Tag Archives: oil

Mann Overboard

BAN AND BOYCOTT EVs!!!

JANUARY 8, 2024 – I am providing a link to an automotive expert that has obviously been around the industry for ages. It is good to see more facts about how EVs are destroying this planet. I would ask for us to seek a ban on them. But, I know that is unrealistic and anti-free market. It is good to see the consumer not support this woke movement that is hurting the environment, increasing costs for the common person that cannot afford higher and higher car prices, and lining the pockets of the rich. One more movement that robs the poor to give to the rich. And people fall for it again and again. Truly sad. I will now get in my 2003 Diesel 2500 truck and just ride around for an hour doing nothing but feeding CO2 to the area trees:) Someone has to help the environment! Viva La Petro!

https://fee.org/articles/why-the-ev-market-is-sputtering/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020_FEEDaily

Amazon has switched back to diesel and now Hertz back to gas cars. Bravo to them!

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2024/01/12/hertz-rent-a-car-ditches-electric-vehicles-for-return-to-good-ol-gas-cars-n2633515?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&recip=18322481

Shalom,
The Mann

Mann Overboard

MORE GREAT NEWS FOR PLANTS

DECEMBER 19, 2023 – It doesn’t get any better than this for plants in America. The USA is now producing more oil than any country in history!!! Congrats to us for overcoming the leftist climate change hoaxers! It would be nice if one of these days they simply admitted defeat and went away to be quiet forever. You would think when you have been soundly defeated you would shut the heck up. We can only hope.
Those who don’t fall for ESG, climate change lies, et al, enjoy this wonderful article.
https://www.aol.com/finance/united-states-producing-more-oil-220032456.html
Happy Holidays and Shalom,
The Mann
Mann Overboard

INFLATION UPDATE & PLANTS ARE HAPPY

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 – The September report came in at 3.7%, just below my forecast of 3.5%-3.6%. The 3-month annualized inflation rate is 3.9%. The 6-month annualized inflation rate is 4.1%. These figures are slightly above the annualized rate (3.7%) and thus indicate the annual CPI should not change much.
Based on the data, my prediction for next month’s figure is 3.8%. Due to oil prices steadily increasing, I do not think 3.9% can be ruled out.
I think the 3.8%-3.9% range will remain the same for the November report, also. Then watch out as the next two reports should show annual CPI for 2023 to be above 4%. That should not make the Fed happy.
OIL – A quick note for all of the happy plants on Earth. We are at a record level of 105 million (!) barrels of oil being used everyday. We have surpassed the prior record that occurred in 2019 before the Pandemic. The death of fossil fuels has been greatly exaggerated. In fact, there appears to be a direct correlation between more Electric Vehicles (EVs) and more oil consumption. This is not a surprise to anyone outside the misinformation environmentalist community. More electric usage means more fossil fuel usage. Which, of course, helps the planet’s plants as they live on CO2. As production is running at only 103 million barrels per day, the shortage will continue to drive oil prices higher. Which will contribute to inflation edging higher.
For a moment, you should sit and try to comprehend how much oil 105 millions barrels is. There are 42 gallons in a barrel. That is a mindboggling amount of oil being used everyday. For decades in the past and decades in the future. How much oil is/was in the Earth?!?!? Seems like the Earth is a giant oil ball. And if we use all that oil and it turns to CO2 or such, will the Earth become much lighter than it was? How many dinosaurs did it take to create all of this oil? Thankfully, humans saw the opportunity for sustainability and found a way to recycle all of the dinosaurs. We definitely have at least 30-50+ years more of recycling ahead of us. Environmentalists, you are embarrassing failures.
Til next month’s report.
Shalom,
The Mann

Mann Overboard

AN EVERYTHING UPDATE :)

UPDATE – MARCH 23, 2023 – A few items to update regarding the post below and other recent posts. I had heard that 1/3 of bank deposits are uninsured. I just saw a chart from the FDIC that says about 1/2, or about $9 Trillion (!), in deposits are uninsured. No banking system could withstand even 20% of that amount being withdrawn. Money continues to leave banks as consumers can get 4%+ in money market funds and T-Bills versus 0.5% in banks. With the inverted yield curve, banks are unable to pay 4%-5% on deposits in line with the Fed Fund Rates.

