Bloomberg (Bloomberg) — Gold plunged as concerns about artificial intelligence spurred a selloff across financial markets, with algorithmic traders appearing to amplify the precious metal’s sudden drop. Silver and copper also slid. US equities tumbled as investors bet that AI would dent some companies’ future earnings, triggering a rout across risk assets. The dramatic decline in gold — which didn’t have a clear catalyst — was likely intensified by selling from commodity trading advisers using computer m ...

Core Viewpoint - Silver prices have experienced significant volatility, with a sharp decline following a record rally, raising concerns about market stability and investor sentiment [1][2][3]. Group 1: Market Performance - Spot silver fell as much as 17% to approximately $73 an ounce during Asian trading, later recovering to about 11% down mid-morning in Europe [2]. - Silver has retreated over a third from its all-time high reached last week, indicating a substantial market correction [2]. - Precious metals, including gold, have seen their largest daily drops recently, with gold experiencing its most significant decline since 2013 [3][4]. Group 2: Investor Behavior - Investors had accumulated large positions in precious metals, leading to a cascade of selling when prices began to fall, resulting in continued volatility [5]. - The recent price swings in silver are attributed to heavy speculative inflows and thinner trading conditions in the over-the-counter market [6]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The decline in precious metals has negatively impacted sentiment in base metals markets, with copper prices also falling [4]. - Higher prices have strained credit availability for precious metals trading desks, contributing to further market volatility [7]. Group 4: Monetary Policy Implications - Markets are currently assessing the implications of Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve chair, with expectations that the Fed may lower interest rates, which could support precious metals [8]. - Analysts predict that gold prices will remain volatile until there is more certainty regarding monetary policy, although structural drivers for precious metals remain intact [9].

Group 1: Market Performance - Gold prices rose for a second consecutive day, rebounding above $5,000 an ounce, with a 2.9% increase on Wednesday following a more than 6% gain in the previous session, although it remains over $500 below the all-time high from January 29, and is up around 17% for the year [1] - Silver also advanced alongside gold, indicating a broader recovery in precious metals [1] Group 2: Investor Behavior - Forced sales in precious metals are likely to have run their course, but intense volatility may keep retail participants on the sidelines, which could impact demand [3] - Chinese funds and Western retail investors had built large positions in precious metals, with a significant influx into leveraged exchange-traded products and call-options buying prior to the recent collapse [4] - Mainland China's four largest gold-backed exchange-traded funds experienced nearly $1 billion in outflows on Tuesday, marking the largest one-day decline ever, reflecting shaken investor confidence [6] Group 3: Market Analysis and Predictions - Analysts believe that the fundamentals driving bullion to record highs remain intact, with some investors, like Fidelity Fund, looking for opportunities to re-enter the market [7] - Deutsche Bank AG maintains its forecast for gold to rally to $6,000 an ounce, while Goldman Sachs sees "significant upside risk" to its year-end forecast of $5,400 [8]

Gold and Silver Pare Gains After Strong StartCONCLUDED[Stock Market News From Feb. 4, 2026: Nasdaq Falls Again After Brutal Tech Selloff]Last Updated:---1 day ago# Gold and Silver Pare Gains After Strong StartByKirk Maltais, Dow Jones NewswiresBoth gold and silver futures hit the ground running in early trading, but pared gains as the day advanced.Front-month gold futures settle 0.3% higher to $4,920.40 a troy ounce, while silver rises 1.4% to $84.165/oz.While it's the second-consecutive higher close for bo ...

Core Viewpoint - Gold and silver prices have rebounded after two sessions of significant selling, driven by strong underlying demand and renewed interest from buyers at current price levels [1] Group 1 - The recent price levels of gold and silver have attracted renewed buyer interest, indicating a potential shift in market sentiment [1] - The underlying drivers of demand for gold and silver remain robust, suggesting that the fundamentals supporting these metals are still intact [1]

