My real point on trade is Trump has forgotten about the market this year, looks like his goals in 2018 are delivering for his base. If he stays the course with his protectionist measures (and his actions don't refute that), then there sure as #### is going to be pain - his base isn't Wall Street.
https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/2018/04/06/trump-warns-u-s-investors-of-a-little-pain-in-trade-stand-off
If this escalates and we end up banning some Chinese investments, slapping tariffs down, they slow down their treasury purchases, they slap tariffs down - it is an economic crisis. My thoughts are we're underestimating China and underestimating the real risks here; they aren't scared of a conflict at all, and there is no way they're going to meet all of Trump's demands. Furthermore, the Fed isn't positioned for an economic crisis right now - I just see the enormous risks that aren't worth stepping in front of until this is either resolved or the market gets crushed. We import over a half trillion dollars worth of #### from China annually. I wouldn't risk shorting a monster bull market, but I will sit around and continue to build a mountain of cash that I'll wait to deploy.
Analysts are all just excited for earnings to hit, I think that boost will be short-lived unless we get some resolutions here. I thought about it over the night and decided I'm going to sit 30% in GLD (which I just bought) and 70% in cash, instead of all cash.
Anyways, Marc Faber signing off again.