Here is a list of banks with the most unrealized losses in relation to their total equity capital. Remember, the Fed is letting banks get funding on their underwater bonds at full par value. So, this doesn’t necessarily mean a run on deposits at these banks will make them go under. But, they are on thin ice. Customers Bancorp, Inc., First Republic Bank (been in the news for a week), Sany Spring Bancorp, Inc., New York Community Bancorp, Inc., First Foundation, Inc., Ally Financial, Inc. (by far the worst ratio….and like CACC, in the auto loan business), Dime Community Bancshares Inc., Pacific Premier Bancorp Inc., Prosperity Bancshares Inc., and Columbia Financial, Inc. The late-SVB was in this group, too.

The more I understand what the Fed has done, it appears this is what I would call IQE1 – Indirect Quantitative Easing 1. Leave it to us Baby Boomers and our invention of creative financing to now come up with an Indirect QE:) Gotta love us:) In the end, it will probably be referred to as QE4. See my next post as to a term you will want to watch for to know when the Fed has gone all in on the real QE4.

As an aside, the Regional Bank ETF hit a new low by a few pennies today. The market is still sorting out which banks to sell and which to buy.

Also, I mention in the original post below that the market is telling the Fed to lower rates 150bps in 2024. I heard today that has been moved up and the market wants the Fed to pivot in 3-4 months and start lowering rates. No pressure on Powell, eh!

MARCH 21, 2023 – As the 1st Quarter comes to an end, this seems like a good time to update my thoughts on forecasts on many items. So, here goes. No particular order.
BANKS – As this has been the hot topic for the last 10 days. It seems like everyone is predicting hundreds of bank failures to come. The Texas Ratio shows 200 banks at risk. Folks we have entered QE4. I think the last QE was QE3. Correct me if I am wrong. If Vegas gave me good odds, I would bet no more American banks would fail this year. Yes, you heard me right. As there might be some small banks that are in marginal shape, I am thinking a better bet is less than 5 or so banks will fail. I am thinking total assets of banks that might fail will be under $50 Billion. Maybe much lower. There are 10 banks with relatively high CRE ratios. But, their reserves are likely high enough to handle upcoming CRE losses. And the Fed thru QE4 already shored up the weakness in their Balance Sheets. I learned from QE1 thru QE3 that the Fed isn’t going to allow our markets to suffer for too long. As the saying goes, buy when there is blood in the streets. That occurred on Monday March 13th. The S&P Regional Bank ETF I mentioned bottomed that day at 41.92. It has been higher since and closed today at 46.07. Up 10%. No, you wouldn’t have bought at the bottom tick. But, you probably would have bought very close to it as it was such an obvious moment in time. I have been wrong before. But, I can see that panic bottom not being violated and the ETF continuing higher this year. The entire world is anti-regional banks. That is when you should be pro-regional banks.
INFLATION – Geez this will get extremely long if I write as much as I did about banks:) I still see a July 12th annual reading of 3% or lower. 2% is still likely. I will throw out something you likely have not heard from anyone. There is a slim chance of a NEGATIVE inflation (aka deflation) reading at yearend or, more likely, in 2024. That isn’t a prediction I would lay too much money on. But, if you gave me the same odds that FDU had of beating Purdue in The Big Dance, I would put some money down.

FED FUNDS RATE – Everyone is asking this week what will the Fed do at the upcoming meeting. It is truly a 50/50 chance they will not make a change or raise the rate 25bp. In the end, there is minimal difference. The difference is more psychological. My guess is they make no change and defer such to April. The market was telling them they had 50bp more to go. Now it is 25bp. Let’s wait a month and see what the market says after things have calmed down. A surprising item I saw was the market is telling the Fed to DROP rates 150bp in 2024. Although the market forecast last year’s rate increases early in the year, I think it is a bit early to put much weight into the 2024 message. Also, remember, the average time between the first rate decrease and the last rate increase is 4.5 months. Since, we will likely have the last increase in March-May, it would be difficult to have a decrease by yearend. Again, give me FDU odds, and I would take a chance on a decrease in November or December.

