Donald Trump’s unpredictability is pushing investors away from the US dollar - Denis Balibouse/Reuters Gold was on track for its best week since 2008 after Donald Trump’s Greenland tariff tirade triggered a stampede into the precious metal. Bullion is up 8pc over the past five trading sessions to nearly $5,000 (£3,673) an ounce – its strongest performance since the depths of the financial crisis nearly two decades ago. Silver also rose above $100 an ounce for the first time. Global investors have been ...

One thing has become reliable over the past year of worldwide uncertainty: the price of gold and silver has continued to rise. Most Read from Fast Company The precious metals reached record highs again in the early hours of Wednesday. Silver hit over $91 per ounce, more than a 26% increase year-to-date and a 201% increase over the last 12 months. Silver had reached more than $90 for the first time on Tuesday. Meanwhile, gold rose this morning to more than $4,637 an ounce—up more than 7% in 2026 and ove ...

Gold and silver prices rose to record highs in early trading on Monday, spurred on by a confluence of a few different political events and economic factors, including tensions over the U.S. seizure of possibly another oil tanker from Venezuela, speculation of future Federal Reserve rate cuts, overall economic insecurity, and bets on U.S. monetary policy in 2026. Most Read from Fast Company In addition, there is the issue of increasing U.S. debt and increasing demands from AI. “The continued strength in ...

Market Outlook - The U.S. housing market is expected to undergo a significant correction, potentially starting as early as 2026, with a large historical price decline anticipated over several years [1][5][6] - Zillow reported that 53% of U.S. homes lost value over the past year, the highest share since 2012, with an average drawdown of 9.7% [2][3] Price and Income Discrepancy - The median sales price of a U.S. home reached $410,800 in Q2 2025, a 42% increase over the past decade, while the median household income is only $83,730, creating a significant gap [3][4] - Realtor.com estimates that a typical household now needs to earn approximately $118,530 annually to afford a median-priced home, highlighting the disconnect between home prices and household income [3][4] Investor Behavior - During the last housing crash, large investors intervened to buy homes, which halted the price decline; however, this time, it is argued that such intervention may not occur [4][5] - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that the housing market is already in a "recession" due to Federal Reserve policy, with warnings from various analysts about a potential severe downturn [7]

Group 1 - First Majestic Silver's shares are down 2.8% while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are gaining, indicating a divergence in performance [1] - The decline in First Majestic's shares is attributed to falling silver prices, likely influenced by easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China [1][2] - A successful U.S.-China trade deal could lead to a shift in investor capital from metals to equities, further impacting silver prices [3] Group 2 - Silver miners, including First Majestic, face increased risk as metal prices retreat, despite a significant rise in stock value earlier this year [4] - First Majestic's stock has increased over 80% this year due to rising silver prices, but a decline in silver could lead to a sharper drop in its stock [4] - Analysts recommend caution for investors considering First Majestic, as it was not included in a list of top investment stocks [5][6]

Core Insights - Gold prices have reached a record high, with New York spot closing at $4,326 per troy ounce and futures trading above $4,344, driven by economic uncertainty and investor anxiety [3][4] - Gold futures have increased nearly 60% since the beginning of 2025, rising from approximately $2,670 to around $4,268 per troy ounce [5] - The surge in gold prices is attributed to factors such as the U.S. government shutdown, ongoing trade wars, and the prospect of lower interest rates, making gold a more attractive investment [4][10] Economic Context - The rise in gold prices is linked to economic turmoil stemming from President Trump's trade wars, which have imposed steep tariffs and strained businesses and consumers [8] - The U.S. government shutdown has delayed key economic data and affected federal employees, contributing to increased investor anxiety [9] - Analysts note the weakness of the U.S. dollar and recent interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve as additional factors driving gold investments [10] Market Behavior - There has been a notable shift in investor behavior, with many distancing themselves from riskier assets like cryptocurrencies amid market volatility [11] - Jewelry merchants are experiencing increased customer inquiries about gold value, with some opting to sell or melt down family heirlooms due to rising prices [12] - Larger retailers have acknowledged the impact of rising material costs and tariffs on their businesses during recent earnings calls [13] Investment Perspective - Advocates for gold investment argue it serves as a safe haven and can diversify investment portfolios, while critics caution against relying solely on gold as an inflation hedge [14][15] - The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has warned about the volatility of precious metals, indicating that sellers typically profit during periods of economic anxiety [16] Environmental Concerns - The increased demand for gold has raised health and environmental issues, particularly related to mercury poisoning from illegal gold mining practices [18] - Mercury, used in artisanal mining, poses significant risks to both workers and local communities, leading to neurological and developmental harm [19][20]

