Luke Gromen

Luke Gromen

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Founder, FFTT; macro on USD, global liquidity, and policy.

China Won’t Be the Biggest Loser if Hormuz Closes
SocialMar 21, 2026

China Won’t Be the Biggest Loser if Hormuz Closes

Many commentators on Iran war have seemingly not thought any further ahead than “China is hurt most by Hormuz closing” Below is just one small example of why that view is so wrong 👇

By Luke Gromen
TACO Plans Falter Without Open Hormuz, Market Pressure
SocialMar 20, 2026

TACO Plans Falter Without Open Hormuz, Market Pressure

Third attempt at TACO this week (one early in the week by Trump, one Thursday by Netanyahu - was that a NACHO?) Both of those failed because Iran and the bond market both get a say. This TACO attempt and all...

By Luke Gromen
Gold Slides Below $4500, Biggest Weekly Drop Since 1983
SocialMar 20, 2026

Gold Slides Below $4500, Biggest Weekly Drop Since 1983

GOLD FALLS TO UNDER $4500, SET FOR ITS BIGGEST WEEKLY FALL SINCE 1983. - @FirstSquawk Gold volatility in USD is doing what gold volatility did in 1920s Weimar German Reichsmarks, which makes perfect sense once you understand our present context. Chart...

By Luke Gromen
War with Iran Could Collapse Global Financial System
SocialMar 20, 2026

War with Iran Could Collapse Global Financial System

If I wanted to discredit US neocons & their foreign sponsors for a generation, I would give them exactly what they have always wanted: A big war with Iran, at their urging… …that leads directly to a collapse of global financial...

By Luke Gromen
B
SocialMar 20, 2026

B

Bessent un-sanctioned Russian oil AFTER WaPo reported Russia was helping Iran targeting US assets the way the US has been helping UKR target Russian assets... ...& yet Wall Street consensus overwhelmingly remains that "Bessent has everything under control." Fade that view, hard

By Luke Gromen
Extended Hormuz Closure Threatens Sovereign Debt, Consumer Credit
SocialMar 20, 2026

Extended Hormuz Closure Threatens Sovereign Debt, Consumer Credit

If Hormuz stays closed another 3-4 weeks, it all begins to crumble...into an already-teetering global sovereign debt problem & consumer credit problem. Based on what I'm hearing, it is highly likely Hormuz will remain closed for at least another 3-4 weeks. Let's...

By Luke Gromen
Late‑
SocialMar 19, 2026

Late‑

10y UST yields (blue, RS) v. USDCNY (red, LS), since Russia invaded UKR in Feb-22. Something changed in late 2025 (stronger CNY v. USD and higher 10y UST yield, instead of lower.) https://t.co/hW48oZdc2B

By Luke Gromen
US Intel Says China Not Planning 2027 Taiwan Invasion
SocialMar 19, 2026

US Intel Says China Not Planning 2027 Taiwan Invasion

US intelligence assessment admits China is not planning a 2027 Taiwan invasion, contrary to the assertions of numerous China hawks. h/t PA https://t.co/yR1D5boDrL

By Luke Gromen
Briefing on Q3 2026 CPI Ahead of Midterms
SocialMar 18, 2026

Briefing on Q3 2026 CPI Ahead of Midterms

Did he just get a briefing about what CPI is likely to be in 3q26, just ahead of midterms?

By Luke Gromen
Hormuz Closure Sparks Oil Spike, Not Deficit Monetization
SocialMar 18, 2026

Hormuz Closure Sparks Oil Spike, Not Deficit Monetization

If Hormuz is still closed in a month (it likely will be), this is going to turn into "We are doing more not-QE RMP's into an oil spike, but we are NOT monetizing deficits" so fast that investors heads will...

By Luke Gromen
Iran's Missile Strike Fails; Investors Still Expect Hormuz Opening
SocialMar 18, 2026

Iran's Missile Strike Fails; Investors Still Expect Hormuz Opening

Several "dogs that didn't bark" in one headline: -Iran warned ahead of time it would hit Ras Laffan. -It fired five missiles (which it is said to be running out of.) -Four were reportedly intercepted, but one got through. -Investor consensus remains...

By Luke Gromen
Power Makes People Impulsive, Risk‑Blind, Perspective‑Deficient
SocialMar 18, 2026

Power Makes People Impulsive, Risk‑Blind, Perspective‑Deficient

"Subjects under the influence of power, he found in studies spanning two decades, acted as if they had suffered a traumatic brain injury - becoming more impulsive, less risk-aware, and crucially, less adept at seeing things from other people's point...

