Money & Metals Brief

Gold's rise is no longer just a price story. According to Forbes, it is becoming part of a much larger global competition between China and the U.S. As trust in the dollar weakens and geopolitical tensions grow, control over gold refining, certification, and global bullion flows may become just as important as owning the metal itself.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is warning that prolonged disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz could push the global economy into recession, with growth falling to the 2% threshold it associates with a global downturn. The fund also warned that higher oil prices, rising inflation, and poorly targeted government relief could make an already fragile economy even harder to stabilize.

March inflation rose 0.9% and 3.3% year over year, marking the biggest monthly jump since 2022. Gasoline was the main driver, with the surge accounting for nearly three-quarters of the increase. Additionally, consumer sentiment fell to 47.6 in April, the lowest reading since the University of Michigan survey began in 1952.

For decades, central banks around the world have steadily accumulated gold as a way to protect against currency risk, inflation, and financial instability. Now, a similar trend is quietly emerging much closer to home. A small but growing number of U.S. states are beginning to treat gold not just as a commodity, but as a …

Recent economic headlines have painted a confusing picture of the U.S. economy. On one hand, stock markets remain strong, consumer spending continues to rise, and unemployment is relatively low. On the other hand, many Americans say they feel financially squeezed by rising costs for housing, groceries, and everyday necessities. Economists increasingly describe this phenomenon as …

Geopolitical conflicts often carry economic consequences that extend far beyond the region where they occur. The developing conflict involving Iran in 2026 is already raising concerns among economists and market analysts about energy prices, inflation, and potential pressure on the global economy. While the situation is still evolving, many analysts are closely watching how disruptions …

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is often called Wall Street's "fear gauge." It represents the market's expectation of stock market volatility over the next 30 days, based on prices of options tied to the S&P 500 index. Higher values mean traders expect bigger price swings; lower values suggest calmer markets. In practical terms: When the …

You may have seen recent headlines warning that the United States could be entering a "debt spiral." What that actually means is that the federal government is borrowing money faster than the economy is growing. At the same time, the cost of servicing that debt - the interest payments - is rising rapidly. When interest …

In recent weeks, an unusual surge in investors selling their physical gold and silver back into the market, often referred to in the industry as "buybacks", has temporarily outpaced the physical infrastructure required to process those transactions. This is because the precious metals market operates differently from paper markets, relying on secure shipping, verification, refining, …

Understanding the U.S. push to diversify supply chains-and why metals like silver may see rising demand What Is Project Vault? The U.S. government has launched a major new initiative called Project Vault, a roughly $12 billion strategic stockpile of critical minerals designed to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, particularly China's dominance in rare earths …

Why the Recent Run Isn't the End - It's a Milestone in a Broader Trend Gold and silver prices have captured the market's attention with remarkable strength. Gold recently surged above $4,800 per ounce, and silver also hit above $90 per ounce. Both are driven by heightened safe-haven demand and structural market forces. These aren't …

As investors look ahead to 2026, silver is increasingly being shaped by global forces that go beyond traditional supply-and-demand dynamics. Two developments in particular - China's evolving approach to silver exports amid broader currency shifts and market responses to recent events tied to Venezuela - are drawing attention to silver's recent run. These trends also …