Gold under pressure this afternoon as the price of the dollar strengthens. Continue reading →
Dollar Stronger on Fed Comments
Friday’s comments by Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer have strengthened the dollar and put pressure on the price of gold this morning.
He indicated that the U S economy has strengthen, with strong jobs data in the last three months. He had seemed to hedge his bet that rates will be on the table at the September meeting by saying, “the problem with this economy is there is so many numbers each day. You have to try and figure out what is the main thrust of what’s going on in the economy.”
Gold Goes Volatile
The price of gold extremely volatile as Yellen’s comments hit the wires. Continue reading →
Jackson Hole Summit This Morning’s Focus
All eyes on Jackson Hole, Wyoming this morning, as we await comments from the most powerful woman in the world, Chairwoman Janet Yellen.
CME Fed-watch Tool this morning reveals a 21 percent chance of a rate hike at the September meeting. Let’s see if the rate hike needle moves today after the Fed lady’s comment at 10 am Eastern Time.
Gold Motionless In Advance of Jackson Hole Summit
The price of gold virtually motionless as the market awaits some news from Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s speech Friday at Jackson Hole. Continue reading →
Gold Starts Week on Two-Week Low
The price of gold starts off the week at a two-week low. A stronger dollar and recent conversations with some Fed presidents have taken the “bull” out of the market for the short term. Continue reading →
Gold’s “Medical” Prognosis
So far this year, speculative demand in the ETF arena along with central bank purchasing of gold has driven gold up from the lows in December of $1,046 to where we are trading today in the $1,340 area. Continue reading →
FLASH GAGE – FED Minutes Released / Gold Reacts
Just flip a coin you might have a better chance predicting what will be the outcome at the next FED meeting. Continue reading →
Gold Trading Holding Its Breath Prior to FOMC Minutes Release at 2 pm
Gold opens up the trading day awaiting the release of the latest FOMC minutes at 2pm Eastern time today. Continue reading →
Gold Price Off to Quiet Start
The price of gold starts off the week on a quiet note. A lack of economic news around the globe causing light volume this morning in the CME gold and silver futures. Continue reading →
Gold and Silver Feeling Pressure from Short Day Traders
All-time highs in the Dow, S&P and Nasdaq yesterday. Highest settlement in crude yesterday since July 22nd. Continue reading →
American Eagles Sales as of 8/11/16
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on August 11th. Continue reading →
U.S. Productivity Slump/Weak Dollar Bolster Gold
Gold prices seen rallying this morning off a weaker dollar and off a report of weak economic data that was released yesterday. Continue reading →
2016 Has a Silver Lining
While it seems that the financial media is rightfully focusing on the uplift in the gold market, let’s not leave silver back at the proverbial train station. Continue reading →
Jobs Report Bursts A Strong Precious Metals Week
It’s Friday, and up until this morning’s jobs report (more on that later), the week just kept getting better and better in the precious metals market. Continue reading →
A Lot of This Week’s Data Could Impact Gold
The price of gold slightly lower this morning after settling yesterday at a two-year high. Continue reading →
Dollar Index Drop Boosts Gold
The price of gold opens up the trading week slightly lower on light trading volume overnight. Gold received a boost last week from a weaker dollar index. Continue reading →
Bank of Japan Disappoints The Market
Bank of Japan disappoints the market this morning after announcing it has eased its monetary policy by increasing its purchases of exchange traded funds, but left interest rates unchanged. Continue reading →
American Eagles Sales as of July 29, 2016
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on July 28th. Continue reading →
Precious Metals Quiet This Morning Ahead of Fed Decision
Metal markets are quiet this morning ahead of the Fed decision at 2pm EDT today. With little chance of a rate hike this afternoon, the market awaits to hear the comments from the Fed committee. With all the encouraging economic data of late, we expect the committee to express a hawkish tone which would increase the chance of a rate hike in September. I still believe that even with some encouraging economic data, the Fed will be hard pressed to raise rates anytime this year with the rest of the world’s economies struggling at best.
Gold Declines for the Second Week
Gold net long spec positions declined for the second week in a row as more nervous longs head for the exit. On the positive side of the ledger, in the last two weeks ETF’s inflow continue in gold, but at a slower pace. Nonetheless gold trades at a 4-week low this morning as some Wall Street Traders are calling the gold market to test the $1,300 dollar level ahead of the Fed meeting later this week.
Consolidation, Sideway Trading…Boring?