By Luke Gromen
Separating China and Russia Failing Like Hormuz Reopening
SocialMar 18, 2026

Separating China and Russia Failing Like Hormuz Reopening

The plan to separate China and Russia appears to be going about as well as the plan to re-open Hormuz. https://t.co/77hPZR1z9w

By Luke Gromen
Closing Hormuz Guarantees Outcome; Only Duration Matters
SocialMar 17, 2026

Closing Hormuz Guarantees Outcome; Only Duration Matters

Keep Hormuz closed long enough and it is a mathematical and logistical certainty. The only debate is "How long is 'long enough' to make that happen?"

By Luke Gromen
Policymakers Miss Logistics Impact of Closing Hormuz
SocialMar 17, 2026

Policymakers Miss Logistics Impact of Closing Hormuz

Every US policymaker & investor we see talks about "tactics": How many Iranian ships we've sunk, how many launchers we've destroyed.... ...while ignoring what keeping Hormuz closed will do to global "logistics", even as Iran openly admits "logistics" is their whole...

By Luke Gromen
Bessent Mirrors 1992 BOE: Fighting USD Collapse Over Oil
SocialMar 16, 2026

Bessent Mirrors 1992 BOE: Fighting USD Collapse Over Oil

Bessent now finds himself in the position of the Bank of England in 1992 when Soros, Druckenmiller, & Bessent "broke the BOE": Trying to prevent the USD from collapsing v. oil with a finite amount of oil reserves as markets &...

By Luke Gromen
Qatar, Kuwait Will Dump US Assets Amid GDP Collapse
SocialMar 15, 2026

Qatar, Kuwait Will Dump US Assets Amid GDP Collapse

If their GDP drops 14%, do you think Qatar and Kuwait will: a) Slash government outlays (thereby risking domestic unrest), or; b) Sell USTs & US equities “until their hands bleed” to raise USDs to buy needed goods to try to...

By Luke Gromen
US Now Settles Trade Deficit with Gold Exports
SocialMar 15, 2026

US Now Settles Trade Deficit with Gold Exports

3rd month out of the last 4 that the US' biggest export has been gold. Only time that's happened in at least 20 years (& probably ever.) US is de facto net settling a portion of trade its trade deficit...

By Luke Gromen
Drones Undermine Russia; Hormuz Closure Un
SocialMar 14, 2026

Drones Undermine Russia; Hormuz Closure Un

We're told Russia has always been good at electronic warfare. Russia has been bogged down in Ukraine for four YEARS by drones, etc. US investors believe drones, etc. will not keep Hormuz closed much longer. Here's what happens if Hormuz stays closed for...

By Luke Gromen
USD Reserve Status Threatened If Commodity Contracts Fail
SocialMar 13, 2026

USD Reserve Status Threatened If Commodity Contracts Fail

Good point & good question - what happens to the USD's reserve status if USD commodity contracts are broken on a widespread basis? What's the point of holding USDs if they are declared worthless for commodities when inconvenient? See 2022 seizure of...

By Luke Gromen
Hormuz Closure Would Crash Markets, Boost Commodities and Inflation
SocialMar 13, 2026

Hormuz Closure Would Crash Markets, Boost Commodities and Inflation

It is hard to overstate how negative it is for stocks, bonds, and the global economy, and how positive it is for commodities and inflation (up bigly) if Hormuz is still closed in a month. Every single price on our screens...

By Luke Gromen
Question Saudi Drone Deals Using Inversion Thinking
SocialMar 12, 2026

Question Saudi Drone Deals Using Inversion Thinking

"Invert, always invert." -Charlie Munger For example, "Why isn't Saudi buying any and all such drones from the US?" There are only a few possible answers; none of them fit with US investor consensus views. 🤔 BN 03/12 15:35 *SAUDI ARAMCO IN TALKS...

By Luke Gromen
Pentagon Knew Vietnam Unwinnable, yet Kept Sending Troops.
SocialMar 12, 2026

Pentagon Knew Vietnam Unwinnable, yet Kept Sending Troops.

The Pentagon Papers revealed that the US Pentagon knew the Vietnam war was unwinnable by 1966 and yet kept sending US boys to die anyway... After 9 more years and ~55,000 more dead GI's, we were forced to hurriedly evacuate Saigon...

By Luke Gromen
Early Input Pricing Shields Farmers Amid Iran War
SocialMar 12, 2026

Early Input Pricing Shields Farmers Amid Iran War

Friend of mine that runs a large agricultural operation just texted: "We locked in pricing for farm inputs late last year & early this year before the Iran War started, which is good because now our suppliers will not even provide...

By Luke Gromen
Hormuz Closure Threatens Markets, Fuels Inflation Surge
SocialMar 12, 2026

Hormuz Closure Threatens Markets, Fuels Inflation Surge

...and yet, the Strait of Hormuz is STILL closed, for the 13th day. Why? 🤔 At some point, investors are going to understand why this is; when they do, it is going to be very bad for both stocks AND...

