Sector expert Michael Ballanger charts the latest changes in the markets and prognosticates on when and why silver prices should make a move.One of my good friends from the 1980s and 1990s was the late Ian McAvity, a superb technical analyst, a founder of Central Fund of Canada, a Bay Street Mover and, most importantly, a humble and thoroughly enjoyable man. He was the first newsletter writer that...Read More

The gold bull market ended 2019 with a strong gain of 19%. The first half the year was marked with uncertainty as the price after an early year surge to $1350 gave up all of it's gains to drift lower to trade down on the year by early May. However, this was the calm before the bull market storm and that set the stage for a powerful bull run starting early June that saw the Gold price rocket higher...Read More

Gold rally goes on, reaching almost $1,700 per ounce. What the heck is just happening in the precious metals market? Gold Rallies Above $1,680Wow, what an escalation! On Thursday, we reported that gold jumped above $1,600. On Friday, its price surpassed $1,640, as the chart below shows. And today morning, it has rallied even further, reaching $1,684. Chart 1: Gold prices in 2020 (London P.M. Fix)....Read More

The new issue of Aluminium Market Tracker is now online at metalbulletinresearch.com.In this edition, Fastmarkets' research team delivers key insights and forecasts into aluminium markets around the world.Aluminium price down 2.3% week-on-week amid stock market sell-offGlobal markets remain rattled by the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) across Europe and the United States. Panic-sellin...Read More

“Minsky Moment” refers to the idea that periods of bullish speculation will eventually lead to a crisis, wherein a sudden decline in optimism causes a spectacular market crash. Named after economist Hyman Minsky, the theory centers around the inherent instability of stock markets, especially bull markets such as the current one that has been in place for over a decade. As&nbs...Read More

The new issue of the Seamless OCTG & Linepipe Market Tracker is now online at metalbulletinresearch.com.In this edition, Fastmarkets' research team delivers analysis of seamless OCTG and linepipe across international markets:Covid-19 underscores pipe outlookUnsurprisingly, the concern in the seamless pipe markets across the regions is the effect of the spread of Covid-19 on public health and econo...Read More

Silver is still in consolidation mode since early September, but it appears ready to rally over a sustained period of time.On the chart there appears to have formed some fractals. The current one has also broken out at the black line recently (just after point C).As expected, price survived the test of the 50-day moving average, and is looking really bullish. If the comparison remains valid, then...Read More

The new issue of the Steel Market Tracker is now online at metalbulletinresearch.com.In this edition, Fastmarkets' research team delivers key insights and forecasts into the long and flat products markets.This week's risks to our latest flat-rolled forecasts:The Chinese government is stepping up help to the economy, increasing banks' liquidity. But the spread of the coronavirus worldwide is likely...Read More

$500 billion. This is the sum the Fed has already pumped into the repo market since the crisis there started. On September 17, 2019, the secured overnight funding rate – a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by Treasury securities, based on the repurchase transactions – more than doubled, as the chart below shows, while the intraday range jumped to abou...Read More

Ladies and Gentleman, gold has overcome yet another barrier, jumping above $1,600 amid the fresh FOMC minutes and the renewed fears about the coronavirus economic consequences. What’s next for the yellow metal?Fed More Optimistic about Global EconomyGold bulls can be happy. As the chart below shows, the yellow metal has jumped above $1,600 amid the FOMC minutes and concerns about the coronav...Read More

RAPAPORT... The COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the globe has had a notable impact on the diamond industry, with new developments unfolding every day. Here, we present a one-stop, running news feed on industry events impacted by the virus.March 22?EUR?Signet Jewelers announces all its stores will remain closed across its North America banners, including Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, James Alle...Read More

RAPAPORT... Signet Jewelers is shutting all its stores in North America due to the coronavirus, a company spokesperson confirmed with Rapaport News.The temporary closure goes into effect at the close of business on Sunday, the spokesperson said. It applies to its Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, James Allen, Peoples and Piercing Pagoda store brands.The company will inform customers this weekend vi...Read More

RAPAPORT... Swiss watch exports fell in February, as the coronavirus pandemic led to the worst monthly decline in Hong Kong in the last 20 years.Shipments dropped 9% to CHF 1.6 billion ($1.62 billion) for the month overall. Supply to Hong Kong dropped 42% to CHF 142.6 million ($144.6 million) and to China plunged 52%. Exports to the US, which hadn't yet been affected by the coronavirus, continued...Read More

RAPAPORT... Dominion Diamond Mines has put all operations at its Ekati mine in Canada on hold indefinitely in an effort to protect workers from the coronavirus pandemic.The miner has suspended operations at the Northwest Territories site because of the area's remote location and the large amount of air travel necessary for workers and support staff to get to the mine, it said last week. None...Read More

RAPAPORT... Kering, the owner of Gucci, Saint Laurent and Boucheron, said demand in China was starting to recover, even as the effects of the coronavirus intensified in other locations."The group is observing encouraging signs in mainland China, where the decline in store traffic, and hence in sales, is narrowing," the company reported Friday. "Conversely, the impact of the epidemic remains s...Read More

RAPAPORT... Tiffany & Co. reported solid sales in fiscal 2019 as it introduced new products and sold higher-value jewelry.Group revenue was flat at $4.4 billion for the year ending January 31, matching the record annual sales figure the company reported in 2018. Sales increased 2% to $1.3 billion in the Asia-Pacific region, while revenue in the Americas fell 2% to $1.9 billion. Sales in J...Read More

As the global pandemic changes life for everyone, we at IDEX are adjusting to the "new normal".      It's time to take a bold and decisive action, so we have resolved to leverage our expertise and our platform assets to help friends and colleagues in our industry.    That's why we are, with immediate effect, opening up our diamond trading platform for FREE.&...Read More

RAPAPORT... Our heart goes out to the diamond community during these difficult times. We understand that the reduction of prices in the Rapaport Price List on March 20 is upsetting. The trade is invited to contact me directly at email prices@diamonds.net. We are reading and sensitive to all communications.It is vital that the Rapaport Price List reflect the realities of the market even when such r...Read More

QUESTION: Hello,Daily reader with coronavirus, in the ER waiting.If gold market is a low percentage of the whole market, what does this measure allow to collect significant capital? Any comment will be appreciatedKeep up the excellent work!!!Best regardsAKANSWER: This is not about how much it would collect. They are seeking to eliminate ANY means of circumventing their negative interest rate poli...Read More

QUESTION: Marty, the gold buyback quote at ….. is now spot + $20. A week ago the quote was spot + $2. Supply & demand? Shortage of 1 oz random year golden eagles? What’s going on?Thanks for your prolific post output during this crisis!Cheers, TGMANSWER: Europe has directed bullion dealers not to sell to individuals. You will probably see next week a proposal floated that asks Eur...Read More