THE BIG SHORT 2 – As I posted last August, this cycle’s ‘big short’ was auto loans. As of Yearend 2022, $20 Billion of Generation Z and Millennials auto loans are over 90 days past due. They need to watch a classic cult movie of the early 1980’s – Repo Man. They can probably stream it:) Digressing, my uncle was a repo man. I went out one night in Fort Lauderdale with him getting cars. Scariest night of my life. Back to now….Also, for 20% of Generation Z, over 20% of their after-tax income goes to a car payment!!!! Insanity. Of course, I am sure it is like their college loans and a gun was put to their head and they were forced to take on this debt;) SCOTUS will be listening to a case in 2024 about Biden wanting to forgive auto loan debt. Have some ethics. Have some morals. Pay your debt even if it takes the rest of your life!!! The one stock I mentioned was Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC). Its all-time high was 703.27. Its bottom to date was at the beginning of year at 358.00. That is a 49% decline. At today’s close of 415, it is down 41%. That is far in excess of the DOW being down 12% from its all-time high. Not a bad call for those who actually played The Big Short 2.

BITCOIN – There is a current setup that is similar to two times in the past that took Bitcoin up over 60x and then over 20x. As assets soar in price, it becomes more difficult to have the same huge percentage increases. So, if this setup plays out, then maybe a 5x-10x move over the next 1-3 years is possible. From the recent major low around $16,000, that would be $80,000-$160,000. This will take some time to play out.

STOCKS & BONDS – It seems like everyone is looking for a recession this year. Everyone is expecting the stock market to fall apart. As I have posted on here many times, 2022 was the recession. In 2022, the global loss for stocks and bonds was about $36.5 Trillion (!!!). In comparison, the maximum loss in 2008 was about $23.5 Trillion and in 2020 was about $24.0 Trillion. What more do people want? A CRASH 50% larger than what occurred in 2008 isn’t enough? Since I seem to be in the mood to put out crazy forecasts, let’s not stop here. By yearend, I can see the DOW above 38,000 and the S&P 500 in the 4800-4900 range. 40k in ’24 has a nice ring to it. I would be interested if you see anyone else forecasting the DOW above 38k or S&P 500 above 4800. Those who know me know I have been a bear my entire life. I have always lived for downturns. For me to be this bullish, is beyond amazing to even me. A question I always want to ask analysts is what would it take for you to say your forecast is wrong. In this case, that would be the DOW breaking below last October’s lows at 28,660. If that occurs, the above is out the door.

OIL – I honestly haven’t looked at a chart since I sold all my oil and gas (aka pro-plant stocks) holdings the day oil hit $137 per barrel. This was about a week into the Russia/Ukraine dustup. The opposite of buy when there is blood in the streets is sell when everyone wants to buy something. That was the day of the high and oil has recently traded as low as $70. Almost a 50% decline. Do you remember a year ago when everyone said we were in for a major shortage of oil and prices would go even higher? What are those people saying now? This is the first time in my life I have not owned oil and gas stocks. It is getting tempting after a 50% decline. I may check into the charts and see what is up. If I do, I will post my thoughts here. In the interim, please boycott EVs and buy only gas vehicles and devices and help the plants around the world flourish and feed its 8 billion people. I always tell people that whether it is bonds or corn or cattle or oil it is us futures traders that dictate what the price is and what consumers will pay. It is not supply and demand. It is not government actions. Commodity traders are the ones in control.

HOUSING – I am exhausted writing the above. I will cover housing in the near future. There are mixed signals. But, in general, I am feeling my expectation of unexpected market strength is playing out perfectly. NAR’s price index just declined on a year-over-year basis for the first time since 2012. However, AEI’s HPA saw a recent monthly increase. Also, Pending Home Sales are up 9.3% in the two months thru January. That is the dead of winter and home sales are up almost double digits. Remember, a year ago, the housing market was super strong. So, this isn’t working off of low numbers. Looking at a chart since 2001, when Pending Home Sales turn up they don’t usually turn back down. My prediction re mortgage rates has come very close to occurring. We have not been below 6% yet. This decline is getting long in the tooth and I am watching the charts to see when the bottom is in place and we turn back up. Although the rates have been down ever since I predicted such, it is looking like a move below 6% might not happen. Still a chance though.

