Listen and subscribe to Opening Bid on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. Investors are betting big on AI, but Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler isn't sold on all the promised returns. "There will be winners and losers, and we don't know which those will be," Thaler told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast (see the video above; listen below). "We don't know how big AI will be in terms of econom ...

Global Gold Frenzy. Photo by BeInCrypto It’s not the new iPhone causing lines around city blocks this week, but gold. From Singapore to Sydney, and even Vietnam, crowds of retail buyers are queuing outside bullion shops to purchase physical gold and silver, many arriving before sunrise. As bullion prices hit record highs and gold’s total market capitalization surpasses $30 trillion, investors appear caught in a frenzy that analysts say could mark the asset’s “macro top.” Meanwhile, Bitcoin proponents ask ...

Core Insights - The demand for precious metals, particularly gold and silver, is experiencing a significant surge, driven by both retail investors and institutional players like central banks [1][10]. Group 1: Market Demand - The UK's Royal Mint is facing overwhelming demand for physical silver coins, indicating a broader interest in precious metals beyond central banks [1]. - In Australia, long queues have formed outside bullion shops, with reports of lines reaching 60 meters, reflecting a gold buying frenzy that has seen prices increase over 50% in the past year [4][8]. - Goldman Sachs has raised its gold price forecast to $4,900 per ounce by December 2026, suggesting potential gains for current buyers [8][9]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment - Retail investors, including everyday citizens and Wall Street giants, are increasingly purchasing gold as a hedge against economic uncertainty [8]. - The sentiment among buyers is driven by fears of missing out (FOMO) and a belief that gold is a safer investment compared to stocks and cryptocurrencies [13][16]. - Cultural factors also play a role, with some investors from backgrounds where gold is traditionally valued, viewing it as a stable investment [15][16]. Group 3: Economic Context - Factors contributing to the rising gold prices include strong central bank purchases, geopolitical tensions from events like the U.S.-China trade war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine [10]. - The historical context of gold as a stable currency is highlighted, with its value having increased significantly since the end of the Bretton Woods system [11]. - The supply of gold is limited and requires sophisticated mining techniques, contrasting with the ease of printing paper money, which can lead to inflation [12].