Gold and Silver Industry & Investing News

London’s Hatton Garden jewelry quarter is experiencing a unique situation as gold prices reach record highs. While some sellers are capitalizing on the increased value of their gold items, jewelers face challenges with rising costs and changing consumer behavior. The surge in gold prices has led to a shift in the market, with more people selling gold than buying jewelry. Despite the challenges, the allure of gold as an investment remains strong, reflecting the complex impact of soaring prices on the jewelry industry. Jewelers report seeing more sellers than buyers, which is impacting sales volumes, particularly as Valentine’s Day approaches....

China has launched a pilot program allowing ten major insurance companies to invest up to 1% of their assets in gold, potentially releasing $27.4 billion into the gold market. This historic policy shift, which began last Friday, comes as gold prices hit new records above $2,898 per ounce, driven by Fed rate expectations, central bank buying, and Trump-related market uncertainty. This development emerges against a backdrop of record gold prices and limited investment options in China’s struggling economy. However, analysts suggest actual demand may develop gradually as insurers carefully time their entries into the market. The policy change coincides with...

Silver prices have surged to $32.30 as investors seek safe-haven assets following President Trump’s announcement of new steel and aluminum tariffs. The precious metal’s gains were further supported by a retreat in the US Dollar Index from 108.50 to 108.10. Technical analysis indicates a bullish outlook, with the 20-day EMA trending higher at $30.90 and RSI readings between 60-80 suggesting strong momentum. The metal faces immediate resistance at $32.50, with potential upside to October’s high of $33.90, while maintaining support at $29.50. Investors remain focused on Fed Chair Powell’s upcoming congressional testimony for signals about the duration of current interest...

Global gold markets are experiencing a remarkable surge, with spot gold jumping 1.4% to reach a historic high of $2,903.08 per ounce – marking its seventh record this year. The rally is primarily driven by safe-haven demand following President Trump’s announcement of new steel and aluminum tariffs, along with plans for reciprocal tariffs. Meanwhile, London’s gold vaults reported a 1.7% decrease in holdings due to increased U.S.-bound shipments. The precious metals rally has extended to silver, platinum, and palladium, though market participants remain watchful of upcoming U.S. inflation data that could influence Federal Reserve policy decisions.

Gold hit a historic high of $2,903 per ounce following President Trump’s announcement of impending steel and aluminum tariffs. The surge reflects growing market uncertainty, with investors turning to gold as a safe haven. China’s increased gold reserves and new policy allowing insurers to invest in bullion further strengthen the metal’s position, despite potential headwinds from Fed policy. China’s continued expansion of gold reserves and new policy allowing major insurers to invest up to 1% of assets in bullion (potentially $27.4 billion) further reinforces the metal’s bullish outlook.

Markets showed mixed reactions to President Trump’s latest trade announcement, with both the dollar and gold strengthening as safe-haven assets. The proposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports sparked volatility across markets, though US stock futures indicated a potential recovery from Friday’s decline. While the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index reached its highest point in nearly a week, US stock futures suggested a recovery from Friday’s selloff, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures gaining at least 0.4%. Metal companies saw substantial premarket gains, with US Steel Corp. surging up to 15%. The market’s attention remains divided between the tariff...

Despite being the world’s largest gold buyer, Chinese consumers are stepping back from purchases as prices approach $3,000 per ounce. While investment demand remains steady and the People’s Bank of China continues its gold purchases, jewelry sales have declined due to the combination of record prices, a weak yuan, and economic challenges. While institutional investment through ETFs remains robust and the People’s Bank of China has resumed gold purchases to support the yuan, retail demand has notably softened. This is especially evident in the jewelry sector, where consumers are shifting to smaller pieces, and in the unusual appearance of discounts...

January 2025 has seen an unprecedented $5.2 billion in gold deliveries on the Comex, marking an extraordinary surge for a traditionally quiet minor month. What makes this particularly noteworthy is that 19,001 contracts have been delivered with three days still remaining in the month, a level typically associated with major delivery months. The surge isn’t attributed to any single event but rather consistent buying and immediate settlement throughout the month. This unprecedented activity in physical gold delivery could potentially indicate a broader shift in market participants’ attitude toward holding physical metal rather than paper contracts.

Oil markets are experiencing their third straight weekly decline, with Brent crude falling more than 2% as the impact of Trump’s comprehensive China tariffs overshadows new Iran sanctions. The market’s response reflects deeper concerns about global demand, particularly in China where private refiners have reduced operations to levels not seen since the pandemic. Despite technical indicators suggesting oversold conditions, the market remains focused on potential economic slowdown risks stemming from escalating trade tensions, particularly as China prepares to implement retaliatory measures.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to appear before Congress next week for the first time in seven months, facing questions about monetary policy at a critical juncture. The testimony, scheduled before the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services panel, follows the Fed’s decision to maintain rates at 4.25%-4.5% after implementing 100 basis points in cuts across three meetings last year. Powell’s stance on cautious policy movement has gained unified support from Fed officials, with analysts expecting no rate changes until the second half of the year. The political context has shifted favorably, with President Trump now backing...