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1.15.26 - Chaos has set gold and silver ablaze
Gold last traded at $4,615 an ounce. Silver at $92.39 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Gold and silver continue to explode as confidence in fiat currencies erodes and investors rush into assets with real, intrinsic value. This is exactly what happens when smart money moves first; precious metals don’t just protect wealth, they reprice it during periods of economic stress. If you’re still sitting on the sidelines, this rally is a clear warning: those positioned in physical gold and silver stand to benefit, while the unprepared will pay the price.
2026 chaos has set gold and silver ablaze -CNN
Analysis by David Goldman
Trump is threatening to take “strong action” against Iran just after capturing the leader of Venezuela. His administration is criminally investigating the chair of the Federal Reserve and is taking a scorched-earth approach on affordability by threatening key profit drivers for banks and institutional investors.
2026 has gotten off to a chaotic start.
You’d think that would be enough to send the stock market into a downward spiral. But equities traders are taking most of that news in stride: Stocks hit an all-time high Monday and have fallen back just a smidge since then.
Instead, investors have expressed their fears by setting the metals market on fire.
Silver rose more than 6% Wednesday, rising above $90 an ounce and is up 29% this year. That’s a stunning gain, especially considering silver prices surged 141% in 2025 for their best performance since 1979.
Gold is up nearly 1% Wednesday, well above $4,600 a troy ounce, and it has gained 22% this year. Like silver, gold also posted its best year since 1979 in 2025, jumping 65%. READ MORE
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1.14.26 - Silver Hits $90 - Consumers Struggle - Stablecoins Frozen
Gold last traded at $4,631 an ounce. Silver at $93.14 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: As silver surges past $90 and gold races toward record highs - signaling a global flight to safety - cracks are widening everywhere. Hundreds of millions in stablecoins are being frozen and nearly all working Americans are slashing spending as the cost of living continues to crush household budgets. In this environment of eroding trust, tightening liquidity, and weakening consumer strength; precious metals stand out as one of the few real hedges against it all.
Silver Hits Record Above $90 as Precious Metals Rally Powers On -Yahoo! Finance
by Yihui Xie
(Bloomberg) -- Silver broke above $90 an ounce for the first time and gold flirted with a record high as attacks on the Federal Reserve, the prospect of more US rate cuts and a tense geopolitical backdrop added impetus to a blistering rally in precious metals.
The white metal jumped as much as 5.3% to touch $91.5535 an ounce, while gold was within $10 of an all-time peak. Underlying US inflation in December wasn’t as high as feared, but economists said the data was artificially depressed by the record-long government shutdown. The Fed is expected to pause rate cuts for several months, but swaps markets are pricing in at least two more later in the year.
Precious metals are off to strong starts this year, building on dramatic rallies in 2025, with the prospect of a criminal indictment against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reviving worries about the monetary authority’s independence. Central bankers across the world have rallied behind Powell and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said the move could backfire. READ MORE
92% Of Employed Americans Have Cut Back On Spending As The Standard Of Living In The US Crumbles -ZeroHedge
Authored by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog
The headline of this article is not a misprint. The reason why “affordability” has become the number one issue for U.S. voters is because most of the population is being absolutely crushed by the rising cost of living.
Just look at how much you are paying for electricity compared to five years ago. And just look at how much you are paying for food compared to five years ago. Housing costs have risen to absurd heights, property taxes have become absolutely insane in many areas of the country, and health insurance premiums have more than doubled for millions of Americans. It isn’t just a coincidence that so many people are bitterly complaining about the cost of living these days. The truth is that most of the country is experiencing very real pain.
Of course it isn’t an accident that this has happened. Our politicians have borrowed and spent 28 trillion dollars that we did not have since Barack Obama first entered the White House in January 2009, and I warned that all of this money would create rampant inflation. READ MORE
$182,000,000 In USDT Stablecoins Frozen By Tether on Tron Blockchain Amid Suspicions of Scams: On-Chain Data -The Daily Hodl
More than $182 million worth of USDT stablecoins have been frozen on the Tron blockchain amid suspected scam activity.
