Fed Likely to Hold Rates in 2025
Gold has benefited from geopolitical uncertainty and central bank demand, but a prolonged period of restrictive Fed policy presents risks.
Source – FXEMPIRE

Source – APMEX
Glencore has suspended production and declared force majeure on copper shipments from its Altonorte smelter in Chile due to an issue affecting the plant’s furnace, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, in a setback that comes just as traders and producers race to ship more metal to the U.S. ahead of tariffs.
Much of the copper produced in Chile is shipped to the U.S., where Comex prices have surged to record highs on worries about shortages due to tariffs; the most active Comex copper contract (HG1:COM) for May delivery hit $5.374/lb, or $11,847/metric ton on Wednesday.
Source – Seeking Alpha
Pataz has become Peru’s largest gold-producing region, in no small part due to artisan or informal mines, which operate under temporary REINFO permits.
“Gold is a curse for Pataz,” the mayor of Pataz, Aldo Mariño, told Reuters.
He said that despite the area’s great mineral wealth, his community lives in poverty, without basic services and on deteriorating or unpaved roads.
“This has been going on for several years, with the difference that now everything has collapsed. It’s due to the absence of the State,” he said. “People continue to die.”
Poderosa has reported the deaths of 39 workers in recent years in attacks on its facilities or small mines that supply it with gold. And in the last four years, 15 of the company’s high-voltage towers have been destroyed with explosives.
Source – Reuters
Saigon Jewelry Company bar went up 1.09% to VND92.3 million (US$3,619.61) per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.
Gold ring also reached a new peak at VND91.5 million per tael.
Source – eVnExpress
“Gold has again moved to yet another record, with its safe-haven reputation shining bright,” said analysts at RBC Capital Markets. “With the uncertainty related to Fed independence, gold continues to benefit as a safe-haven, and one not tied to the U.S. dollar.”
Gold has been soaring since early April when investors, alarmed by Mr. Trump’s tariffs, starting selling Treasury bonds. On Tuesday, the spot price of a troy ounce of gold briefly reached above $3,500 before slipping lower.
Source – New York Times
Barrick is a sector leading gold and copper production. One of the biggest in the world and comes in at 2nd in gold mining.
“The miner this week threatened to suspend operations in Mali over deteriorating mine conditions. Jefferies analysts wrote in a note this week that closure of the mine would reduce Barrick’s earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization by 11% next year.”
“Mali, under interim President Assimi Goita, has increased pressure on western miners in a bid to raise its revenue share from gold mines. In the last two months, the junta has detained senior executives of western miners, including employees of these companies for alleged non-payment of mining taxes.” Source – https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/economy/barrick-gold-seeks-arbitration-over-mali-gold-mine-dispute/ar-AA1w6s2W?ocid=socialshare