ADP Report: Economy Adds 155,000 Jobs as Labor Market Shows Resilience

The March jobs report from ADP showed private companies added 155,000 positions, significantly outpacing both February’s revised 84,000 figure and the Dow Jones forecast of 120,000. This positive economic indicator comes amid concerns about President Trump’s tariff policies potentially slowing hiring and economic activity. Job growth was widespread across sectors, with professional and business services adding 57,000 positions, financial activities growing by 38,000, manufacturing contributing 21,000, and leisure and hospitality adding 17,000. Service providers accounted for 132,000 of the new jobs, though some sectors saw losses, including trade, transportation and utilities (-6,000) and natural resources and mining (-3,000). On the […]

Haven Asset Rush: Gold ETFs See Largest Inflows Since Pandemic as Tariff Fears Grow

Amid mounting concerns over Donald Trump’s planned tariff war, investors are pouring money into gold funds at the fastest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic. Gold prices hit an all-time high of $3,148.88 per troy ounce on Tuesday before settling at $3,114, representing an 18% increase this year and the strongest quarterly performance since 1986. Investors have channeled over $19.2 billion into gold-backed ETFs during Q1 2025, according to Standard Chartered. This flight to haven assets also includes increased holdings in US Treasuries and cash, with cash positions in investor portfolios jumping by the largest monthly amount in five years. While […]

March Buybacks Drop 75% as Companies Stockpile Cash for Tariff Impact

Corporate America is dramatically cutting back on share repurchases, with March 2024 buyback announcements dropping to $39.1 billion—the lowest monthly figure since the pandemic and the lowest March total in five years. This retreat comes despite companies executing buybacks at near-record levels earlier in 2024. The slowdown reflects executive uncertainty about Trump’s imminent tariff announcements and potential retaliatory measures from trade partners, which could increase inflation and unemployment. According to Birinyi Associates, companies are conserving cash rather than cutting dividends while awaiting clarity on trade policies. With the Federal Reserve postponing interest rate cuts until inflation subsides, the pullback in […]

Ahead of Trump Announcement, Goldman Slashes 2025 Yield Forecasts

Goldman Sachs strategists, led by George Cole, have preemptively cut their Treasury yield forecasts before President Trump’s Rose Garden announcement. The team has significantly reduced their year-end projections, with 2-year yields now expected to finish 2025 at 3.3% (previously 3.95%) and 10-year yields at 4% (previously 4.35%). Their revised outlook stems from expectations of a “more severe tariff baseline,” which they predict will create a cumulative 15 percentage point increase in effective tariff rates. While these tariffs will likely push inflation higher—with core PCE potentially reaching 3.5% year-over-year—Goldman also foresees economic deceleration prompting the Federal Reserve to implement three consecutive […]

BlackRock’s Fink Proposes 50/30/20 Model to Replace Traditional Investment Strategy

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is recommending a significant shift from the long-established 60/40 investment portfolio strategy toward a more diversified 50/30/20 approach. In his annual letter to clients, Fink suggests that while the traditional allocation of 60% stocks and 40% bonds has served investors well for generations, today’s complex financial landscape demands broader diversification. His proposed model allocates 50% to stocks, 30% to bonds, and introduces a 20% allocation to private market assets including real estate, infrastructure, and private credit. This recommendation comes as investors face increasing challenges from inflation, market volatility, and unpredictable policy changes that have tested the […]

Gold On Pace for Historic 91.5% Annual Return Through Q1 2025

Gold’s 19% surge in Q1 2025 marks its best performance in nearly four decades. Find out why analysts believe this could be just the beginning of a historic run.

Gold Thrives as Stagflation Looms: Lower Growth, Higher Inflation Boost Precious Metal

Gold prices have surged back above $2,900 as global financial markets react to both technical and emotional factors following the implementation of Trump’s tariffs. Market sentiment suggests that US economic exceptionalism may be waning, with capital potentially flowing from overpriced US stocks to other regions—particularly Europe, which appears poised for significant fiscal expansion. Recent economic reports have been disappointing, revealing a sharp deterioration in US economic data. This has increased concerns about stagflation—a problematic economic period characterized by lower growth, rising unemployment, and persistent inflation. Forward indicators suggest these conditions could materialize in coming months, creating an environment that traditionally […]

Chinese Regulators Block New US Investments Ahead of Trump’s Tariff Announcement

China has begun restricting its companies from making new investments in the United States, according to confidential sources familiar with the situation. Several branches of China’s top economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), have been directed to suspend both registration and approval processes for firms looking to invest in the US. While China has previously limited certain overseas investments for national security and capital control reasons, these new measures reflect the escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The restrictions appear to be limited to new investments and don’t affect existing commitments or holdings of […]

Critical Minerals Order Could Derail $50 Billion in Global Development Projects

Robert Mosbacher, an adviser to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), is pushing back against President Trump’s plan to use the agency for domestic mineral production. Trump’s March 20 executive order, which invoked emergency powers to boost critical minerals production, has raised concerns among development experts who fear DFC might abandon its international commitments. These concerns are amplified by Trump’s $76 billion cut to USAID project funding and his nomination of Ben Black as DFC’s new CEO, who has criticized the agency’s support for green projects. The DFC currently manages a $50 billion portfolio of global development projects spanning […]

Trump’s Tariff Chaos Sends Investors Scrambling for Safety

According to Michael Widmer, head of metals research at Bank of America, the recent gold rally has been “almost exclusively driven” by tariff-related fears and economic uncertainty. His team projects gold prices could reach $3,500 per ounce within the next 18 months. Though gold has steadily appreciated for years, the current surge intensified as Trump promised additional tariffs on what he’s calling “Liberation Day.” Financial advisors note that while gold can be volatile, it typically appreciates during periods of global instability, offering tangible security compared to less material financial instruments. Despite this traditional “fear trade” appeal, experts caution that gold’s […]