You’re tired. I am tired. I hope you find the above of interest. Even eye-opening. Forecasts obviously do not come true 100% of the time. Keep that in mind. I certainly do:) I am disappointed with even a single incorrect forecast. I give it my best to be right as much as possible and to admit when I am wrong. I rarely see the pundits come out and say I was dead wrong. They should be forced to do such.

Always glad to hear from you. Please email me with any thoughts you have. Any charts or data you see that I might be interested in. I am at GeorgeRMann@Aol.Com.

Shalom,

The Mann

Mann Overboard

BUY TO THE SOUND OF CANNONS AND SELL TO THE SOUND OF TRUMPETS

MARCH 5, 2022 – A friend shared the above quote by Baron Nathan Rothschild. Nowadays we say buy the rumor and sell the news.
Just as the time to buy oil and gas and all commodities was 2 years ago during the worldwide lockdown. Soon will be the time to buy Russian assets.
I recall people saying I was crazy to buy when oil traded at -$30 a barrel (no one gives credit to President Trump ordering the USA to stock up its oil reserves when the price of oil was so cheap…brilliant move). Exxon traded at $31 (over $84 yesterday). Freeport-McMoran I had bought around $6. Yesterday it broke $50. With virtually every commodity at record highs, I will start to slowly take my cards off the table. You sell when everyone in the world is wanting to buy. As is the case now and for awhile longer.
The challenge will be figuring out when to buy Russian assets. And which ones. Russia isn’t going away. Their oil and gas will be needed by Europe, and others, for the remainder of this century. 25% of the world’s wheat goes thru Russia/Ukraine (that is why the price was up 40% this week!). Even if Russia/Ukraine is limited to trading with China, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and other members of that alliance, their companies will come back and do well. China alone has enough people to buy Russian goods forever. Remember, Russia’s economy is only the size of Italy’s. It doesn’t take much buying to support that economy.
The key is figuring out which companies and ETF funds will survive. I remember in early 2009 when Fifth Third Bank traded at $1.01 and I believe Bank of America was below $5. The fear was these banks would not survive. But, if you knew they would survive, you had minimal downside risk. As we say, at those prices it is like buying an option. You are prepared to lose 100%. But, also prepared to hit a 5x or 10x winner.
We are in a similar period for Russian stocks and other stocks invested in Russia. I don’t have definitive answers, yet. But, I think I am getting a handle on what to watch for re the Smart Money. The Smart Money will be investing heavily long before the public, and Fake News Media, know things have turned the corner.
I have long thought about writing a paper about markets that have declined 75%-90%+ and bounced all the way back. Those opportunities occur enough for you to make large killings throughout your life. The key factor is KNOWING that market will survive. The DJIA was going to survive The Great Depression. It declined 89%, but it was going to stay around and rebound. The NASDAQ did about the same in the Dot Com Bubble. There are dozens of such events. There are lots more where the stock went 100% under and did not survive. Again, the key is KNOWING the asset will survive no matter what.
If you are crazy enough to want to invest in depressed Russian assets, stay in touch with me. I am not 100% certain I will dive in. But, I do know this is a rare opportunity to keep an eye on. Rare because many of these assets are down 99% right now.
And, yes, you can tell I am totally against companies boycotting Russia. I have always said corporations owe society nothing. If you want something to help society, that is what Not-For-Profits are for! Corporations need to stay out of politics. In fact, they should be banned from donating to political campaigns. Just make money for the owners, pay your employees, buy supplies from other companies, et al. All of that done ethically and within existing laws, of course.
Albeit, I would say the Russian people are lucky right now to have no Facebook and Instagram and so on!!! That is a dream world! Can you imagine if your kids had no social media to waste their lives on!!!! Your kids had to spend that time with you:) I have a dream….
These are times I live for. I look forward to seeing how this evolves. And possibly, making money off of it:) We shall see.
Shalom,
The Mann

Mann Overboard

$120 OIL – WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT :)

