♪ ANNOUNCER: LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, D. C. THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER" WITH JOE: MATH -- JOE MATHIEU.JOE: DAY 16 OF THE SHUTDOWN AND THERE MAY BE A GLIMMER OF HOPE. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE PROMISES DEMOCRATS A VOTE ON OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES. WE’RE GOING TO GET THE LATEST FROM JACK FITZPATRICK AT BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.HE’S LIVE ON THE HILL TODAY. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN. AS UKRAINE CALLS FOR TOMAHAWK MISSILES, WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEFENSE SPENDING AND INVESTMENTS ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 index declined on concerns regarding credit stress in the banking sector, particularly after regional bank Zions announced a $50 million write-off for two loans, leading to a nearly 12% drop in its shares [1] - Capital One and Wells Fargo, both holdings in the Club portfolio, also experienced declines of over 6% and approximately 3% respectively due to market concerns about U.S.-China trade tensions and a potential government shutdown [1] Industrials - DuPont announced details of its spinoff of Qnity Electronics, where shareholders as of October 22 will receive one share of Qnity for every two shares of DuPont on November 1, with trading for both companies starting separately on November 3 [1] - Honeywell's spinoff of Solstice Advanced Materials will see shareholders as of October 17 receive one share of Solstice for every four shares of Honeywell on October 30, with Solstice beginning separate trading under the ticker "SOLS" [1] - Honeywell plans to further spin off its aerospace business in the latter half of next year, focusing the remaining company on automation [1] Smartphones - Apple's global smartphone shipments increased by 4% year-over-year in Q3, solidifying its position as the second-largest smartphone player, while Samsung remains the leader in market share [1] - The report from Counterpoint Research highlighted that Apple's iPhone 17 series has been well received, with record-breaking pre-bookings across regions, which is positive news for Apple as it derives most of its revenue from iPhone sales [1] Health Care - Amazon One Medical expanded its pay-per-visit telehealth services to children aged 2 to 11, charging $49 for video consultations and $29 for text message consultations, with no insurance or membership required [1] - The service aims to address common children's illnesses and allows parents to renew medications like EpiPens and asthma treatments [1] - Amazon Pharmacy has also launched prescription drug kiosks in some One Medical offices, with plans for further rollout [1] Upcoming Reports - Financial companies including American Express, Truist, State Street, and Fifth Third Bancorp are set to report results before Friday's opening bell, which will provide insights into U.S. consumer health and the banking sector amidst ongoing credit concerns [1]

Bitcoin Market Analysis - Bitcoin's year-to-date increase of approximately 37% is considered unusual for a bull market, as it underperforms gold, which is down 12% against gold this year [1] - The current Bitcoin market is characterized by a lack of new retail involvement and is dominated by institutional players and nation-state level activities, leading to slower and more controlled price movements [1] - JP Morgan's report identifies Bitcoin and gold as "the debasement trade," anticipating continued increases in value for both assets [1] - There's a narrative shift where younger generations perceive Bitcoin alongside gold and silver as stores of value [1] - The discussion highlights a potential "lab leak hypothesis" regarding Bitcoin's origins, suggesting it may have been released from an NSA or CIA project [13] Bitcoin's Role and Impact - Bitcoin is viewed as a dissolving force for traditional power structures, potentially destabilizing the current system in a way that major institutions may not fully grasp [2] - Bitcoin is described as a "paperclip maximizer" that turns the entire world into Bitcoin, suggesting its pervasive and transformative nature [2] - The inherent properties of Bitcoin, such as its costly production and verifiable nature, align with human greed and create a system where incentives favor strengthening the network rather than attacking it [3] - The speakers suggest that Bitcoin is inevitable because it aligns with the incentives of individuals, corporations, and even nation-states to maximize value [3] - The discussion touches on the idea that Bitcoin adoption requires conformity to its rules, leading to alignment and further manifestation of Bitcoin in the world [3] - Bitcoin is presented as a tool for rational optimism, offering hope and a vision for a positive future, contrasting with the nihilistic outlook often associated with fiat systems [16] Bitcoin and Personal Transformation - Adopting Bitcoin can lead to a shift in mindset, creating a "Bitcoin self" that prioritizes truth, justice, and fairness, contrasting with the political maneuvering often associated with fiat systems [3] - The speakers emphasize that Bitcoin is a moral system because it is not designed to enrich some at the expense of others, promoting a more egalitarian approach [3] - The discussion highlights the importance of focus and dedication to Bitcoin, suggesting that deep immersion can lead to a better understanding of its potential and impact [25][28]

