Precious metals news

The landscape of the U.S. economy is currently a blend of optimism and caution, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Business Economics (NABE). Only about 25% of business economists anticipate the United States entering a recession this year, suggesting a more positive outlook compared to previous expectations. This optimism is rooted in the belief that if a downturn were to occur, it would likely be triggered by external shocks, such as geopolitical tensions with China, rather than domestic issues like the higher interest rates seen in recent times.

In January, the prices of goods went up a bit more than what experts thought they would, showing that inflation isn't slowing down as quickly as hoped. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased by 0.3% from December to January and was 3.1% higher than last January. This was more than the expected 0.2% monthly increase and 2.9% yearly increase. Without including food and gas, which can have big price changes quickly, prices still went up by 0.4% in just a month. Investors are watching these numbers to predict when the Federal Reserve might lower interest rates to make borrowing money cheaper.

The S&P 500 hit a record high, closing above 5,000 for the first time after a strong few weeks driven by better-than-expected company earnings and the Federal Reserve's consistent message on inflation. This week, all eyes are on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January, with experts predicting a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, down from December's 3.4%. This suggests that while inflation is expected to have slowed, careful monitoring continues. The CPI measures changes in the price level of a basket of consumer goods and services, including food and energy, providing a key indicator of inflationary trends.

Jamie Dimon and other financial leaders warn that the U.S. debt, exceeding $34 trillion with a debt-to-GDP ratio of around 120%, is leading to a crisis deemed the "most predictable" in history. Despite the bipartisan nature of this issue, political action remains insufficient. This situation calls for urgent dialogue on fiscal responsibility to avoid the forecasted economic "death spiral" and global market backlash.

Mike and Alan dissect the troubling developments within the banking industry, honing in on NYCB's drastic stock price fall.

The article discusses the potential for silver prices to reach $30 in 2024, driven by a supply deficit and bullish market fundamentals. Despite the physical silver market's shortfall and silver being undervalued relative to gold, there's a strong case to be made that silver is deeply undervalued at its current price. New data from the Silver Institute suggests that considering the historical undervaluation and supply shortages, silver is significantly undervalued, hinting at much higher future prices beyond the conservative estimates.

Physically-backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) play a significant role in the gold market, attracting both institutional and individual investors who incorporate them into diversified investment portfolios. With data on over 100 physically-backed gold ETFs globally, the World Gold Council is back with some detailed analysis on what you should know before you invest in one.

The Bible features more than 700 references to gold and silver, emphasizing their timeless significance. The term ‘gold' alone appears in 47 of the 66 books of the Bible.
Beyond their current cultural relevance, these precious metals play a crucial role in scripture, highlighting three key attributes: their divine origin, intrinsic value, and monetary quality.

Zimbabwe is exploring the option of backing its currency with gold to stabilize its exchange rate, according to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube. This announcement comes as part of efforts to address the ongoing instability of the Zimbabwe dollar, which has struggled since its reintroduction in 2019 after a period of hyperinflation. President Emmerson Mnangagwa also indicated plans for a "structured currency" to overhaul the current system. Despite previous attempts, including the introduction of gold coins and digital tokens, to support the currency, the Zimbabwe dollar continues to perform poorly. These efforts have faced criticism from the International Monetary Fund, which has questioned the unconventional methods employed by Zimbabwe to improve its currency's value.

In the Year of the Dragon, historically known for bringing prosperity and strength, the U.S. stock market is anticipated to continue its upward trajectory, according to Tom Lee of Fundstrat Global Advisors. Analysis of market performance since 1871 shows that during Dragon years, U.S. equities have seen an average gain of 12.7%. For 2024, the Year of the Dragon, which starts on February 10, Lee predicts the S&P 500 could rise to as high as 5,350 points, marking a 6.4% increase from its recent closing.

In recent years, central banks across the globe have significantly increased their gold acquisitions, with purchases surpassing 1,000 tonnes annually in both 2022 and 2023. TD Securities analysts forecast this upward trend in gold buying to persist, driven by a growing consensus among central banks regarding a potential decline in the dominance of the US Dollar in the future. This shift in perspective, highlighted by recent surveys indicating a rise in skepticism towards the dollar's prevailing role, is expected to be a major catalyst for sustained gold demand. This insight underscores the strategic move by central banks to diversify their reserves amidst evolving economic forecasts.

The dollar saw a slight increase as many Asian markets were closed for a holiday, setting the stage for a potentially eventful week focused on U.S. inflation data. This data is crucial because it could hint at when the Federal Reserve might begin reducing interest rates. The euro fell slightly, while the pound also dropped. In contrast, the Japanese yen gained a bit of strength. The financial world is closely watching changes in central banks' interest rate plans, especially with recent strong job data suggesting the Fed might not cut rates until possibly May.

While GREEN ENERGY is still plagued with many problems and issues, Wind Power provided a BIG CHUNK of Texas Electricity Supply this past week.  Actually, I was quite stunned by the amount of wind power generation in the Texas ERCOT Grid this past week...

The Federal Reserve has been increasing the federal funds rate to fight inflation, with 11 hikes from March 2022 to July 2023. Although prices are beginning to decrease, the Fed is waiting for more solid data before making any rate cuts. In its first 2024 meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept interest rates stable at 5.25 to 5.5%, marking the highest rate in over 20 years. There are seven more meetings scheduled for the year where rate cuts could be considered, with the next one on March 19 and 20. This shows that while rate cuts are anticipated, they won't happen until at least spring, as the Fed carefully watches inflation trends.

The U.S. government has announced that inflation in December was even lower than initially reported. The revised data shows that prices for a wide range of goods and services rose by 0.2% for the month, which is lower than the first estimate of 0.3%. This slight adjustment indicates that inflation was cooling down as 2023 began, potentially giving the Federal Reserve more room to reduce interest rates later in the year.

In this week's Friday Gold Wrap Podcast, JD and Joel discuss why gold is down this week, Powell's comments on 60 Minutes about the debt, and some Valentine's Day thoughts inspired by Austrian economist Carl Menger.

Nvidia has seen its value skyrocket, reaching a point where it's now equivalent to the entire value of the Chinese stock market. Over the past year, Nvidia's value has jumped by 228%, contrasting sharply with the 26% drop in the Hang Seng Index, which tracks the Hong Kong stock market, primarily fueled by their dominance in the A.I. industry.

Oil prices surged as recent US data revisions indicated that inflation pressures are decreasing, sparking optimism that the Federal Reserve may lower interest rates later this year. The price of West Texas Intermediate oil climbed above $77 a barrel, driven by a mix of factors including the S&P 500 hitting new highs, increased geopolitical risks, and technical trading patterns. Additionally, shipping companies have raised alarms about worsening security in the Red Sea. The combination of these factors, along with tighter fuel markets as shown by rising refining margins, has contributed to oil's price rise.

Analysts at Commerzbank are not optimistic about a sudden shift towards rapid interest rate cuts, even if the inflation data comes in lower than expected. They believe that without a significant surprise in the inflation figures, gold is unlikely to break out of its current trading range, which lies between slightly over $2,050 and $2,000.

Going to the SuperBowl has never been cheap. But this year, as the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas for Super Bowl 58, the ticket prices have hit the roof, making it the priciest Super Bowl ever. Tickets are being sold for between $5,300 and $107,000 on Stubhub, with the average cost around $9,500. Compared to last year's game, ticket prices have shot up by 93%, and over the last decade, they've increased by 300%.