to escape.

Edmunds found that the average financed amount for new vehicles reached another record of nearly $44,000, while average monthly payments climbed to approximately $773. One out of every five financed new vehicles now carries a monthly payment of at least $1,000. Buyers are responding the only way they can. Down payments are shrinking while loan terms continue stretching to seven and even eight years. Nearly one-quarter of new-car buyers are now taking loans lasting 84 months or longer. It is financing transportation like a mortgage.

Negative equity is becoming another hidden crisis. Edmunds reported that nearly 31% of trade-ins involved owners who owed more than their vehicles were worth, with the average underwater balance exceeding $7,100. Consumers are rolling debt from one vehicle into the next. They are not buying newer cars because they are wealthier. They are borrowing more because they have no alternative.

This is precisely what happens during the late stages of a debt cycle. Governments celebrate rising consumer spending while ignoring that it is financed with ever-larger amounts of borrowed money. The economy appears healthy because credit continues expanding, not because the average citizen has become more prosperous. Eventually there comes a point where consumers simply cannot borrow any more. That is when demand collapses, defaults accelerate, and politicians inevitably look for someone else to blame.

Housing Costs Soared Throughout EU in Q1

Europe’s housing market is not recovering, it is becoming unlivable. Eurostat reported that in Q1 2026, EU house prices rose 5.1% from Q1 2025, while rents increased 3.0%. Compared with Q4 2025, house prices rose another 1.2% and rents increased 0.7%. Between the 2025 average and Q1 2026, house prices climbed 2.9% and rents 1.8%. Wages do not keep pace with this, and young families are being priced out of the future.

A house is no longer a home, it has become a political and financial instrument. Europe buried its people under taxes, regulation, Net Zero costs, energy insanity, and mass migration pressure on housing supply, then acts surprised when people cannot afford to live. The state creates the crisis, then demands more power to solve it.

The worst house-price increases between 2025 and Q1 2026 were in Portugal at 10.3%, Bulgaria at 9.4%, Slovakia at 9.1%, Croatia at 8.4%, Spain at 7.5%, and Lithuania at 7.4%. France fell 0.5% and Finland fell 1.8%, but that does not mean affordability has returned. It means confidence is collapsing in places where the economy is already under strain.

Rents increased in almost every EU country. Croatia was the disaster, rents exploded 21.9% in just that comparison period. Bulgaria rose 6.4%, Greece 5.0%, Romania 4.5%, Czechia 4.1%, Slovakia 3.5%, and Portugal 3.3%. Slovenia was the only country where rents fell, down 0.9%, while Finland was basically flat.

This is the consequence of centralized planning. Brussels wants open borders, climate mandates, expensive energy, endless regulation, and then wonders why the average person cannot rent an apartment or buy a home. The private citizen is being squeezed from every side while governments protect bondholders, banks, and their own failed social experiments.

The sovereign debt crisis and housing crisis are connected. Governments need rising asset values to keep the illusion of solvency alive. They tax property, they borrow against inflated economies, and they pretend rising home prices mean prosperity. But when housing becomes unaffordable, birth rates collapse, civil unrest rises, and capital begins to flee. That is where Europe is heading. This is not a housing boom, it is another warning sign of a system that is breaking apart.

Canada’s Growing Aerospace and Defense Sector

Saab ready to offer GlobalEye for Canada's Airborne Early Warning and  Control program

Canada’s latest defence procurement is becoming impossible to ignore. The CBC reports that Ottawa is now looking beyond simply purchasing Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft. NATO itself has now selected the same Swedish system to replace its aging Boeing E-3 AWACS fleet, making GlobalEye the alliance’s future airborne surveillance platform. This is no small contract. NATO intends to acquire up to 10 aircraft in a program worth roughly $4.5 billion, while Canada is expected to purchase six of its own. The significance extends well beyond military hardware. It represents another major boost for Canada’s aerospace industry and another step toward integrating Canada’s economy deeper into the expanding military-industrial complex.

What many fail to appreciate is that this is not simply Sweden selling aircraft to Canada. GlobalEye is built around Bombardier’s Global 6500 business jet, manufactured in Canada. Every NATO aircraft ordered means additional work flowing into Canadian aerospace, engineering, maintenance, supply chains, and long-term servicing. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte himself emphasized that this is a multinational program involving European, Canadian, and American industries. Canada is no longer merely buying equipment. It is positioning itself as part of the production network supplying NATO’s future surveillance capability.

