The US dollar has slipped to its weakest point in three years, with the dollar index trading around 99.5. This drop came after the administration announced tariff exemptions for certain technology products. Commerce Secretary Lutnick, however, warned that while those items are temporarily exempt, they could be subject to separate levies in the near future. … Read more
Market sentiment is shifting markedly as investors move from defensive hedging toward more bullish positioning, according to Nomura strategist Charlie McElligott. With the S&P 500 approaching record highs, volatility-controlled funds are poised to buy a substantial volume of S&P 500 futures. As measured volatility has fallen sharply—five-day realized volatility has dropped from about 22.2 to … Read more
In June, U.S. existing-home sales fell more than analysts expected, dropping 2.7% from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.93 million homes sold. Economists had predicted a much smaller decline, with forecasts centered around 4.0 million. Persistent high mortgage rates—remaining in the high 6% range—along with record-high home prices are continuing to suppress … Read more
To address rising concerns about gold laundering and counterfeiting, the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) has launched an innovative digital tracking system. The Gold Bar Integrity Database is designed to stop illicit gold from criminal networks and conflict zones from entering legitimate markets, and to prevent counterfeit bars misusing the marks of established refineries from … Read more
Since December, more than 600 tons of gold — nearly 20 million troy ounces — have poured into New York City vaults as traders rush to accumulate the metal ahead of tariffs expected under the administration of Donald Trump. What began as a tariff measure aimed at Canada and Mexico, with a 25% levy scheduled … Read more
The U.S.-China trade conflict has evolved beyond conventional tariffs into a contest over export controls and supply-chain dominance. Each side now leverages strategic technologies and materials: China remains the primary source of many rare earth minerals essential for electronics, renewable energy systems, and military hardware, while the United States leads in advanced semiconductor design and … Read more
Speculative traders have cut their net long positions by about 55% since September, reaching a 14-month low, yet gold has still climbed roughly 28% year-to-date — a performance that already exceeds many analysts’ 2025 forecasts. Two notable trends have emerged. First, gold is posting its largest gains outside of US trading hours while showing weaker … Read more
President Trump has invoked emergency powers under Cold War–era legislation to accelerate domestic production of critical minerals and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly China. The executive order directs federal agencies to prioritize strategic mining projects, offer technical and financial assistance, streamline permitting processes, and emphasize development on federal lands. It instructs relevant departments … Read more
US private employers added just 37,000 jobs in May 2024, the smallest monthly increase since March 2023. That outcome was well below economists’ expectations of about 110,000 new jobs and down from April’s revised gain of 60,000. While the ADP report shows a marked slowdown, analysts warn it has a spotty record in predicting the … Read more
J.P. Morgan projects gold near $6,000 by year-end. That headline number is memorable, but the forecast rests on a much deeper data point: central bank buying that official reports substantially understate. J.P. Morgan Global Research now expects gold to approach $6,000 per ounce by Q4 2026 and to reach about $6,300 by the end of … Read more