By Luke Gromen
Iran Targets US Markets; Conflict Strains Credit Channels
SocialMar 11, 2026

Iran Targets US Markets; Conflict Strains Credit Channels

March 3, 2026 edition of FFTT: "Iran doesn't need to defeat the US military; just the UST market" March 11, 2026: "S&P has warned that the Middle East conflict is beginning to strain credit channels across multiple sectors" https://t.co/pnftNUeht5

By Luke Gromen
Israeli Missile‑intercept Footage Now Banned From Media
SocialMar 10, 2026

Israeli Missile‑intercept Footage Now Banned From Media

"Images of Israeli air defenses intercepting incoming missiles had been a major part of the coverage at the start of the war, and was a feature in the coverage of the June 2025 war. However, this is now forbidden." -France24,...

By Luke Gromen
US, Israel, Iran Trade Bluffs Over Missile Capabilities
SocialMar 9, 2026

US, Israel, Iran Trade Bluffs Over Missile Capabilities

US and Israel: “This means Iran is out of missiles with warheads lighter than one ton.” Iran: “We think Israel is largely out of interceptor missiles.” High stakes poker to find out who has been bluffing about missile capabilities and who hasn’t...

By Luke Gromen
Japan Lifts YCC; Iran Targets UST Market Vulnerability
SocialMar 9, 2026

Japan Lifts YCC; Iran Targets UST Market Vulnerability

10y UST yield (blue, RS1) USDJPY * oil (red, LS) USDCNY * oil (green, RS2) Since Japan lifted YCC on 10y JGBs 👇 "Iran doesn't have to beat the US military; it just has to beat the UST market" -Title of 3/3/26...

By Luke Gromen
Trump Admin Anticipates Prolonged Oil Disruptions Amid Russia‑Iran Ties
SocialMar 9, 2026

Trump Admin Anticipates Prolonged Oil Disruptions Amid Russia‑Iran Ties

A sophisticated man like Bessent “unsanctioning” Russian oil as Russia is… 1. Openly supporting Iran 2. Reportedly helping Iran target US assets 3. Still fighting Ukraine …strongly suggests the Trump Admin knows these oil disruptions are going to be longer than expected.

By Luke Gromen
Gold as Safety Valve, Oil Price Spikes Threaten Global Chaos
SocialMar 8, 2026

Gold as Safety Valve, Oil Price Spikes Threaten Global Chaos

In theory, this looks like they are trying to let gold be a release valve of the coming oil inflation. If so, this would be smart IMO, because if gold goes to $7,000, nothing happens…but if oil goes to $130, all...

By Luke Gromen
US AI Supercomputers in Middle East Shift Global Race
SocialMar 7, 2026

US AI Supercomputers in Middle East Shift Global Race

Look at how much US AI supercomputer cluster capacity was planned for/installed in UAE and Saudi Have not seen any strategists discuss yet what this means for US v. China AI race Seems important. Thoughts? https://t.co/23plcm9k0V

By Luke Gromen
US Urges Oil Shift to Pressure China, Russia
SocialMar 5, 2026

US Urges Oil Shift to Pressure China, Russia

"I know I said last April that 'as the debtor country, America has all the leverage v. China'...& I know we are actively trying to choke out both you AND Russia...but could you buy less oil from Russia & more...

By Luke Gromen
US ISR Support to Ukraine Raises Escalation Risks
SocialMar 5, 2026

US ISR Support to Ukraine Raises Escalation Risks

Last March, the New York Times wrote that the US was supplying detailed ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) to Ukraine so that Ukraine could more effectively kill Russian targets (with US-made weapons.) We appear to be approaching dangerous territory. https://t.co/aBoGhQCU2x

By Luke Gromen
US Debt Surge Meets Historic Oil Shock, Spiraling Risks
SocialMar 5, 2026

US Debt Surge Meets Historic Oil Shock, Spiraling Risks

In 1973, US debt/GDP was 32%, deficit/GDP was 1%, & NIIP/GDP was +10%. There was no level of inflation & rates that could push the US into a debt spiral. Today those #’s are 122%, 6%, & -90%, & 4.8% 10y...

By Luke Gromen
Russia Shifts Gas to China, Threatens Europe Supply
SocialMar 5, 2026

Russia Shifts Gas to China, Threatens Europe Supply

September 2, 2025: Russia and China sign major new gas pipeline deal March 4, 2026: Putin says Russia may halt gas supplies to Europe https://t.co/kEjAnIqyrP

By Luke Gromen
Yield Rise Minimal Despite Growing Middle East Tensions
SocialMar 4, 2026

Yield Rise Minimal Despite Growing Middle East Tensions

Mideastern commodity force majeures beginning to populate my X feed Western company evacuations of Mideastern countries beginning to populate my X feed Western investor consensus still heavily weighted to this being a short conflict. Yet 10y UST yields are only up to 4.08%?...

