Precious metals news

Gold's trajectory for 2025 looks exceptionally strong, building on its impressive 27% gain in 2024 - its best performance since 2010. A recent poll of 36 market experts projects gold reaching $2,756 per ounce in 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the metal's safe-haven appeal during Trump's second term. While gold briefly retreated following the U.S. election and the Fed's December meeting, which indicated fewer rate cuts for 2025, the metal has found renewed support from Trump's tariff threats and potential trade conflicts. However, analysts note a market divergence: while high prices might dampen jewelry demand in price-sensitive Asian markets, central bank purchases and speculative interest are expected to remain robust, particularly as geopolitical tensions and inflationary pressures persist.

The U.S. dollar saw significant gains on Tuesday following President Trump's statements aboard Air Force One regarding his plans for universal tariffs. While Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had proposed a gradual approach starting at 2.5% with incremental increases, Trump suggested he had a "much higher" rate in mind. Though declining to specify the exact figure, Trump emphasized the tariffs would be sufficient to "protect our country." This policy divergence triggered immediate market response, with the dollar index climbing more than half a point to 107.86, showing uniform strength against both the euro and Japanese yen. The market movement suggests investors are pricing in the potential impact of more aggressive trade policies than initially anticipated under the Bessent plan.

The Perrodo family, with an $8 billion fortune built on their oil company Perenco, is dramatically diversifying their investments through their London-based family office BNF Capital and private equity firm Perwyn Advisors. Their recent ventures span luxury real estate, high-end diamonds, fashion brands, and specialty food products, marking a significant shift from their traditional oil and gas focus while maintaining their core energy business.

A significant breakthrough appears possible in the ongoing dispute between Barrick Gold Corporation and Mali's government as both parties return to the negotiating table, facilitated by the National Workers Union of Mali. The conflict over revenue distribution from the Loulo-Gounkoto mine, one of the world's largest gold operations, has resulted in severe consequences including the seizure of gold stockpiles by Mali's government and an arrest warrant issued for Barrick's CEO Mark Bristow. While Mali's military junta hasn't explicitly stated their demands, Barrick has put forward a substantial $370 million settlement offer to resolve the standoff. This development marks a potential turning point in a dispute that has significantly impacted operations at a crucial mining facility and strained relations between the world's second-largest gold producer and the West African nation.

Gold markets found their footing on Tuesday after experiencing their steepest drop since December 18, when investors liquidated positions to cover losses in technology stocks. The selloff was precipitated by DeepSeek's announcement of a low-cost AI model, which challenged the dominance of established AI companies. Despite this turbulence, gold has maintained its position above $2,742 per ounce, supported by stable European equities and broader market recovery. Analysts remain bullish on gold's prospects for 2025, citing multiple supporting factors including potential Fed rate cuts, Trump's inflationary policies, and ongoing market uncertainty. Meanwhile, as the Federal Reserve begins its first meeting of the year, attention turns to monetary policy decisions, though Trump's recent comments about wanting lower borrowing costs have raised questions about the Fed's independence. While gold and silver maintain strong positions, analysts have reduced their forecasts for platinum and palladium due to persistent...

With Trump calling for the U.S. to be the Crypto Capital of the world and Senate Lummis promoting a Bitcoin Strategy Reserve, could China's DeepSeek put a real KIBOSH in the plans...

U.S. Treasury yields fell sharply on Monday, with the 10-year note dropping 12 basis points to 4.50% as investors sought safety amid a tech sector selloff triggered by Chinese AI firm DeepSeek's breakthrough. The flight to safety also boosted traditional haven currencies like the yen and Swiss franc, while traders increased bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts. The market reaction echoes concerns about U.S. tech valuations and technological dominance.

Oil prices are fluctuating near $78 per barrel as markets react to President Trump's rapid succession of trade policy moves, particularly the threatened and subsequently paused tariffs against Colombia. Despite the uncertainty, crude prices remain elevated from the start of the year, supported by cold weather, Russian sanctions, and strong Asian demand. Supply disruptions in Iraq's Rumaila field and record production in Kazakhstan are adding to market volatility.

Deutsche Bank's George Saravelos warns that DeepSeek's AI breakthrough could trigger a market correction reminiscent of the dot-com bust. While the innovation may boost long-term productivity and growth, the near-term impact could include a tech sector selloff, mild recession, and eventual dollar weakness. While Saravelos acknowledges the long-term benefits of lower-cost productivity gains and reduced inflation, he emphasizes that near-term market adjustments could be significant, particularly when combined with potential Trump administration fiscal measures and trade policies with China.

Pimco's Marc Seidner is taking a contrarian position on Federal Reserve policy, predicting two rate cuts in the second half of 2025 with potential for more, despite market expectations of fewer reductions. The veteran investment officer, whose Dynamic Bond Fund has outperformed 91% of peers, believes markets are overestimating the inflationary impact of Trump's policies and favors shorter-term Treasuries to capitalize on expected rate moves.

DeepSeek's breakthrough in cost-efficient AI model training has sent shockwaves through financial markets, particularly affecting semiconductor and tech stocks. The Chinese company's ability to train a competitive AI model for just $6 million, compared to the much higher costs of industry leaders like OpenAI ($78 million) and Google ($191 million), has raised fundamental questions about the sector's economics. While some analysts remain skeptical of DeepSeek's claims, their significantly lower end-user pricing - charging just 14 cents per million input tokens versus OpenAI's $15 - has caught market attention. The implications extend beyond chip manufacturers to recent infrastructure investments, including Trump's announced $500 billion AI deal with SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI. Furthermore, the development could dramatically impact utility companies and power infrastructure planning, as Morgan Stanley's projection of AI consuming 10% of U.S. electricity by decade's end may need revision if DeepSeek's effi...

