The AOCE and WB have moderate overall forecasts for the metals in 2025 inline with IMF forecasts for a decline in economic growth and inflation, although we see the probability of a stagflationary scenario as still reasonably high.Read More

The past year was a difficult one overall for the metals, with the main standouts to the upside being a geopolitical risk-driven gain in gold, a China-driven rise in iron ore and a surge in uranium on broadening global support for nuclear power (Figure 1). A jump in global interest rates to near two-decade highs saw recession fears persist all year, and while one still did not actually eru...Read More

This year the post-global health crisis boom was brought to an end by a surge in inflation to forty-year highs, a major rise in global interest rates in an attempt to curb the rising prices and surging geopolitical risk after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While precious metals held up reasonably well as markets turned to them as a risk hedge, by Q2/22 the higher interest rates put an end t...Read More

Chile is the world leader in copper production, at 28.5% of the total in 2020, and this looks set to continue, with the country having the largest global reserves, at 23.0% of total. It is also the global leader for molybdenum, which is often found along with copper, and is a major lithium player, holding 51.1% of global reserves. Read More

Newfoundland has become a gold exploration hotspot over the past few years, with the sector seeing some of its strongest activity ever. While the province remains a small contributor to Canadian gold production, it has a substantial mineral industry well supported by the government, focused on iron ore, copper and nickel, and the surge in exploration suggests that gold output from the...Read More

Nevada is the core of the U.S. gold output, accounting for by far the majority, at 75.4% on average for the past year. The state looks set to remain a dominant player in U.S. gold, as it accounts for 49% of total U.S. reserves, with Alaska slightly ahead with 51% of reserves, but just 8.6% of current production. The U.S. accounts for 6.1% of global gold output, making Nevada one of the largest gol...Read More

The Golden Triangle in northwestern British Columbia has historically been a major site of Canadian gold production, beginning as early as the mid 1800s. There was a wave of production in the 1990s which cooled as the gold price declined, but larger scale production resumed in 2017, and the area has seen surging exploration interest over the past year, given that the region has some of the largest...Read More

In this report we outline the Quebec gold mining industry, including its major producers, and a survey of many of the junior miners focused on the province. Quebec accounts for 34% of Canadian gold production (second to Ontario, with 44%) and remains a major focus for both producers and junior miners.Read More

Red Lake has been one of the most prolific gold mining districts in Canada and the world, with exploration having started in the 1920s, and production, which began in the 1930s, continuing to the present day. The district is known for the high grade of its gold, its infrastructure, and strong institutional support, given the long history of mining in the area.Read More

Speculation around the status of America's gold reserves has reached a fever pitch.At CPAC on Saturday President Trump once again shocked the world. He stated that he and Elon were going to Fort Knox to "see if the gold is still there."Then the President took things to another level:Wouldn't it be terrible if we opened it up and there was no gold there? So we're gonna open those doors and if there...Read More

The question was framed, according to some historians, by Josef Stalin at the Potsdam Conference. Winston Churchill had suggested that the Pope might be brought in to provide moral backing to the Allies' campaigns against Hitler.Stalin must have wondered how morality would hold up against Panzer tanks."How many divisions does the Pope have?" he allegedly asked.We wish we could be in the room when...Read More

By the early 5th century, the Roman Empire was in decline. Much of its territory had been lost, its monetary system was being debased, and the political system had devolved into chaos.In 452 AD a massive barbarian force led by Attila the Hun had pillaged Europe and was now inside the core of the empire.It didn't seem like Roman forces would be able to stop them.Emperor Valentinian III sent the Pop...Read More

In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2009, I was obsessed with the risk of a "double-dip" recession.The outlook was bleak. The banks all seemed to be failing, stocks had crashed, housing was belly-up, and the Fed was printing money like mad.So instead of gobbling up cheap tech shares, I was primarily focused on hoarding my (meager) stash of precious metals and preparing for an...Read More

Dylan Thomas, the great Welsh poet, opened his most famous poem thusly:Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Europe is alone. And it's her fault. She bought everything the Biden-Harris administration offered her: hook, line, and sinker. It's embarrassing that the "adults in the room" in the EU, supposedly so sch...Read More

What strange timeline are we living in?Over the holiday Elon Musk sent the gold world into a frenzy.The madman openly questioned whether Fort Knox's gold was still there.Source: XIn his post Elon referenced a separate note from Senator Mike Lee (Utah Republican):As a U.S. senator I've tried repeatedly to get into Fort KnoxFort Knox: "You can't come to Fort Knox."Me: "Why?"Fort Knox: "It's a milita...Read More

