Precious metals news

In Montgomery County, Maryland, a 19-year-old man, Zhenyong Weng, has been charged in a sophisticated gold bar scam that defrauded an 82-year-old woman of over $900,000. This case, the second of its kind in four months, involved complex schemes with coded communications and parking lot exchanges. Police uncovered the fraud and arrested Weng by posing as a victim. While Weng's defense attorney argues his client was only involved in a pickup, not the entire scheme, the judge deemed it a "major crime" targeting a vulnerable senior citizen. The scammers nearly obtained an additional $2.6 million before being caught. There's no apparent connection to a similar case from four months ago.

According to DataTrek, silver appears undervalued compared to gold when examining the historical gold/silver price ratio. While gold has reached new all-time highs, silver remains below its 2011 peak. The current gold/silver ratio stands at 78:1, higher than the historical average. Despite silver's 27% year-to-date gain compared to gold's 19%, silver's significant industrial demand (57% of total demand) contrasts with gold's primary role as a store of value. Historically, the gold/silver ratio has spiked during economic uncertainties. DataTrek's Nicholas Colas suggests that silver's relative undervaluation could lead to further gains this year, although gold remains the preferred long-term investment.

Former President Donald Trump has cautioned Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell against cutting interest rates before the November 2024 presidential election, despite acknowledging the possibility of such a move. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Trump stated he would allow Powell to complete his term if re-elected, provided Powell was "doing the right thing." This statement addresses concerns in financial markets about potential politicization of the Fed under a second Trump presidency. Meanwhile, Powell has recently expressed increased confidence in inflation trending towards the Fed's 2% target, fueling expectations of a rate cut in September, just weeks before the election. Trump's comments highlight the delicate balance between monetary policy and political considerations in the run-up to the election.

The stock market is showing signs of a shift away from the dominance of big technology stocks, particularly the "Magnificent 7." On Tuesday, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite made gains, the Russell 2000, which represents smaller-cap stocks, significantly outperformed with a 3.5% increase. Notably, four of the seven major tech stocks, including Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Meta Platforms, experienced declines. This trend suggests a broadening of market performance beyond the tech giants that have led much of the recent market rally, potentially indicating a more diverse and balanced market environment.

Gold reached a record high, nearing $2,500 per ounce, as traders anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts due to cooling inflation. This surge, driven by large central bank purchases, strong consumer demand in China, and geopolitical tensions, saw gold prices rally 1.9% on Tuesday. Although Chris Weston from Pepperstone Group suggests gold might test $2,500 soon, some indicators hint at an overbought market. Additionally, political uncertainty, including a recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, is impacting market sentiment, potentially reinforcing gold’s safe-haven appeal amid escalating trade tensions.

In this video, we explore the upwardly revised gold price targets from major banks like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and UBS, and analyze...

In its 2,500+ year history, gold hit a record high today, surpassing $2,470 —just a stone's throw from $2,500.  While this is excellent news, we must look at "Important Must-See Gold Charts" that are not found anywhere else in the precious metals industry...

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expressed increased confidence that inflation is moving towards the 2% target, citing recent positive data. While declining to specify a timeline for rate cuts, Powell indicated that the Fed would likely reduce rates before inflation actually reaches 2%. This stance, along with recent favorable inflation reports, has bolstered market expectations for potential rate cuts later in 2024, with September being a widely anticipated timeframe. Powell's comments suggest a cautiously optimistic outlook on inflation trends, potentially signaling a shift in the Fed's monetary policy approach in the coming months.

HSBC has revised its gold price forecast, predicting a short-term rise followed by a significant drop in 2025. Despite gold reaching record highs in May 2024, driven by safe haven demand, hedge fund purchases, and expectations of central bank rate cuts, HSBC analysts anticipate that positive real rates will eventually weigh on gold prices. While the bank has raised its 2024 average price forecast to $2,305/oz due to near-term strength, it has lowered its 2025 projection to $1,980/oz, suggesting a 12% decline from current levels. This forecast comes amid a complex market environment where strong OTC and real money investor purchases are offsetting ETF liquidations, but analysts believe the current bullish sentiment may be overstretched.

Zimbabwe's state-controlled Kuvimba Mining House Ltd. is seeking $150 million in investment to expand its Shamva gold mine, aiming to increase production by 50%. The company, which is 65% owned by the state, has completed a feasibility study for a large-scale mine and processing plant and is now in talks with potential partners. This move is part of Zimbabwe's broader strategy to acquire and develop mining assets within the country. Additionally, Kuvimba has implemented a new gold tracking system to enhance regulatory compliance both domestically and internationally, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and modernization in its operations.

