(8-17-16) There have been unusually strong rallies in August on not a lot of good news -- and this doesn't usually happen. Normally August is a sell-off month. This appears then to be a set-up for a great shorting opportunity coming in September.

It's unusual for good economic calendar releases in August. Usually economies cool down in September and October, which are historically the two worst months of the year. Markets are high now and U.S. Treasury bonds continue to trade well.

The 30 year auctions unlike the 5's and the 10's don't get sold well. The 30 year auctions are now much smaller in volume than what they used to be. They are usually $7-8 billion whereas 3 years ago they were $13 billion.

The question arises then -- are we living in an artificial world with a fake economy, fake elections and a fake democracy?

For the rest of this column by Independent Geo-Political & Market Analyst Al Martin, CLICK HERE -- Al Martin Raw

* AL MARTIN, author of "The Conspirators: Secrets of an Iran Contra Insider," is an Independent Political-Economic Analyst with 25 years of experience as a trader on NYMEX, CME, CBOT and CFTC