Dollar Rally Pressures Gold as Traders Eye Friday’s Jackson Hole Speech

Gold futures declined 0.2% to $3,380.90 per troy ounce on Thursday morning, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar that makes gold more expensive for international buyers. Despite the dip, gold maintained most of its gains from the previous session when it benefited from safe-haven buying during a tech stock selloff. Trading remains thin and prices are expected to stay rangebound until Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s crucial speech on Friday, which investors will analyze for clues about future monetary policy easing.

Jobless Claims Jump by Most in 3 Months, Signaling Labor Market Softness

Initial unemployment claims in the United States rose to 235,000 for the week ending August 16, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week and the largest jump since late May. This figure exceeded economists’ forecasts of 225,000 claims, signaling that layoffs may be accelerating in a weakening labor market. The employment situation has been characterized by low firing rates but equally tepid hiring, as businesses grapple with President Trump’s protectionist trade policies that have pushed import duties to their highest levels in a century. Employment growth has slowed dramatically, averaging just 35,000 jobs per month over the past three […]

Gold Retreats Ahead of Jackson Hole as Investors Eye Fed Rate Cut Signals

Gold prices slipped slightly to around $3,340 per ounce as investors await Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole on Friday. The precious metal had gained on Wednesday after President Trump called for Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign. Markets expect the Fed to cut interest rates by at least 25 basis points next month, which would support gold prices since gold doesn’t pay interest. Gold has risen over 25% this year, reaching record highs, driven by central bank purchases and ETF investments.

From Safe Haven to Portfolio Staple: Why Rich Investors Now Hold 11% in Gold

Gold reached a historic high of $3,500 per ounce in April 2025, marking a 25% gain in the first half of the year, and currently hovers near this peak. The surge is driven by multiple factors: central banks are aggressively buying gold with 43% planning to increase reserves, the US dollar has fallen 8% despite high Treasury yields, and the Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates soon. Wealthy investors have doubled their gold allocations to 11% from 5%, while gold ETFs attracted $21.1 billion in Q1 2025. Analysts project gold could stabilize between $3,300-$3,500, with some forecasting prices reaching […]

Digital Yuan Fails, Hong Kong Experiments: China’s Race Against Dollar Stablecoins

China views the US GENIUS Act and the rise of dollar-backed stablecoins as a serious threat to its financial sovereignty. The new law allows regulated US banks to issue stablecoins that could attract up to $1.75 trillion in circulation over three years, creating digital dollars that can move globally beyond China’s capital controls. Beijing fears these blockchain-based tokens could undermine its financial repression system and the yuan’s role in international trade. In response, China is experimenting with its own controlled blockchain solutions, including potential renminbi-backed stablecoins in Hong Kong that would be fully traceable and programmable, reflecting Beijing’s vision of […]

Gold Royalty Companies Post Record Profits While Traditional Miners Struggle with Rising Costs

Gold royalty and streaming companies are significantly outperforming traditional gold miners in 2025’s high-cost environment. Companies like Franco-Nevada, Wheaton Precious Metals, and Triple Flag reported record revenues and cash flows in Q2, with Franco-Nevada’s revenue jumping 42% year-over-year to $369.4 million. These firms avoid direct operating costs by financing miners in exchange for discounted future production rights, providing investors with gold price upside while protecting against downside risks. As inflation remains sticky and tariff costs shift to consumers, these companies offer an attractive “happy medium” between owning physical gold and traditional mining stocks.

From Boom to Bust: How the Cooling Job Market Is Stalling Wage Recovery

Four years after pandemic-era inflation began surging, American workers’ wages still haven’t fully caught up to price increases. According to Bankrate’s Wage To Inflation Index, the gap stands at -1.2 percentage points, with prices rising 22.7% since early 2021 while wages grew only 21.5%. Though the gap has narrowed from its peak of -4.8 percentage points in 2022, a slowing job market is hampering progress. If current trends continue, workers’ paychecks won’t fully recover their purchasing power until the third quarter of 2026.

US Economy at Crossroads: Job Growth Stalls While Inflation Refuses to Budge

The US economy faces mounting challenges as job growth slows dramatically and inflation remains stubbornly above target. July’s employment report showed just 73,000 jobs added, well below expectations, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%. Despite wage gains, inflation concerns persist with tariff-induced price pressures expected to push inflation toward 3.1% by year-end. The Federal Reserve faces a difficult balancing act between fighting inflation and supporting employment, with economists projecting GDP growth to slow to just 1% in the second half of 2025 as consumer spending weakens and businesses pull back on hiring.

From Fire Extinguishers to Auto Parts: Trump’s 50% Metal Tariffs Cast Wider Net

The Trump administration has expanded its 50% steel and aluminum tariffs to include 407 additional product categories, effective Monday. The new tariffs now cover everyday items containing steel or aluminum, including auto parts, fire extinguishers, machinery, construction materials, plastics, and specialty chemicals. Experts estimate these tariffs now affect at least $320 billion of imports, up from $190 billion, potentially adding more inflationary pressure to rising prices.

Fed Under Fire: Trump’s Rate Cut Demands Spark Fears of Political Control Over Monetary Policy

President Trump’s demands for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by three percentage points have raised investor concerns about “fiscal dominance”—a scenario where keeping government borrowing costs low takes priority over fighting inflation. With a recent budget bill adding trillions to US debt and Trump arguing rate cuts could save $1 trillion annually in interest costs, markets fear a return to an era of politically influenced monetary policy. The dollar has already fallen 10% this year while Treasury yields remain elevated, signaling investor worries about inflation risks. Historical precedents from Germany’s 1920s hyperinflation and Argentina’s economic crises serve as […]