Gold Prices Inching Higher

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Several factors determine the U.S. price of gold. Inflation, market uncertainty (i.e. worry), the value of the Dollar compared to other currencies (a falling dollar increases the gold price), supply and demand. Market supply can come from three sources: mining, scrap (people selling jewelry to raise cash), and Central banks selling reserves. Demand can come from industrial and commercial sources and investment demand (i.e. people hedging against uncertainty or expecting a rise in gold prices). Recently, overall market and political uncertainty in the world is rising while the Dollar is falling.

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The Oil War Just Getting Started

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Let the battle begin. OPEC is trying to cut production and drive prices up while U.S. Shale Oil producers are seeing the increase in oil prices as an opportunity to get back in the game. More oil rigs are coming on line in the U.S. accompanied by increased drilling activity. BP’s 2017 Energy outlook is saying there is plenty of oil until at least 2050 but this includes an estimate that oil demand will slow in the coming years.

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Oil Prices Running Out Of Reasons To Rally?

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Oil prices faltered at the start of the second week of the year, as fears set in about a rapid rebound in U.S. shale production. For the better part of two months, optimism surrounding the OPEC deal has buoyed oil prices, but bullish sentiment from speculators are showing early signs of abating, raising the possibility that the oil rally is running out of steam.

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FED Raises Interest Rates- ROC’s Retain Buy Signal

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At the Federal Reserve’s recent policy meeting on Wednesday, December 14th the FED raised their federal-funds target interest rate by a quarter percentage point, to range between 0.50% and 0.75%. Fed officials pointed to a strengthening economy and inflation nearing their targeted level of 2%. According to the The Wall Stree Journal “The Fed’s more

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Auto Safety Trends

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There’s no doubt that cars are safer today than they used to be. In 1970 there were 25 automobile fatalities per 100,000 people in the United States according to Wikipedia. In 2014 that number had shrunk to 10 per 100,000 even though the number of miles driven increased by almost 300%. Technological advances along with stricter government regulations have combined to contribute to the increase in car safety. Here are some of the recent innovations that have helped.

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Mission Next Volunteer Match

Retirees Working for Good

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Several months ago, I gave a TEDx talk in Greenville, SC on the public policy implications of retirement. In this talk, I focused on the desire of many retirees to retire to something about which they care deeply, not just retire from their former professional life. This perspective was expressed by many of the men and women we interviewed as the basis for our books on the personal dimensions of retirement (Shaping a Life of Significance for Retirement, 2010; Retirement as Spiritual Pilgrimage: Stories Scripture, and Practices for the Journey, 2016.) The implication is that many retirees are open to and interested in contributing their time, energies, and expertise to the community or faith-based organizations, to work for the good of others.

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