Depending on who you are, whether a trader or investor in this market, we all use different terms to describe this type of price movement in gold. Technical traders call it consolidation, fund managers call it sideway trading and financial advisors call it boring.
Whatever term you prefer to use, the bottom line is the market is just sitting here looking for a direction. So the question remains, what bit of news would propel the market in one direction or the other?
American Eagles Sales as of July 21, 2016
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on July 21st. Continue reading →
Everything You Need to Know about Rio’s Olympic Medals
Dillon Gage Metals Talks Size, Composition and Value
ADDISON, TEXAS (July 21, 2016) – Dillon Gage Metals, an international precious metals wholesaler, is ready to educate the public on everything they need to know about the Olympic medals slated to be awarded at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. And some of the facts may surprise you.
For openers, there’s the composition breakdown on the precious metals in each medal. The gold medals awarded to the best of the best are pretty much gold in name only. In reality, 92.5 percent of their composition is actually silver. Only one percent is actual gold (plated) with the remainder made of bronze. Silver medals are 96 percent silver and the bronze medals are approximately 97 percent copper.
Stronger Dollar Brakes Gold
The price of gold under pressure this morning due to a stronger dollar. The dollar index hitting 97.32 this morning, the highest level since March. A continued rally in the equity markets also pressuring the price of gold. Continue reading →
Silver Under Pressure – Catching Up to Gold
Silver under pressure this morning breaking thru key support levels. The silver decline seen as just catching up to gold, as gold late last week also penetrated thru a key level at $1,332.
Friday’s strong job number and a calming of Brexit worries have taken the air out of the Gold rally for the time being.
Positive Dollar Index Pressures Gold
U.S. retail sales reported a strong number in June up 0.6 percent after a weaker number in May, just 0.2 percent. Dollar index seen in positive territory after the report putting pressure on the price of Gold this morning. The technical level everyone was watching at $1,332 was violated yesterday as the Gold market traded down to the $1,320 level.
American Eagles Sales as of 7/14/2016
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on July 14th. Continue reading →
Equity Market Uptick Pressures Gold
Gold under pressure yesterday as money from overseas investors poured into the equity markets. Continue reading →
Gold Still Bullish On ETF Support
The strong job report on Friday didn’t change the continued bullish sentiment of the ETF gold investor. Continue reading →
Jobs Report Crushes Gold and Silver
A huge rebound in the June Job numbers over the dismal report in May immediately crushes the price of Gold and Silver. Continue reading →
FLASH GAGE – Pay Attention at 2 pm EDT
Open interest Gold futures reported at an all-time high today at 662,840 contracts. Continue reading →
Gold and Silver Rally Continues Driven By ETF Demand
The rally continues driven by a number of factors. First and foremost is the daily increase in the ETF funds. Continue reading →
Precious Metals Wrap Up Strong Post-Brexit Week
What a week it has been for precious metals. Brexit, Brexit fallout, the possibility of a Brexit reversal, suppressed crude oil prices, and not a Fed interest rate hike in sight. Continue reading →
Brexit, Part II: The Referendum on the Referendum…
With the Brexit Vote still reverberating through the global financial markets several days after the historic referendum, precious metals remain a strong safe haven. Today comes word that the UK’s decision might be reversible and it’s likely going to prolong the market fallout which has ensued.
Britain Cuts Out – Gold Takes Off!
It’s official. In a stunning referendum vote, the U.K. decided to leave the European Union. It’s not what the pundits or poll watchers were expecting as the world woke up to the news on Friday. The effect on the global financial markets was both immediate and impactful. Continue reading →
Britain Exits – Gold Rush Enters
Gold’s standing as a safe haven investment was strengthened overnight as the fallout from the Brexit vote swept the financial landscape. Continue reading →
American Eagles Sales as of June 23, 2016
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on June 23rd. Continue reading →
Mid-Year Check of Precious Metals
We’re six months into 2016 and it’s been quite a ride so far. Beginning in early February, gold prices took off and produced the biggest quarterly rally in the last three decades. Continue reading →
Two Headlines Could Impact Gold This Week
Two headline stories on tap for this week that could have an impact on the gold price.
Tuesday and Wednesday, the Fed chairwoman, Janet Yellen testifies before congress to deliver her semi-annual testimony. On Tuesday she will testify before the Senate Banking Committee and on Wednesday she speaks in front of the House Financial Services Committee.