This follows precisely the trend we have been watching unfold. Canada recently selected Saab over Boeing for its own airborne early warning fleet, citing Arctic sovereignty, domestic industrial development, and reduced dependence on American suppliers. Saab has openly stated that the program will provide skilled work for Canadian industry, while Bombardier becomes an integral supplier to NATO’s next-generation surveillance fleet. These are not isolated procurements. They are laying the industrial foundation for decades of defence spending.

Canada already has the industrial base to profit from this shift. Ottawa’s own 2026 aerospace review found that the Canadian aerospace industry contributed C$34.2 billion to GDP in 2024 and supported 225,000 jobs, while remaining the top R&D performer in Canadian manufacturing. The broader defense industry added another $11.1 billion to GDP and supported 81,800 jobs. Canada also exported nearly C$27 billion in aerospace goods to 166 countries in 2024, with over 70% of aerospace manufacturing revenue tied to exports. This is why the GlobalEye decision matters. It is not just a plane. It plugs Bombardier and Canada’s aerospace supply chain directly into NATO’s rearmament cycle.

Canada is steadily transforming from a country known primarily for natural resources into one playing a much larger role within NATO’s defense production network. Whether one supports that direction or not, investors should recognize what governments themselves are signaling through their spending priorities. The expansion of aerospace, surveillance technology, advanced manufacturing, and military infrastructure is no accident. It reflects a world that is preparing for a far more dangerous geopolitical future than politicians are willing to admit publicly.

Market Talk – July 9, 2026

Market Talk 2017

ASIA:
The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:
• NIKKEI 225 increased 924.80 points or 1.38% to 67,743.85
• Shanghai increased 65.708 points or 1.65% to 4,036.588
• Hang Seng decreased 169.28 points or -0.70% to 24,030.18
• ASX 200 decreased 22.60 points or -0.26% to 8,762.50
• SENSEX increased 238.22 points or 0.31% to 76,741.82
• Nifty50 increased 80.75 points or 0.34% to 23,962.80
The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:
• AUDUSD increased 0.00114 or 0.16% to 0.69408
• NZDUSD increased 0.00600 or 1.05% to 0.57580
• USDJPY decreased 0.209 or -0.13% to 162.378
• USDCNY decreased 0.00969 or -0.14% to 6.79668
The above data was collected around 16:15 EST.
Precious Metals:
•  Gold increased 46.19 USD/t oz. or 1.13% to 4,121.47
•  Silver increased 1.674 USD/t. oz. or 2.87% to 59.920
The above data was collected around 16:18 EST.
EUROPE/EMEA:
The major Europe stock markets had a mixed day today:
•  CAC 40 increased 73.96 points or 0.90% to 8,326.62
•  FTSE 100 decreased 16.59 points or -0.16% to 10,472.45
•  DAX 30 increased 220.82 points or 0.89% to 25,118.27
The major Europe currency markets had a mixed day today:
• EURUSD increased 0.00127 or 0.11% to 1.14296
• GBPUSD increased 0.00212 or 0.16% to 1.34096
• USDCHF decreased 0.00142 or -0.18% to 0.80700
The above data was collected around 16:22 EST.

AMERICAS:

US Markets:

  • DJIA advanced by 139.02 points (0.27%) to 52,487.41
  • S&P 500 advanced by 60.93 points (0.81%) to 7,543.64
  • NASDAQ advanced by 336.24 points (1.30%) to 26,206.890
  • Russell 2000 advanced by 36.15 points (1.22%) to 2,992.541

Canada:

  • TSX Composite advanced by 264.65 points (0.76%) to 35,200.45
  • TSX 60 advanced by 13.90 points (0.67%) to 2,073.68

Brazil:

  • Bovespa advanced by 2,088.67 points (1.22%) to 172,742.12
ENERGY:
The oil markets had a negative day today:
•  Crude Oil decreased 1.773 USD/BBL or -2.41% to 71.747
•  Brent decreased 2.058 USD/BBL or -2.64% to 75.962
•  Natural gas decreased 0.2035 USD/MMBtu or -6.34% to 3.0085
•  Gasoline decreased 0.0826 USD/GAL -2.66% to 3.0208
•  Heating oil decreased 0.1061 USD/GAL or -2.90% to 3.5514
The above data was collected around 16:24 EST.
•  Top commodity gainers: Silver (2.87%), Cheese (3.27%), Coffee (10.22%) and Cocoa (5.19%)
•  Top commodity losers: Bitumen (-3.80%), Oat (-7.37%), Natural Gas (-6.34%) and Orange Juice (-4.94%)
The above data was collected around 16:29 EST.
BONDS:
Japan 2.8840% (+0.25bp), US 2’s 4.18% (-0.048%), US 10’s 4.552% (-2.5bps); US 30’s 5.06 (-0.017%), Bunds 3.0545% (-3.39bp), France 3.749% (-5.91bp), Italy 3.8414% (-6.92bp), Turkey 31.460% (+0bp), Greece 3.7495% (-1.43bp), Portugal 3.4361% (-4.80bp); Spain 3.536% (-4.77bp) and UK Gilts 4.9034% (-4.51bp)
The above data was collected around 16:32 EST.

