Jobs Report Preview: Why Friday’s Numbers Will Be Complex

The upcoming January jobs report presents an unusually complex picture due to multiple distorting factors. Weather events, including Los Angeles wildfires and widespread cold temperatures, will likely impact employment numbers. More significantly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual revision could reduce previous job counts by up to 818,000 through March 2024 – the largest downward adjustment since 2009, though economists expect the final figure to be closer to 600,000. Adding to the complexity, new Census Bureau population estimates, boosted by immigration surge, will affect the household survey calculations. These adjustments are expected to create artificial jumps in labor force and […]

URGENT: “Something Big is Breaking” in Gold Markets

In this special report, Mike walks through multiple technical charts showing why this massive disruption could push gold to $3,000 within weeks and send silver to historic triple-digit levels.

Commodities Index Hits 26-Month Peak as Gold, Silver Lead Rally

A broad-based commodity rally has pushed the Bloomberg Commodity Total Return Index to a 26-month peak, potentially breaking out of a two-year trading range. The index, which tracks 24 major commodity futures across energy, metals, and agriculture, has gained 5.9% year-to-date and 13.5% annually. Precious metals have led the advance, with gold and silver seeing strong demand due to tight physical markets and increased COMEX vault activity. Agricultural commodities have shown remarkable strength, particularly Arabica coffee’s 123% annual gain and a revival in grains following a three-year downturn. The rally’s sustainability is supported by five key long-term drivers: deglobalization, defense […]

Oil Edges Higher as Saudi Prices Offset Trump Trade Concerns

Oil markets showed slight recovery on Thursday as Saudi Aramco’s sharp March price increases helped offset recent losses, with Brent crude climbing to $75.05 and WTI reaching $71.51. The modest gains follow Wednesday’s 2% decline triggered by surging U.S. crude and gasoline inventories signaling weak demand. The oil market has experienced significant turbulence, dropping 10% since January 15, as traders grapple with Trump’s aggressive trade policies and their potential economic impact. While China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. energy imports have limited immediate effect due to modest trade volumes, analysts at BMI expect continued price volatility as markets assess Trump’s policy […]

Gold Hits Record $382B Demand as Central Banks Stock Up

The World Gold Council’s latest report reveals an unprecedented demand for gold in 2024, with total volume reaching 4,974.5 metric tons and value soaring to $382 billion. This 1% year-over-year increase marks a historic peak driven by central banks, particularly those in emerging markets. The record-breaking demand reflects heightened geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties pushing investors toward safe-haven assets, with both official institutions and private investors increasing their gold holdings in response to global market volatility.

Korean Gold Market Hits Historic 108B Won Trading Peak

The Korea Gold Exchange witnessed a dramatic system failure on February 6 as trading volumes reached historic levels. Spurred by mounting geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, trading volume soared to 108.83 billion won – shattering previous records and marking the first time trading exceeded 100 billion won since the market’s 2014 inception. This peak followed an escalating pattern of record-breaking activity, with volumes climbing from 50 billion won in October to 71 billion won in early February, highlighting growing investor appetite for safe-haven assets amid global instability.

Pound Tumbles as BoE Shows Unexpected Dovish Stance

The Bank of England’s latest monetary policy decision took markets by surprise with its dovish undertones, despite the expected quarter-point rate cut to 4.5%. The unanimous decision, particularly noteworthy for including two votes for a half-point reduction, marked a significant shift in sentiment. Former hawk Catherine Mann’s support for aggressive easing represented a dramatic reversal from her November stance, when she alone voted to maintain rates at 5%. The dovish turn triggered immediate market reactions, with the pound dropping sharply to $1.2365 from $1.2504 and the 2-year gilt yield falling 9 basis points. The bank’s minutes revealed concerns about financial […]

Citi Projects Gold at $3,000 as Trump Fuels Global Tension

Citigroup has upgraded its gold forecast to $3,000 per ounce within three months, reflecting mounting global instability and trade tensions sparked by Donald Trump’s policies. Currently trading at $2,867.15, gold’s bull run is fueled by multiple factors, including fears of economic slowdown, high interest rates, and potential new tariffs. The bank’s analysts note a roughly 20% chance that gold could be included in Trump’s proposed 10% blanket global tariff, causing London dealers to shift metal to the U.S. The forecast is further supported by expectations of increased central bank buying, particularly from emerging economies seeking to support their currencies against […]

BOE Cuts Rates as UK Faces Stagflation Storm

The Bank of England delivered its third consecutive rate cut, lowering rates to 4.5% amid growing stagflation concerns. In a surprising split decision, two of nine committee members voted for a more aggressive 0.50% cut. The move came alongside a dramatic revision to economic forecasts, with 2024 growth expectations halved to 0.75% while inflation projections were raised to 3.7% due to energy costs. The grim outlook presents a significant challenge for UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with the economy having contracted 0.1% in Q4 2023 and expected to grow just 0.1% in Q1 2025. Markets responded decisively, with the pound dropping […]

Gold’s 10% Surge Sparks New Era Speculation

Gold’s meteoric rise in 2025 marks its strongest start since 1980, with prices soaring to $2,870 per ounce amid what analysts describe as a perfect storm of economic conditions. The rally is underpinned by structural forces beyond traditional drivers like dollar weakness or Fed policy expectations. Central banks have emerged as key players, purchasing over 1,000 tonnes annually for three straight years, with fourth-quarter buying accelerating to 333 tonnes. This surge in demand reflects growing concerns about U.S. fiscal sustainability and geopolitical risks, particularly following the 2022 freezing of Russian assets. The current gold rush is further intensified by escalating […]