Market Overview - Australian shares are projected to gain a modest +0.03% on Wednesday, influenced by a stall in the Wall Street rally, which has also contributed to gold surpassing the $4,000 level [1][2] - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite reached intraday highs, but there are growing concerns that the market may be "a little too overenthusiastic" about the current equity surge [2] Gold Market Insights - Gold has recently surpassed $4,000 an ounce, reflecting a strong demand as investors seek safe-haven assets, although it dipped back slightly [3] - Gold is now confirmed as Australia's second most valuable export, following iron ore [3] Companies to Watch - Companies in the gold sector, such as Bellevue Gold (ASX:BGL), Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN), and Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST), are highlighted as key players to monitor due to the rising gold prices [5] - Emerging companies like Caprice Resources (ASX:CRS) and New Murchison Gold (ASX:NMG) have also gained attention in recent weeks [5] Exchange Developments - ASX Ltd (ASX:ASX) faces competition as ASIC has approved rival exchange CBOE to list Australian companies on its platform [6] - Green and Gold Minerals is set to become the latest ASX company, with its shares offered at 20 cents each [6] Commodity Prices - The Australian dollar is trading at 65.8 U.S. cents [7] - Iron ore remains stable at $104.10 per tonne, while Brent crude oil has increased by +0.5% to $65.77 per barrel [7] - Gold is currently priced at $3,998 an ounce, and US natural gas futures have risen by +4.9% to $3.52 per gigajoule [7]

Funding and Investment - Meanwhile, the first life insurance company to offer policies entirely in Bitcoin has raised $82 million in a new funding round led by Bain Capital and Haun Ventures, bringing its total funding for 2025 to $122 million after a successful Series A that raised $40 million in April [1][2] - Other participants in the latest funding round include Apollo, Framework Ventures, Fulgar Ventures, Northwestern Mutual, Pantera Capital, and Stillmark [2] Company Operations - Meanwhile operates as a fully licensed and regulated life insurance carrier in Bermuda, with payouts denominated in Bitcoin, allowing beneficiaries to receive Bitcoin instead of fiat currency upon policy execution [3] - The company is also one of the world's largest Bitcoin lenders, providing both institutional and policyholder lending services [4] Policyholder Benefits - Individuals with policies older than two years can borrow against their policies to receive Bitcoin at fair market value, with the option to sell the new Bitcoin immediately if it appreciates [5] - Policyholders have the choice to either repay the loan or allow it to be covered by their policy's death benefit [5] Market Context - Bitcoin reached a new all-time high on October 6, with US spot Bitcoin ETFs seeing record inflows, marking their second highest level since inception [6] - The price of Bitcoin started the month around $117,000, peaking at $126,198 on October 6 before a slight pullback, attributed to investors seeking safe haven amid global uncertainty [7]

Core Insights - Gold futures have surpassed $4,000 per ounce for the first time, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amid ongoing U.S. government shutdown [1][2] - Gold prices have increased approximately 50% since the beginning of 2025, rising from around $2,670 to about $4,003 per troy ounce [2] Economic Context - The rise in gold prices is largely attributed to economic uncertainty stemming from President Trump's trade wars, which have led to increased tariffs and strained both businesses and consumers [4] - The current U.S. government shutdown has exacerbated investor anxieties, delaying key economic data and affecting federal employees [5] Market Dynamics - The demand for gold typically spikes during periods of investor anxiety, as seen with the recent surge in prices [3] - Central banks worldwide have shown strong demand for gold, influenced by rising geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine [6]

Core Insights - Gold prices reached record highs, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amid the first government shutdown in nearly seven years, although the broader economic impact is expected to be minimal [1][3][6] - Bitcoin also saw a significant rally, with prices increasing nearly 7% over the past five days, indicating a shift in investor sentiment towards perceived less risky assets [1][3][5] Gold Market - U.S. gold futures hit an all-time high of approximately $3,922 per troy ounce before settling around $3,900 [3] - Goldman Sachs and UBS strategists suggest that gold is favored during periods of economic uncertainty, with expectations of potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve contributing to rising prices [4] Bitcoin Market - Bitcoin's price rose from just over $109,000 to around $117,200, reflecting a 2.8% increase on the day of reporting [3] - Despite being a risk asset, Bitcoin is perceived as a less risky investment compared to traditional equities during times of economic uncertainty [5] Economic Impact of Government Shutdown - Historical data indicates that government shutdowns tend to have a short-lived and minimal impact on the economy, with an average duration of eight days [6] - Previous shutdowns have resulted in temporary market rallies, such as a 10% increase in the S&P 500 following a 34-day shutdown in late 2018 [6] Upcoming Economic Data - The government shutdown may delay the release of key economic data, including nonfarm payrolls and inflation reports, which are critical ahead of the Federal Reserve's policymaking meeting [7]