PRIVATE BLOG – Ukraine Beware of September

PRIVATE BLOG

PRIVATE BLOG – Ukraine Beware of September


Private blog posts are exclusively available to Socrates subscribers. To sign-up for Socrates or to learn more, please visit Ask-Socrates.com.

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Ukraine & Zelensky’s Ultimate Corruption

2014 War Cyclew 2011 Conference

 

The Ukrainian currency has been a perpetual short since 1998, and nothing has changed since. The central bank tried to fix the currency in 2022 when the war began. Our models could easily forecast precisely when the war would begin, for there was a massive outflow of currency in advance. Yet, I posted that the war cycle turned up in 2014, which marked the beginning at the 2011 World Economic Conference, and later I posted that the model had targeted Ukraine in 2013.

Zelensky Did not warn people Washington Post 8 19 22

Zelensky actually confessed to the Washington Post that he knew when Russia would invade but refused to warn the people, claiming it would have cost him $7 billion because capital would have fled.  Our models clearly picked up massive capital outflows ahead of the start of the war confirming that advance knowledge existed. It appears that was the money of  Zelensky and friends moving money out based on inside information while he refused to tell the people on advance. That would have been a crime in the United States.

There is evidence of a significant financial and economic exodus from Ukraine in the lead-up to February 24th, 2022. While comprehensive data on capital flight is not available insofar as identifying the specific individuals without searching accounts in offshore havens. Zelensky purchased a $5 million property in Egypt under his mother-in-law’s name, Olga Kiyashko. His aids apparently stole $75 million from US funds.

The weeks before the invasion saw several distinct forms of capital and asset flight. For example, on February 13th, 2022, a reported 20 private jets and charter planes departed from Ukraine, carrying some of the country’s wealthiest businesspeople and oligarchs. This was a clear, visible sign of the wealthy moving their assets and themselves out of the country on insider information.

The flight of capital was also evident in the global financial markets. The prospect of war led to a “flight to safety,” where investors moved money out of riskier assets into safer havens like the U.S. dollar. Specifically, Ukraine experienced investor flight, its currency (the hryvnia) came under severe pressure, and its central bank’s reserves were being rapidly depleted as it tried to stabilize the currency.

Ukrainian Passport

In the days before the invasion, dozens of Western diplomats and their families were EVACUATED from Kiev. This was accompanied by international insurance companies announcing they would stop covering flights over Ukraine from February 14th, which led to a near-total closure of Ukrainian airspace as commercial airlines canceled flights. This made it physically difficult for anyone to leave the country, accelerating the panic. If you had a private jet, that was the only way out of town.

This pre-war flight of capital and talent contributed to a rapidly growing financial crisis for Ukraine. The European Commission noted that the financial “financing gap” for Ukraine, the amount of money it needed to function, more than doubled from €2.5 billion to €5 billion due to the investor flight and economic pressure caused by the Russian troop buildup before the invasion even began.

Capital Controls 2

The capital controls were implemented on February 24th, 2022, to prevent any citizen from doing what Zelensky and friends were doing on inside information. Zelensky admitted to the Washington Post that he knew in advance and did not warn the people. The capital controls were implemented only when the war began.

Ukraine_Hryvnia_Spot M Tech 7 9 26

Their primary purpose was to stop a complete financial collapse by preventing the remaining capital from fleeing the country as the full-scale war began. The operation of the foreign exchange market was suspended, except for the sale of foreign currency by customers. They also implemented a moratorium on Cross-Border foreign currency payments, effectively preventing money from being transferred abroad.

Ukraine 100 hryvnia note

Cash withdrawals from client accounts were limited to UAH 100,000 per day, and the release of cash in foreign currency was prohibited entirely. Even the National Securities and Stock Market Commission also introduced restrictions on transactions on capital and organized commodity markets starting at 11:00 a.m. that same day to prevent market collapse.

People who were skeptical about how we could forecast where and when the war would begin simply have to comprehend that someone ALWAYS knows in advance and money and assets as ALWAYS moved in advance. We may not be able to nail it down to a specific person without access to the accounts where the money is transferred, but we can forecast such events with capital flows in addition to our cyclical models. There were multiple indicators pointing to a sharp increase in capital leaving the country before the invasion.