News Articles

Concerns about high debt and an overvalued currency are sucking gold imports into China, according to a new report from Lombard Street Research.

It adds that the authorities may possibly be moving in the direction of using gold in a plan to make the Yuan an international currency. . . .

Is it the beginning of the end for the Dollar? Comments from state-backed Xinhua that call for a "de-Americanized world" and a proposal to consider a new international reserve currency to replace the dollar mark a key event for gold prices . . . .

I just returned from the Florida United Numismatic (FUN) coin convention in Orlando. The activity level was as high as any rare coin convention that I have seen for the past 20 years. Prices in the auction for Gold and Silver rarities (valued over $50,000) were running at approximately 20-25% higher than last year. The prices realized for U.S. coins at public auctions this past year totaled nearly $393 million, the highest aggregate total anyone can recall. It is estimated that the overall rare coin market in the U.S. was at about . . . .

As bullish as I am on the price of gold, I am far more bullish on silver. Silver is the poor man’s gold. It has a richer history of functioning as money because it was more practical to use silver than gold for day-to-day purchases. It was a part of America’s monetary system throughout most of our nation’s history, and it has only been 50 years since the government decided to remove silver from quarters and dimes.

While silver may never be used as money again, I think every investor should hold some silver in his or her portfolio. Like gold, it is a store of value, an inflation hedge, and a hedge against economic chaos. But I think silver offers a better opportunity, and here are seven reasons why . . . .

Many shops selling gold in Beijing are catering to a steady stream of customers interested in buying the precious metal after gold prices started decreasing.

International gold prices were at US$1,696 per ounce at the beginning of 2013, but have fallen by 28% to less than US$1,200 on Dec 31, 2013, the largest drop since 1981 . . . .

No one does jewelry quite like an Indian bride, who by tradition wears all the gold she can stand up in and her family can afford. These days, though, even the most ambitious bridal budgets don’t bring the bling like they used to, thanks to hikes in import duties and a rise in local gold prices . . . .

The market price of gold might have fallen during the year but hoarding of the precious metal by individuals and central banks is approaching record levels.

In trading terms, it has been a tough year for the yellow metal . . . .

There is no shortage of conspiracy theories related to gold and silver.  However, I have never found much credible substance in such theories.  For the first time in recent years, there is a report that is worth monitoring. 

German regulators are investigating Deutsche Bank regarding gold and silver price manipulation.  This is important because Deutsche Bank is one of only three banks involved in London silver fixing, and one of the five banks involved in London gold fixing . . . .

China posted its biggest trade surplus in almost five years on Sunday, as soaring exports outpaced modest import growth, potentially resurrecting a source of friction with the U.S. . . . .

Two significant developments hit the precious metals markets last week. One was expected and one is a real eye-opener.

The expected news was a new round of gold and silver major price suppression, which will likely continue unabated through the release of the . . . .