Good morning. AI has officially moved into the mainstream. At last week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar noticed a shift: AI is no longer treated as a future experiment or a side conversation. Instead, world leaders are discussing it alongside geopolitics, energy, and security—as a core piece of economic infrastructure.But there’s a problem. Most organizations aren’t actually using AI to its full potential. Friar, who joined OpenAI in June 2024, kept hearing the same concern at Davos: ...

Something unusual is happening across global markets. And it’s showing up most clearly in what investors are leaving and where they’re going instead. Only last week, we were celebrating the largest crypto inflows in months. Today, crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) marked one of their largest outflow weeks on record, just as gold pushed past a historic milestone. The contrast is stark and increasingly hard to ignore. Related: Are crypto ETFs actually hurting bitcoin and ethereum adoption? Crypto funds ...

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood predicts Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: BTC) current four-year cycle drawdown to be the shallowest in its history, setting the stage for another leg higher. Wood Expects Bitcoin To Be "Off Again" Speaking on CNBC on Wednesday, Wood said ARK gains Bitcoin exposure primarily through its spot Bitcoin ETF, ARKB, rather than equity proxies such as Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR). She cited structural co ...

Bitwise Asset Management launched the Bitwise Proficio Currency Debasement ETF on NYSE Arca on Jan. 22. The fund combines Bitcoin with gold and other precious metals. It also invests in mining stocks. The fund trades under the ticker BPRO with a 0.96% annual fee, according to Bitwise’s announcement. The ETF targets assets that may benefit from the declining purchasing power of government-issued currencies. It keeps at least 25% in gold at all times. Bitwise, which manages over $15 billion in client asse ...

Happy Friday, traders. Welcome to our weekly market wrap, where we take a look back at these last five trading days with a focus on the market news, economic data, and headlines that had the most impact on gold prices and other key correlated assets—and may continue to in the future. Here’s what you need to know: Gold briefly pushed to new all-time highs this week, repeatedly reclaiming $4,600/oz and printing a new record near midweek. Even with a softer core CPI print and stronger retail sales, risk- ...

Group 1: Gold Market Performance - Gold achieved over 50 all-time highs in 2025 and returned over 60%, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, central-bank purchases, and expectations of interest-rate cuts [1] - The momentum continued into 2026, with gold hitting a record high on January 12, primarily due to rising geopolitical risks and tensions in the Middle East [2] - Economic signals from the U.S., including softer labor market data, strengthened expectations for potential interest rate cuts, making gold more attractive compared to interest-bearing assets [4] Group 2: Central Bank Demand - Central banks maintained strong gold buying into early 2026 to diversify reserves away from the U.S. dollar and hedge against risks, tightening supply and reinforcing bullish sentiment [5] - The demand for gold as a safe-haven asset increased due to policy uncertainty following threats against the Federal Reserve, which weakened confidence in U.S. institutions [3][9] Group 3: Gold Mining Companies - Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY) has an expected earnings growth rate of 111% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 2 [7] - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) has an expected earnings growth rate of 86.1% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [8] - Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) has an expected earnings growth rate of 52.9% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [10] - Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) has an expected earnings growth rate of 147.1% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [11] Group 4: Investment Appeal - Gold remains an attractive investment due to ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty, elevating its safe-haven appeal [12] - Political turmoil, including the DOJ threat to the Fed, has increased gold's demand as a hedge against market and policy risks [12]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices are experiencing significant increases in 2025, the largest since the 1979 oil crisis, driven by portfolio diversification, expectations of further gains, and macroeconomic factors such as a weaker dollar and efforts to reduce the US current account deficit [1][2]. Gold Price Forecasts - Morgan Stanley predicts gold could reach $4,500 per ounce by mid-2026, while JP Morgan forecasts average prices to exceed $4,600 in Q2 2026 and rise above $5,000 by Q4 2026 [3]. - Metals Focus also anticipates gold reaching $5,000 by the end of 2026, with Nicky Shiels from MKS PAMP expecting an average of $4,500 in 2026 [3]. - Macquarie economists, however, expect a slower pace of gains, forecasting an average of $4,225 in 2026 due to more stable global conditions and improving economic growth [3]. Investment Opportunities in Gold Mining Companies - A list of the 13 best gold mining companies to invest in has been compiled based on stock screeners, financial media reports, and hedge fund sentiment data [6]. - The methodology involved ranking companies based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes as of Q3 2025 [6]. Company Highlights - **Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO)**: - Ranked among the best gold mining companies, with a price target increase from $38 to $47 by RBC Capital [9]. - Increased total proven and probable gold reserves by 5% to 12.5 million ounces, driven by the Kisladag mine and Lamaque Complex [12]. - Despite a price target increase from $28 to $29, BofA maintains an Underperform rating due to risks associated with the Skouries project [13]. - **AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU)**: - Also ranked among the best, with price target increases from various firms, including Roth MKM raising it from $84 to $92 [14]. - Citi increased its price target from $90 to $105, and RBC Capital raised it from $85 to $104, maintaining Buy ratings [16].