In a series of alerts shared on X by Whale Alert, blockchain trackers reported that multiple Tron-based addresses holding large USDT balances were frozen, totaling roughly $182 million.
The largest single address held more than 50 million USDT, valued at about $49.9 million at the time of the freeze.
Other notable frozen balances include an address holding approximately 46.1 million USDT, another with nearly 45 million USDT, one containing about 29 million USDT, and a smaller address holding roughly 12.1 million USDT. Combined, the five addresses held approximately $182.2 million in USDT before being frozen. READ MORE
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1.13.26 - US Bank Stocks Drop on Proposed Credit Card Interest Rate Cap
Gold last traded at $4,586 an ounce. Silver at $86.94 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bank stocks slid today as President Trump set his sights on the industry; specifically the credit card companies that have long profited from sky-high interest rates. For many Americans, these cards are no longer a luxury but a financial crutch used to keep up with everyday expenses in an increasingly unforgiving economy. While this move won’t solve every systemic issue, it could offer struggling households a much-needed moment of financial relief.
US Bank Stocks Drop As Trump Proposes Credit Card Interest Rate Cap -The Daily Hodl
US bank stocks are sliding after President Trump proposed a cap on credit card interest rates.
Shares of major banks including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America fell between 1% and 3%.
Card-focused companies such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express also declined, while Capital One dropped nearly 7%.
Trump said late Friday that credit card interest rates would be capped at 10% for one year beginning January 20th, though the enforcement mechanism remains unclear.
Said an industry trade group of the proposal in a joint statement,
“Evidence shows that a 10% interest rate cap would reduce credit availability and be devastating for millions of American families and small business owners who rely on and value their credit cards, the very consumers this proposal intends to help.”
The proposal sparked alarm across the banking industry, with executives and analysts warning it would render large portions of the credit card business unprofitable, particularly for borrowers with weaker credit profiles. The average US credit card interest rate currently stands at 19.7%, with rates for subprime and store-branded cards significantly higher, according to the report. READ MORE
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1.12.26 - Gold Hits Record as Trump-Powell Clash Shakes Investors
Gold last traded at $4,600 an ounce. Silver at $85.17 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Tensions are once again rising between President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell; and there is clearly no love lost between the two. As economic uncertainty deepens and market pressure intensifies, this public standoff is only adding more volatility to an already fragile financial landscape. In moments like these, two clear winners continue to emerge: gold, and those wise enough to own it.
Gold Hits Record $4,600 as Trump-Powell Clash Shakes Investors -Newsmax
Gold hit a record high of $4,600 Monday, while silver also set a new peak, as a criminal probe by the Trump administration into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell sent investors back into the asset viewed as a safe haven.
Spot gold jumped 1.7% to $4,584.12 per ounce by 1159 GMT, after earlier hitting a record high of $4,600.33. U.S. gold futures for February delivery gained 2.1% to $4,595.
"With the Fed's independence now openly contested, the 'political risk' discount usually reserved for emerging markets is bleeding into the U.S. dollar, driving investors toward hard assets," said Zain Vawda, analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA.
Wall Street futures dropped and the dollar fell by the most in three weeks as tensions between the Fed and the Trump administration escalated.
Powell said the threat to indict him over Congressional testimony he gave last summer was a "pretext" for the Trump administration to gain more influence over interest rates, which the U.S. President wants cut dramatically. READ MORE
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1.9.26 - The US Dollar Just Hit a 20-Year Low
Gold last traded at $4,507 an ounce. Silver at $80.25 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A new year has arrived, but the message couldn’t be clearer: the dollar’s decline as a global reserve currency is accelerating, not slowing down. This is exactly why nations around the world are racing to stockpile gold at historic levels, and why smart investors are following suit. Physical precious metals are no longer optional; they are essential for protecting and strengthening any serious portfolio.