A new face of food insecurity is emerging across America as working families increasingly rely on food banks to make ends meet, despite having steady jobs and income. The surge in demand reflects the lasting impact of a 23% price increase over the past five years, with grocery costs alone jumping nearly 28%. Food banks nationwide report record-breaking numbers, with facilities like the Flagstaff Family Food Center seeing demand surge from 28,000 to over 40,000 meals per month. The crisis traces back to the massive $5 trillion government stimulus during the pandemic, which helped achieve a rapid economic recovery but contributed to significant inflation. Now, the Federal Reserve faces a delicate balancing act between controlling inflation and supporting economic growth, as their policies directly affect millions of Americans already struggling with elevated living costs. The situation is particularly notable for affecting not just low-income households but also reaching into middle-income brackets, with so...

The Federal Reserve finds itself at a critical juncture as it prepares for its first post-inauguration meeting, with Chairman Powell working to preserve the central bank's independence amid mounting political pressure. Following last year's full percentage point rate cut to 4.25%-4.5%, the Fed plans to maintain current rates despite President Trump's repeated calls for immediate reductions. Market analysts, including UBS and LHMeyer, suggest the Fed will likely resist political pressure, maintaining its focus on economic data and inflation targets rather than White House demands. While tensions between the Fed and the White House may increase, experts emphasize that institutional support from Congress and financial markets should help shield the central bank's independence. The Fed's projected timeline for two rate cuts in 2025, with the first expected in June, contrasts with the administration's desire for earlier action to support its pro-growth agenda and manage federal budget costs. However, market pa...

Gold continues to demonstrate strength in the market, trading near its record high of $2,790.17, bolstered by multiple supportive factors. A softening U.S. dollar, down 0.28%, combined with falling Treasury yields, has enhanced gold's appeal as a safe-haven asset. The precious metal's resilience is particularly noteworthy given the current market environment, where tech stock volatility has triggered a broader flight to safety. Market sentiment remains bullish with traders targeting the $3,000 level, though careful attention is being paid to key support at $2,693.40. The upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting is expected to maintain current rates, potentially creating a favorable low-yield environment for gold. Additionally, geopolitical uncertainties and persistent inflation concerns continue to reinforce gold's traditional role as a hedge against market instability.

The British pound experienced mixed performance across major currencies, falling sharply against the yen while showing modest gains versus the dollar. The movement came as investors sought safe-haven assets amid tech sector turbulence and ahead of crucial central bank meetings this week. The currency markets are particularly focused on upcoming Federal Reserve and European Central Bank decisions, while the Bank of Japan maintains its hawkish stance.

Wall Street's anxiety levels spiked dramatically on Monday, reflected in a more than 30% surge in the CBOE VIX index—commonly known as the market's fear gauge—which climbed above 19. The sharp increase was driven by aggressive selling in technology shares, prompting traders to seek defensive positions through put options. These options, which give buyers the right to sell at specified prices, saw increased demand as investors moved to protect their portfolios against potential further market deterioration. The simultaneous tech selloff and rush for protection signals growing concerns about valuations and market stability in the technology sector.

Gold approaches record $2,790 level on Friday morning amid dollar weakness, as markets respond to Trump's measured tariff approach.

For the first time, over half of US stock trading consistently occurs outside public exchanges, with off-exchange activity reaching 51.8% in January. This historic transition from public exchanges to dark pools and internal firm trading represents a fundamental change in market dynamics. The trend is particularly driven by sub-dollar stock trading among retail investors, typically handled by major market makers like Citadel Securities and Virtu Financial. While the shift raises theoretical concerns about price discovery and market efficiency, Jefferies analysis shows that excluding sub-dollar stocks, off-exchange trading remains below 40%. Meanwhile, alternative trading systems (ATS) have grown in popularity, with daily volume reaching 1.7 billion shares in November, up 36% year-over-year, as institutional investors seek to minimize market impact. Despite SEC attempts to push activity back to public exchanges through new regulations, only two of four proposed rules were implemented, suggesting this trend ...

The World Gold Council's 2025 latest report emphasizes gold's role as a strategic investment, highlighting its value as a liquid, credit-risk-free asset that preserves wealth over time. The report identifies three key portfolio benefits: long-term returns, diversification advantages, and reliable liquidity, supported by diverse demand sources across investment, central bank reserves, jewelry, and technology sectors. The report emphasizes gold's multifaceted demand structure spanning investment, central bank reserves, jewelry, and technology sectors, which contributes to its three primary portfolio benefits: sustainable long-term returns, enhanced portfolio diversification, and consistent liquidity. This combination of attributes has proven especially valuable for investors maintaining long-term allocations, particularly during periods of market stress when gold's safe-haven qualities become most apparent.

Three days into his second term, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a clear regulatory framework for digital financial technology while explicitly banning central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) within US jurisdiction. The order, titled "Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology," creates a presidential working group chaired by former PayPal executive David Sacks to explore digital asset markets and potentially establish a strategic national digital assets stockpile. Trump's directive promotes dollar-backed stablecoins and blockchain innovation while revoking Biden-era policies deemed restrictive to US economic liberty. The move aligns with Trump's campaign promises to make the US the "Bitcoin superpower" and "crypto capital" of the world, coming after Bitcoin's price surge above $100,000 in December 2024. The order defines digital assets broadly, including cryptocurrencies, digital tokens, and stablecoins, while specifically prohibiting CBDCs, which Trump views...