Gold Standard News Daily - Real Money Blog
Posted M-F by 6pm ET
5.4.26 - Buffett: 'a church with a casino attached'
Gold last traded at $4,519 an ounce. Silver at $72.78 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: As Warren Buffett sees it, our markets are increasingly behaving like a casino rather than a system grounded in real economic value. If Berkshire Hathaway can't find value, speculation has overwhelmingly replaced fundamentals. When one of the greatest capital allocators of all time can't justify the risk of wild price distortions, what chance does the average investor have?
Warren Buffett says markets are like a church with a casino attached, but ‘we’ve never had people in a more gambling mood than now’ -Fortune
by Jason Ma
Investing legend Warren Buffett bemoaned the gambling culture that has taken over financial markets while continuing to preach his brand of patience.
In an interview with CNBC on Saturday as Berkshire Hathaway held its annual shareholders meeting, he noted that of the 60 years he’s been in business, only five of them were “really juicy” with opportunities. But when there are no good bargains to be found, the “oracle of Omaha” is fine doing nothing.
That’s largely been the case for years. While Berkshire has acquired some smaller companies, the lack of mega-deals has sent the conglomerate’s cash pile to nearly $400 billion.
Buffett stepped down as CEO at the end of last year, but he remains involved in the investment portfolio—and still doesn’t like the prices that he’s seeing.
That’s due in part to investors acting like they’re playing a card game. To be sure, he’s long compared financial markets to a church with a casino attached. But the casino has gotten very attractive, he told CNBC.
Buffett pointed to the growing popularity of one-day options, saying, “That’s not investing. It’s not speculating. It’s gambling, just totally.” READ MORE
RealMoneyBlog - Free daily/weekly email
5.1.26 - The Comex Silver Crisis is Real
Gold last traded at $4,615 an ounce. Silver at $75.41 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The silver market's foundation is tightening in ways most investors aren't watching. This article points to shrinking COMEX inventories, rising demand for physical metal, and a pullback from paper trading.
For anyone considering investing in silver, the takeaway is simple: tightening supply and growing physical demand could set the stage for potentially higher prices, especially if the market continues shifting away from paper contracts toward real metal.
The Comex Silver Crisis is Real -ZeroHedge
Authored by GoldFix
The current state of the COMEX silver market reflects a tightening structure. Registered inventories have declined to just under 80 million ounces, while open interest has fallen to levels not seen in over 15 years.
That combination is significant. It indicates that market participants are stepping back from paper exposure at the same time the pool of deliverable metal is shrinking.
This retreat from paper is occurring against a backdrop of persistent physical demand. China’s import appetite remains elevated, continuing to draw silver out of the global system and away from Western exchanges. At the same time, one-month lease rates have turned positive.
In practical terms, this means the cost to borrow physical silver has risen, reflecting tighter availability and a growing premium on immediate access to metal. This is a key confirmation signal. Inventory data shows the drawdown, while lease rates show the stress in sourcing. READ MORE
RealMoneyBlog - Free daily/weekly email
4.30.26 - Gold to $8,000?
Gold last traded at $4,621 an ounce. Silver at $73.74 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Central banks are still moving away from the dollar and back toward gold; this alone could drive a massive repricing of the metal. According to Deutsche Bank, that shift in reserves could realistically push gold toward $8,000 an ounce as demand accelerates and supply struggles to keep up. This reinforces that gold isn't just rising, it's being structurally revalued by a changing global monetary system.
Gold price could see $8,000 on de-dollarization, Deutsche Bank projects -Mining.com
Gold is poised to benefit significantly from an increasingly fragmented world as nations continue to pivot into the metal and away from the US dollar as their go-to reserve asset, according to Deutsche Bank.
In a note published on Monday, the German investment bank said it sees a scenario where central banks, especially those in emerging economies, continue to increase their gold holdings as a financial safety net to protect themselves from Western sanctions.
The bank highlights that these central banks have added over 225 million ounces to their reserves since the 2008 financial crisis, while their holdings of US dollars have fallen from a peak of over 60% in the early 2000s to about 40% today.
