I’ve seen a few “buy the dip” comments in conservative circles, which is a good strategy in a bull market, as the dips are temporary. However, in a bear market you buy the dip, and then the dip of the dip, and then the dip of the dip of the dip, and the price keeps going down, and you lose more and more money. If Trump doesn’t change course, and I doubt he will, then the what is now a “correction” will almost certainly slide into a bear market. Markets were high before the start of Trump’s term, with Warren Buffet finding stocks overpriced.

There is a reason central banks are buying gold, and that it is making new all-time highs, and recently breached $3K/oz. They’re anticipating the demise of the dollar, and minimizing their exposure to the chaos from the U.S. and buying gold instead of U.S. bonds. Look for this trend to accelerate, especially once the U.S. reaches the point where it can’t sell enough bonds to finance it’s budget deficit, leading to a massive debt crisis and the collapse of the dollar. Gold is already on track to be up >50% this year (up 13.7% so far ytd), and the consistent rise in gold while stocks and other investments fare poorly will only fuel the stampede. I’m confident that gold will end 2025 over $4k/oz, and that 2026 will be even crazier.

That’s an interesting point.

“Naturally, the common people don’t want war. Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

• Hermann Goering