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It seems that the mere mention of rate cuts, Fed easing, or a lower Federal Fund rate has a direct correlation and an almost immediate impact on gold prices. So, when optimism for rate cuts rises, the price of gold climbs right alongside it. Currently, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s (CME) FedWatch tool[1] has the odds … Read more

Gold just eclipsed $3500/oz, hitting another record high. Those of us who have been saying that gold’s price triggers remain firmly in place are feeling a bit validated. Gold is up almost 35% year-to-date and more than 86% over the last five years. These are astonishing numbers for a commodity that is often written off … Read more

It appears that the Fed is about to embark on a series of interest rate cuts. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the odds of a rate cut next month are almost 90%.[1] That, of course, is not only good for gold — it’s good for consumers because it lowers borrowing costs particularly on things … Read more

Gold and bitcoin are powerful alternative assets. Neither is controlled by any governmental entity, both are in finite supply, provide inflation protection, and portfolio diversification. And while both assets are both having a very good year — the similarities stop there. Gold is Something You Can Hold Perhaps the main difference between gold and all … Read more

There has been a dramatic evolution in how we pay for things — from writing checks, to swiping cards, to tapping chips — we’ve moved from bank drafts, to credit cards, to digital wallets. Money is no longer what it used to be; it has gone from physical to intangible, from real value to representative … Read more

To say that the July jobs report was weak — is putting it mildly. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) not only shows that it’s a tough time to be looking for a job but also — that it has been a weak job market for several months now. The U.S. economy added … Read more

What Is Volatility? Volatility is a measurement of how varied the returns of a given security or market index are over time … In most cases, the higher the volatility, the riskier the security.[1] The notion of volatility as it relates to equities is associated with a rapid increase and/or decrease in share prices. These … Read more

We’ve all heard the term, “Hedge your bets” — according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is an idiom that means doing things “that will prevent great loss or failure if future events do not happen as one plans or hopes.”[1] That sounds a lot like buying insurance, wearing a seatbelt, or installing a security system. … Read more

Consumer Prices Rose in June Consumer prices ticked up in June from a year ago as the price of goods and services increased 0.3% putting the 12-month inflation rate at 2.7%. The price increases were most pronounced on items like coffee, beef, clothing, furniture and natural gas. Other sectors, however, saw prices decline like the … Read more

The U.S. dollar just had the worst start of any year since 1973 and the weakest performance since end of the gold standard. The greenback dropped more than 10% since January and has exhibited significant weakness versus major currencies like the Swiss franc, euro and British pound. This raises big concerns about the dollar’s standing … Read more