Gold prices are showing modest gains on Monday as the market tests resistance near recent highs. Traders are closely monitoring U.S. Treasury yields and dollar movements while anticipating comments from Federal Reserve officials and key economic data releases. The CME Fedwatch Tool indicates a high 93% probability of a Fed rate cut in September, which could potentially boost gold's appeal as a non-yielding asset. Additionally, China's recent economic slowdown in Q2 has fueled expectations for stimulus measures, which could impact gold demand from this major metals consumer. These factors, combined with mixed U.S. Treasury yields reflecting economic uncertainty, are creating a complex environment for gold prices.

China's economic growth in the second quarter of 2024 fell short of expectations, expanding by only 4.7% year-over-year, the slowest pace in five quarters. This disappointing performance is primarily attributed to weak consumer spending, which has failed to respond to government stimulus efforts. While industrial production remained robust, supporting President Xi Jinping's focus on manufacturing and high-tech sectors, the economy faces mounting challenges. These include geopolitical risks, particularly the potential for increased U.S. tariffs if Donald Trump is re-elected. The underwhelming growth figures are likely to put pressure on Chinese policymakers to implement more supportive measures, especially to boost domestic demand, as they gather for a crucial economic meeting this week.

Following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, global financial markets have shown a significant shift towards the "Trump trade" - a series of investment strategies based on the anticipation of Trump's potential return to the White House. These trades, which had already been gaining traction due to Biden's recent debate performance, intensified as Trump's resilience in the face of the attack galvanized supporters. The market reaction includes a steepening yield curve in Treasuries, a strengthening dollar, a weakening Mexican peso, and a surge in Bitcoin. Investors are positioning for potential tax cuts, higher tariffs, and looser regulations under a Trump presidency. However, with four months until the election and concerns about political instability, the situation remains fluid and subject to change.

The dollar remained steady on Monday as markets grappled with the potential implications of the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump on his 2024 election chances and subsequent market impacts. While initial reactions narrowed the odds of a Trump victory, traditionally seen as dollar-positive due to expectations of looser fiscal policy and increased trade tariffs, the currency's gains were short-lived. Investors are balancing this political development against the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook, with markets now fully pricing in a September rate cut following recent inflation data. Cryptocurrencies saw significant gains, with Bitcoin and Ether both rising. The complex interplay between potential political shifts, monetary policy expectations, and global economic factors is creating a nuanced environment for currency and crypto markets.

Oil prices remained relatively stable on Monday as conflicting factors influenced the market. Concerns about demand in China, the world's largest oil importer, exerted downward pressure following slower economic growth and reduced crude imports. However, this was offset by strong demand elsewhere, OPEC+ supply restraints, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The market also reacted to the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump and fluctuations in the U.S. dollar. Despite these various influences, oil prices saw only minor changes, with Brent crude and WTI experiencing slight declines. Analysts note that while Chinese data is not supportive, demand growth in other regions remains healthy, and geopolitical factors continue to provide a premium for oil prices.

The recent CPI report showed that inflation is, according to official data, cooling down — so why are consumers more worried for the future than they’ve been in months? If prices are coming down, shouldn’t that fuel higher confidence and a greater collective sense of economic well-being? One simple answer is that the official data is cooked, using “updated” methodologies that make the picture look as positive as possible regardless of how much Americans are actually struggling.

After an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally, investors are turning to traditional safe-haven assets such as the US dollar, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, and gold. Bitcoin has also surged past $60,000. The attack is expected to increase market volatility and boost Trump's chances in the 2024 presidential election, especially given President Biden's poor performance in a recent debate. This could lead to a rise in "Trump trades," favoring assets like energy firms, private prisons, and credit card companies. Analysts predict an initial spike in the US dollar and bond yields, while tech and renewable energy stocks might suffer. Markets are on high alert for potential copycat attacks, and experts advise caution in reaction to immediate market movements.

We're about to face the aftermath of a Fed-induced housing crisis. U.S. pending home sales have dropped to historic lows not seen since the 2008 financial crisis, with a shocking 2.1% drop in May and a jaw-dropping 6.6% annual decline. With mortgage rates so high, banks and other investors are in massive trouble, facing severe cash shortages.

After the failed Trump attempted assassination yesterday, times are crazier than ever.  Unfortunately, the country will become even more divided as hatred begets more hatred.  This is a short video post on the current political crisis and metals update...

Across America’s cities, the inherent flaws in public transportation are becoming all too apparent. There are few urban residents who have no qualms with their public transit system. From aging infrastructure, budgets that struggle to cover costs, and a noticeable decline in ridership, there's a growing argument for the privatization of transit infrastructure. This move will make better use of taxpayer dollars and will help ensure the efficiency of urban transportation which our financial markets rely on.