Gold and Oil Are Moving…

The wild swings continue... New fears of war… Forget China, Russia is now in the 'crosshairs'... Gold and oil are moving... Don't miss your chance to own 'the best gold business on Earth'... A special note from The Atlas 400...

Following yesterday's rebound, U.S. markets opened deeply in the red again this morning...

Like other recent swings, today's move followed fears of war... Only this time, it wasn't fears of a "trade war," but of an actual war. As the Wall Street Journal reported this morning...

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that U.S. missiles "will be coming" to Syria, and warned he was willing to challenge Russia directly in launching a military strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over an alleged chemical-weapons attack.

On Twitter Wednesday morning, Mr. Trump wrote: "Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!'"

He warned Russia it shouldn't be "partners" with Mr. Assad, whom he termed a "Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!"

We won't get into the details of this particular skirmish...

But we will note that the rationale for a war with Syria is dubious at best. (If you aren't convinced, we'd encourage you to check out this video... It's some of the most honest reporting we've seen from anyone in the liberal or conservative mainstream media in some time.)

And of course, the government's previous attempts at "regime change" have been less than successful. In fact, President Trump himself said as much in a "tweet" to then-president Barack Obama just a few years ago...

As with recent trade tensions with China, we remain cautiously optimistic that cooler heads will prevail.

The markets appear less certain, however...

While stocks moved lower, gold and crude oil – two assets that are particularly sensitive to geopolitical turmoil – moved higher.

Gold jumped 1.5% to more than $1,365 an ounce this morning, just shy of a new 18-month high.

Meanwhile, despite a report showing U.S. oil inventories rose more than expected this week, West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude – the domestic benchmark for prices – jumped more than 2% to a new three-year high today.

We continue to believe rising U.S. production will be a stiff headwind for crude for the foreseeable future. But a new war in the Middle East could push prices sharply higher in the near term.

We'll be following these markets closely.

Speaking of gold...

Regular Digest readers know our colleague Dan Ferris recently recommended a company he calls "the best gold business on Earth."

Dan says this stock is hands down the single best recommendation of his career. He says buying shares today is like having the chance to get in on the world's best royalty companies when they traded for just pennies per share. In fact, Dan expects this stock will eventually become the first "20-bagger" in Stansberry Research history... making his Extreme Value subscribers a fortune in the process.

Better yet, to ensure every interested reader has the chance to profit, Dan is offering a massive discount off the usual cost of an Extreme Value subscription. (It's like getting two full years for less than the cost of one.)

But if you've been considering taking advantage of this opportunity, time is running out. This offer closes permanently Friday, April 13, at midnight Eastern time. Click here to sign up now.

For the rest of today's Digest, we're turning things over to Gray Zurbruegg, president of The Atlas 400...

I (Gray) will keep this simple...

Want to change your life? Want to build friendships with like-minded individuals? Want to see the world, and maybe even yourself, in a whole new way?

If so, The Atlas 400 may be for you.

You see, we're looking for a few new members...

Folks who come to the club wanting to participate... wanting to contribute... and wanting to experience the best things life has to offer, with other extraordinary people.

I'm talking about once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like racing 500 miles of the Baja 1000... sampling wine from the barrel at Petrus in Bordeaux... stalking Zimbabwe's elusive black rhinoceros... or trekking to Antarctica, to name a few.

Of course, membership isn't for everyone...

There's a $30,000 initiation fee... And our excursions aren't cheap. But if you're in a position to enjoy the fruits of your labor, I urge you to keep reading.

What started as a small, private club – just a few close friends and colleagues – has evolved into more than 100 members in 14 countries.

Ever since we started meeting and traveling the world together, our very best experiences, our best memories, and our best new friendships have happened through The Atlas 400.

Our idea hasn't just inspired a few people...

It has taken off... and become something even bigger than any of us ever expected.

The idea of The Atlas 400 – to bring self-made people with a tremendous passion for life together from all around the world – has brought dozens and dozens of the world's most interesting and successful people together.

But, regardless of profession, everyone shares one major similarity: They got there by hard work.

We all know what it's like to start at the bottom. And we all know how it was a combination of skill, luck, and opportunity that led us to success.

That's probably the thing that members like the best about the club...

Nobody here is trying to draw attention to himself. All that nonsense is stripped away.

There's this whole world of friends out there... People like you, who love ideas and adventure... who have never conformed or settled... and who don't want to be like others, but instead want to be more fully themselves.

Keep in mind, though, our trips are merely the best way to facilitate the true meaning of Atlas. Our mission is to bring people together, to help them build relationships in pursuit of "the best of life." Travel does this by getting people out of their daily routines and into a shared adventure, with like-minded people.