MARCH 5, 2022 – Just two years ago oil futures traded negative for a day and the tree huggers said oil was dead. Of course, I disagreed and predicted we would see $200-$300+ oil in this next cycle.
The first super cycle lasted about 120 years and saw a peak around $150 and then a drop back to where it all began in the early 1900’s.
A new super cycle began in 2020. This should take us to all-time highs and also end the history of oil. At the end, oil will likely trade for $1 as no one will be using it. ((see the history of aluminum prices in the 1800s – In the mid-1800s, the first aluminum ingots on the market went for $550 per pound. Fifty years later, not even adjusting for inflation, it cost 25 cents.))
I am not saying we will see $200+ in this current up move. It will more likely occur a decade or more into the future. This next cycle should last the remainder of this century.
Someone, please let AOC know what the price of crude is today:)
For those of us that own Exxon Mobil and other Big Oil and mineral companies, life is soooo sweet. Thanks to the climate change Fake News people for driving prices sky high. Sadly, they just hurt the poor with their stupid green agenda.
An ending fact….The Keystone XL pipeline will send the USA over 800,000 barrels of oil a day. We buy 595,000 barrels of oil a day from Russia. Thanks to the USA and Europe for funding Russia’s war in Ukraine! As an aside, I reviewed an appraisal of the Keystone XL pipeline and not a single landowner (!!!) complained about the pipeline going through their property. Only the climate change Fake News people complain.
Viva La Crude!
Shalom,
The Mann

Mann Overboard

THE MARKET ENTERS THE PREDICTED RANGE

UPDATE MARCH 27 (EVENING) – The DOW peaked at 22,595 on Thursday.  That is within 100 points of my target.  I’ll be surprised if my third forecast target in a row is this accurate.  But, if so, I’ll take it.

I will revisit price targets for the upcoming low next week.

The way the waves are looking the following should occur:  The US Dollar will rally to new highs short-term, Gold will fall below $1050-$1250 longer term, Silver will decline below $8 longer term. and stocks will fall 30% from current levels short-term.  How all of that happens I have no idea.  But, that is what I see happening.  I never ask why or how.

The $2+ Trillion stimulus bill was signed today.  And the DOW was down 915 points.  The markets already have priced in all of the stimulus that will be thrown at the country ($6+ Trillion).  They are looking at where we will be this Summer or Fall and they aren’t happy with what they see.  I am guessing they are pricing in the virus coming back in the Fall and Winter.

Regarding Oil, I did get a reply from the experts at Elliott Wave International.  My thoughts that the combination 120-year bull and bear market might well be coming to an end are on target.  Obviously, it is rare to have such an opportunity occur in a our lifetime.  There is an issue regarding the length of this bear market (timewise).  I need to analyze the 120-year move in a bit more detail to see what I can figure out.  I will keep you posted.

I have a gripe about healthcare providers complaining about going to work….about being on the front lines and subject to getting the virus.  Seriously?  Did you think you would take care of sick people and not encounter a contagion?  Geez, too much complaining about having to work nowadays.  Just do the job you chose as a career.  Be proud that you are helping people.  You have a chance to help others and change the course of history.  Stop complaining.

Oh, I do hope GM cans their CEO.  Trying to make a killing off of this crisis is obscene.  Like him or not, Trump is great at not letting anyone screw over our country.  I am glad he invoked the Protection act and I do hope GM doesn’t get a dime for the respirators they will make.  To think we bailed them out last time around….and this is the thanks we get.  I will never buy a GM product.

Til Monday evening…stay safe.

The Mann

UPDATE MARCH 25 (EVENING) – The DOW rallied to 22,020 today.  It has satisfied getting to the range of a top for this counter trend rally.  It then fell almost a 1,000 points in the final 5 minutes due to Bernie Sanders threatening to hold up the bailout legislation.  It cannot be ruled out that the DOW could rally back above 22,020.  But, once a target range is satisfied, I start concentrating on the next wave – which is down to 13,900 to 15,400.

For trivia, this was the best 2-day rally since the 1987 crash.  And I think it was the first consecutive up days in a month.

Gold backed off its rally quickly.  Oil is starting to get its legs back.

Hopefully, Friday evening the waves will be telling us more.

Regarding real estate, early info is saying that buyers are asking for a 5%+ reduction in price on existing contracts.  That isn’t all buyers.  And that isn’t much at all.  Starter homes continue to sell well.  National Tenant Lease properties are in demand as a flight to safety.  Since these are really corporate bonds, and not real estate, this makes a bit of sense.  Of course, the question is do these buyers know what kind of downgrade the corporate bond rating will get for the tenant in the property they are looking at?  Or are these unsophisticated buyers just looking for anywhere to put their money?

