Precious metals news

Trust in American institutions is eroding. Over 50% have little to no confidence in Congress, with only 3% expressing strong trust. The executive branch, led by Democrat Joe Biden, sees 39% of adults expressing distrust, with 56% of Republicans being particularly skeptical. Meanwhile, the conservative-majority Supreme Court faces skepticism from 36% of the population. This decline in trust extends to other pillars like religion, policing, and banking.

The Biden administration ran a $1.695 trillion budget deficit in fiscal 2023. It was the third-largest deficit in US history. The only time the US government ran bigger deficits was during the COVID years of 2020 and 2021.
The government closed out the year with a $170.98 billion deficit in September, according to the final Monthly Treasury Statement of the fiscal year. That was more than double the projection.

Bidenomics favors the top 1%, leaving the 99% struggling with low-wage jobs. A severe auto loan crisis looms, with delinquencies at a decades-high. Consumers face crushing debt and economic pressures, and a potential 2024 recession could worsen things. The Fed's interventions are further destabilizing an already shaky economy.

Biden's excessive federal spending has resulted in severe inflation, causing The Fed to hastily increase rates. The 10-year Treasury yield exceeds 5%, and the 30-year mortgage rate hits its highest since 2000 at 7.63%. Despite the economic strain, Biden seeks an additional $100 billion for Ukraine and Israel. Continuous reckless spending by the administration may lead to a predicted recession in 2024.

The US housing market is declining. Federal Reserve's Jerome Powell indicates potential rate hikes, suggesting concerns over high inflation. National Association of Realtors reports a 2.7% drop in active inventory and a 4.4% decrease in new listings from last year. The Fed's balance sheet remains near $8 TRILLION, with Powell giving no indication of significant reductions.

The mainstream continues to insist that the economy is fine. Inflation is beat. A soft landing is in play. But in his podcast, Peter Schiff said we're in the early stages of a financial crisis. It should be obvious, but very few people see it coming.

While the world is counting on growing LNG supply from the United States in the years ahead, unfortunately, most of the U.S. shale gas fields are in decline.  It really comes down to just two shale gas fields that provided the growth in the past several years... but that won't...

James Puplava predicts gold surpassing $10,000 by the decade's end. Having previously forecasted gold's rise when below $300, Puplava now points to demographic shifts, especially the retirement of baby boomers, as a key driver for rising precious metal prices. With China's declining workforce and the anticipated global depression between 2030 and 2036 by ITR economics, economic challenges loom. The current environment of high inflation and geopolitical tension may lead governments to print more money, possibly devaluing the dollar.

James Puplava predicts gold surpassing $10,000 by the decade's end. Having previously forecasted gold's rise when below $300, Puplava now points to demographic shifts, especially the retirement of baby boomers, as a key driver for rising precious metal prices. With China's declining workforce and the anticipated global depression between 2030 and 2036 by ITR economics, economic challenges loom. The current environment of high inflation and geopolitical tension may lead governments to print more money, possibly devaluing the dollar.

The Federal Reserve's restrictive monetary policy, aimed at combating inflation, has raised interest rates significantly since March 2022, impacting gold prices. Market insiders are closely watching for signs of the end of this rate hike cycle, which would bolster gold's value. Meanwhile, escalating global tensions, especially Russia's invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, are further influencing gold's surge. As of October 9, following an Israeli invasion, gold nears $2,000 per ounce. These gold price increases are set against a backdrop of significant global unrest and tragedy.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed plans to explore the gold dinar as a reserve currency. This move aims to strengthen trade and reduce US dollar dependence. With the halal industry surpassing USD1 trillion, the dinar's significance is growing. Anwar noted the positive response to using local currencies in trade with countries like China, Indonesia, and Thailand.

In the backdrop of potential U.S. sanctions, Chinese experts highlight the strategic importance of gold. Researchers suggest strengthening gold reserves and pushing for gold-denominated trade to bolster the yuan. Taking cues from Russia's post-sanctions approach, they recommend pivoting towards more gold-centric financial strategies. The country's central bank has consecutively increased its gold reserves for several months, underscoring the metal's significance in China's financial resilience plan.

The US banking industry is facing a severe crisis with rising interest rates and turmoil in real estate, leading to bank branch closures and significant layoffs. Just in the first week of October, 54 bank branches were shut down. Moreover, the number of commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcies increased by 61% this year. Sales of previously owned homes have plunged to 2010 levels, and home foreclosures are up 34% from last year. The worsening economic conditions suggest a deepening recession is on the horizon, exacerbated by potential global conflicts. The situation is dire and expected to escalate.

Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman expressed strong concerns about a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC), highlighting "significant risks" to the financial system and consumer privacy. She questioned the clear benefits of a CBDC and warned of its potential impact on the banking sector. While the Fed remains cautious, the European Central Bank is pushing ahead with its CBDC efforts.

Gold is on the move. Silver is flying.

Due to excessive currency debasement, especially in the U.S., prices have skyrocketed. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's threats to tax grocery stores, blaming them for inflation, is misguided. The main culprit behind inflation is the government's own policies: high taxation, excessive regulations, and rampant money printing. Ironically, politicians like Trudeau, after causing these problems, position themselves as the solution. Their "solutions" only exacerbate the issue, as adding taxes will inevitably lead to higher consumer costs.

The Fed's hubris in battling inflation could be leading to its own devastating "Waterloo." As debt levels rise alarmingly, the tipping point for financial fragility draws closer. The recent spikes in yields are clear warnings that the system is under duress. Despite their outward confidence, there are whispers within the Fed of halting rate hikes, revealing underlying panic.

December Gold Futures Break $2000.00 an Ounce today on multiple news fronts.

This week, a firmer trend in gold continued as markets realised the seriousness of the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. In European trade this morning, gold traded at $1979, up $46 from last Friday’s close and up $160 from the October 6 low. Silver was less responsive at $22.95, up a modest 25 cents from last Friday’s close.
Open interest in gold remains remarkably low, as our next chart shows.

This is possibly the most bullish chart we can show. It illustrates the very low level of speculative and hedging interest in gold, both of which can be expected to increase materially as the conflict in Israel evolves. Central to the problem, of course, is oil. Any attempt by the US and her NATO allies to intervene increases the likelihood of Iran closing off Hormuz at a time when western oil reserves are depleted. And according to StanChart, oil demand now exceeds pre-covid pandemic levels.
Higher oil and distillate prices are also being encouraged by OPEC+, led ...

Gold price reaches a three-month high of $1,985, driven by Middle East tensions and expectations of the Federal Reserve holding rates. A significant retreat in US Treasury bond yields, especially the benchmark 10-year yield pulling away from its 16-year peak, further bolsters gold's ascent.