# Investment general discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169 "2025-03-05T18:24:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 83
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1643 "2026-05-27T23:29:54Z")
In my opinion, we’re clearly in a bubble driven by a wealth effect on the growing upper class\* and AI. The question as always is, do you feel lucky timing this thing? \*As I understand it, both upper and lower income cohorts are growing at the expense of the middle class, but I have no cite beyond I think I’ve read that. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1644 "2026-07-16T22:00:25Z")
Been a while. Past 3 months market up nearly 6%. Gold down 18%. Silver down 31%. Bitcoin down 14%. Total international stock flat. Thoughts? I’m not making sense of it honestly. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1645 "2026-07-16T22:51:11Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I’m not making sense of it honestly. It doesn’t make sense. Huge, wild swings from day-to-day. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1646 "2026-07-17T00:11:43Z")
IMO … BTC was on a roll for years as a secret conduit of illicit wealth. Once all legit law enforcement is killed by corrupt chief executives worldwide they don’t need that intermediary _sub rosa_ medium of exchange. So it’s deflating like mad as that perennial price support drops away. Damned shame. I’ve given back a _lot_ of easily gotten gains. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1647 "2026-09-04T00:04:44Z")
So I heard on NPR just now that the Dutch National Bank has withdrawn a bunch of gold reserves from Ottawa, CN and NYC to Zeist, NED. I think the story was originally covered by Associated Press today but am digging in for the article. They said it was to prepare for a crisis. With no surprise from me, there was no follow-up about the nature of their possible crisis. My thought would be increasing Canada/US tariffs but am curious what other posters think the crisis might be. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1648 "2026-09-04T00:14:57Z")
Many countries deposited their gold reserves in the US and Canada during World War II and the Cold War for obvious reasons, given the level of financial chicanery in recent decades I can see why it would be thought prudent to keep it a little closer to home. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1649 "2026-09-04T00:15:00Z")
Well there’s that war with Iran. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1650 "2026-09-04T00:18:46Z")
> [@Eric1](#): > > I think the story was originally covered by Associated Press today but am digging in for the article. This article from CNBC states that the gold was moved to England. > The Dutch central bank has moved about 86 metric tons of gold from New York and Ottawa to London, citing rising geopolitical risks and the need to strengthen “crisis preparedness.” > **[Dutch central bank moves gold bars out of U.S. and Canada, citing ‘crisis...](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/03/netherlands-gold-transfer-us-canada-uk.html)** > > DNB said gold stored with the Bank of England is more readily tradable, allowing it to be deployed more quickly in a severe crisis. And then this story says some was indeed moved to Zeist. > More than 27 metric tons (30 tons) of gold were “physically transferred” from the United States and Canada to the Dutch bank’s heavily guarded vault on a military base near the central town of Zeist > **[Dutch central bank shifts billions in gold out of U.S. in ‘crisis...](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/dutch-central-bank-shifts-billions-gold-north-america-rcna595862)** > > More than 30 tons of gold were “physically transferred” from the United States and Canada to the Dutch bank’s vault in the town of Zeist. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1651 "2026-09-04T00:31:06Z")
I think the gold was moved, both to London and the Netherlands. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1652 "2026-09-04T00:43:05Z")
France also liquidated the gold it held in New York over the past year. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1653 "2026-09-04T00:54:10Z")
It appears European countries are deciding the USA’s government is not in fact a safe partner to hold their assets. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1654 "2026-09-04T00:56:03Z")
DeGaulle famously sent a destroyer in the 1960s to redeem dollars for bullion around the time central banks were trying to defend the London gold pool and the $35 peg. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1655 "2026-09-04T00:56:51Z")
Everybody learns at their own pace, I always say. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169/1656 "2026-10-07T00:14:29Z")
Heard on radio today about the ongoing drop in the value of the Euro: [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/dollar-holds-firm-french-fiscal-woes-keep-euro-back-foot-2026-10-05/](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/dollar-holds-firm-french-fiscal-woes-keep-euro-back-foot-2026-10-05/) > The euro stumbled to a 17-month low against the dollar on Monday as concerns about France’s ability to tame its budget deficit and a sharp bond market selloff last week ​boosted fears of a potential sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone, while US economic data showed inflation pressures. Which made me think that it might be time to reopen conversation here about dedollarization and associated subjects. Despite the Euro softening European markets seem to be doing okay? Just not as a currency play. Gold has not had a great ytd and at today’s GLD ETF close of $382.27 is far from its late January flirting with $500. Anyone with updates to their POVs? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-general-discussion-thread/1015169.md?page=82)