It appears that the Federal Reserve is on hold when it comes to moving interest rates until midyear, said Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals. But “most of the other major central banks remain in easing mode, providing an additional tailwind for gold.” Ongoing trade and geopolitical uncertainty suggest upside potential to the psychologically important $3,000 level, he said.
Source – Market Watch
Gold
Gold remains stuck near the resistance at $2930 – $2940 as traders continue to take profits off the table near historic highs.
Silver
Silver declined below the $32.50 level as gold/silver ratio climbed above the 91 level.
Platinum
Platinum tests new lows as traders react to the strong sell-off in palladium markets, which are down by 3.4%.
Source – FXEMPIRE
Silver price (XAG/USD) retraces its recent gains from the previous session, trading around $29.80 per barrel during the Asian hours on Wednesday.
People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Governor Pan Gongsheng stated on Monday that “interest rate and reserve requirement ratio (RRR) tools will be utilized to maintain ample liquidity.” Gongsheng reaffirmed China’s plans to increase the fiscal deficit and emphasized that China will continue to be a driving force for the global economy.
Source – FX Street
First Quantum decision suggests movement to resolve investor dispute with Central American government
Canada’s First Quantum Minerals on Monday said it was stepping back from a multibillion-dollar arbitration demand against Panama’s government over the closing of one of the world’s largest copper mines.
Source – Financial Times
Copper prices have been on a stellar run, boosted by President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs. But Wall Street sees headwinds for the metal, with two miners catching downgrades.
Freeport stock lost 3.2%, closing at $44.12, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.4% and 1%, respectively.
Southern Copper shares fell 2.4% to $97.54.
As for demand, Citi analyst Tom Mulqueen noted in a Tuesday report that tariffs and policy changes will be a headwind in the second half of 2025.
“We also see sustained sluggish manufacturing activity and solar frontloading weighing on copper end-use consumption in the months ahead,” wrote Mulqueen.
Source – Barron’s
A Malian court has adjourned to Thursday a hearing on whether to put Barrick Mining’s Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex under provisional administration, the court’s registry office and one of the lawyers involved told Reuters on Monday.
Granting the request would represent a major escalation of a dispute between the West African country and the Canadian miner after operations at the complex were suspended in January in a dispute over taxes and ownership.
Barrick has said it can only resume operations when the Malian government removes restrictions on gold exports.
The government has renegotiated agreements with other multinational miners under the new mining law. Four Barrick employees have been detained since November 2024 and an arrest warrant was issued for Chief Executive Mark Bristow in December 2024.
Source – Reuters
The one-of-a-kind 18-carat gold toilet was swiped in under five minutes from Blenheim Palace, the sprawling English country mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born, in the predawn hours of September 14, 2019, a prosecutor told jurors Monday.
The toilet has never been recovered but is believed to have been cut up and sold.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Source – CNN
I thought this was interesting and thought I’d share. I’m not entirely surprised that something was stolen I am surprised that the burglars got away with the darn thing! I feel like this is actually kinda funny but hopefully justice will be served. – V.
