Swiss America: Gold Standard News Daily

3.25.25 - 10 US Sectors Vulnerable To Tariffs

Gold last traded at $3,020 an ounce. Silver at $33.74 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As we continue to ride the seesaw of tariffs, we haven't begun to feel the consequences yet. While the Trump administration feels imposing tariffs is the best strategy to bolster the buck, and the overall economy, which sectors will be impacted the most. Read on to see the list of ten.

De-Dollarization: 10 US Sectors Vulnerable To Tariffs & Dollar Decline -Watcher.Guru

by Juhi Mirza

In a world that is increasingly pivoting towards the multi-polar narrative, the US is now struggling to maintain its dollar diplomacy intact. While the efforts to curb de-dollarization have always been initiated by the US, Trump’s sudden tariff sprees have now cast a shadow of doubt, with analysts questioning whether such tariff moves are in sync with the US economic infrastructural health. Moreover, Trump’s tariff ordeals have started to affect the US dollar, with USD encountering heavy fluctuations in its valuation. Will the US economy be able to handle the aftermath of Trump’s bold tariff ordeals? Or will it prompt nations to pursue de-dollarization holistically? Let’s find out.

Donald Trump is currently pursuing an aggressive tariff policy and is busy levying tariffs on nations to bolster the US economy. In one of Trump’s recent statements, the US president stated how April 2nd is the day when America liberates itself, as it is the day when the president will be issuing reciprocal tariffs on nations.

While his strategy is solely based on bolstering the US economy and making it more productive than ever, the repercussions of his policies cannot be ignored. For instance, experts have long been stating how Trump’s aggressive tariff policies may backfire, ushering in economic instability in the domain.

“The President is right to focus on major problems like our broken border and the scourge of fentanyl, but the imposition of tariffs won’t solve these problems and will only raise prices for American families and upend supply chains.” Said John Murphy, senior vice president and head of international at the US Chamber of Commerce.

At the same time, experts have also expressed concerns over retaliatory tariffs that the US may face in the process. Other than that, issues such as supply chain disruptions and the global trade war narrative may also gain steam, battering the US and the US dollar in the process. READ MORE

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3.24.25 - Any Country Buying Venezuelan Oil Slapped With 25% Tariff

Gold last traded at $3,011 an ounce. Silver at $33.04 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: When the talking heads said a tariff war was coming, they weren't kidding. President Trump has been actively pursuing countries - who are conducting trade with other countries - he believes are unfavorable to the US. Time will tell how effective his approach proves to be, but if nothing else, he's definitely brought these issues to the forefront.

Trump: Any Country Buying Venezuelan Oil Slapped With 25% Tariff -ZeroHedge

by Tyler Durden

President Donald Trump is imposing a 25% 'Secondary' tariff on Venezuela, and a 25% tariff on "any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela," payable to the United States "on any Trade they do with our Country."

The tariffs, which would go into affect April 2 should Trump implement them, would cut a major source of revenue for the Maduro government - while ratcheting up pressure on China, a major purchaser of Venezuelan crude that's already looking at 20% tariffs under Trump.

Trump cited "the fact that Venezuela has purposefully and deceitfully sent to the United States, undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature," in his 25% tariff on Venezuela, and says the additional 25% tariff punishing anyone buying oil or gas will begin on April 2nd.

Needless to say, the news sent oil immediately higher in Monday trade.

The move would particularly affect China, which has been a major purchaser of Venezuelan crude - and it's unclear i) if China will agree to be impacted by unilateral tariffs and ii) how the US would enforce them against China.

Venezuelan crude exports had risen to a five-year high in February before the Trump administration said it was forcing Chevron to wind down its operations by April 3. Chevron had sought more time to conclude operations with Venezuela's state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela. In canceling the deal, Trump announced in a post on Truth Social that he was "reversing the concessions" of the "oil transaction agreement, dated November 26, 2022."

These were concessions enacted by his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, which had allowed Chevron Corp - active in the Latin American country for a century - to produce and sell oil in Venezuela despite sanctions. VIEW CHARTS AND READ MORE

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3.21.25 - Peace in Ukraine: Investor Implications

Gold last traded at $3,021 an ounce. Silver at $32.89 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: While the war in Ukraine has shown the world that warfare will never be the same, gold has once again proven itself a steadfast and enduring way to preserve wealth; for world powers and individual investors alike. In a time when electronic assets can be seized by enemies, physically held precious metals shine. As Mr. Sharp concludes, "Gold is back as a reserve asset, and its importance is only set to grow over the coming decades."

