Gold and Silver Industry & Investing News

The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will maintain its current benchmark interest rate, marking the fourth straight meeting without a rate change. This decision keeps borrowing costs high for American consumers and businesses. The Fed is holding off on any rate adjustments while it gathers more data on how President Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda and ongoing Middle East tensions might impact the economy. Despite the U.S. economy demonstrating resilience under current conditions, there are signs that both businesses and consumers are pulling back on spending as they await more clarity on economic policy. The decision drew criticism from President...

Markets are experiencing volatility as Middle East tensions rise between Israel and Iran, prompting investors to move away from risky assets. Silver has reached its highest price since February 2012, driven by strong demand from green energy and tech sectors. Meanwhile, Reddit shares continue climbing after launching new AI advertising tools, and Regencell Bioscience stock has skyrocketed following a 38-for-1 stock split, despite the company having no revenue.

May’s inflation data showed surprisingly low price increases, with CPI rising just 0.1% monthly and staying under 2.5% annually. Key categories like cars and clothing actually saw price drops despite new tariffs. This “missing inflation” may be due to businesses stockpiling imports before tariffs hit and weak consumer demand. However, this calm is likely temporary. Business costs are rising rapidly, and these will eventually be passed to consumers. Despite market hopes for Fed rate cuts, the central bank will probably keep rates steady through 2025, having learned from past mistakes about “transitory” inflation.

Citigroup has issued a bearish call on gold, predicting it could drop to $2,500 or lower next year after its record-breaking rally. However, UBS senior adviser Brendan O’Connor remains bullish, maintaining a year-end price target of $3,500 for gold, citing strong fundamentals like central bank demand and geopolitical tensions. O’Connor suggests investors consider silver as an alternative, seeing 8-9% upside potential. He also recommends looking at international stocks over U.S. equities due to better valuations, and advocates for alternative investments like private credit and private equity given expected muted returns in traditional markets.

Weekly unemployment filings fell for the first time in a month, declining by 5,000 to 245,000 in the week ending June 14. The recent rise in claims since mid-May coincides with the end of the school year, when educational workers like bus drivers and cafeteria staff can collect benefits during summer break. Despite the four-week average reaching a four-year high, 38 of 53 states showed declines last week, suggesting seasonal patterns are the main driver. However, those who lose jobs are finding it harder to get new ones, with nearly 2 million people now collecting unemployment benefits—also a four-year high—as...

Mali has broken ground on a new gold refinery backed by Russia’s Yadran Group and a Swiss investment company. The 200-ton capacity facility, in which Mali holds a controlling stake, represents a major shift in how the West African nation manages its gold resources. Once operational, all gold mined in Mali will be processed domestically into doré bars before export, ending decades of shipping raw gold abroad for refining. This move is part of broader mining reforms across the Sahel region aimed at capturing more value from natural resources.

At Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting, officials are anticipated to maintain current interest rates at 4.25%-4.5%, but all eyes are on the quarterly “dot plot” chart that reveals each Fed member’s rate predictions. The previous dot plot showed consensus for two rate cuts in 2025, and analysts expect this guidance to remain unchanged despite significant pressure from President Trump, who wants a full percentage point reduction. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and colleagues are weighing multiple factors including Trump’s tariff policies, trade uncertainties, and recent milder inflation data. While Trump has publicly called for cuts and hinted at forcing action, Powell appears...