Fed signals more patience with its monetary tightening, despite strong economy. Why? And what does it mean for the gold market?Minutes from December FOMC Meeting and Gold As everybody knows, in December the FOMCvoted unanimously to raise interest rates for the fourth time in 2018. We have analyzed the implications of that hike for gold in two editions of the Gold News Monitor (here and here). Howe...Read More
Gold mine production by country Divergent paths among the major global producers tell an important taleSources: MetalsFocus and the World Gold Council with permission. 2017 Mine production (metric tonnes) Reserves1. China429.42,2002. Australia2899,8003. Russia272.35,5004. United States243.63,0005. Canada171.22,2006. Peru166.62,3007. South Africa156.96,0008.Finland130.1–9. Mexico122.11,4001...Read More
My long standing approach to Silver is one of buying when cheap to invest and forget, for it only tends to come alive towards the end of precious metals bull runs as illustrated the last time I took a look at Silver on the 8th of May 2018 - Silver Forecast 2018 and Beyond, Investing for the $35+ Price Spike!In terms of a Silver market position then as is currently the case the silver market can us...Read More
By: Jay Martin, Cambridge House International"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth". - Sherlock HolmesThe Vancouver Resource Investment Conference has been the bellwether of the junior mining market for the last twenty-five years.In January, 2011, it was a struggle to walk in a straight line down any of the exhibition aisles.It was crow...Read More
2019 is looking like one of those either/or years, where growing financial instability leads to either a 2008-style financial crash or another round of asset inflation. In Jay Taylor's latest newsletter, he concludes that both scenarios are good for gold:Which Safe Haven Markets Will Dominate in 2019?If we are, as I believe, on the precipice of a major decline in stocks, the question in my mind...Read More
By: Dave KranzlerThe stock market has gone "Roman Candle" since Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell, gave a speech that was interpreted as a precursor to the Fed softening its stance on monetary policy. Not that intermittent quarter-point Fed Funds rate nudges higher or a barely negligible decline in the Fed's balance sheet should be considered "tight" money policy.Credible measures of price inflation...Read More
By: Axel Merk, Merk InvestmentsThe quip, "if you aren't confused, you aren't paying attention" needs to be replaced: "with the Fed confused, you better pay attention." You may want to buckle up. Let me explain.It all starts with the Fed...In assessing our crystal ball for 2019, the starting point is the Federal Reserve (Fed) because they provide an anchor for the price of risk-free assets (Tre...Read More
By: George Smith I collect gold in the form of important insights, and in this article I'd like to share some of them with you. Until a few years ago I never thought of Moore's Law and a gold coin standard as having an important connection, but they do. Gary North lays it out (8/17):The gold standard was an institutional restraint on the expansion of government spending, and central banks we...Read More
By Ira EpsteinThe Fed is pausing, rallying gold - higher lows, higher highs:Read More
Gold Outlook 2019 - World Gold CouncilAs we look ahead, we expect that the interplay between market risk and economic growth in 2019 will drive gold demand. And we explore three key trends that we expect will influence its price performance: ? financial market instability ? monetary policy and the US dollar ? structural economic reforms.Against th...Read More
What the banks are doing is so freaking obvious and ridiculous, but Craig says to get ready, because it is going to be like this all year...by Craig Hemke of TF Metals ReportThis is so freaking obvious and ridiculous that I thought it deserved its own post. What's even more ridiculous is the amount of shills and charlatans who still publicly cling to the silly notion that the Comex silver market i...Read More
Ted Butler says if the DOJ asks the right questions, the ongoing silver manipulation will come to a screeching halt. Here's what the DOJ should be asking...by Ted Butler of Butler Research via Silver SeekReasonable questions should be answered reasonably. When such questions cannot be answered reasonably or at all, particularly by those with a responsibility for answering, something is wrong. A g...Read More
Sentiment improved after relatively good holiday season, butdealers and cutters concerned about low profit margins, excess supply, andselective demand. Indian bank credit tightening, with ICICI to close Antwerpbranch. Stock markets rebound, with Dow index +2% since Jan. 1, amid optimismfor US-China trade deal. Suppliers focused on Chinese New Year orders, withsteady demand for lower-color and -cla...Read More
Slow trading, with few foreign purchasers in theMumbai market. Buyers selective, but having difficulty finding the right goodsat the right price. Suppliers maintaining stable prices on fresh supply, buthave a lot of older merchandise in stock. Manufacturers keeping productionbelow capacity for now, as concerns about profitability persist. Banks raisingcollateral requirements, with liquidity crunch...Read More
RAPAPORT... Macy's noted strong sales of higher-end jewelry during theholiday season, though lower-priced items were weaker. Fine jewelry was one of seven categories the retailerhighlighted for their positive performances during November and December.However, sales of fashion jewelry and fashion watches missed expectations, itadded in the holiday-sales update Thursday. The department store l...Read More
RAPAPORT... Antwerp-headquartered diamond manufacturer IGC Group hasappointed Kim Pelletier as president of its fine-jewelry division, IGC BrandServices.The Chicago-based subsidiary manufactures diamonds, designs jewelry, and distributes the Naledi brand of engagements rings.Pelletier will oversee the company's growth by developing its contacts withretailers across North America and expanding...Read More
RAPAPORT... Michael Hill has appointed Andrea Slingsby as chiefoperating officer, it said Wednesday. "Her unique experience in people-focused, fast-growingcompanies, business-model improvement and operational excellence is a majorbenefit for Michael Hill as we implement our strategy to become a globallyrelevant leader in the premium-jewelry category," said Daniel Bracken, CEO ofMichael Hill. Slin...Read More
(IDEX Online) - IDEX Online has launched the 2019 edition of its much-anticipated annual Trade Fair Guide. The guide provides extensive details regarding a wide range of trade fairs taking place this year, including dates, venues and contact information. It also provides information relating to De Beers' sales dates in 2019, and ALROSA's dates for publishing details of its...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Diamond Foundry, the manufacturer of lab-grown diamonds, said it raised its prices by an average of 15% across all channels as of January 1. "After careful monitoring of the market situation over the past months, we see demand increasingly outpacing supply," the firm said in a statement. "This is due to the increase in size and frequency that buyers in the diamond industry a...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Tiffany & Co. plans to share information on a diamond's complete journey through the supply chain - from mine to where it was cut and polished - by 2020 in what the retailer says would be an industry first. The move is part of the firm's aim of telling customers where its diamonds come from in a bid to boost consumer confidence by increasing its business transparenc...Read More