Gold and Silver Industry & Investing News

U.S. ground beef prices continue to soar due to a shrinking supply of cattle, reaching historic highs above $6 a pound in June. Factors like drought, high grain prices, inflation, and interest rates have pushed farmers to reduce herd sizes, causing long-term supply shortages. Experts say fixing the supply gap will take years because rebuilding cattle herds is a slow process. These rising costs are impacting consumers and businesses alike and are likely to keep beef prices elevated through the next few years.

As gold prices climb, wealthy investors are boosting their allocations to the metal, seeking protection against economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Investors can buy everything from fractions of a gold bar to large bullion stored in ultra-secure vaults—like Swiss military bunkers in the Alps. While some prefer the convenience and lower costs of unallocated gold held by private banks, others want physical possession of their gold, even considering unusual options like burying bars at home. Banks warn against such risks, emphasizing secure vault storage and strict privacy measures. The trend highlights gold’s enduring role as a trusted hedge in times of...

Top oil and gas companies Shell, Aker BP, and Enbridge have pulled out of the Science Based Targets initiative’s expert advisory group. The decision came after the initiative proposed that companies must halt new oil and gas field developments to meet net zero standards. Shell and Aker BP expressed concerns about the feasibility and industry input in the standards. This departure highlights challenges facing net zero climate initiatives, especially amid political opposition and funding changes. SBTi is also postponing its deadline for financial firms to end financing of new fossil fuel projects, pushing the cutoff to 2030.

Economic reports last week painted a varied picture: the U.S. posted solid retail sales and earnings despite higher inflation, Europe’s industrial output improved, and China’s growth picked up. Japan and India saw inflation cool down, but inflationary pressures rose in the UK. Global stocks mostly showed little change, with bond yields easing, the dollar strengthening, and oil prices declining. Gold continues to consolidate but appears near a technical breakout that could push prices higher. The impact of tariffs is emerging in inflation data, with investors adjusting their outlook accordingly.

Gold prices remain close to record highs, driven by the weakening U.S. dollar. Even with rising stock markets, gold continues to hold strong near $3,400, supported by persistent dollar softness. Analysts suggest this trend could continue, especially as the dollar faces potential pressures from upcoming economic and policy events.

Markets have become less sensitive to tariff announcements than they were earlier this year. Despite ongoing tariff threats from President Trump, stocks—including those most exposed to tariffs—are showing smaller reactions and continue to reach record highs. Goldman Sachs strategist David Kostin notes that investors expect tariffs to settle at lower levels than initially announced, and key economic data has shown less impact from tariffs than feared. Optimism remains strong for the S&P 500, with projections of further gains driven by expectations of solid earnings growth in 2026.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, President Trump’s new tax and spending law will increase federal deficits by $3.4 trillion over the next decade. The law, signed on July 4, extends tax breaks, adds deductions for tips and auto loans, and cuts funding for Medicaid and food assistance. While Republicans argue the law prevents a tax hike and fuels growth, the CBO says growth won’t be enough to offset the debt burden—leaving over 10 million more people uninsured by 2034.

Scott Bessent says the Federal Reserve should undergo a full review of its non-core functions to prevent “mission creep” from weakening its monetary policy independence. He also questioned the Fed’s choice to begin a large renovation project during a time of financial losses, adding to concerns about accountability and transparency.

Gold prices dipped slightly after briefly hitting a one-month high, as markets focused on trade talks ahead of President Trump’s looming August 1 tariff deadline. The dollar held steady, limiting gold’s appeal, while investors also assessed mixed signals from the Federal Reserve on future rate cuts. Despite recent softness, gold remains up more than 25% this year amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainty.

Gold surged 26% in the first half of 2025, setting 26 all-time highs and becoming one of the year’s top-performing assets, according to the World Gold Council. While momentum may slow in H2, ongoing geopolitical risks, inflation, or economic downturns could push prices even higher. Gold remains a resilient hedge as global uncertainty continues.