Gold prices gained momentum as both the U.S. dollar index and Treasury yields retreated, with spot prices rising 0.4% to $2,687.59 per ounce and futures climbing over 1% to $2,710.00. Markets are particularly focused on upcoming CPI data, expected to show annual inflation increasing to 2.9% from November’s 2.7%. According to Saxo Bank’s Ole Hansen, market uncertainty is heightened by both the pending inflation data and political considerations, including Trump’s proposed import tariffs that could impact inflation and complicate the Federal Reserve’s rate decisions. Despite Tuesday’s moderate PPI increase, analysts suggest rate cuts may not materialize until the second half of the year.

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How to Spot Fake Gold and Silver: Authentication, Tests, and Red Flags
Counterfeiting precious metals is as old as money itself. Knowing how to spot fake gold starts with understanding how fakes are made. In September 2012, Manhattan dealer Ibrahim Fadl paid $100,000 for four 10-ounce PAMP Suisse gold bars. He drilled into them after a colleague’s tip — and found tungsten [NBC News]. The bars had already passed X-ray fluorescence testing and a scale check. With gold near all-time highs, the incentive for this kind of fraud has never been greater. The good news: most fakes can be caught before money changes hands. This guide covers how counterfeits are made, which tests work, what




