The gold miners’ 2021 gains prompted astanding ovation among investors. However, they didn’t notice a magic trickuntil everything vanished.TheGold Miners After the HUI Index plunged by more than 10% and made all of its 2021 gainsdisappear, the magic trick left investors in a state of shock. But while Mr.Market still hasn’t sawed the HUI Index in half, the illusionist is likelygea...Read More

Gold and silver bulls attempted to start a rally last week, but prices were capped by astrengthening U.S. Dollar Index. The buck has been advancing strongly against foreigncurrencies over the past month. Currency traders are encouraged by the FederalReserve’s apparent plans to taper asset purchases and begin raising interestrates way out in 2023. Dollar buyers also seem convinced that the re...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 9 that are worth another look.The introduction of a Russian export duty on steel products carries serious risks for the country's steel industry, Russia's steel association Russkaya Stal warned last week.Sandfire Resources' Motheo copper mine in...Read More

Gold, silver, and theirminers’ stocks suffer their weakest seasonals of the year in early summers.  With traders’ attention normally diverted to vacationsand summer fun, interest in and demand for precious metals usually wane.  Without outsized investment demand, goldtends to drift sideways dragging silver and miners’ stocks with it.  Long feared as the summer dold...Read More

Gold in the age of inflationThe star investment of the fifty-year era and the most reliable store of valueThere has been considerable, and some would say tedious, discussion on the subject of inflation over the past several weeks. The Fed wants it. The markets await it. Investors and consumers worry about it. If it does come, the Fed thinks it will be transitory. Others believe it will persist. T...Read More

While we might see a small uptick ingold prices soon, it’s not likely to last long. We should be prepared to openour parachutes any time now.The decline in gold continues, and whilewe might see a small pop-up higher here, it’s unlikely to last. And why couldgold move slightly higher and correct the recent declines? Because it has just reached the risingsupport line based on its previou...Read More

When credit spreads narrow, it’s bad for gold. But this time there is a silver lining we can look for, although it’s quite adverse for the economy.There are several important factors affecting gold prices. Many analysts focus mainly on the US dollar and real interest rates . However, what is sometimes even more important is economic confidence. Of course, the level of economic confiden...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 9 that are worth another look.The introduction of a Russian export duty on steel products carries serious risks for the country's steel industry, Russia's steel association Russkaya Stal warned last week.Sandfire Resources' Motheo copper mine in...Read More

Just before the hunt begins, thehunter needs to be sure its prey feels safe. Will we see a promising short-termrally in gold?After the USD Index reasserted itsdominance once again, its bellowing howl sent shivers down the spine ofcurrency traders. When the U.S. Dollar Index is on the hunt, the preciousmetals are often its prey. The alpha wolf is poised to lead the pack over themedium term, and the...Read More

Home prices are surging, making some investors worry about the housing market. These fears seem to be exaggerated, but bubble-like conditions are widespread.House prices are surging. As the chart below shows, the S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index has reached 239 in February 2021, the highest number in history and about 30% higher than during the 2006 peak. What’s more, the...Read More

When gold stock bulls complain about a “smack down”, a “hit” or a “smash” against the poor gold stock sector what they should be thinking about is what a relatively small market the gold stock universe is compared to the multitude of galaxies populated by cyclical and risk on stocks and commodities and the massive bond market. The gold stock sector’s noise...Read More

Powell’s testimony to Congress failed in generating a rebound in gold prices; thus, the bearish trend could continue.On Tuesday (June 22) the Fed Chair testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, U.S. House of Representatives . Before Powell’s appearance in Congress, there were some hopes that he would soften the Fed’s hawkish signals from the previous wee...Read More

Fed pumped so much money into thefinancial system, that the latter started sending it back. How will this andFed’s more hawkish tone impact gold?With Jerome Powell, Chairman of the U.S.Federal Reserve (FED), testifying before Congress on Jun. 22, his preparedremarks signaled that the FED remains on autopilot. Despite saying that “jobgains should pick up in coming months as vaccinations...Read More

Sector expert Michael Ballanger explains how recent statements by the Federal Reserve could prove hazardous to one's wealth. In the past week, precious metals investors, speculators and traders have been forced to apply all kinds of salves, balms and ointments to jangled nerves, rattled resolve and battered net worth statements, all directly the result of an unexpected shift in the official narrat...Read More

The move away fromthe Federal Reserve Note as the global reserve currency of choice has continuedin recent years, with fresh developments increasing the greenback’s stiffcompetition. This has led tomassive central bank buying of gold, and that trend appears set to continue in2021. According to a recent report from the World Gold Council, 21% of globalcentral banks plan to purchase gold this...Read More

The recent Fed’s hawkish turn is fundamentally negative for gold prices but there is still some hope.The hawkish counter-revolution within the Fed continues. On Friday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said that the recent FOMC shift towards a faster tightening of monetary policy was a natural response to faster economic growth and higher inflation than anticipated:We were expecting a g...Read More

We’re already in the middle of a hydrogen boom. It’s projected to become a $175-billion market in just five years … and anunimaginable $11 trillion by 2050. But there’s a parallel boom that may be even more lucrative forinvestors …It goes hand-in-hand with hydrogen, yet it’s safer and moreefficient to store in large quantities.  It could absolutely troun...Read More

Recently, Gold and Silver have somewhat stalled after a fairly solid upside price trend in April and May 2021.  Looking at the longer-term Weekly Silver chart, we believe Silver is ready to pounce with a big move higher.The second half of 2021 will welcome BASEL III (likely) and a renewed focus by the US Federal Reserve (and Global Central banks) working to contain inflationary aspects of the...Read More

RAPAPORT... Watches of Switzerland set out a five-year plan to expand globally after recording sales growth during a difficult year for the jewelry and timepiece sector.The UK-based company, which owns the Mayors brand, aims to become the leader in the US watch segment and enter the European Union market, it said Thursday. The retailer also intends to continue "outperforming" the UK market, i...Read More

RAPAPORT... Debswana, De Beers' joint venture with Botswana, is pondering the sale of the Damtshaa mine, after it paused production in November amid challenging market conditions.The group placed the mine - one of its lowest-producing assets - on care and maintenance because its operational costs outweighed its marginal cash flow during the coronavirus pandemic. The disposal of the mine is only on...Read More