Core Insights - The current downturn in crypto markets is viewed as an opportunity for building and investing, despite precious metals outperforming digital assets [1] - Coinbase has expanded its trading offerings to include precious and industrial metals, allowing traders to access futures contracts for silver, gold, copper, and platinum [5][6] - Critics argue that the shift towards metals by crypto leaders indicates a lack of long-term conviction in digital assets [7][8] Group 1 - Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong emphasized that the subdued market sentiment creates favorable conditions for those who believe in the long-term potential of crypto [2] - In 2022, over $36 billion in crypto venture capital was raised, but sentiment has since deteriorated, leading to a challenging environment for sectors like decentralized finance and non-fungible tokens [3] - Armstrong remains optimistic, suggesting that those who are skeptical will eventually adopt crypto without realizing it [4] Group 2 - The expansion into precious metals trading has been met with criticism, as some commentators believe it reflects a pivot away from digital assets amid waning enthusiasm [7] - Regulatory uncertainty continues to be a concern for Coinbase, especially following its withdrawal of support for a Senate crypto bill [8]

Group 1 - Gold prices increased by 0.3% on Friday, marking a second consecutive session of gains [1] - Silver prices decreased by 4%, ending a three-session winning streak [1] - For the week, both gold and silver metals recorded an overall gain [1]

Core Insights - There is a significant increase in demand for specialist gold traders as interest in gold surges, leading to heightened competition for talent and rising pay packages in the sector [1][4] Industry Trends - Major commodity traders such as Trafigura Group and Gunvor Group have expanded their teams of precious-metals traders this year, with other firms like IXM and Mercuria Energy Group also seeking to hire in this area [2] - The precious metals market, particularly gold, has historically been dominated by a few banks like JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, and UBS, but the recent price increases have attracted new market participants [3] Market Opportunities - The precious metals markets have presented various profit opportunities this year, including a significant arbitrage trade that brought tens of billions of dollars' worth of metal into the US and a notable silver squeeze in the London market [5] - The leading banks collectively earned $500 million from precious metals in Q1 2025, which is approximately double the average quarterly earnings over the past decade [6]

Core Insights - A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. successfully auctioned seven year 2000 Sacagawea 22 karat gold dollars, achieving a total of $3.28 million in sales during a live auction held on September 12, 2025 [1][4] Company Overview - A-Mark Precious Metals is a fully integrated precious metals platform founded in 1965, offering a range of products including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper bullion, as well as numismatic coins [5] - The company operates through three segments: Wholesale Sales & Ancillary Services, Direct-to-Consumer, and Secured Lending [5][11] - A-Mark has a nearly 40-year relationship with the United States Mint and is a leading Authorized Purchaser of precious metals [4] Auction Details - The auction featured the use of patented Coins in Motion technology, enhancing the presentation of the coins [5] - Two of the auctioned half-ounce coins sold for $550,000 each, marking them as the most valuable U.S. gold coins struck since the Civil War, with sale prices nearly 300 times their bullion content [4] Subsidiaries and Operations - Stack's Bowers Galleries, a subsidiary of A-Mark, is America's oldest collectible coin and currency auction house, conducting various types of auctions [15] - A-Mark's Direct-to-Consumer segment operates multiple online platforms targeting specific niches within the precious metals retail market [10] - The company also has a significant presence in Asia through its subsidiary LPM Group Limited, one of the largest precious metals dealers in the region [8]

Core Viewpoint - A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. will hold a conference call on September 9, 2025, to discuss its fiscal fourth quarter and full year results for the period ending June 30, 2025 [1] Company Overview - A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. is a fully integrated precious metals platform founded in 1965, offering a variety of bullion and numismatic products to wholesale and retail customers [4] - The company operates through three segments: Wholesale Sales & Ancillary Services, Direct-to-Consumer, and Secured Lending [4] Wholesale Sales & Ancillary Services - This segment distributes and purchases precious metal products from various mints, including the U.S. Mint, and sells over 200 different products to various customers [5] - A-Mark also provides managed storage options and logistics services for precious metals [6] Direct-to-Consumer Segment - A-Mark operates as an omni-channel retailer through subsidiaries like JM Bullion and Goldline, targeting specific niches within the precious metals market [10] - The company utilizes various marketing channels, including television and online platforms, to reach investors and collectors [10] Secured Lending Segment - The Secured Lending segment is operated through Collateral Finance Corporation, which provides loans secured by bullion and numismatic coins [11] Conference Call Details - The conference call will take place at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, with access available via a U.S. dial-in number and an international number [2] - A replay of the call will be available after the event through specific toll-free and international numbers [3]