watch nowGold prices notched another fresh record this week as more investors piled into the metal amid economic uncertainty and rising bets for a Federal Reserve rate cut.So far this year, bullion has gained about 35% as of Friday's close. Spot gold is now near $3,600 an ounce."Without a doubt, gold has been trending higher, and it's getting a lot of attention from investors," said Blair duQuesnay, a chartered financial analyst and certified financial planner, who is also an investment advisor at Ritholtz ...

We have a split market on our hands. Gold is ripping. Bonds are slipping. And stocks are chopping around, with new sectors looking to pick up the baton from tech. Here are three top ways our MoneyShow experts say you can profit.Mike Larson MoneyShow.comn this episode of the MoneyShow MoneyMasters Podcast, Nancy Davis, founder of Quadratic Capital Management, and Mike McGlone, senior macro strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, dive into what the end of a historic yield-curve inversion and a Fed cutting cycle ...

Driven by growing expectations of Fed rate cuts and strong safe-haven demand, gold prices hit a new all-time high, breaching the $3,500 mark. The yellow metal emerges as a standout performer this year, climbing nearly 41.49% over the past year, according to Trading View.Additionally, an increase in inflation concerns and sustained central bank buying further support the rally in gold prices.According to analysts, as quoted on Reuters, portfolio diversification away from the greenback and the general weaknes ...

Economic Landscape and Gold Prices - The current economic environment is characterized by rising uncertainty and fragile investor confidence, with comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, geopolitical tensions, and increasing inflation expectations contributing to a rally in gold prices [1][3] - Strong fundamental indicators suggest that gold's gains could extend into late 2025 and 2026, making a case for increased portfolio allocation towards gold [1] Interest Rate Expectations - Powell's recent speech indicated a potential interest rate cut, which is expected to boost gold prices as the U.S. dollar typically weakens with rate cuts, making gold more attractive [3][4] - The CME FedWatch tool shows an 87.3% likelihood of a rate cut in September, up from 75% prior to Powell's speech, with even higher probabilities for subsequent months [4] Dollar Value and Gold Demand - A weaker U.S. dollar, which has fallen approximately 7.79% over the past six months, is expected to further lift gold prices as it increases demand for gold among foreign buyers [5][6] Inflation Expectations - Rising inflation expectations, with a 12-month forecast increasing to 4.9% in August from 4.5%, and long-term expectations rising to 3.9% from 3.4%, make gold an attractive hedge against inflation [8][7] Central Bank Activity - Central banks are increasingly strengthening their gold reserves, which may drive up gold prices amid ongoing geopolitical and economic instability [9] Investment Strategies - Investors are encouraged to adopt a long-term passive investment strategy in gold, viewing it as a hedge against market volatility, and to consider a "buy-the-dip" approach [11] - Recommended ETFs for gold exposure include SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and others, with GLD being the most liquid option [12][13] Performance of Gold ETFs - GLD has an asset base of $102.67 billion, the largest among gold ETFs, and has gained about 35.6% over the past year, while GLDM and IAU are the cheapest options for long-term investing [13]

Group 1: Economic and Market Conditions - Persistent economic uncertainty and a volatile global trade landscape have elevated investors' anxiety, providing strong tailwinds for gold [1] - Mounting U.S. debt concerns, unfavorable inflation data, and central banks' increasing purchases of gold have contributed to its sustained appeal [1] - Concerns over U.S. debt levels can add pressure to investor confidence, making investors risk-averse and increasing the demand for safe-haven assets [7] Group 2: Central Bank Activity - Central banks are increasingly focused on strengthening their gold reserves to guard against potential financial shocks amid rising global debt and geopolitical risks [5] - Approximately 95% of the 73 central banks surveyed expect their global counterparts to increase gold holdings over the coming year, highlighting gold's enduring appeal as a strategic asset [6] - A major driver of gold's strength is the growing appetite among emerging market central banks to increase their gold reserves [6] Group 3: Inflation and Safe-Haven Demand - Gold preserves its purchasing power across extended investment periods, outpacing inflation and diversifying an investment portfolio [3] - The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in June, lifting the annual inflation rate to 2.7%, which has boosted gold's safe-haven status [4] - Analysts expect gold prices to benefit from soaring U.S. deficits and growing fiscal instability, even in the absence of an immediate crisis [8] Group 4: Investment Strategies - Investors should adopt a "buy-the-dip" strategy for gold, as it remains an essential hedge amid increasing macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical volatility [2] - A long-term passive investment strategy is recommended to weather short-term market storms, especially given the current economic and geopolitical climate [10] - Increasing exposure to gold ETFs is suggested as a smarter play than attempting to time the market [11] Group 5: Gold ETFs - Investors can consider various gold ETFs such as SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and others to enhance their exposure to gold [12] - GLD has an asset base of $102.12 billion, making it the largest among the options, and has gained 15.5% over the past three months and about 39.2% over the past year [13] - GLDM is noted as the cheapest option for long-term investing, charging an annual fee of 0.10% [13]