It is not only the major holders — China, Russia, India and Turkey — that are buying up gold. As Deutsche Bank noted, the purchases are broadening to include countries like Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
Should this trend continue, bullion’s share of global central bank reserves could realistically reach 40%, up from 30% currently, the bank predicts. At that allocation, Deutsche Bank ran a simulation that projects gold prices to hit $8,000 an ounce within five years — a near 80% rise on current levels. READ MORE
RealMoneyBlog - Free daily/weekly email
4.29.26 - Is History Repeating?
Gold last traded at $4,533 an ounce. Silver at $71.13 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The system we've relied on is being stretched from every direction at once. The lessons from the COVID crash show how quickly trillions were created and markets were artificially propped up, while at the same time countries like Indonesia and the broader BRICS bloc are actively building alternatives to the U.S. dollar and accumulating gold to reduce dependence on it. Now, with major institutions floating scenarios of dramatically higher gold prices tied to shifting reserve structures, it's becoming clear that this isn’t random, it’s a transition.
What that means is the dollar is facing slow but real erosion as global trust and usage diversify, and the American economy is increasingly dependent on policies that require constant liquidity support. And in that kind of environment, gold is not just as an investment, but a direct reflection of where the system is heading next.
COVID Crash Curriculum -Daily Reckoning
by Adam Sharp
COVID is a time many of us would like to forget.
But there are lessons buried in this chapter of history. Ones that are surprisingly relevant today.
Let’s explore how stocks reacted to the pandemic, and see what we can apply to today.
On January 23, 2020, China completely locked down the city of Wuhan, home to 11 million people.
Wuhan was where the virus originated. And with hindsight, we can see this lockdown was a sign of things to come.
Take a look at the chart below. It shows the S&P 500 performance from Dec 31st 2019 to March 22nd 2020. The dawn of the pandemic. VIEW CHARTS AND READ MORE
DB: $8,000 and The Beginning of Gold History -ZeroHedge
Authored by GoldFix
TL; DR
1- Geopolitics, not monetary theory, is driving gold’s return to reserves. The shift away from a unipolar U.S.-led system is reintroducing gold as a strategic asset.
“We argue that the share of gold in central bank reserves is not driven by the global monetary system, but by the global geopolitical environment.”
2- The reserve baton is shifting from dollars to gold, led by emerging markets. USD share has declined materially while gold has rapidly reclaimed ground.
“The dollar’s losses as a share of central bank reserves have not gone to other fiat currencies, but to gold.”
3- Emerging markets are the marginal buyer, with significant room to scale. Current gold allocations in EM remain far below historical norms, implying continued accumulation.
“EM central banks have been actively buying gold… there could be a long way to go in the trend.”
4- A 40% gold reserve regime implies materially higher prices. Even under declining FX reserves, structural allocation shifts support a path toward ~$8,000 gold.
“Gold prices could still rise to $8000 over the next five years, if EM countries all target a 40% gold share.” READ FULL STORY
Indonesia’s De-Dollarization Success: A New Blueprint for BRICS -Watcher.Guru
by Vinod Dsouza
Indonesia, the newest member of BRICS, is showing the alliance how to successfully kick-start the de-dollarization agenda and be successful in it. For the uninitiated, Indonesia launched a local currency transaction (LCT) framework in 2025, pushing both retail and businesses to switch to local currencies. In a remarkable change of events, the country has been successful in implementing it as transactions in local currencies soar.
The US dollar mostly remains out of the LTC system, giving Indonesia’s local currency, the rupiah, leverage in trade and transactions. In the latest move, Indonesia’s businesses have also adapted to the de-dollarization push, signalling increasing usability of their local currency. Indonesia gives BRICS a blueprint on how to successfully manage de-dollarization and normalize the development. This comes at a time when the alliance is scrambling on how to push local currencies under the Trump administration.
Data from the government agencies show that transactions under the local currency transaction (LCT) framework surged 163% year-on-year. It reached a high of $8.45 billion in January–February 2026, up from $3.21 billion from last year. The number of users quickly climbed to 14,621 in February, with an average monthly user count of 16,030. That’s well above the 2025 average. Indonesia is providing a real-world de-dollarization case study for BRICS, demonstrating exactly how to operationalize local currency settlements at scale. READ MORE
RealMoneyBlog - Free daily/weekly email
4.28.26 - Silver Price May Hit $258
Gold last traded at $4,595 an ounce. Silver at $73.11 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Metals experts are sounding the alarm that collapsing COMEX silver inventories could trigger a massive supply squeeze, with price targets as high as $258. For investors, it signals a rare setup where tightening supply could drive a fast, explosive move; favoring those already holding silver.
