Markets are confronting renewed fears of stagflation as persistent inflation around 3% coincides with concerns about President Trump’s assertive trade policies. Although many investors remain optimistic about a pro-growth agenda, a Bank of America survey indicates that fund managers’ worries about stagflation have climbed to a seven-month high. New tariffs on autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals—combined … Read more

The BRICS economic alliance is displaying signs of internal disagreement over efforts to move away from the US dollar, with India positioning itself as a notable dissenting voice. Although BRICS members have often talked about reducing dollar dependence, India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, recently said India has “no interest” in replacing the dollar for BRICS … Read more

Marc Seidner, Pimco’s chief investment officer for non‑traditional strategies, offers a contrarian view on Federal Reserve policy, forecasting two quarter‑point rate cuts in the second half of 2025 and the possibility of additional easing beyond that period. That outlook contrasts with current market pricing, which generally expects fewer than two cuts this year amid concerns … Read more

US stock markets fell sharply for a third consecutive day after President Trump announced unexpectedly high tariffs on imports from several major trading partners. In early Monday trading before the opening bell, S&P 500 futures were down about 2.8%, edging closer to bear market territory (a 20% decline from recent highs). Dow futures dropped roughly … Read more

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that tariffs could be raised to “reciprocal levels” if current trade negotiations do not yield more favorable terms for the United States. His comments arrive amid increasingly sharp rhetoric from the Trump campaign, reviving concerns about a return to broad trade disputes. That possibility is already affecting investor behavior, encouraging … Read more

There are two main ways to invest in precious metals: buying physical metal or trading futures contracts. Futures markets are electronic venues where buyers and sellers trade contracts that commit one party to deliver a specified quantity of a commodity, such as gold, at an agreed price on a future date. Although futures contracts can … Read more

On July 30, spot gold declined 1.5% to $3,275.92 per ounce after the Federal Reserve opted to keep its policy rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.50% in a 9–2 vote and gave no clear guidance on the timing of future rate cuts. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that a September decision on cuts is not settled, … Read more

Current economic conditions resemble the same mix of factors that have historically powered major rallies in precious metals: persistent inflation, pressure on currencies, and heightened geopolitical risk. Gold has already rallied strongly this cycle—up roughly 38% year-to-date and trading near $3,643 as of September 2024. Against that backdrop, Goldman Sachs has suggested a $5,000-per-ounce gold … Read more

Gold prices fell about 2% on Thursday, closing at $3,222.66 per ounce and marking a two-week low. The pullback followed announcements by President Trump about potential trade agreements with India, South Korea and Japan. News of improved trade prospects raised investor risk tolerance and reduced demand for gold, which is traditionally sought as a safe-haven … Read more

If you’ve ever tried to buy physical silver, you may have noticed that the price you pay is almost always higher than the “silver spot price” quoted online. Knowing why these two prices differ — and what factors drive that gap — helps you make smarter investment choices and avoid surprises. What Is the Silver … Read more