By Luke Gromen
US Weapon Supply Hinges on Chinese Components Despite Oil Strikes
SocialMar 1, 2026

US Weapon Supply Hinges on Chinese Components Despite Oil Strikes

"Amateurs talk tactics; professionals study logistics." -USMC Gen. Robert Barrow Many rightfully noting US hitting Chinese oil supplies; few noting that US cannot restock weapons without Chinese components. Left headline: Wednesday of last week Right headline: WSJ today https://t.co/N0oRvB87DA

By Luke Gromen
Bond Rally Threatened by Potential Strait of Hormuz Closure
SocialFeb 28, 2026

Bond Rally Threatened by Potential Strait of Hormuz Closure

Bond bulls that were celebrating 10y UST yields dropping <4% on Friday waking up Saturday morning to reports that the Strait of Hormuz is possibly being closed 👇 https://t.co/pg9o9TPdO5

By Luke Gromen
US Ignores China AI Threat to Corporate Profits
SocialFeb 27, 2026

US Ignores China AI Threat to Corporate Profits

Notable IMO b/c thus far this sell-off narrative seems to be focused solely on how US AI could disrupt the US. No one seems to be worried yet about what happens to US corporate profits if China AI disrupts the US. If...

By Luke Gromen
AI Job Losses Could Spark Credit and Debt Crisis Soon
SocialFeb 27, 2026

AI Job Losses Could Spark Credit and Debt Crisis Soon

The question is NOT "Will AI take all the white-collar jobs or not?" (It won't.) The questions are: 1. "How many white-collar jobs does AI have to take to trigger a consumer credit, & then government receipt & global sovereign...

By Luke Gromen
AI's White‑Collar Disruption Inevitable, Timing Only Question
SocialFeb 26, 2026

AI's White‑Collar Disruption Inevitable, Timing Only Question

When industrial companies were rewarded by the stock market for moving production to China, it was like a starting gun going off for jobs moving to China. Fade calls that AI will not be that disruptive to white collar jobs; the...

By Luke Gromen
Redirect Chinese Savings to Gold to Preserve USD Dominance
SocialFeb 24, 2026

Redirect Chinese Savings to Gold to Preserve USD Dominance

“The goal is to keep the USD as the world's transaction rail without agreeing to absorb unlimited foreign savings into USTs” Exactly. Separating from China & re-shoring requires redirecting Chinese surpluses into a neutral reserve asset (gold)…and that requires 5-figure...

By Luke Gromen
China Swapped US Treasuries for Commodities via BRI
SocialFeb 23, 2026

China Swapped US Treasuries for Commodities via BRI

How China largely sold out of their net UST exposure yrs ago AND cornered critical minerals without ever impacting UST or commodity markets: Lend USDs along Belt & Road (BRI), repayable in either USD, CNY, or physical commodities This amounted to swapping...

By Luke Gromen
AI Could Be the First Non‑displacing Productivity Wave
SocialFeb 22, 2026

AI Could Be the First Non‑displacing Productivity Wave

L: Productivity miracle 1.0 - autos (white) replace horses (orange) in 10 yrs; horses never recover R: Productivity miracle 2.0 - China replaces US manufacturing workers; US mfg workers down ~35% in 10 yrs Productivity miracle 3.0 - AI v. white-collar jobs;...

By Luke Gromen
Weaker Dollar Spurs Record Foreign Inflows
SocialFeb 21, 2026

Weaker Dollar Spurs Record Foreign Inflows

1. Chart in original post shows the weaker USD (DXY) gets, the more flows will move into USD assets...& DXY had biggest drop in 52 yrs in 1H25👇 2. So as long as DXY keeps falling 10-15%/yr, foreign** inflows will grow **37%...

By Luke Gromen
China’s Defense Surplus Funding Threatens US Corporate Influence
SocialFeb 20, 2026

China’s Defense Surplus Funding Threatens US Corporate Influence

Sad to watch so many analysts and economists argue that it is a "win" to allow China to continue to deploy surpluses earned from making a significant % of the US military for us 👇into US equity stakes which China...

By Luke Gromen
Foreign Central Banks Sell USTs Even as Dollar Weakens
SocialFeb 16, 2026

Foreign Central Banks Sell USTs Even as Dollar Weakens

One of a number of potentially important macro divergences that occurred in 2H25 is shown below. For the prior 10+ years, foreign Central Banks sold USTs when the USD rose and bought USTs when the USD fell. In 2H25, foreign CB’s sold...

By Luke Gromen