COMMENT #1: Marty, Good morning. I knew you were going to get blamed for having too much “influence”. And then after emailing you about it, I see the comment in the Fake News blog this morning, just too funny! Can’t these people just try to learn why they were wrong? I always try to learn […]

ASIA: Indian refiners of edible oils led by the Solvent Extractors of India President Atul Chaturvedi urged the Indian government not to issue palm olein import licenses as any further purchases could result in a sharp drop in rapeseed prices and cut farmers’ incomes. India, the world’s biggest importer of palm oil, in a surprise […]

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong; Have you been called in by the World Bank because of the coronavirus? The rumor is you are advising on this pandemic from a financial crisis perspective. Yes or no? Some say you have a financial interest in not calling this a pandemic. Care to comment? JV ANSWER: Yes, we have been […]

ASIA: President Trump has arrived today in India for a two-day visit.  He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in his home state of Gujrat and inaugurated the world’s largest cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. Addressing a huge crowd at a “Namaste Trump” event at Motera Stadium, President Trump has outlined the success story of India […]

  We are likely to see Lebanon default on its payments in March after it has been downgraded deeper into junk bond territory by two of the three biggest credit rating companies on Friday. S&P Global Ratings cut the country’s long-term foreign currency rating to CC, which followed Moody’s Investors Service cut to Ca earlier […]

  ASIA: China ‘s powerful State Council has decided to waive some business contributions to social insurance plans through June, and emphasized that “stable employment” must be a priority. The policy moves also come as the country begins a gradual return to work in manufacturing, technology, and other major industries. China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) […]

  ASIA: The slowdown in India’s economy has taken a toll on the savings of its citizens and that has resulted in the country’s savings rate falling to a 15-year low. India’s gross savings fell to 30.1% of the GDP in 2018-19 from 34.6% in 2011-12 and 36% in 2007-08. The previous low was 29% […]

ASIA: US President Donald Trump has said Washington is in no hurry to sign a big trade deal with India and he is saving the big deal for later on. There was an expectation that India and the US would sign a trade deal next week during President Trump’s maiden visit to Asia’s second-largest economy. […]

  QUESTION: Summers has also come out and expressed that whatever forecast comes out of Davos is wrong. How can there be this conspiracy that the elite are in control of anything when they always do get it wrong? DV ANSWER: The majority is always wrong because they tend to talk among themselves and reaffirm […]

ASIA: President Donald Trump strongly objected to efforts being taken by his own administration to restrict the sales of American technology to China over national security concerns. Contradicting his advisors, he insisted that such fears were an “excuse” and reaffirmed his commitment that the United States is open for business. Singapore’s Finance Minister Heng Swee […]