Authenticity Questions Arise: Shanghai Bank’s Gold Bar Found Containing Suspicious Materials

Gold Retreats After Trump-Fed Showdown Gold prices pulled back Tuesday, settling around $3,340/oz after Monday’s spike that saw the metal briefly touch $3,370. The initial rally came as President Trump moved to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, sending traders scrambling for safe havens. Cook, one of the Fed’s three sitting governors, has been a vocal advocate for maintaining the central bank’s independence. But the dust is settling, and investors are now questioning whether this political theater will actually change monetary policy or if it’s just another round of Washington saber-rattling. When politicians pressure the Fed, markets get nervous —

At the Jackson Hole conference, Fed Chair Powell outlined major challenges reshaping the U.S. economy. He highlighted that higher tariffs are already lifting prices in some goods categories, with core goods up 1.1% year-over-year after declining through 2024. Immigration restrictions have caused labor force growth to plummet, with payroll growth averaging just 35,000 monthly over three months. GDP growth slowed to 1.2% annualized in the first half of 2025, half of 2024’s pace. Powell warned these aren’t temporary fluctuations but structural changes that monetary policy can’t easily fix. The Fed unveiled its revised five-year framework, returning to flexible inflation targeting

President Trump attempted to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Monday night, citing allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook immediately refused to resign, stating Trump lacks legal authority for the dismissal. The unprecedented move represents a major escalation in Trump’s efforts to control the Fed and push for lower interest rates. Legal experts predict an extensive court battle that could reach the Supreme Court, as no president has ever tried to fire a Fed governor before. The confrontation threatens the Fed’s political independence, which is crucial for fighting inflation.