Peace in Ukraine: Investor Implications -Daily Reckoning

by Adam Sharp

After 3 terrible years of fighting, the war in Ukraine may finally be nearing its conclusion.

This week Presidents Trump and Putin had a 2+ hour phone call which apparently went well. Both leaders expressed a strong desire to end the war, and more than that, expand bilateral relations.

On the battlefield, Russia is on the verge of pushing the last of Ukraine’s forces out of its Kursk region. It is almost certain that President Zelensky had hoped to trade Kursk for Russian-occupied lands, likely including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

If and when Russia succeeds in clearing Kursk, it will be a major disappointment to the Ukrainian side. President Zelensky clearly would like to regain some of his lost territory as part of any peace deal. But it is increasingly looking like Putin is not open to negotiation on this point.

Ukraine is losing the war, low on troops and equipment, and experiencing widespread electricity blackouts and brownouts.

While I am sure President Trump will work to get Ukraine the best deal possible, at this moment it appears Putin holds most of the leverage.

Today, let’s look at the implications of a hypothetical end to the war for investors. READ MORE

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3.20.25 - Utah Approves Gold Payments for State Vendors

Gold last traded at $3,044 an ounce. Silver at $33.58 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As Rep. Ken Ivory puts it, "In uncertain economic times, Utah is providing vendors and service providers with the option to receive payment in gold and silver. This law gives Utahns an alternative to choose how they preserve the purchasing power of their earnings and savings." Utah is the first state to legally acknowledge what many gold investors have known for generations: gold preserves wealth; always has, and always will.

Utah becomes 1st in nation to approve gold and silver payments for state vendors -St. George News

The Utah Legislature passed the precious metals amendments bill authorizing the state treasurer to issue a competitive procurement for a precious metals-backed electronic payment platform, allowing state vendors to opt for payment in physical gold and silver.

Sponsored by Rep. Ken Ivory and carried in the Senate by Sen. Keith Grover, the bill, designated HB 306 in Utah's 2025 legislative session, passed with strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and now awaits the governor’s signature. This landmark move positions Utah as the first state in the nation to pass a transactional gold bill, according to a news release issued by the Utah Office of State Treasurer.

The legislation is an outcome of the Utah Precious Metals Study Workgroup, formed under HB 348 passed by Ivory in the 2024 General Session, which authorized Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks to invest a portion of Utah’s rainy day funds in precious metals and review how precious metals can enhance Utah's economic security and prosperity.

"A key takeaway from the workgroup is citizens should have a choice in how they conduct financial transactions," Oaks said in the press release. "HB 306 gives state vendors the option to be paid in precious metals, while ensuring the physical assets backing the system are stored in Utah and subject to regular audits. This not only supports a secure and transparent system, but also takes an important step toward making transactional gold a viable option for all citizens.”

“In uncertain economic times, Utah is providing vendors and service providers with the option to receive payment in gold and silver,” Ivory said. “This law gives Utahns an alternative to choose how they preserve the purchasing power of their earnings and savings.” READ MORE

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3.19.25 - Gold’s Warning Signal

Gold last traded at $3,048 an ounce. Silver at $33.81 an ounce.

De-Dollarization: 3 Reasons Why The World Is Ditching The US Dollar -Watcher.Guru

Even as some BRICS nations are softening on their anti-dollar position, there is a strong contingency of nations with a laser focus when it comes to distancing themselves from the dollar. Here are three reasons why.

by Juhi Mirza

De-dollarization, otherwise known as the phenomenon that denotes the dumping of the US dollar on a global scale, is now a burning concept running amok among global nations. The concept is now gaining maximum steam, primarily due to the rising narratives that continue to hammer the US dollar’s prestige and valuation. The American currency is now subject to wild allegations, including its growing weaponization and ability to sanction other nations, that are primarily compelling nations to consider shifting away from the dollar. Will the dollar be able to survive this transition?

Donald Trump is now the 47th president of the United States. Trump has long proposed the idea of imposing tariffs on nations to bolster the US economy, which is now backfiring in the form of a bubbling trade war. This phenomenon is now compelling nations to discuss an alternate strategy, which includes putting counter-tariffs on the US to seek vengeance.

At the same time, this concept is also pushing the US dollar to encounter new lows, compelling nations to revisit their investments and tweak the areas where improvement is possible. If this continues, it may have a lasting impact on the dollar’s prestige, which may push nations to consider alternate payment systems. READ MORE

Gold’s Warning Signal -Daily Reckoning

Gold continues to make headlines, and many analysts believe it's just begun to shine. Unfortunately this is due, in large part, to the unraveling of the US economy. Despite the best of efforts from this administration, it's looking pretty grim at the moment. But this is what we were expecting. Read on to see why gold can help your portfolio weather the storm.

by Adam Sharp

Over the course of COVID, the U.S. government spent absurd amounts of money to prevent a total financial collapse.