The US Dollar Just Hit a 20-Year Low in Global Reserves -Watcher.Guru
by Juhi Mirza
The US dollar has now claimed a major new title, the one that involves the American currency hitting a 20-year low in global reserves. This position has now been handed over to gold, which has emerged as the leading global reserve the world has been hanging on to as of late. Will the American currency ever be able to recover from this setback?
According to the latest update by the Kobeissi letter, a new striking development has taken place where the US dollar’s positioning as a global reserve asset has taken a toll. The KL data outlines how the US dollar reserve share has dropped to its lowest in 20 years. Moreover, this percentage has declined 18 percentage points in the last 18 years.
On the other hand, gold has emerged as a leading asset to take note of as of late, crowned as the best reserve asset to explore currently. The central bank’s constant spree of purchasing gold has led the asset to take the top spot, dethroning the king dollar. READ MORE
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1.8.26 - Dalio: 'Biggest Investment Story' Remains Under the Radar
Gold last traded at $4,477 an ounce. Silver at $76.98 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ray Dalio appears to be viewing the markets through a very different lens than most. He’s far less impressed by record highs in the Dow, or the hype surrounding AI stocks that investors have eagerly embraced in recent years. And I tend to agree with him.
Billionaire Ray Dalio Says ‘Biggest Investment Story’ Remains Under the Radar – And It’s Not AI or Stocks The Daily Hodl
Billionaire Ray Dalio says that the biggest investment story of the moment is under many people’s radar.
Dalio, who founded the asset management firm Bridgewater Associates, says the real investment story last year is the devaluing of fiat currency and the underperformance of US stocks relative to gold and foreign equities.
“Though the facts and returns are indisputable, I see things differently from most others. While most people see US stocks and particularly US AI stocks to be the best investments and hence the biggest investment story of 2025, it is indisputably true that the biggest returns (and hence the biggest story) came from:
1: What happened to the value of money (most importantly the dollar, other fiat currencies and gold).
2: US stocks significantly underperforming both non-US stock markets and gold (which was the best performing major market) principally as a result of fiscal and monetary stimulations, productivity gains and big shifts in asset allocations away from US markets.” READ MORE
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1.7.26 - Metals continue their historic rally
Gold last traded at $4,456 an ounce. Silver at $78.19 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Gold and silver prices are accelerating far faster than most anticipated, driven by a powerful convergence of forces. Rising geopolitical tensions, rapidly expanding industrial demand fueled by the global race for technological dominance, and a surge in investor interest as markets recognize just how undervalued these metals have been all play a role. Together, these dynamics are reshaping the landscape. The three articles below clearly explain not only what’s driving today’s price action, but also why the most significant moves may still lie ahead.
Silver Rallies Today: The Key Factors Behind the Price Move -Investing Haven
China tightened control over refined silver exports, reducing available supply. Prices jumped, volatility increased, and industrial buyers now face higher costs.
China has approved only 44 companies to export refined silver starting January 1, 2026.
The decision quickly changed market conditions. Silver prices jumped, trading became more volatile, and buyers rushed to secure supply.
With China playing a central role in refined silver production, even small policy shifts now move global prices fast.
China’s new export rules restrict refined silver shipments to 44 approved companies, cutting the number of exporters sharply.
China accounts for about 40–50% of global refined silver output, so these limits matter immediately. READ MORE
Gold Prices Jump Today – What’s Driving the Sudden Rally? -Investing Haven
Gold jumped above $4,400 as political shock from Venezuela pushed investors toward safety. Precious metals rose fast as risk appetite faded.
Gold prices moved sharply higher after news broke that the U.S. had captured Venezuela’s president. Spot gold climbed more than 2.7% to trade above $4,400 per ounce, while futures followed the same path.
The sudden move reflected a rapid shift in investor behavior, with money flowing out of riskier assets and into gold, a long-standing store of value during periods of uncertainty.
Spot gold rose above $4,424 per ounce, marking one of its strongest single-day gains this year.
U.S. gold futures also advanced, while silver gained about 3.5%. Traders moved quickly after confirmation of the U.S. operation in Venezuela, which raised concerns about regional stability and market spillovers.