Silver Price May Hit $258 As Comex Silver Inventories Collapse -King World News
The price of silver may hit $258 as Comex silver inventories collapse.
Otavio Costa: A major rotation from the new world to the old world is underway.
None of us own enough hard assets.
Mark Lundeen: Below is a chart plotting COMEX silver inventories. Typically, silver is a more extreme market than is gold. But until 2024, the sharp increases and decreases seen in the gold inventories, were absent in the COMEX silver inventories.
I don’t have much to add to the chart below. I’m including them as I’m sure some of my readers will like to see them. VIEW CHARTS AND READ MORE
RealMoneyBlog - Free daily/weekly email
4.27.26 - Silver Market Tightens
Gold last traded at $4,674 an ounce. Silver at $75.01 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: It's clear the silver market is tightening in a meaningful way, with supply struggling to keep up as demand shifts and inventories continue to decline. The article highlights a growing multi-year deficit, where ongoing shortages are steadily draining available stockpiles and reinforcing a structurally constrained market. What this means for silver investors is simple: when demand keeps rising while supply can’t respond, prices typically have only one direction to go; and being positioned early could be critical.
Silver Market Tightens as Supply Struggles to Meet Demand -ZeroHedge
Authored by GoldFix
Global silver markets are entering a period of sustained tightness, as supply struggles to keep pace with shifting demand and declining inventories.
According to the The Silver Institute, preeminent in the global industry for precious metals, the silver market has moved into a multi-year deficit, with ongoing shortages steadily reducing available stockpiles.
The market has now recorded six consecutive annual deficits, with shortages continuing to draw down above-ground inventories. While total supply rose in 2025, driven by modest increases in mining and recycling, these gains have not been enough to close the gap. Much of the world’s silver is produced as a byproduct of other metals, limiting how quickly output can respond to higher prices.
At the same time, demand is evolving. Industrial use has softened slightly, particularly in sectors sensitive to rising prices, such as jewelry and solar manufacturing. However, this decline has been offset by a sharp increase in investment demand. Purchases of coins, bars, and exchange-traded products have risen significantly, putting additional pressure on physical availability. VIEW CHARTS AND READ MORE
RealMoneyBlog - Free daily/weekly email
Gold last traded at $4,706 an ounce. Silver at $75.70 an ounce.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bank of America has a bold new forecast projecting silver could surge to between $135 and $309 by 2026, signaling massive upside potential. This outlook is driven by tightening supply and rising demand, suggesting current prices may be far below future value. With these fundamentals in mind, silver has the potential to explode over the next few years.
Bank of America Issues Shocking Silver Forecast: $135 to $309 by 2026 -Watcher.Guru
by Juhi Mirza
The silver price is currently in a volatile stance, showing signs of oscillation from $80 to $75 and vice versa. As the US-Iran war continues to deliver support to the dollar, the metals have lately been having a tough time rising up the radar. In the middle of this, Bank of America has forecasted a rather shocking silver analysis, claiming that the asset can hit $135 to $309 by the end of 2026.
Bank of America’s reasoning behind this prediction is rather simple. Both the price targets are derived from the traditional gold-to-silver ratio analysis. At present, the ratio is at 59:1, making silver appear cheaper than gold. That being said, if this drops to new lows like before, it may eventually help silver secure $135 to $309 price marks in no time. In 2011, the metal tripled its price, with Bank Of America’s Widmer claiming how this setup may be up for repetitions again. READ MORE
RealMoneyBlog - Free daily/weekly email
4.24.26 - Bank of America Issues Shocking Silver Forecast
Bank of America has once again shared an updated silver price forecast. However, this forecast has taken the markets by storm, predicting a $135 to $309 price for the metal to ascend in the near future. What is the reasoning behind such a stark silver price forecast predicted by one of the leading banking institutions? Let’s find out.
To see older blog posts CLICK HERE