Core Insights - Gold futures opened at $3,939.50 per ounce, down 0.5% from the previous close of $3,960.50, marking the lowest opening since October 28 [1][4] - The price of gold has fluctuated around $4,000 after a recent pullback from all-time highs, influenced by economic uncertainties, a weakening dollar, and a trade agreement with China [2] - Stock prices have declined, potentially increasing demand for gold as a safe-haven asset [3] Current Price Trends - The current opening price of gold futures reflects a decrease of 0.5% from the previous day, with a notable increase of 62.4% from one year ago as of October 17 [1][4][8] - Weekly change shows a decline of 1.1%, while the monthly change indicates a slight increase of 0.8% [8] Investment Options in Gold - Various methods to invest in gold include physical gold, gold mining stocks, gold ETFs, and gold futures [9] - Physical gold is tangible and easily accessible, but it has risks such as theft and lower liquidity [10][16] - Gold mining stocks can be volatile due to their dependence on gold prices and geopolitical risks, leading many investors to prefer diversified funds [11][17] - Gold ETFs track gold prices and offer greater liquidity, but they come with fund fees that can dilute returns [15][20] - Gold futures allow for leverage and convenience but carry high risks and complexity [19][21]

Core Insights - Gold has experienced a significant rally, surpassing key price milestones of $2,000, $3,000, and recently $4,000 per ounce, with a notable 50% increase in the past year [1][2] - Investors, including prominent figures like Kevin O'Leary, emphasize gold's role as a safe-haven asset and a hedge against inflation, particularly during times of market volatility [3][4] Investment Perspective - O'Leary highlights that despite gold not generating income like dividends, it serves as a stabilizer and insurance policy in his investment portfolio [4][5] - The historical performance of gold as a store of value is underscored, with O'Leary considering it one of his top investments, contrasting it with more volatile assets [5][6] Market Dynamics - The appeal of gold is attributed to its independence from any single country or economy, making it a preferred choice during geopolitical tensions and financial market instability [3][6] - Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, notes that many investors lack adequate gold exposure in their portfolios, especially during adverse economic conditions [6] Investment Vehicles - Gold IRAs are presented as a strategic option for investors, allowing them to hold physical gold or related assets within a retirement account, combining tax advantages with the protective benefits of gold [7] - The article mentions various investment platforms that facilitate exposure to real estate and other income-generating opportunities, although these are not directly related to gold [12][16]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices experienced a significant decline on October 21, 2025, marking the largest daily drop in 12 years, with spot gold falling over 6% and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) losing approximately 6.4% on the same day [1][2]. Market Dynamics - The selloff was attributed to easing U.S.-China trade tensions, a stronger U.S. dollar, and technical indicators suggesting that gold had entered overbought territory [2]. - Despite the drop, some analysts, including Tom Essaye from Sevens Report Research, view this as a temporary setback, citing ongoing high inflation, low real interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, and the U.S. government shutdown as factors supporting a bullish outlook for gold [3][6]. Investment Outlook - Investment firms maintain a bullish stance on gold, with Bank of America predicting prices could reach $6,000 per ounce by mid-2026, while Goldman Sachs raised its forecast to $4,900 per ounce by the end of next year [4]. - The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) has surged approximately 54% in 2025, with a monthly gain of over 9%, contrasting with the S&P 500's 15% increase year-to-date [5]. Safe-Haven Demand - The current global instability and geopolitical tensions have driven investors towards gold as a safe-haven asset, further fueled by the U.S. government shutdown [6]. - Central bank demand, particularly from BRICS nations and emerging economies seeking to diversify from the U.S. dollar, has led to record levels of sovereign gold purchases [7]. Strategic Recommendations - Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, recommends that investors allocate up to 15% of their portfolios to gold, emphasizing its role as a hedge against monetary debasement and geopolitical risks [8]. - Dalio draws parallels between the current market environment and the early 1970s, highlighting the appeal of gold amidst high inflation and government spending [9]. Future Projections - Market expert Ed Yardeni suggests that gold could reach $10,000 per ounce by 2030, driven by factors such as tariffs, pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates, and issues in China's real estate market [10]. Investment Vehicles - For investors looking to capitalize on the bullish trend in gold, ETFs such as SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and SPDR Gold Minishares Trust (IAUM) are highlighted as potential investment options [11].