At least $4.6 trillion was pumped into the economy in the form of stimulus checks, forgivable loans, tax breaks, and healthcare spending.

For the past five years, we’ve been coasting off of this stimulus. But now, the effects are finally beginning to wear off.

And it’s showing up in the data, particularly sentiment. Take a look at the chart below, which shows the ongoing results of the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Survey.

As you can see, the percentage of people who think business conditions will be worse in one year has doubled over the past month or so.

Investor sentiment regarding the stock market has also turned sharply negative. Here’s the latest data from the American Association of Individual Investors Sentiment Survey (red is bearish).

As you can see, almost 60% of those surveyed are currently bearish. That’s high above the historical average bearish percentage of around 30%.

So we’re in deeply red sentiment territory, in both markets and business.

Ever since 2008 (and arguably 2000), our entire system has been propped up by artificial supports. Low interest rates. Excessive deficit spending. Periodic stimulus checks to qualifying individuals. VIEW CHARTS AND READ MORE

US Dollar Drops 4.7% in 2025: What’s Next for Your Portfolio? -Watcher.Guru

The dollar has seen some deep drops recently. Is regaining a "strong dollar" even a possibility, given the gravity of the financial circumstances surrounding us? Read on to see what possible impact a weaker dollar might have on your portfolio.

by Loredana Harsana

The US dollar drop has surprised many investors as the greenback continues to weaken against nearly all major developed market currencies. The rather significant 4.7% decline represents a major shift in global currency trends and also raises some crucial questions about portfolio risk management strategies going forward.

Currency market volatility has increased following President Trump’s second term, though not exactly as many analysts had anticipated. While tariffs typically tend to strengthen the dollar, the current uncertainty around trade policies is seemingly undermining confidence in the US economy at the time of writing.

The US dollar drop in 2025 continues alongside strengthening currencies across multiple regions these days. This ongoing shift in US dollar performance creates both challenges and also opportunities for investors with any kind of international exposure.

The Euro has emerged as one of the top performers against the weakening dollar recently. The common currency posted its largest weekly gain versus the dollar since 2009 and is also heading for its best quarter since 2022, with an impressive 5% rise. READ MORE

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3.18.25 - Mid East tensions, tariff jitters fuel gold's record rally

Gold last traded at $3,034 an ounce. Silver at $34.01 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: With the globe in turmoil, the gold bull charges forward. Precious metals will likely continue to outperform all other asset classes as instability in the economy will be present for the foreseeable future. If you are feeling priced out of the gold market, consider silver. It has been slowly rising alongside gold and many metals experts believe it may see some robust gains soon as it, too, is a safe haven in turbulent times.

Middle East tensions, tariff jitters fuel gold's record rally -Reuters

By Daksh Grover

March 18 (Reuters) - Gold prices rose 1% to hit a fresh record high on Tuesday, anchored above the $3,000/oz mark, as rising Middle East tensions and trade uncertainties due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans fueled demand for the safe-haven asset.

Spot gold hit a peak of $3,038.26 per ounce and by 12:00 p.m. ET (1600 GMT) was up 1% at $3,031.22 an ounce. Prices climbed above $3,000 for the first time on March 14.

Bullion, which had a stellar run last year, has maintained its momentum this year as well, gaining over 15% year-to-date and hitting record highs 14 times.

"The escalation in the Middle East tensions – as Israel launched military strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, which threatens to undermine the ceasefire – has injected a new bid into gold," said Nicky Shiels, head of metals strategy at MKS PAMP SA.

Israeli airstrikes killed more than 400 people in Gaza, threatening a two-month ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has floated a series of U.S. tariff plans, including a flat 25% duty on steel and aluminum that came into effect in February, as well as reciprocal and sectoral tariffs that he said will be imposed on April 2.

Gold is traditionally regarded as a safe-haven investment during periods of economic or geopolitical instability. READ MORE

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3.17.25 - Gold Eyes $3,300 Price Target Next

Gold last traded at $3,001 an ounce. Silver at $33.83 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Banks are staying bullish on gold, as demand from central banks and concerned investors continues to grow. Analysts from several major financial houses have forecast price increases from $3,100 an ounce, to over $4,000. As market turmoil roils on, both here and abroad, expect the gold bull to continue its charge.