Please share anything you are hearing regarding real estate prices, cap rates, closings falling thru, et al.  Til Friday evening…

The Mann

UPDATE MARCH 24 (EVENING) – I was going to post this regardless of today’s outcome.  But, worth noting today was the largest up day since the depths of 1933.

Most, if not all, analysts never state what could occur that would show their forecast to be wrong.  Flat out, if the DOW rallies above 24,200 my interpretation of the wave theory will be wrong.  Technically, it would just mean the waves were showing something else was happening.  But, to me, I say I am wrong.

I did some analyzing today and thought this rally would terminate around 22,500.  Bob Prechter’s firm put out their analysis this evening and said about 21,200-22,100 should be the top of the range.  The main point is this rally absolutely cannot go above the late February low around 24,200.

Some additional analysis suggests that 15,300-15,400 is really looking good for the final bottom (i.e. for this first ‘A’ wave of a Bear Market….wherever this low occurs, it should be broken down the road after a significant rally occurs).  But, a lower target of 13,900 showed up so I would have to update the ‘final’ bottom range to be 13,900-15,400.

So far, the 27,100 top forecast for Wave 2 of the decline was almost exactly on target.  And the 18,200-18,400 range for a possible appears to be for Wave 3 of this decline.  Both have been right on the money.  I suppose my luck will run out soon:)  Albeit, I usually do excellent in a major downturn, so we shall see.

22,500 for the top of Wave 4 and 13,900-15,400 for the bottom of Wave 5 of ‘a’ are up next.

I need to confirm with Mr. Prechter something I am observing regarding the Oil market.  It is significant, so I hope to get his thoughts on the matter.  Sam Zell said he bought some energy stocks.  If what I see occurring in the Oil market, per the wave theory, is accurate, then we might have an opportunity like that of the stock market in April 1933.  Will keep you posted on this one.

Oh, the $200 Gold rally in two days is due to people suddenly realizing they can’t buy the physical product anywhere.  I use KITCO and they are all but sold out.  However, the wave theory allows for this rally to still be part of the larger decline below $1056.  No change of thought on that forecast because of these two days.

Stay at home.  Be safe.  Enjoy time with your family.

The Mann

MARCH 23 (EVENING) – A fairly calm day in comparison to the past few weeks.  The Dow bottomed below 18,300 today.  It thus, entered the 14,600-18,400 range I forecast when it was around 25,000.

My analysis of the waves is very much in sync with others.  I would say there is a 25% chance of a significant bottom occurring between the 17,000’s and today’s low and a 75% chance of a bottom occurring in the 15,400 range.  This latter figure has significant support as bottoms in 2015 and 2016 occurred around this figure.  With both the waves and chart support suggesting 15,400 as the low, this figures gets greater weight at this time.

It is amazing to hear predictions of -30% to -50% for GDP and up to 30% unemployment.  If these figures occur, we will have blown away The Great Depression and The War of Northern Aggression (aka the Civil War for those north of the Mason Dixon line).

TRIN is at 0.82 is incredibly far from signalling a bottom (1.60+).

VOO is at about -$2.5 Billion for last week.  I would need to see -$10 to -$20 Billion to know the public has thrown in the towel.  Or maybe several weeks of -$10 Billion at a minimum.

For those interested in Corporate Bonds, I was introduced to an indicator to watch.  First, about 40% of Corporate Bonds graded BBB (lowest investment grade before becoming junk bonds) are expected to be downgraded to junk.    Keep that in mind regarding current ratings.  Remember, rating agencies are almost always BEHIND the curve with their grades.  They will finally lower their ratings once all of the decline has occurred.  They get paid for such hindsight.

Back to bonds….as long as the ETFs are trading at a discount to their NAV (Net Asset Value), the market is saying prices aren’t low enough, yet.  I will follow ticker symbol BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund).  It is currently trading at about a 3% discount.

Regarding Corporate Bonds, does anyone have a source that shows what is out there and what their prices are?  Barron’s and the WSJ used to list all of them in their papers.  But, they don’t do that any more:(  If you know of a site that has this info, please share it with me.  Thanks.

We shall see what the next two days bring and I will be back Wednesday evening with an update.

Stay safe.

The Mann