Precious metals news

For the 16th consecutive month, China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, has continued to increase its gold reserves, adding approximately 390,000 troy ounces in February. This persistent acquisition spree has played a significant role in propelling gold prices to unprecedented heights. As of the latest data, China's total gold reserves now amount to roughly 72.58 million troy ounces, or about 2,257 tons, underscoring the nation's strategic move to bolster its financial stability and diversify its asset base amidst global economic fluctuations.

This week, gold rose as high as $2,161/oz, surpassing the significant $2,100 milestone and marking a historic moment for gold investors.

As gold prices soared to unprecedented heights for the fifth consecutive day, reaching as high as $2,153 per troy ounce, it's clear that the rally is driven by more than just the current U.S. economic climate and anticipation of Federal Reserve policy shifts. While traders' expectations of imminent interest rate cuts by the Fed play a significant role—contributing to lower Treasury yields and a weaker dollar, thus making gold, a non-yielding asset, more appealing—the narrative surrounding gold's ascent isn't entirely straightforward. This complex interplay of factors underlines the intricate dynamics at play in the gold market, where confidence in traditional financial instruments wanes, and investors increasingly turn to the precious metal as a safe haven amid economic uncertainty.

In the heart of New York City's Times Square, a towering 50-foot billboard has been unveiled by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity (CTUP), striking a chord of caution among Americans with its stark warning about the nation's burgeoning $34 trillion debt. This three-month-long ad campaign is designed to visually encapsulate the perilous journey of the American economy under the weight of what the nonprofit describes as Washington D.C.'s reckless fiscal policies.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated on Wednesday that while the Fed anticipates reducing its key interest rate within the year, it seeks further proof of inflation steadily reverting to its 2% goal before taking action. His remarks to a House committee were consistent with his previous comments at a January 31 news conference. Nevertheless, subsequent reports have indicated a rise in inflation from December to January, alongside a boost in employment, signaling that the economy continues to be robust. Despite the recent inflationary uptick, Powell remained unperturbed, highlighting that, according to the Fed's preferred measure, inflation has significantly moderated over the last year, even though it still surpasses the Fed's target.

Gold's rise to a record high this week has left some analysts scratching their heads, wondering how much higher it can possibly climb. The unexpected 5% spike in gold prices over the last four trading days, culminating in surpassing the previous December peak, can be attributed to a cocktail of weak US economic data and banking sector anxieties. This surge, especially without clear signals of an impending shift in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies, has been surprising. Moreover, the current global climate, rife with geopolitical tensions, along with gold's resilient performance in the past year despite rising real interest rates, suggests a bullish horizon for the precious metal. This complex scenario underscores a potentially favorable future for gold, hinting at sustained high prices or even further increases.

Everyone’s heard of Javier Milei, the new president of Argentina, called by Fox News the world’s first libertarian president. He has been in the news for his denunciation of leftism, Marxism, and the sprawling bureaucracy that has trapped Argentina in debt. He’s also taken aim at run-away inflation in Argentina. Inflation in the last year was over 200% in Argentina, a rate that the United States hasn’t reached, even with Biden-levels of inflation.

I can honestly say that when I looked at Fresnillo's 2023 Year-end Results, I was stunned by how much their silver mining costs increased in the second half of the year.  Even with record silver production and higher prices, Fresnillo's financials were dismal...

Ron Paul’s recent op-ed from the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, reprinted in the Orange County Register, breaks down the profound damage caused by central bank money printing: it pits savers against speculators, encouraging consumers to use debt to fund basic needs since their savings are constantly evaporating due to monetary debasement.

Under new regulations introduced by the Joe Biden administration, millions of Americans will see a reduction in credit card fees. The White House announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has completed a ruling that significantly lowers the standard credit card late fee from an average of $32 down to $8. This move aims to alleviate the financial burden on consumers and marks a substantial shift in credit card fee policies.

New York Community Bancorp dropped as much as 32% on a report that the beleaguered regional bank is trying to raise equity capital to restore confidence.

In the midst of a global "everything rally," where asset classes across the board—from U.S. to Japanese and German stocks, alongside bitcoin—are reaching record highs, gold's unprecedented climb stands out for several reasons. Despite the typical pattern of rising prices attracting speculative interest, gold ETF holdings have surprisingly declined even as its price surged, a phenomenon highlighted by Jim Bianco of Bianco Research. Contrary to expectations, gold's value has increased amidst a strengthening dollar and diminishing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

In February, private sector employment experienced a modest uptick with 140,000 new jobs added, slightly under the anticipated 150,000, according to ADP. This growth represents an improvement from January's revised figure of 111,000. The leisure and hospitality sector was the leading contributor, adding 41,000 jobs, followed by construction with 28,000, and trade, transportation, and utilities with 24,000. This report serves as a precursor to the more comprehensive nonfarm payroll figures from the Labor Department, expected to be released on Friday.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized to lawmakers that the Fed is cautious about reducing interest rates prematurely, insisting on solid evidence of inflation control before making any moves. In his testimony, Powell suggested that while it might be suitable to decrease borrowing costs at some point this year, the Federal Reserve is not prepared to do so immediately. This stance aligns with recent sentiments from various Fed officials who highlight the current strength of the economy and labor market as reasons to wait for clearer signs of inflation returning to target levels before considering rate cuts.

Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday, lingering near the record highs set in the previous session, with investors eagerly awaiting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming testimony for indications of a possible interest rate cut in June. Spot gold rose by 0.3% to $2,132.80 per ounce by midday, just shy of its historic peak of $2,141.59 reached the day before. Similarly, U.S. gold futures remained stable at $2,141.60. The precious metal's climb to new heights isn't just in dollars; it has also reached record levels in other major currencies, reflecting its global appeal as a safe haven amid economic uncertainty.

Bond investors are increasingly wary of banks heavily involved in commercial real estate, leading to wider spreads on these banks' bonds as concerns grow over the impact of property debt on the financial system. Barclays Plc analysts, led by Dominique Toublan, have observed that banks with significant commercial property investments face higher costs of borrowing due to these widened spreads. This trend is notable even as there's a general rush towards financial industry bonds for their higher yields. Toublan points out that commercial real estate concerns are a major factor affecting bond spreads, accounting for about 80% of the variation in spreads among issuers in the U.S. investment-grade debt market.

The United Arab Emirates is advancing efforts to enhance transparency and ethical practices in gold transactions, especially those conducted through online platforms. This initiative, led by the World Gold Council (WGC), aims to empower consumers with the knowledge needed to make informed purchases and to ensure the credibility of selling entities.

Silver prices experienced a notable surge of over 4% in a single week, fueled by speculations of an impending U.S. interest rate cut. This anticipation was stirred by a downturn in U.S. manufacturing activity and a dip in consumer confidence, suggesting softer economic conditions that might prompt the Federal Reserve to adjust its monetary policy.

It has been considered one of the worst financial blunders the Government ever made... Telegraph Money reveals what went wrong 25 years ago – and outlines the repercussions.

In January 2024, central banks significantly bolstered their gold reserves, adding 39 tonnes to the global tally, with Turkey and China leading the acquisitions. This marked a robust start to the year, continuing a trend from 2023, which, although slightly below the record-setting pace of 2022, remained impressively strong. Such purchases have become a crucial factor in supporting the gold market. This ongoing interest from central banks is driven by persistent and, in some cases, intensifying factors that are expected to maintain or even increase their demand for gold throughout 2024.