Gold ETF posts sharp rally
The SPDR Gold Shares ETF was up 3.3% in morning trading, according to FactSet data, at last check. That brought its year-to-date gain to a massive 30.6%.
Source – Market Watch
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Tariff threat opens up transatlantic rift in copper pricing
U.S. President Donald Trump hasn’t yet imposed import tariffs on copper but the market is already pricing in the likelihood that the red metal will be next on the list after aluminium and steel.
The arbitrage between the CME and the London Metal Exchange (LME) contracts has blown wider in recent days, with the CME premium exceeding $1,000 per metric ton earlier this week.
Source – Reuters / Written by Andy Home / Opinion
Central banks are stocking up
They bought over 1,000 tonnes of the precious metal last year, double the average amount purchased in the previous decade, according to a European Central Bank report published on Wednesday.
The authors wrote that global holdings of gold by reserve banks increased to 36,000 metric tons in 2024, close to the record of 38,000 metric tons reached around 60 years ago.
Now, central bank reserves are composed of, on average, the dollar, at 46%, gold, at 20%, other currencies at 18%, and the euro at 16%.
Source – Business Insider
Copper falls, what about demand?
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
Congressional gold medal reintroduced to honor James Earl Jones
“James Earl Jones was a national treasure — an artist whose voice and presence have left his mark on American culture. He broke barriers, inspired generations, and served our country with honor. As a proud constituent of New York’s 17th District, it is only fitting that he posthumously receives one of our nation’s highest honors,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (R-New York).
Source – Coin World
Copper futures up 5%
U.S. copper futures rallied nearly 5% on Wednesday, rising more than other global benchmarks, after President Trump said imports of the metal would be subject to a 25% tariff; the front-month May Comex contract (HG1:COM) currently +4.6% at $4.76/lb.
Trump’s comments in last night’s speech to Congress sparked a surge in Comex copper prices in Asian hours, as traders reacted to the possibility that copper tariffs could be larger than expected.
“A 25% tariff was clearly not what the market was expecting before those comments, and now traders are scrambling to price in the correct level, whatever that might end up being,” Saxo Bank’s Ole Hansen said. “Whatever the final tariff is, the disruption to global trade flows is very real.”
Source – Seeking Alpha
List of 50 exempt items Gold and Silver included
Non-tariff barriers are meant to limit the amount of imports/exports and protect domestic industries. In some relief to consumers globally, the Trump administration has kept some essential items exempt from the purview of these tariffs.
Items exempt from the tariffs levied by Trump include copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, certain critical minerals, as well as energy and energy products.
Source – GoldSilver Reports
Long list of all exempt items when you go to the website. Hope that helps! – V.