Market Overview - The market is currently dominated by a few major players, with the "Mag 7" accounting for a historically large portion of the S&P 500's total market capitalization [1] - NVIDIA's shares recently surged, briefly pushing its market cap above $4 trillion, reflecting growing investor enthusiasm for the AI sector [1] AI and Tech Sector Performance - The momentum behind the AI and tech rally is significantly contributing to broader market gains, as evidenced by the S&P 500 Information Technology Index gaining 9.44% year to date [2] - Heavy investment in the technology sector to leverage AI's growth potential introduces increased concentration and systemic risks [2] Diversification Strategy - Investors are advised to diversify their portfolios to mitigate underlying market risks, suggesting a balance between tech investments and diversified holdings [3] - Diversification is highlighted as a key strategy for building resilient portfolios, especially in a market dominated by a few players [7] Current Economic Challenges - Renewed trade tensions, particularly the announcement of 30% tariffs on imports from the EU and Mexico, are creating uncertainty in global markets [4] - The U.S. economy faces inflationary pressures exacerbated by these tariffs, alongside concerns over U.S. debt levels and potential changes in Federal Reserve leadership [5] Investment Options - ETFs focusing on value sectors or equal-weighted strategies are recommended to reduce concentration risk while capturing upside potential [6] - Specific ETFs to consider include: - **Value ETFs**: Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD), iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (IVE) [9] - **Gold ETFs**: SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) [10][11] - **Equal-Weighted ETFs**: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP), ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (EQL), Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF (EQWL) [12] - **Consumer Staple ETFs**: Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP), Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC), iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) [13]

Core Insights - Argentinians are shifting their wealth preservation strategy from cash to gold bars, driven by the declining appeal of the US dollar as an inflation hedge [1] - The relaxation of foreign exchange controls allows Argentinians to purchase gold directly with pesos, further catalyzing this trend [1] Group 1: Investment Trends - Banco Piano has witnessed a significant increase in gold demand, with a projected fourfold increase in gold imports from Switzerland by 2025 [2] - The net inflow into SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) surged by 170% year-on-year in Q1, reaching a total investment demand of 552 tons, the highest level since early 2022 [2] - Daily inquiries for gold jewelry have doubled, with prices around $114 per gram and attractive financing options available [2] Group 2: Regulatory Changes - Argentinians can purchase up to $7,200 worth of gold monthly without disclosing the source of funds, with a proposed increase to $12,000 [3] - The increase in gold inquiries and sales reflects a broader trend of seeking asset preservation amid economic uncertainty [3] Group 3: Market Dynamics - Global gold prices have risen over 27% in the past year, hovering around $3,300 per ounce, influenced by geopolitical tensions and persistent price pressures [3]

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp (WPM) Copy link to section Wheaton Precious Metals is the best gold stock to buy because of its business model. This explains why the stock has jumped by 51% this year and 145% in the last five years, outperforming gold itself. WPM is a leading player in the gold industry, despite not engaging in mining itself. Instead, it owns rights to gold mines and earns revenue from the rights holders. This ensures that it is a high-margin company since it does not need many employees. For ...