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Global silver market under stress

A surge in rates to borrow the precious metal has become the latest sign of alarm, with anxiety building over the impact of further tariffs from US President Donald Trump. That’s sparked a dash to ship silver into the US in a bid to capture premium prices in New York, possibly causing a squeeze in London.

“Should the long-fabled ‘silver squeeze’ materialize, this slower tradeflow will be a key contributor to prolonging” any potential disruption BMO Capital Markets analyst George Heppel said in a note. That’s because it would take time for silver stockpiles to flow from the US back to London, he said.

Source – Mining Weekly

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    Gold futures posted their second consecutive strong gain on Tuesday, rising 3% in the two days since Moody’s downgraded its U.S. credit rating and amplified concerns over the debt and deficit spending.

    The dollar slipped again, weighed down in part by cautious remarks about the economy by Federal Reserve officials and by President Trump’s failure so far to convince Republican holdouts in the U.S. House to support his sweeping tax and spending bill.

    “Investors are reassessing the long-term outlook for U.S. sovereign risk. As such, safe-haven assets like gold could experience heightened demand,” Quasar Elizunda of Pepperstone said in a note.

    Source – Seeking Alpha

    Moody’s Corporation – (MCO) a New York-based company that owns Moody’s Investors Service that rates creditworthiness of companies, governments, and fixed income debt securities, and Moody’s Analytics.

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    Mali suspends artisanal gold mining

    Mali said on Wednesday it was suspending licenses for foreign artisanal gold mining companies after a series of fatal accidents in the West African country, one of Africa’s top three gold producers.

    Gen. Assimi Goita, president of Mali’s transitional government, ordered “the suspension of artisanal mining permits granted to foreigners,” according to a statement issued following a Council of Ministers meeting.

    “These measures are designed to further strengthen the state authorities and protect our fellow citizens. These measures give us the power to seize materials (mining equipment), which will be confiscated and placed in the domain of national heritage,” Gen. Daoud Ali Mohammedine, the minister of security and civil protection, said on ORTM.

    Source – The Associated Press – Business News

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    Gold and Silver forecast

    Gold (XAU/USD) rose sharply during the Asian session on Thursday, reaching $3,126.67, as global markets reacted to renewed trade tensions. 

    Silver (XAG/USD) is trading at $33.28, having touched a session low of $33.07. Despite gold’s upward momentum, silver’s response has been more restrained, weighed down by its industrial use case.

    Source – FX EMPIRE

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    Sacagawea gold coins may be produced by at the West Point Mint facilities

    If the United States Mint moves forward with plans to produce a 24-karat gold Sacagawea dollar on the 25th anniversary of the series in 2025, it will be the first time the issue is produced in .9999 fine gold.

    The bureau is considering producing the gold dollars at the West Point Mint with the facility’s W Mint mark. Bureau officials have not disclosed what finish would be used for the 25th anniversary gold dollars nor any mintage limit.

    The proposed 25th anniversary Sacagawea gold dollar will feature the designs that appeared on coins released into general circulation in January 2000, bearing the so-called “13 tail feathers,” with the same inscriptions as originally featured on the 2000 coins, with no mention of gold weight or fineness.

    Source – Coin World

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    African banks are getting into gold

    Sub-Saharan African central banks that have added gold to their reserves in recent years could face price and liquidity crises if the value of the precious metal slides, BMI, a unit of Fitch Group, said on Wednesday.

    Ghana, Tanzania and Nigeria have been buying gold domestically to beef up their reserves, BMI said, a move accelerated by this year’s broader market volatility stoked by U.S. trade tariffs and other geopolitical risks.

    Policymakers in Kenya and Uganda are exploring a move into gold, Rwanda and Namibia have taken active steps towards adding the metal into their reserves.

    Governments could also struggle to convert their gold holdings into liquid assets like hard currencies, Gard said, pointing to India and Argentina when they faced acute balance of payments challenges in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively.

    Source – Reuters

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    Gold up .6%, dollar weak

    Spot gold was up 0.6% at $3,373.09 an ounce, as of 0552 GMT. U.S. gold futures gained 1.5% to $3,393.80.

    The weakness in the dollar index serves as a strong catalyst, said Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst, Asia Pacific at OANDA, adding that a “bullish breakout” of the $3,346 resistance triggered technical buying.

    Spot silver was up 0.4% at $36.38 per ounce, platinum rose 1.2% to $1,271.15, still hovering near a more than 4-year high, while palladium was down 1.1% at $1,068.19.

    Source – Reuters