Swiss gold exports to the United States rose sharply in December, increasing elevenfold to 64.2 tonnes — the largest monthly shipment since March 2022. Valued at nearly $6 billion, the surge reflected traders and refiners accelerating purchases of bullion to avoid potential tariffs. This precautionary buying pushed physical demand higher as market participants positioned themselves … Read more

Where, exactly, should you store your gold at home? You instinctively know gold is valuable and needs secure storage. Unlike bank records or insured items with replacement policies, gold coins and bars offer no guarantees—if they are lost or stolen, they’re gone. That makes a thoughtful home storage plan essential. While keeping some gold at … Read more

The COMEX May gold contract has seen unusually high activity: 6,712 new contracts were written since first notice day, well above the long-term average of 1,525 and surpassing the previous record of 4,150. Cumulative deliveries for this series have now approached 16,000 contracts, exceeding the earlier record set by the March contract. Much of this … Read more

2024 was a landmark year for the gold market, with demand rising across multiple sectors and several records set. Central banks continued to dominate as the largest buyers, maintaining net purchases above 1,000 tonnes for the third consecutive year. Their buying accelerated toward the end of the year, with net acquisitions reaching 333 tonnes in … Read more

China has turned rare earth metals into a geopolitical lever, exposing how dependent the West remains on a small number of suppliers for the materials that power modern life. In July 2025 Beijing tightened export controls on several key rare earth elements, limiting access to the materials used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, smartphones, … Read more

Gold continues its record-setting rally, trading above $2,950 per ounce as it closes in on the $3,000 mark. Markets attribute the recent advance to expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts in late 2024 and a renewed surge in safe-haven demand. These factors have driven investors back into bullion, prompting several major banks to revise their … Read more

Gold has posted an exceptional run, reaching nearly 70 record highs since early 2024 and delivering returns roughly eight times those of the S&P 500. This impressive performance is being driven by structural forces that go beyond its traditional role as a safe-haven asset. Central banks around the world are actively diversifying away from U.S. … Read more

Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio has expressed serious concern about the sustainability of the United Kingdom’s public finances, warning that the country could enter a “debt death spiral.” In such a scenario, the government would face mounting pressure to choose between borrowing more to service existing obligations, implementing deeper spending cuts, or raising taxes—each option … Read more

Gold has surged about 40% this year while many industrial metals, such as copper, have fallen roughly 10%. That widening divergence between precious and industrial metals is notable because gold typically gains when investors seek safety, whereas metals like copper tend to reflect economic activity. The current gap therefore raises questions about the direction of … Read more

Gold demand in the first quarter of 2025 reached its strongest opening-quarter level since 2016, totaling 1,206 tonnes, a modest 1% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. This outcome reflects a mix of investor appetite, central bank activity and steady retail purchases, even as certain end-use categories adjusted to higher prices and … Read more