Core Viewpoint - US stocks experienced an increase on Thursday, driven by gains in Big Tech, which helped to mitigate concerns regarding trade tensions and the ongoing government shutdown [1] Market Performance - The S&P 500 index rose by 0.3% [1] - The Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.5% [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 110 points, equivalent to a 0.3% rise [1]

The government shut down inflates the egos of certain politicians, while hurting the people they were elected to help. ...

You know, people need to understand these are people that are keeping us safe, protecting our food. Everything we take for granted is being done by somebody who is working as part of the government to keep us safe in many different ways. And if people don't want to go into government service from get making sure your social security check is getting there, the food you eat is safe, the drugs you take have been, we're going to be in trouble in this country.We've been talking just over the last few minutes of ...

Core Insights - The value of silver has increased by over 78% this year, reaching a record high, while some economists caution that it may be riskier than gold despite its strong performance [1][6][10] Price Movements - Spot silver rose approximately 3.5% to $52.25 per ounce, while silver futures increased by 6.7% to around $50.45 [1] - Silver prices broke the $50 threshold, surpassing the previous record of $49.95 set in January 1980 [2] Market Dynamics - Global silver inventory in London has declined, leading to a lack of liquidity, which is described as unprecedented by investment professionals [3] - Goldman Sachs analysts predict that silver prices will likely continue to rise due to the government shutdown and anticipated interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve [3][10] Investment Considerations - While silver and gold prices typically move together and are considered safe-haven assets, economists expect more volatility and downside risk for silver compared to gold [4] - Central banks are more likely to invest in gold due to its higher per-ounce value and scarcity [5] Future Projections - Bank of America has raised its price forecasts for gold to $5,000 per ounce and for silver to $65 per ounce by 2026, while also warning of potential near-term risks for silver [7] - The current liquidity squeeze in silver may be temporary, with expectations that higher prices will restore liquidity as the metal flows back from other regions [7] Broader Market Context - Precious metals have gained from economic and policy uncertainty in the U.S., with gold recently surpassing $4,000 [10] - Factors such as a weaker U.S. dollar, hopes for interest rate cuts, and inflation concerns are driving the rally in precious metals [10]

More Americans are about to feel the pain of the government shutdown. The Washington Post reports that while the president ordered the Pentagon to repurpose research and development funding to make payroll for members of the military who were set to miss their first paycheck Wednesday, civilian employees won't see the same treatment. Even Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the pain this morning on Fox.But the longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be. And Maria, to be clear, some of these c ...

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. Senator, thanks for being with us, Reverend. It's good to be with you once again.Now, we we're in day 11 of this government shutdown. Speaker Johnson has said the House will not convene next week. Can you update us on what, if any, progress is being made this weekend and opening the government back up.Well, look, uh, Rev, the the Republicans are feeling the heat. There are four reasons, but above all is healthcare. We have a health care crisis in ...

Market Performance & Risks - Major indices experienced significant weekly declines, with the Dow posting its worst decline since May, and the S&P and NASDAQ since April [1] - The market is bifurcated, heavily reliant on the AI narrative, making it vulnerable if AI execution doesn't meet expectations, potentially dragging valuations broadly [2][3] - Disillusionment with the US Treasury and US dollar is driving investors towards gold as a safe haven [5] Investment Strategies & Safe Havens - Metals, particularly gold, are seen as a potential safe haven due to central bank buying and disillusionment with the US dollar [5] - Declining rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold [5] - Investors are considering intermediate and longer end of the treasury curve as potential safe havens [5] Economic Impact & Government Policy - Government shutdowns and potential layoffs could weaken consumer demand, especially in federal work-dependent local economies [6][7] - Concerns exist regarding the long-term ROI of data center spending and the affordability of such investments [3][4] - High debt levels and term premiums are causing concern among natural buyers of long-end bonds [8]