Gold and Silver Industry & Investing News

Wealthy investors have doubled their allocations to alternative investments over the past year, with more than half planning to own alternatives within 12 months, according to HSBC’s survey of 10,797 investors globally. Gold emerged as the “standout asset class,” with allocations more than doubling from 5% to 11% of portfolios – the largest increase across all asset classes. Physical gold remains popular as a safe haven (41% plan to own it), while 28% expressed interest in digital gold. Younger generations are leading the shift, with Gen Z and Millennials cutting cash holdings from 31% to 17%.

High gold prices are taking a toll on Asia’s physical demand, according to Commerzbank’s commodity analyst Barbara Lambrecht. India, facing record-high gold prices in rupees, imported just 21 tons in June – the lowest level since April 2023 and contributing to a 30% year-over-year decline in first-half imports to 204 tons. Swiss gold export data reinforced this Asian weakness, with shipments to China falling 39% month-over-month to 16.7 tons, India exports dropping 71% to under 3 tons, and Hong Kong receiving 35% less at under one ton. However, the picture diverged sharply in Europe, where Swiss exports to the UK...

President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would open the $9 trillion US retirement market to cryptocurrencies, gold, private equity, and other alternative assets. The order would direct regulatory agencies to remove barriers preventing professionally managed 401(k) plans from including non-traditional investments, potentially transforming how millions of Americans save for retirement. This move builds on Trump’s broader pro-crypto agenda and could significantly benefit asset managers like BlackRock, Blackstone, and Apollo who have long sought access to retirement funds.

Gold is consolidating near $3,317 after a 0.48% pullback, showing resilience above the key $3,300 support level despite dollar strength and strong US retail data. The precious metal remains up 26.29% year-over-year, with traders awaiting Fed clarity amid Trump-Powell tensions and ongoing central bank buying. Technical analysis shows gold trapped in a symmetrical triangle between $3,300 support and $3,360-$3,372 resistance, with a breakout above $3,372 potentially targeting Goldman Sachs’ $3,700 forecast and even $3,800 levels.

China’s central bank has officially increased gold reserves for eight straight months to 2,299 metric tons by June 2025, but analysts suspect the real total could exceed 5,000 tons based on unexplained trade flows. China’s accelerated gold buying began after the US froze Russia’s reserves in 2022, highlighting gold’s immunity to sanctions. This strategic accumulation may be part of China’s effort to reduce dollar dependence and challenge US financial dominance, with potential implications for Treasury demand and gold prices.

Swiss gold exports surged 44% month-over-month in June to the highest level since March, driven by bullion flowing back to UK vaults from the United States. Exports to the UK jumped dramatically to 83.8 metric tons – the highest since August 2019 – as gold that was shipped to the US earlier this year to cover potential tariff risks returned after President Trump excluded bullion from reciprocal tariffs in April. London vault holdings rose 2.1% to 8,776 tonnes, the highest since August 2023.

India’s gold market showed mixed signals in June and early July, with prices gaining 0.7% domestically to INR 95,676 per 10g despite seasonal jewelry demand weakness. Investment demand surged dramatically, with gold ETFs recording their highest monthly inflows since January at INR 20.8 billion. The Reserve Bank of India resumed modest gold purchases after a three-month pause, adding 0.4 tonnes to reach record reserves of 880 tonnes. However, gold imports plummeted 26% year-over-year to $1.8 billion as high prices deterred consumers.

Gold traded modestly higher at $3,351 per ounce as investors weighed conflicting signals about the US economy and Federal Reserve policy direction. Resilient economic data – including the lowest jobless claims since mid-April and advancing June retail sales – eased recession concerns but reduced market expectations for rate cuts, with swaps pricing less than 60% odds of a September reduction. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly still suggested two cuts this year are reasonable, while President Trump continues pressuring for easier monetary policy. Gold remains disadvantaged in high-rate environments since it pays no interest, but has still surged over 25%...

Gold prices held steady around $3,388 per ounce as traders await the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and monitor Middle East tensions. While gold remained flat, platinum surged 3.5% to hit a four-year high of $1,307, driven by speculation it could replace expensive gold in Chinese jewelry demand. The Fed is expected to keep rates unchanged, with geopolitical uncertainty continuing to support precious metals demand.