Why the Tepid Macau Recovery is Over

2016 may end up being seen as the year of the Dead Macau Cat Bounce. (Dead Macat Bounce?) The recovery has been pretty blah so far, though the right stocks have seen some decent gains. We recognized a possible Macau bottom back in March, calling it temporary with growth prospects still quite low. Besides the initial strong bounce out of the January bottom, there hasn’t been much more of a run since March. With the exception of Las Vegas Sands, the only Macau stock in the model this year, and Galaxy Entertainment which was one of the hardest hit equities, the rally seems to have stalled. And it may be about to reverse. Here’s why.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting older or if this US election actually is the most insane ever but the latest twist in the campaign with FBI director James Comey reopening a criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email habits and finding a treasure trove of 650,000 emails one week before the election has me convinced that Donald Trump will win the Presidency, and this could have profound implications for Macau.

Now I can’t resist this, but the fact that Anthony’s Weiner is back, yet again, in the news, and threatening the downfall of the Clinton dynasty, is hard proof not necessarily of God’s existence, but definitely of God’s sense of humor if He’s really out there. Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner were set up by Hillary. Bill conducted the wedding. Little did they know the couple of the year would be the Clinton’s undoing. A common anti Semitic trope goes that the Jews control the White House, but I doubt whoever spread that missive had Anthony Weiner’s sexting habits in mind. If Weiner is a Mossad agent, he would be by far the most ingenious undercover operative the world has ever known.

As for Comey, he knows on which side his bread is buttered. If Hillary wins, he’s going to get fired and possibly even imprisoned for reopening the case last weekend. His life as he has known it will be over. I’m not saying the FBI rigs elections by faking votes or something. Maybe it does, but I have no idea. But just practically, the safest thing for Comey to do for his own sake so he doesn’t end up in prison for either refusing to indict Hillary under a Trump presidency or for reopening the case a week before the election under a Clinton presidency given the new Weiner information, is to try to ensure a Trump victory with him being the vehicle that tipped the election for Trump. That way his future is safe. Any other way, and his life would depend on an uncertain election. He’s no gambler. He counted the cards and this was the best he could do for himself under the circumstances.