Gold and Silver Industry & Investing News

The House narrowly passed President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” a sweeping tax and spending plan that extends the 2017 Trump tax cuts and raises the U.S. debt ceiling by $4 trillion. Key provisions include a more generous SALT deduction, tighter Medicaid work requirements, and new spending for border security and defense. The bill passed 215-214, with all Democrats opposed and a few Republicans breaking ranks. Critics say the legislation favors the wealthy, with the bottom 10% of Americans expected to see benefits reduced, while the top 10% gain. The bill now moves to the Senate.

Retailers are feeling the pinch as inflation, tariffs, and recession fears weigh on both businesses and shoppers. Target and Walmart are raising prices or seeing sales drop, while Home Depot and Lowe’s are working around tariffs through sourcing strategies. Meanwhile, discount chain TJX is thriving as cost-conscious consumers hunt for deals. With sentiment down nearly 30% since January, this fractured retail landscape signals rising macro stress—potentially bullish for safe-haven assets like gold.

Gold has surged in 2025, peaking at $3,500 per ounce, driven by three key forces: Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have intensified demand for safe-haven assets. U.S. Fiscal Concerns: A $1.9 trillion deficit and potential tax cut extensions without offsetting cuts have rattled investor confidence. Central Bank Demand: Emerging market central banks are steadily increasing gold reserves to reduce reliance on the dollar. While gold recently dipped to $3,185, underlying fundamentals remain strong. Analysts expect prices could return to $3,500 by year-end—if macro and geopolitical risks persist.

Crude markets turned bearish as reports emerged of OPEC+ eyeing another production hike. A possible 411,000 barrels/day increase in July—likely led by Saudi Arabia—could tip the delicate balance between supply and demand. Coupled with surprise builds in U.S. crude and fuel inventories and weaker gasoline demand, this paints a cautious picture for oil prices. Rising U.S. Treasury yields and a tepid economic backdrop add further strain. Investors should be wary of continued volatility, especially as the June 1 OPEC+ meeting approaches.

The yield on the 30-year U.S. Treasury climbed above 5.1% Thursday, its highest since October 2023, as bond markets reacted to the House’s advancement of President Trump’s $4 trillion tax and spending bill. Investors are increasingly concerned about the growing federal deficit, especially following Moody’s recent U.S. credit downgrade and weak demand at a 20-year bond auction. The bill’s potential to flood markets with more government debt is adding pressure to long-term yields and fueling broad skepticism toward U.S. assets.

The House has passed what President Trump calls his “big, beautiful bill,” a sweeping piece of legislation combining major tax cuts, tighter welfare requirements, and trillions in new federal spending. Passed by a razor-thin margin (215-214), the bill includes a $4 trillion debt ceiling hike, looser rules on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, and stricter Medicaid work requirements. All Democrats opposed it, joined by a few Republicans. The bill now heads to the Senate.

The euro fell and the yen strengthened Thursday as weak European business data clashed with mounting U.S. debt concerns. President Trump’s tax-and-spend bill passed the House, potentially adding $3.8 trillion to the U.S. debt over the next decade. This fueled further selling in U.S. Treasuries and the dollar, with investors turning to safe-haven currencies and assets. Bitcoin surged to a record high above $111,000 as some investors looked for alternatives to U.S. financial markets amid growing fiscal instability.

Gold prices pulled back Thursday after briefly hitting a near two-week high, with spot gold slipping 0.3% to $3,303.82. The decline came amid a modest rebound in the U.S. dollar, which made gold more expensive for non-dollar investors. Still, persistent worries over America’s growing $36 trillion debt burden and weak demand for U.S. Treasuries helped keep gold firmly above the $3,300 level. Analysts expect gold to remain resilient if market sentiment continues to sour over the U.S. fiscal trajectory.

The European Central Bank just published an article asking: “What does the record price of gold tell us about risk perceptions in financial markets?” Since 2023, gold has hit multiple record prices, reaffirming its role as a safe haven asset. Unlike bonds or stocks, gold offers no income but provides two key advantages: zero default risk and inflation protection through its limited supply. The ECB found that gold consistently shields portfolios during three specific stress scenarios: geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty, and extreme market volatility. Central banks, especially from emerging economies, have substantially increased gold purchases over the last three years...