Gold Eyes $3,300 Price Target Next -Watcher.Guru

by Vinod Dsouza

{Watcher.Guru}

Leading investment bank Goldman Sachs has revised its price prediction for gold in 2025. It was among the first ones to predict last year that the precious metal could reach $3,000 during the first half of 2025. However, the global bank now predicts that gold prices could touch $3,300 this year. That’s another 10% from its ATH and an overall surge in value of approximately 25% year-to-date.

The increasing demand for gold from retail investors, institutional funds, and central banks will drive the price higher. Since the stock market is on a slippery slope due to tariffs, gold is seen as a safe haven. “The increased forecast is underpinned by higher-than-expected demand for gold from central banks, which have been increasing their reserves of the commodity since the freezing of Russian central bank assets in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the investment bank wrote.

“Those factors may be somewhat offset by speculators reducing their net long positions on gold in futures markets, which is projected by Goldman Sachs Research to weigh on the gold price somewhat. Net long positions are currently very high as concerns of sustained tariffs from the Trump administration drive investors towards safe-haven assets including gold. This scenario would drive the gold price as high as $3,300 per troy ounce by the end of 2025,” Thomas wrote in the report. READ MORE

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3.14.25 - Gundlach: Gold’s going to reach $4,000

Gold last traded at $2,987 an ounce. Silver at $33.79 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that Macquarie Group was suggesting gold would hit the $3,500 mark soon. Today, MarketWatch reports that Jeffrey Gundlach sees it going to $4,000 an ounce. Either forecast represents some tremendous gains for those holding the yellow metal. If you don't already own gold, don't wait another minute. Put tangible protection and profit potential into your portfolio today.

Gold’s going to reach $4,000, says Gundlach. He also puts recession probability at 60%. -MarketWatch

by Steve Goldstein

The so-called bond king has been a gold bull for a while, and he says the yellow metal will get to $4,000.

“Gold continues its bull market that we’ve been talking about really now for a couple of years ever since gold was down to $1,800,” DoubleLine Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer Jeffrey Gundlach told investors on a call he hosted that was held this week, but before gold futures reached the $3,000 per ounce milestone for the first time.

“I’d be so bold to say I think gold will make it to $4,000. I’m not sure that’ll happen this year, but I feel like that’s the measured move anticipated by the long consolidation at around $1,800 on gold,” he said.

Gundlach said central-bank purchases of gold have increased at a “very sharp, steep trajectory. And I don’t expect this to stop.”

“I think that that’s in recognition of gold as a storehouse of value that’s more outside of the financial system, which seems to be in a state of flux at this point in time,” he added.

Gundlach said he also hasn’t been surprised that European stocks are starting to outperform the U.S. now that there’s a downtrend in the dollar. DoubleLine first started investing in Europe around 2021. “So if you bought Europe versus the United States in 2021, it was painful for a couple of years from 2023 to 2025, but now it’s got a lot of momentum,” he said.

He said the “Magnificent Seven” stocks were viewed to be invulnerable but now it’s clear they are.

“Every sector is always vulnerable and we’re starting to obviously see that,” he said. READ MORE

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3.13.25 - Gold could reach new $3,500 high, but when?

Gold last traded at $2,983 an ounce. Silver at $33.81 an ounce.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There have been many lofty predictions on gold's performance over the last few years - and most have proven to be spot on - as gold has been one of the best performing asset classes during that time. This latest forecast from Macquarie Group is calling for $3,500 an ounce gold and it could be as soon as Q3 this year.

Gold could reach new $3,500 high, but when? -Bloomberg

by Yihui Xie

Gold’s burgeoning safe-haven allure may see it surge to a record high of $3,500 an ounce during the third quarter, according to Macquarie Group analysts.

Bullion could average $3,150 an ounce over that period, analysts led by Marcus Garvey said in a note. The precious metal — which was trading around $2,940 an ounce on Thursday — will get further support from concerns about a potentially growing US deficit, they said.

Bullion has risen by 12% this year, driven by uncertainties around geopolitics and US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. A worsening US budget outlook is signaling inflation could increase, which would benefit gold as a hedge, according to Macquarie.

“We view gold’s price strength to date, and our expectation for it to continue, as primarily being driven by investors’ and official institutions’ greater willingness to pay for its lack of credit or counterparty risk,” the analysts said.

There is “ample scope” for bullion-backed exchange-traded funds to increase holdings, they said. Gold will also find additional support from the physical market — jewelry, bars, coins and technology — which has held up despite elevated prices, they added.

