Katusa's Investment Insights [Katusa Research]( Katusa's Investment Insights June 25, 2021 SWAP Lines are One of the Most Important Things Youâve Never Heard Of
By Marin Katusa Itâs a cunning strategy. The US Federal Reserve satisfies the global demand for dollars while maintaining the dollarâs title as the planet-wide currency king. With one brilliant move, it has divided the world up into allies and non-allies of the US. Today, everyone needs the stability of the USD in a world turned upside down with economic turmoil. Granted, that stability may be only relative to other countriesâ own currencies. But American allies have to deal with that reality. They know it. And the Fed knows it.
- Thatâs why the Fed has created a path to access US Dollars for government-identified real allies of America.
And it has denied access to those identified as unfriendly. Itâs critical that you understand this⦠And when you do, youâll be miles ahead of almost everyone else. The US has put a system in place where all but the most die-hard anti-American nations will want to be included among the friendlies. In fact, many will do anything to make the list. How do they do this? Through SWAP lines. Never heard of them? Then youâre not alone. For the most part, when I bring up SWAP lines, I have found myself speaking into a vacuum. I havenât come across one person in a hundred that knows about them. And that includes business executives, politicians, or even bigshots in the financial industry itself. Most investors are not even cognizant of the programâs existence, much less aware of its significance. But given how important SWAP lines are to the global economy, every investor should understand them and how they work. What Are SWAP Lines? First things first, hereâs how the Fed explains swap lines [on its own website](
- If you have access to a US swap line, you are what I call a +SWAP Line Nation.
- If you donât have access to a swap line, you are a -SWAP Line Nation.
SWAP Lines Are a Financial Lifeline In the wake of any global panic, the most recent example being the pandemic⦠Many central banks request that America provide financial assistance to at least alleviate the stress caused by a lack of US Dollars. SWAP lines have provided that relief and will continue to do so. They are, literally, lifelines. And they are also debts.
- All those dollars borrowed must be paid back in US Dollars, with interest, also requiring dollars.
Itâs ingenious because demand for the US Dollar breeds further demand. It will be paramount for nations grappling with deflation to enter the favored group capable of exercising swap lines. Hereâs a list of the nations that have access to US Dollar SWAP lines (as of now): Countries outside the groupâthe negative swap line (-SWAP) nationsâwill struggle to access US dollars. SWAP Lines are Important for Investors The result of how this program is set up is that countries receiving swap lines will follow any stipulations they are asked to follow. Theyâll have no choice.
- Suppose you want to be blessed with a swap line from the U.Sâ¦
In that case, you must be careful not to antagonize the hand that feeds you. This means not aligning in any way with nations designated as non-friendly and agreeing to follow any restrictions, such as sanctions, that the US government puts on. The struggling nations that require emergency access to US Dollars, and canât get themâ¦
- Could engage in the expropriation of foreign-owned assets as the world recession deepens.
For example: Last year Papau New Guinea revoked Barrick Goldâs social license. Several months ago, Barrick gave the PNG government a 51% stake in the mine. Now the mine is back in production. The PNG government is not the only nation flexing its musclesâ¦
- Chile is amidst altering its tax code which could see miners be taxed up to 75% - And just recently, Kyrgyzstan seized Centerraâs Kumtor gold mine.
Itâs either that or face crippling depressions or revolutionary uprisings of their citizens (or both). So, American businesses with operations in these places had better beware ([and so should their investors](. SWAP Lines Will Defend American Interests As global deflation progresses, there will be more nations that will be granted swap lines. But do not forget, swap lines will always defend American interests. Make no mistake, this is big businessâ¦
- By April 2020, the drawdown of USD SWAPS was just under half a trillion dollars.
The last time that foreign central banks took down that amount from US SWAP lines was at the height of the 2008 global financial crisis. The SWAP lines worked back then to prevent a complete worldwide financial meltdown. Same thing now. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Few want to be shut out, and around eighty-five nations have applied for US swap lines (currently, 14 central banks have been approved (EU representing 27)). In fact, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly confessed to having âswap line envy.â To be approved, all those countries must solidify their positions as US allies by falling into line with our policies. Think they will? Yep, me too. More Nations Will be Added Over time, I expect these critically important SWAP lines to be increased and more nations to be slowly added. Theyâll be subject to the terms set by the US governmentâboth financially and geopolitically. But theyâll accede. As monetary and fiscal policy are blending into one, itâs just a matter of time before the President uses SWAP lines as a big geopolitical leverage hammer. SWAP lines are that important, and they will dictate global alliances and policy. So, pay attention to them. Because I promise you, they will have an impact on companies, investments, and ultimately, the very fabric of our world.
- If you have a producing asset in a Negative SWAP Line
(-SWAP) country, you must prepare for potential setbacks and for things to go wrong.
Itâs about properly understanding and pricing in risk. Something that has become overlooked in the resource sector. SWAP Lines and Your Portfolio Because I believe nations who do have existing SWAP lines wonât screw with foreign operating entities (American companies) to the extent of the âSWAP Line Nations. I still expect higher taxes in all countries as itâs the only thing politicians across the world have executed effectively throughout time. This means mining assets in +SWAP Line Nations wonât nationalize their gold mines, copper mines etc. Those nations wonât screw with America. Nations with existing U.S. SWAP lines wonât put Forex (FX) restrictions on the foreign (American) companies operating there. âSWAP Line Nations may do so, and many have already. This will cause less (and in some cases prevent) those U.S. Dollars in âSWAP lines from being sent back home as dividends to the owners of the company. Know the plan. Read the playbook. And most of all, be prepared. You can get my team and me to do the heavy lifting for you through my premium research service â [Katusaâs Resource Opportunities](. Iâll tell you exactly what Iâm doing â where Iâm investing - and how you can follow. Regards, Marin Katusa [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Share]( [Share]( Big Ideas Weâre Covering Now Get up to speed on where Marin sees huge opportunities. Below are the most important trends and opportunities weâre tracking right now. [The Rise of America - Remaking the World Order - Trailer]( The Rise of America Get your copy of Marin Katusa's new book The Rise of America at Amazon [Canada here]( or Amazon [US here](. And also in [Barnes & Noble]( or any retail book store near you. [Marin, you held BACK! F.U. Policy!]( Modern Monetary Theory Always Works. Once. A behind-the-scenes special guest gives his take on Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and what Marin Katusa thinks. Full details on this [link here.]( [Gold miners are flushed with CASH, here's what it means for gold stocks...]( Gold Miners: Cash is King After a decade of continuously declining cash reserves, gold producers are flush with cash today. Full details on this [link here.]( Copyright © 2021, Katusa Research, All rights reserved. If you wish to stop receiving our emails or change your subscription options, please [Manage Your Subscription](
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