As we've seen over the past decade, that's the best way to build powerful and meaningful friendships.

It's easy to open up when you've spent the day in a racecar with someone, or zip-lined across the Patagonia. It's different from your typical business conference interaction.

Longtime Digest readers may have noticed our absence over the past several months...

We've been busy. Atlas hosted 10 events in 2017.

Baja racing... heli-fishing in British Columbia... tactical training with former Special Forces operators... diving in the Galapagos Islands... even exploring Antarctica and the South Pole. (If you've ever wondered what a Gulfstream G550 looks like landing on ice at midnight in Antarctica, be sure to watch our video here.)

And we've "sprinted out of the gates" in 2018...

By the end of June, 85% of our members will have participated in an event this year. The demand is so great, we're booking back-to-back trips... like we did for our upcoming Mount Kilimanjaro climb.

We're also hosting our annual meeting this May at Montage in Laguna Beach...

It's one of my favorite events of the year... Nearly 120 Atlas members and their guests gather for two amazing days. And we'll host an open-floor meeting one afternoon to discuss the club's private information and hold a forum for speakers addressing the group.

It's a wonderful experience... However, we only accept new members twice a year, and the current deadline is approaching.

If you're interested in joining us in Laguna Beach this May, click here to learn how. Or contact me directly at gzurbruegg@theatlas400.com.

I hope you'll consider applying to The Atlas 400 today. Who knows what adventures we'll have in the future?

New 52-week highs (as of 4/10/18): KraneShares E China Commercial Paper Fund (KCNY).

In today's mailbag, the "trade war" controversy continues. How else have we offended you? Let us know at feedback@stansberryresearch.com.

"I just have to respond to subscriber John S. and his comment that a trade war isn't going to affect the average American because they are barely getting by, and the wealthy won't care.

"What so troubles me about the entire discussion about the trade war (which John S. obviously misses it completely and our President has no clue either) is this: China has been buying U.S. Treasuries in an effort to keep the trade with the U.S. open. For them it is a good deal, they get to sell their goods to us, for us it is a good deal because we get a low cost of living. If the U.S. is going to begin to be restrictive with China, then China has no reason to buy Treasuries – or worse – start dumping what they have.

"What John S. (and ALL Americans) needs to realize is that when that happens, the true largest holder of U.S. treasuries is going to get hurt the most: Americans with retirement accounts. John S., if you have a 401k or an IRA, I suggest that you take a look and notice how much of that account is made up of U.S. government bonds. You will then be glad that China has been supporting your retirement account's value, and will be very angry to know that your President is threatening your very retirement, and that of MILLIONS of other Americans.

"Add to this Justin's comments about the resulting higher cost of living from such an all-out trade war, and it is clear that America needs Chinese trade FAR more than China needs America, and our President would do well to learn the basic economics lesson of which John S. is in need." – Paid-up subscriber Joe J.

"It sounds as though you believe huge trade deficits benefit our country and can continue in infinity. I disagree. The lost jobs for the middle class has taken a toll on the middle class and something needs to be done to restore some of those jobs to the USA. I realize you are not in the middle class but some of us are." – Paid-up subscriber Harold T.

Brill comment: We think you're missing an important point, Harold. Consider for a moment what the trade deficit with China really represents...

In simple terms, China has been giving the U.S. trillions of dollars' worth of real, tangible goods, produced at prices well below what we could possibly produce them at here in the U.S. In return, the U.S. has given China trillions of paper dollars, which the government can (and does) literally create out of thin air at any time.

So yes, this situation has hastened the loss of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. (Though as we've discussed, technology and efficiency improvements played a big role as well. Many of these jobs would have disappeared regardless.)

But the trade deficit has also allowed Americans to continue to enjoy a relatively high standard living, despite having little savings... and despite the government's ongoing inflation. It has allowed the U.S. to "export" its inflation to China, which in turn has allowed Americans to live well above their means for years.

Slashing this deficit may bring some jobs back to the U.S... But they'll come at the cost of dramatically higher inflation and a lower standard of living for all Americans. Be careful what you wish for.

"You slam John with a question? Trump is a negotiator first and foremost. You are assuming there will be [higher] prices because of a trade war that will never happen... Trump is negotiating for better trade. I don't like the guy, but then again, I cannot remember a president I did like... going all the way back to JFK. Yipes! What kind of advice have I paid for?" – Paid-up subscriber Mike K.

Brill comment: Perhaps you should read more closely, Mike... We remain hopeful that reason will win out, and that we'll avoid a real trade war. But that wasn't the question John S. posed. He asked if we really believe a trade war would hurt "everyday Americans." And the answer is an unequivocal "yes."

Regards,

Justin Brill
Baltimore, Maryland
April 11, 2018