Then I sent a disturbing video to a cousin in Italy to gauge if, in fact, it was the reality of the escalating crisis developing in Europe. He simply responded with a picture and said, this is my response. It was a picture of his ski helmet and a glass of beer. Chilling and not worrying about the things he couldn’t control but determined to enjoy every waking moment anyway he can. We are all masters of our own destinies. The truth will always prevail and GOOD will conquer the evil which lurks amongst us.

Even though the equity markets haven’t been robust, the discussion of increasing interest rates has cast a weight on the shoulders of these markets. The effect has been paralyzing to anyone involved with positions wondering do I buy or liquidate?  What to buy? Does one average down on what are considered quality Dividend-paying stocks? Many decisions are pending and in the end, it is a crapshoot hoping that when and if things normalize you are standing on the right side of the investment. If you are a winner then with good intentions it will be time to unleash spending and party like it was 1999 all over again.

Hostilities will eventually come to an end and the People will speak loud and clear in the direction each country will seek. Freedom is a God-given right. It is those that suppress that right who will ultimately pay the price.

Meanwhile, the Russia/Ukraine conflict escalates. The  Americans imposed sanctions which gave rise to the USD initially but curtailed. The volatility in the marketplace has been extreme at times, mostly reflected in Precious Metals as they represent a flight to safety especially when fear becomes dominant.  Gold has clearly been a benefactor as it climbs substantially higher above the $1900/oz level. On the other hand, Silver tests the $24.50/oz level vs the USD. Keep in mind, there is an extreme difference between the Paper traded commodity and the actual physical product. Whereby large premiums may be imposed boiling down to supply and demand.

It is the fear factor that drives the individual to pay, thinking that Government can cease an account or money becomes worthless. History always repeats itself. Just look at  Germany as an example whereby generational wealth was lost as money became worthless.  The country’s inability to pay back the debt ultimately devalued the currency to the point whereby a new currency was introduced. The slate was wiped clean yet the gangsters profited while the populace lost everything.

Lastly, Oil and Money seem to go hand in hand, especially in the rising conflicts abroad. They are very reflective of the turning political agendas we are witnessing in North America. As Governments try to abandon traditional sources of energy gearing the economies to Green Energy, the problem remains that there is no sustainable alternative to provide the volume and consistency of power needed to generate enough energy for the economy’s needs. As a result, countries deemed Suppliers will gain unimaginable wealth for the resource they control, even though countries like Canada and The United States could be energy independent. It all boils down to who controls the supply. While the USD Index remains above the 96.0 level, Oil remains range-bound between $90-$95/barrel. The Canadian Dollar remains below the 0.79 cent level as the Euro will brace itself to fall further if the conflict expands beyond their borders.