Indonesia has restricted raw material exports to pressure companies to refine minerals locally and add value to its exports. Freeport has local refining capacity, but is seeking to keep exporting concentrate due to a fire last October at its Manyar smelterin East Java.
Should exports resume, it will relieve, although not reverse, a shortage of copper concentrate that has hit the profits of smelters.
Source – Reuters
Costco offers members an opportunity to purchase one-ounce gold bars in the store, online or via their app. The retailer offers gold bullion bars, 1-ounce bars and coins in different designs. As of February 2025, Costco offers the following gold products:
- 1 oz. gold bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan
- 1 oz. gold bar Rand Refinery (online only)
- 2025 1 oz. American Buffalo gold coin
- 1 oz. gold bar PAMP / Newmont Lady of Liberty (online only)
- 100-gram gold bar Rand Refinery
Costco’s selection comes from authorized dealers and reputable mints. However, as Costco members are accustomed to, offerings and availability may change.
Costco marks up its cost for gold by roughly 2%. Markup is common practice among gold dealers and retailers, and 2% is on the low end of industry standards.
Source – CBS News
This year has been an up and down ride for silver after 2023 but seems to have taken a turn in the last quarter of the year.
“Silver fell to a quarterly low of US$30.11 on November 27, but since then the precious metal has regained some ground. As of December 11, it was trading at US$31.88.
The next Fed meeting is set to run from December 17 to 18. Most analysts expect the central bank to make one last 25 basis point cut before pausing in 2025.”
Source – Investing News Network
Gold prices rose to a two-week high on Tuesday, supported by post-holiday buying from China and concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, while investors await the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting.
Spot gold was up 1.9% at $3,395.94 an ounce at 1200 ET (1600 GMT). Earlier in the session, prices rose around 2% to the highest since April 22, when they hit a record high of $3,500.05/oz.
“The bull market is being driven by China’s latest gold investing surge, plus the ongoing bid from central banks wanting to cut their exposure to U.S. assets, most especially the dollar,” said Adrian Ash, BullionVault director of research.
Spot silver gained 1.5% to $33 an ounce, platinum rose about 2.4% to $982.18 and palladium added 3.4% to $972.46.
Source – Reuters
Gold prices experienced a modest uptick on Monday, rising 0.1 percent to $3,040.57 per ounce. Spot gold rose 0.1 percent to $3,040.57 an ounce as of 7:39 a.m. ET, rebounding after dipping to a session low of $2,971.09 earlier, when some investors sold off bullion to offset losses elsewhere, Reutersreported.
The imposition of the tariffs has intensified fears of a global recession. Investors are increasingly seeking safe-haven assets like gold to hedge against potential economic downturns. However, the recent sell-off in gold suggests that investors may be liquidating positions to cover losses in other markets, reflecting concerns over the widespread impact of a trade war.
“Once the dust settles, the rising recession risks, a weaker dollar, lower real yields and bigger rate cut expectations will all play their part in supporting a rebound….
“Gold’s correction remains a relatively shallow one with key support levels holding.” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank
Source – Reuters
“I am pleased to announce Q4-2024 and January 2025 production results, achieving 2024 production guidance and highlighting a significant step-change in output and an 77% month-over-month increase from December 2024 to January 2025. This strong performance is driven by improving recoveries and the successful ramp-up of the new Zgounder plant, which is operating above nameplate capacity, alongside the open pit, which continues to exceed expectations,” stated President & CEO Benoit La Salle. “Month-over-month improvements across the integrated operations at Zgounder reflect disciplined execution and operational strength, positioning us for sustained production growth and record profitability in 2025.”
Source – Globe Newswire / Yahoo Finance
The yellow metal could zoom all the way to $4,000 if investors continue to lose their appetite for risk, which would mean ditching assets like stocks and cryptocurrencies, and redirecting that money into gold and Treasury bonds, according to a note Friday from Bloomberg Intelligence Strategist Mick McGlone.
“The key competitors for gold, at least for the past few years, have been the strong rise in U.S. stocks, the rise in U.S. bond yields, and the rise in digital gold—that is Bitcoin,”
Source – Barron’s