Note from Adam: Today we have a guest article from Dr. Ron Paul. In it, he discusses President Trump's proposed cuts to military spending. This issue will have major implications for us all, as both citizens and investors. Simply look at Lockheed Martin shares, which are down 27% from last year's highs. The U.S. economy has become dependent on the military-industrial complex for growth, but at the...Read More

As we all know, the US is headed for a fiscal crisis. Like having a 'heart attack,' says Ray Dalio.The only way to prevent it is to make dramatic policy changes now not just to 'improper payments' to federal bureaucrats, but also serious cuts to the firepower industry.Possible? Here's Barrons:Trump Sends Shockwave Through Defense Stocks, Says Military Spending Could Be Halved“At some point...Read More

Jim Rickards' best-selling 2011 book, Currency Wars, was prophetic.He painted a stark picture of the flaws in the modern paper monetary system, warning that "a new crisis of confidence in the dollar is on its way."Although the U.S. dollar has been strong against most other paper currencies for years, it has weakened dramatically against gold.Most people think of gold as a derivative of the U.S. do...Read More

A constant stream of Boeing 737s packed full of gold are flying into America.Much of the bullion is coming from London, where the Bank of England (BoE) is having some... issues delivering its customers' gold.BoE is a major gold depository which claims to hold more than 5,000 metric tonnes of gold in its underground vaults. The precious metal is held for both central banks and commercial groups.But...Read More

It's game on for the trade wars.After months of threatening tariffs on U.S. trading partners during his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump has now taken definitive action on that front. Let's review.The BeginningOn Saturday, February 1, Trump announced that the U.S. was imposing 25% tariffs on all goods imported to the U.S. from Mexico and Canada (with the exception of Canadian energy, which was ta...Read More

I'm not an oilman, but I write about resources often enough.For a paper finance major, geology was a major blind spot. I haven't taken an earth science class since junior high school or a chemistry class since my sophomore year in college. And yet, so much of the world's business depends on resources.Luckily, my current crop of students is far more conservative than most of its predecessors. I use...Read More

In 2008, the U.S. government entered into a strange relationship with one of America's largest companies.It was about to go bankrupt.And... the government swooped in to save it. All at the taxpayer's expense.Fast forward to October 1, 2024…This same company?It is now America's LARGEST company based on the assets it holds on its balance sheet.It manages a $4 trillion portfolio.The company its...Read More

It's a trader's market.While the major averages chop along, the frothiest stocks in the hottest industries continue to defy gravity and soar to incredible gains.Many of the bubblier themes that exploded higher following the election have consolidated their gains in an orderly fashion. Some are even extending much higher as new money flows into the strongest themes.While the S&P 500 has clocked...Read More

You have a choice...You can either own Stock A that's down 10% on the year amid negative headlines. Or you can own Stock B trading at record highs with a 17% return year-to-date.Perhaps it seems like a no-brainer. I prefer to buy strength and sell weakness, so I know I would take Stock B any day.Headlines aside, Stock A's near-term drawdown puts it at a disadvantage right off the bat. Plus, I find...Read More

American steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) skyrocketed 15% higher in trading earlier today.Century Aluminum (CENX), also based in the U.S., has jumped 10% higher as I write this.And United States Steel Corporation (X) moved up 4% by midday.These moves were a direct result of President Trump's new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which were announced over the weekend.This is what we...Read More

The silver market has always fascinated me, particularly because of its dual role as both a precious and industrial metal. What many don’t realize is that we’re heading into what could be the most significant silver bull market in history – one that could make the 1970s look like a mere preview. Let me tell you why, but first, let me share a revealing story from my time at Sprott...Read More

Canada's exports to the U.S. make up more than 20% of its GDP. This is an absurdly large number. Only Mexico is more dependent on trade with America.Over the past decade America's trade deficit with our northern neighbor has soared higher. They're selling a ton of goods to us, but aren't buying nearly as much.President Trump doesn't like this. He has not only threatened 25% tariffs, but also to ab...Read More

In the very near future, cutting-edge semiconductors will finally be made in the U.S.TSMC's new $40 billion Arizona plant will soon be producing 4 nanometer chips, which are on the edge of what's possible today.The company is reportedly in talks with NVIDIA to produce top-end GPUs at the facility. By 2028 the plant is expected to be producing 2 nanometer chips, which are the smallest and most adva...Read More

Love? What in the name of Bill Bonner are you writing about, Seanie?Well, I found JD Vance's smiting of Rory Stewart on X too delicious not to write about. And it explains much of the mess the Western world finds itself in.But before I proceed, let me introduce you to some of the best philosophers I know and explain why Vance was right from a common-sense and Catholic perspective.The great Catholi...Read More