Last month, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its year-end gold target to $3,100 an ounce, while Citigroup Inc. said earlier in February that it expected prices to hit $3,000 an ounce within three months. READ MORE

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3.12.25 - U.S. debt problems could lead to 'shocking developments'

Gold last traded at $2,934 an ounce. Silver at $33.25 an ounce.

Gold Climbs as Investors Seek Safety Amid Tariff Flip-Flop -Yahoo! Finance

I believe I have heard the word 'tariff' more times since President Trump took office, than I had cumulative in my entire life beforehand. We don't know what the impact of the tariffs will ultimately be, but what we do know is gold has continued to shine as a safe haven during this period of uncertainty.

by Yvonne Yue Li

(Bloomberg) -- Gold climbed — regaining a small foothold above $2,900 an ounce — as traders sought safety in bullion, with President Donald Trump’s latest tariff announcement intensifying concern that a global trade war could risk tilting the US economy into a recession.

Trump said he was increasing the steel and aluminum tariff on Canadian goods to 50% to retaliate against Ontario’s move to place a levy on electricity sent to the US, ramping up his fight with the US’s largest trading partner. US equities pushed lower and the dollar fell, helping lift bullion as much as 1.2% higher.

Tariff headlines in recent weeks have created large swings in equities and kept investors on edge. A slew of tepid economic reports in the US have also sparked fears of stagflation, where there’s upside risk for inflation as well as downside risk for economic growth. Altogether, traders were increasingly convinced that a trade-induced growth slowdown will lead the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates multiple times this year.

“That’s going to be a tailwind for gold,” said Stephen Jury, global commodity strategist at JPMorgan Private Bank, in an interview. Increasing talk of the possibility of a recession in the US will likely lead to an environment where rates and the dollar may head lower, according to Jury. “That’s going to set up a very constructive scenario for a higher gold price in the second half of this year.” READ MORE

Ray Dalio warns that mounting U.S. debt problems could lead to ‘shocking developments’ -CNBC

Dalio says our debt situation could lead to "shocking developments". In a nutshell, the world may want nothing to do with our debt; potentially creating disruptions in the US, as well as the global economy.

by Sam Meredith and Ernestine Siu

Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio on Wednesday warned that a significant supply-demand problem regarding U.S. debt could have a profoundly disruptive impact on the global economy.

It is the latest in a series of stark warnings about America’s mounting debt from the U.S. hedge fund billionaire, with the country’s national debt currently standing at more than $36.2 trillion.

“The first thing is the debt issue, we have a very severe supply-demand problem,” Dalio told CNBC’s Sara Eisen at CONVERGE LIVE in Singapore. ”[The U.S. has] to sell a quantity of debt that the world is not going to want to buy.”

He said this was imminent and of “paramount importance.”

The U.S. deficit needs to go from a projected level of 7.2% of gross domestic product to about 3% of GDP, Dalio said.

“That’s a big deal. You are going to see shocking developments in terms of how that’s going to be dealt with,” he added. READ MORE

Why does the government store gold at Fort Knox? -The Week

Fort Knox has been in the spotlight recently, as DOGE has been blazing a trail to get to the bottom of pretty much anything related to the finances of the United States. All of us have grown up with the idiom, "as safe as Fort Knox". Is it as secure as we have been led to believe?

by Joel Mathis

Fort Knox has long been home to the U.S. government's gold reserves. It has also suddenly become an object of keen interest to President Donald Trump.

Trump has said he wants to visit the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox "to see if the gold is there," said The Louisville Courier Journal. There have been "unsubstantiated claims" — amplified by Trump and Elon Musk — suggesting some of the gold could be missing. "We're actually going to Fort Knox to see if the gold is there. Because maybe somebody stole the gold," Trump said to reporters. That seems highly unlikely. Fort Knox has "stringent security protocols" to safeguard the reserve, said the Courier Journal. Officials at the base "know to the nanogram what you weigh going in and what you weigh going out," said former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, who visited in 2017.

Why does America store gold at Fort Knox?

"Just in case we need it," former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan once reportedly said. Gold is "the ultimate in money," former Congressman Ron Paul said to CBS News in 2010. The gold vaults at Fort Knox were built in 1937, and the gold shipped in "on a special nine-car train manned by machine gunners," said CBS.

Since then, the precious metal has been "pretty much off limits" to the public and most officials. America once linked the value of the dollar to its gold holdings, but that ended in 1971. The gold at Fort Knox is now "an asset on the Federal Reserve's balance sheet, not a key part of our monetary system." READ MORE

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