Precious metals news

Explore how Libertarian President Javier Milei swiftly achieved a balanced budget in Argentina, challenging traditional government norms.

Billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones has raised alarms over the burgeoning U.S. federal debt, which he refers to as a "debt bomb" that may soon reach a critical juncture. In a candid discussion with CNBC, Jones discussed the severity of the current U.S. economic situation, which is significantly buoyed by the government's extensive borrowing and spending. This reliance on debt, according to Jones, poses a substantial threat to the nation's financial stability. He points out that projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicate that by 2024, the cost of servicing the U.S. debt is expected to eclipse other major expenditures, including defense and Medicare, marking a concerning milestone in the country's fiscal trajectory.

The Dallas Fed's Manufacturing Survey has continued its negative trend for the 22nd consecutive month as of February, although there was a slight improvement from January's lows. The headline indicator remained in the negative territory at -11.3, reflecting ongoing challenges in the manufacturing sector.

Gold prices saw a slight decline as investors and traders turned their attention to the upcoming U.S. inflation data, expected to be released this week. This data is significant as it could potentially affect the Federal Reserve's decisions on interest rate cuts. Spot gold fell by 0.5% to $2,025.91 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures experienced a 0.6% drop to $2,036.60. The focus is particularly on the U.S. personal consumption expenditure (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, which is anticipated to show a 0.4% monthly increase. Analysts suggest that higher-than-expected PCE data might exert downward pressure on metal prices, though gold is expected to stay above the $2,000 mark unless the economic data released this week is exceptionally high.

The Japanese yen has significantly weakened against major currencies, marking it as the decade's worst performer. Particularly against the US dollar, the yen has fallen 37.8% since 2020, even reaching a 30-year peak above 151.50. Despite the dollar's strong performance, a large majority of traders (74%) are betting on the yen to bounce back, anticipating a return to its average historical values. This suggests a widespread belief in a potential correction following its steep decline, highlighting investor sentiment for a mean reversion in the currency market.

The resurgence of bond vigilantism in the market for sovereign debt, as seen in the UK's recent financial turmoil, raises concerns about potential impacts on the US economy. With the US's significant role in providing safe assets during global crises and the dollar's status as the leading reserve currency, the idea of similar challenges in the US Treasury market seems almost unthinkable. Despite the US economy's decreasing share of global output, the dollar remains a cornerstone of central banks' foreign exchange reserves, largely due to its backing by the world's largest and most liquid debt market. However, some caution that Treasuries may no longer be considered an ultra-safe store of value, a point not addressed in optimistic views about the dollar's enduring dominance.

In 2023, Citadel, a leading multi-strategy hedge fund, saw its profits soar thanks to its commodities trading business, which raked in over $4 billion. The Bloomberg report highlights Citadel's strategic prowess in leveraging market trends and volatility to secure substantial gains, illustrating the hedge fund's strong performance in a sector known for its challenges and opportunities.

The World Gold Council has kicked off the 'You are Gold' campaign in India, targeting a fresh and youthful audience. This innovative multimedia initiative is designed to deepen the connection between millennials, Gen Z, and gold, casting the precious metal not just as a financial asset but as a symbol of personal empowerment and expression. It's a strategic move to align gold with the values of courage, perseverance, and the expressive identity of younger generations, thereby rejuvenating its appeal in a country with deep-rooted gold traditions.

It's truly astonishing to see how quickly the gold mining industry's costs have surged in the past few years.  While several analysts blame the mining companies for being poorly run, the Fed and central banks are the real culprits...

The US economy is bloated. Years of massive spending and stimulus fed government bureaucracy and elites, but left behind record-high debt and stagnant income for everyone else. It's no wonder Americans don't see a healthy economy. Our guest commentator delves into this disconnect.

This is an IMPORTANT Update for several reasons.  While discussing even more short-term "Bearish" fundamentals for Natgas, I see this as an opportunity, not a negative.  Also, something BIG is about to Break in the Silver Market... but which way...

This week Peter covers the highlights of a volatile trading week, paying special attention to Nvidia, Wall Street’s favorite AI stock, and Newmont Corporation, a heavy hitter in the gold mining industry. Both companies’ shares experienced dramatic price action this week, with NVDA gaining $260 billion in market cap and pulling the market up after an excellent earnings report. Newmont, on the other hand, saw shares fall 7% after a disappointing last quarter. 

The dream of retirement seems increasingly elusive for many younger Americans. A recent survey by the TIAA Institute revealing that about 21% of those aged 22 to 34 view retirement as either unattainable or not part of their life plan. This sentiment is understandable given the mounting challenges they face: the scarcity of decent entry-level jobs, the heavy burden of student loans, and the soaring cost of living. Social media platforms like TikTok are flooded with discussions about a "silent recession" or "silent depression," highlighting the struggle to afford basic necessities such as auto insurance, food, rent, and utilities...

Economists have recently updated their U.S. recession predictions, now estimating only a 40% chance, thanks to anticipated robust job market performance and solid consumer spending. This optimism is reflected in the revised economic growth forecast, which has been adjusted to a 2.1% annualized rate for this year, a significant increase from last month's 1.5% projection. This uptick is attributed to expected increases in household demand and government expenditure. Furthermore, consumer spending, a critical engine of the economy making up two-thirds of the GDP, is projected to rise by nearly 0.5% more than previously thought in the coming two years.

In 2023, the U.S. economy leaned heavily on consumer spending. Now, record-breaking credit card debt combined with soaring interest rates has catapulted delinquencies to new heights, signaling a burgeoning crisis in credit card debt. As these financial pressures mount, an increasing number of Americans are desperately seeking solutions. Data from Money Management International (MMI), a nonprofit credit counseling agency, reveals a significant spike in individuals seeking debt counseling post-holidays in January. This trend shows the urgent need to address and mitigate the growing credit card debt crisis.

Jurrien Timmer, Fidelity's Director of Global Macro, predicts Bitcoin's market capitalization could reach $6 trillion. His analysis, which was shared in a recent post, hinges on the premise that Bitcoin will increasingly be seen as a digital counterpart to traditional gold, serving as a dependable store of value.

In a shift from earlier market predictions, three leading brokerages have now set their sights on June for the anticipated U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut. The release of the Fed's January session minutes unveiled a palpable sense of uncertainty among officials, causing deep discussion on maintaining the current borrowing cost range of 5.25%-5.50% to achieve the central bank's inflation target of 2%.

Oil prices took a hit, falling over 2% as the Federal Reserve hinted at delaying interest rate cuts. With Brent crude futures tumbling down to $81.78 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also taking a significant dip to $76.73, the oil market is bracing for a weekly downturn. Despite this week's fall, with Brent facing a 2% decrease and the U.S. benchmark poised for a 3% drop, there's a glimmer of hope. Signs of robust fuel demand coupled with looming supply concerns hint at a potential rebound in oil prices, offering a silver lining in the cloudy market scenario.

JD and Joel discuss Peter's take on the record-breaking highs in stocks, driven by chip company NVIDIA's $277 billion Thursday rally. Is there a stock bubble driven by AI hype and low-interest rates? How might the Fed respond and what does this mean for gold?

The US dollar's role as the global reserve currency is being challenged due to its use as a financial tool against countries like Russia and Iran. This has motivated nations, including the BRICS, to seek alternatives to the dollar, such as new international currencies and diversifying trade currencies, particularly in oil. While the shift away from dollar dominance is underway, a complete transition could take decades.