Switzerland’s decision to freeze assets linked to Venezuela’s leadership added financial pressure and increased uncertainty. Gold’s reaction was amplified by its strong momentum. READ MORE
Morgan Stanley Lifts Gold Forecast To $4,800, Citing Fed Cuts And Global Risk -ZeroHedge
Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times
Gold prices are poised to climb to fresh record highs by the end of the year, with Morgan Stanley forecasting the bullion at $4,800 per ounce by the fourth quarter of 2026, as falling interest rates, central bank buying, and persistent geopolitical risk continue to drive demand for the traditional safe-haven asset.
In a research note on Jan. 5, the bank said the precious metal’s rally is being underpinned by a combination of macroeconomic and policy shifts, including an expected easing cycle by the U.S. Federal Reserve, a change in leadership at the Federal Reserve, and sustained purchases by central banks and investment funds.
Bullion has already delivered a historic run. Spot gold touched an all-time high of $4,549.71 per ounce on Dec. 26, 2025, and finished the year up 64 percent, marking its strongest annual performance since 1979.
Gold prices jumped again this week after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces heightened geopolitical uncertainty across energy and financial markets. Analysts say such flashpoints have revived safe-haven buying at a time when many investors were already positioned defensively.
“The situation around Venezuela has clearly reactivated safe-haven demand, but it comes on top of existing concerns about geopolitics, energy supply, and monetary policy,” said Alexander Zumpfe, a precious metals trader at Heraeus Metals Germany. READ MORE
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1.6.26 - BofA: Silver Price May Hit $135–$309
Gold last traded at $4,494 an ounce. Silver at $81.28 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bullish forecasts for silver continue to gain momentum, and this may be the most aggressive outlook yet. Analysts at Bank of America are projecting the potential for silver prices to surge beyond $300 per ounce and are recommending a substantial 20–30% allocation to precious metals ... an extraordinary endorsement of the opportunity ahead.
Bank of America’s Bold Call: Silver Price May Hit $135–$309 -Watcher.Guru
by Juhi Mirza
Bank of America has recently predicted a new metal timeline for 2026. BofA strategists believe gold will continue to emerge as a hedge in 2026, with silver price being the ultimate head-turner, climbing new price pedestals ranging between $135 and $309 in the long run.
As per Bank of America’s leading strategist Michael Widmer, claiming how silver may continue to surprise the markets in the near future. Per the BofA expert, the silver price may eventually climb to hit $135 to $309 as the world continues to restore capital into stable assets like gold and silver.
Explain the rationale behind this estimate. Widmer added how the silver price could soon overtake gold, as investors continue to dive into risky assets for a higher uptrend, a habit that eventually could offset silver.
“Widmer said silver may appeal more to investors willing to take higher risk for extra upside and noted that the current gold:silver ratio of around 59 suggests silver could still outperform gold. He cited the historical low ratio of 32 in 2011 as implying a silver price high of $135, while the 1980 low of 14 in the ratio suggests a silver price of $309 per ounce.” As shared by Kitco.
Other than that, BofA analysts are bullish on gold as well, adding how investors should at least have 20% gold allocation in their portfolios.
“When you run the analysis from 2020, you can actually justify that retail investors should have a gold share well above 20%,” he said. “You can even justify 30% at the moment.” Widmer shared. READ MORE
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1.5.26 - Safe-haven gold propelled to one-week high
Gold last traded at $4,439 an ounce. Silver at $75.69 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Gold continues to stand out as a safe haven for investors amid ongoing market volatility and global uncertainty. Recent events in Venezuela underscore the fragility of the world on multiple fronts and highlight how quickly geopolitical instability can ripple through financial markets worldwide.
Safe-haven gold propelled to one-week high by U.S.-Venezuela conflict -CNBC
Gold rose to a one-week high and nearer its record peak on Monday as safe-haven demand spurred by U.S. strikes in Venezuela added to bullion’s appeal, already fuelled by geopolitical tensions and rate cut bets.
