Despite President Trump’s pledges to lower gasoline costs, analysts warn that prices are likely to rise in the coming months due to seasonal factors and proposed trade measures. Each year, spring brings refinery maintenance and a switch to summer-grade gasoline, which typically increases production costs. Analysts say that this seasonal transition alone could add roughly … Read more

McDonald’s fell short of Wall Street expectations in its first-quarter earnings report, reporting a 3% decline in revenue compared with the same period last year. U.S. same-store sales were down 3.6% as overall customer traffic softened. CEO Chris Kempczinski said visits from lower-income customers dropped by “nearly double digits,” while visits from middle-income customers also … Read more

Even as gold reaches record highs and mining stocks have outpaced the broader market, investors are quietly trimming their positions in gold-mining ETFs. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF has surged about 57% in 2025, yet it has experienced net outflows in every month except May. Sprott’s mining ETF has also seen withdrawals despite bullion’s strength. … Read more

President Trump has reached a new trade framework with Japan that reduces a previously threatened 25% tariff on imports to 15%. The agreement includes commitments by Japan to increase investment in the United States and to open certain sectors of its market to more American goods, measures intended to calm market concerns and reinforce the … Read more

Gold and silver market update — April 24, 2026 Key Takeaways: GDPNow (April 21): The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model projects Q1 2026 GDP at 1.24% annualized, down from 3.1% in late February. GDP release date: The BEA’s advance estimate for Q1 GDP is released April 30 at 8:30am EDT — the day after Chair Powell’s … Read more

Switzerland’s precious metals industry is urging U.S. President Donald Trump to make a formal, binding commitment that gold imports will remain free of tariffs. Although President Trump’s recent remarks expressing opposition to tariffs on gold helped calm markets, the Swiss trade association ASFCMP says that only a clear, legally binding decision will provide the certainty … Read more

President Trump has threatened to impose 200% tariffs on European alcohol, a move that has intensified global trade tensions. After posting on Truth Social that “The Entire World is RIPPING US OFF!!!”, markets responded sharply: equities fell and volatility rose, introducing fresh economic uncertainty. The market sell-off, combined with tighter credit conditions, presents a delicate … Read more

Research by Duke University’s Campbell Harvey and former TCW manager Claude Erb warns that the recent surge in gold prices may leave investors exposed to disappointment. Their study measures gold relative to consumer prices and finds the gold price-to-CPI ratio currently sits at 9-to-1, surpassing the roughly 7-to-1 level that preceded a 50% decline in … Read more

GOLD Gold has surged to record levels, climbing above $3,000 per ounce as central bank purchases and strong demand from Asian buyers push prices higher. Additional gains remain possible as more North American investors, who have largely stayed on the sidelines, begin to enter the market. Gold’s appeal as a store of value, a hedge … Read more

Gold and silver are tangible, finite assets investors use to protect purchasing power, reduce portfolio volatility, and preserve wealth during inflationary periods or economic crises. Unlike stocks or bonds, their value does not depend on a company’s earnings, a government’s credit rating, or central bank policy. That structural independence makes them effective diversifiers within a … Read more