Federal Reserve officials are navigating a difficult balance between two pressing economic risks: persistent inflation fueled in part by trade policy decisions, and an increasing chance of an economic downturn. Both concerns are influencing the Fed’s policy stance and how officials communicate the outlook for interest rates, employment and growth. At the Federal Open Market … Read more

The US dollar steadied on Monday after a sharp sell-off on Friday that followed weaker-than-expected employment data and heightened political uncertainty. New figures for July revealed the economy added just 73,000 jobs, far below projections. At the same time, large downward revisions totaling 258,000 jobs were made to prior months’ data, reducing confidence in recent … Read more

The Federal Reserve’s July meeting minutes reveal sharp disagreements among policymakers about the economy’s outlook. Although two governors voted to lower rates—the first split of that kind in more than 30 years—the Fed ultimately left the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.5%. Participants in the meeting weighed competing risks. A majority … Read more

Gold fell sharply on Thursday, sliding about 1% to $3,325.48 per ounce after stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data altered market expectations for Federal Reserve policy. The June jobs report showed employers added 147,000 positions, well above consensus forecasts of roughly 110,000. The rosier labor-market snapshot prompted investors to scale back expectations for how much the Fed … Read more

Real estate remains Americans’ top choice for long-term investment, according to a Gallup survey of 1,006 U.S. adults conducted in early April. The share of respondents who favor real estate rose slightly to 37%. A notable shift in the survey is that gold moved into second place with 24% of respondents selecting it, while preference … Read more

Mortgage application volume declined 2% last week even as average rates held steady at 7.02%, underscoring persistent weakness in housing market demand. Refinance activity was hit hardest, falling 7% week-over-week. Despite that drop, refinance applications remain about 5% higher than a year ago. The decline in refinances, even with unchanged rates, reflects the drag from … Read more

The gold price per ounce is a single figure many investors watch but few fully interpret. Beyond a commodity quote, it reflects real-time confidence in currencies, central banks, and the broader monetary system. When gold advances persistently, it signals that purchasing power is being eroded somewhere in the financial system. Learning to read this number … Read more

Gold traded near $2,758.49 an ounce as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy decision and guidance on the likelihood of rate cuts in March. Market attention centered on both the upcoming Fed commentary and broader political developments that could influence demand for the precious metal. In recent sessions, gold climbed toward record highs amid expectations … Read more

The prospect of a Trump presidency has stirred significant unease in the junk debt market, particularly across Europe, where companies are accelerating efforts to secure financing ahead of possible tariff changes. Loan activity has surged to levels not seen since 2017: of the 28 loan tranches arranged so far this season, 19 have been repricings … Read more

A landmark discovery in Argentina’s Andes has revealed the largest combined copper, gold and silver deposit found in the country in three decades. The Vicuña joint venture, a partnership between Lundin Mining and BHP, reports resources exceeding 80 million ounces of gold and silver together, and more than 12 million tonnes of copper. Analysts expect … Read more