Spot gold rose 2.9% to $4,453.22 an ounce, after earlier hitting its highest level since December 29. Gold hit an all-time-high of $4,549.71 on December 26.
U.S. gold futures for February delivery gained 3.1% to $4,463.5 an ounce.
“The situation around Venezuela has clearly reactivated safe-haven demand, but it comes on top of existing concerns about geopolitics, energy supply and monetary policy,” said Alexander Zumpfe, a precious metals trader at Heraeus Metals Germany.
Gold posted a 64% gain last year, driven by geopolitical flashpoints and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate easing cycle. Expectations of even lower rates, along with central bank buying and ETF flows bolstered the climb. READ MORE
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12.31.25 - 2025 Recap: Silver up 150% and Gold up 64%
Gold last traded at $4,311 an ounce. Silver at $70.58 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Today marks the final day of 2025. As each year brings its own share of highs and lows, we sincerely hope that what stands out most are the daily blessings that surrounded you throughout the year. We are truly grateful that you've taken the time to follow us, and we look forward to continuing to bring you timely market news in 2026, and for many years to come. We wish you all the best in the coming year.
Below are three quick-read articles that offer a strong recap of 2025's market performance and some insights that may well serve as a precursor of what's to come. While gold and silver "stumbled" slightly toward year-end, it may simply have been a pause to catch their breath before the next move higher.
Silver’s 150% rally and gold’s 64% gain cap historic year for precious metals -Yahoo! Finance
by Sam Boughedda
Investing.com -- Despite the sharp pullback in recent days, both gold and silver are set to post substantial gains as we close out 2025, capping a standout year for precious metals as investors sought safety amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Spot silver has surged around 150% this year, breaking above $80 per ounce in late December for the first time and outperforming major equity indexes and currencies. However, the metal has pulled back significantly over the last few days and currently sits around $71.80
The metal has benefited from its designation as a critical U.S. mineral, persistent supply constraints and historically low inventories.
Meanwhile, spot gold has climbed around 64% in 2025, hitting record highs as central bank purchases and risk-off positioning supported prices. However, the pullback in gold over the last few sessions has seen it fall from over $4,500 per ounce to its current level just above $4,300. READ MORE
Gold and Silver Stumble at the End of Best Year Since the 1970s -Yahoo! Finance
by Yihui Xie and Jack Ryan
(Bloomberg) -- Gold and silver fell on the last trading day of 2025, though both remained on track for the biggest annual gain in more than four decades as a banner year for precious metals draws to a close.
Spot gold hovered around $4,320 an ounce, while silver slid toward $71. The two have seen exceptional volatility in thin post-holiday trading, plunging Monday before recovering Tuesday and dropping again Wednesday. The big swings prompted exchange operator CME Group to raise margin requirements twice.
Both metals are still on track for their best year since 1979, supported by strong demand for haven assets amid mounting geopolitical risks, and by interest-rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve. The so-called debasement trade — triggered by fears of inflation and swelling debt burdens in developed economies — has helped supercharge the scorching rally.
In gold, the bigger market by far, those factors spurred a rush by investors into bullion-backed exchange-traded funds, while central banks extended a years-long buying spree. READ MORE
Dollar Set for Worst Year Since 2017 With Fed Drama Center Stage -Yahoo! Finance
by Anya Andrianova
(Bloomberg) -- The dollar is poised for its sharpest annual retreat in eight years and investors say more declines are coming if the next Federal Reserve chief opts for deeper interest-rate cuts as expected.
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has fallen about 8% this year so far. After tumbling in the wake of Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs in April, the greenback came under sustained pressure as the president kicked off his aggressive campaign to get a dovish appointee installed as Fed chair next year.
“The biggest factor for the dollar in first quarter will be the Fed,” said Yusuke Miyairi, a foreign-exchange strategist at Nomura. “And it’s not just the meetings in January and March, but who will be the Fed Chair after Jerome Powell ends his term.”
With at least two rate reductions priced in for next year, the US’s policy path diverges from some of its developed peers, further dimming the dollar’s appeal. READ MORE
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