The manipulation of markets (witness today) and the overt lying about the economy intensify as we move inexorably towards the precipice.  – John Embry

Short Seller’s Journal update:  My “Quick Hit” pick is now down 27% from its Dec 31 close.   Subscribers who took the plunge on my put option play are up over 500%.  The put expires today and is a little over $5 in the money (it was a slightly out of the money put on 12/31/15).  My long term short sell play is up (down) over 14%.  This is a stock that I believe will go from $30 (12/31) to $10 by 2017.  Short Seller’s Journal

The headline quote is from John Embry, who had emailed this morning asking me my opinion on the jobs report released this morning.   Here’s my response, verbatim:

The NFP is a completely fictitious number and it truly confounds me every month to see how much time, energy and money is spent by the financial mafia discussing a number that is indisputably 100% fabrication.

I don’t want to tossed into the cesspool of analysts who get sucked in to dissecting and discussing an economic report that is entirely fictitious.  Let’s face it, it’s a made up number.   The number reported is not even remotely credible when put in the context of what’s happening to the U.S. economy.

I have better things to do with my time, like discuss this weekend’s NFL playoff games.  I can assure you, Embry’s knowledge and analysis of NFL football is at least on par with his high level of insight – and the ability to communicate that insight – on the financial markets.

To me the more interesting and relevant conversation encompasses how much longer can the insiders keep the financial markets propped up and how much longer will it be before the Government imposes complete totalitarian control over our system.

The response to today’s payroll by the stock and precious metals markets tells us that the market does not believe the NFP report.  When the headline hit, the S&P 500 futures spiked up 14 pts to go up 30 pts from where they were at yesterday’s 4 p.m. NYSE close.  Gold was smashed $8.   Currently, three hours later, the S&P 500 cash market is down 8 from yesterday’s close and gold has snapped back $13 from post NFP low print.

I will point out that the homebuilder stocks have dropped over 11% this year to date.  By the financial media’s yardstick, they are halfway to being considered in a “bear market.” If the NFP number had any fathomable degree of credibility, the homebuilder stocks would have staged a big rally today.  They are down 2.2% today alone.   Nothing more needs to be said on this matter.

Please have a good weekend – enjoy what you can, as much as you can, while you still can. The rug is being pulled out from under us and the landing will not be pleasant.