Everyone expects Chairwoman Yellen to repeat her message from last week that the Fed wil take a cautious approach to raising rates, as the U.S. economic data is still reported as “weak”.
No Fed Rate Hike As Brexit Looms
As expected, the Fed left interest rates alone during their scheduled meeting this week.
Citing an unexpectedly weak May jobs report and the looming Brexit referendum vote for England, Fed Chair Janet Yellen stated, “It is a decision that could have consequences for economic and financial conditions in global financial markets. If it does so, it could have consequences in turn for the U.S. economic outlook that would be a factor in deciding on the appropriate path of policy.”
American Eagles Sales as of June, 16, 2016
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on June 16th. Continue reading →
Precious Metals Modestly Lower This AM
FED Watch.
Precious metal prices are modestly lower this morning as we await the decision from the FOMC meeting today at 2pm Eastern time.
We expect them to provide further guidance on when they expect to raise rates. Still the odds are very low that a rate hike will happen today or in July and a 30 percent chance in September. I expect the odds might change a bit after hearing what they have to say today.
Minnesota Amends Law Aimed At Coin Dealers
The Minnesota SF 3175: Bullion Product Dealers Regulation Authorization was recently signed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton. This major legislative effort, led by the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA), reforms the most troublesome law for coin dealers in modern memory.
The state’s “Bullion Coin Dealer Law,” which was passed in 2013, applied to dealers at all levels of the industry and throughout the country, and imposed onerous regulations that were impossible to comply according to ICTA’s Chairman, Harry Miller, “Most coin dealers in the U.S. probably had no idea they were subject to this Minnesota law. But many were affected, even those who thought they had never done business in the state, because of the broad way in which the law was written.”
England’s Brexit Vote May Cause Gold Rush
Dillon Gage Metals Founder Weighs in on Possible Outcomes
ADDISON, TEXAS (June 14, 2016) – Dillon Gage Metals is investigating what potential effect the upcoming Brexit vote may have on the global precious metals market.
On June 23, British voters will cast ballots to determine whether or not the U.K. will remain in the European Union. According to Dillon Gage Metals Chairman Stephen W. Miller, if the Brexit measure passes, the effects may positively impact long-term value in the precious metals market.
Overnight Buying From Japan Boosts Gold
Good morning from the IPMI conference in Phoenix, Arizona, where hundreds of traders and dealers from around the world exchange ideas in the Precious Metals markets. You can see the hotel lobby fill up with it all the traders and dealers every hour on the hour for meetings. Companies are here trying to establish new relationships, rekindle old ones and exchange ideas in technology.
Dillon Gage’s cutting edge technology continues to evolve and stands out as the leader in physical electronic trading platforms. Matter of fact, I didn’t see or hear of any other firm offering a comparable trading platform like “FIZ” trade. For any precious metals business, a precious metals platform is a must in order to compete with the worldwide electronic algorithms that move the price of metals in a heartbeat.
Gold Continues Up on Last Week’s Jobs Report
We’ve witnessed gold up almost 5 percent this week after the disappointing jobs number last Friday.
Hitting the news wires yesterday was a story about billionaire George Soros getting back in the gold market. Soros Fund Management, which manages $30 billion for Mr. Soros and his family, sold equities and bought gold and mining shares. Mr. Soros indicates that he sees a bleak outlook for the global economy, and has directed some of his companies’ investments into the metals arena due to his concerns about political issues in China and Europe.
American Eagles Sales as of 6/9/2016
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on June 9th. Continue reading →
World Bank’s Global Growth Forecast Lifts Gold
The World Bank cut its 2016 global growth forecast today to 2.4 percent, down from the 2.9 percent estimated in January. The move is due to sluggish growth in advanced economies, low commodity prices, weak global trade and diminishing capital flows.
Gold, liking that kind of news, is trading up $ 13.00 on the day, at the time of this report. Silver, the so-called “poor man’s gold,” is trading either side of $17.00 this morning (consider just a week ago the worry was, are we going to hold the $16.00 dollar level?).
FLASH GAGE- Fed Chair Yellen’s Key Words
I just finished listening to Chairwomen Yellen’s 30-minute speech regarding the possibility of future rate hikes. Continue reading →
Markets Awaiting Fed Chairwoman Talk Today
After the poor jobs number on Friday, the market now awaits comments from Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen. Ms. Yellen scheduled to speak today at 12:30 eastern time in Philadelphia.
When I first started in this business almost 40 years ago, the news items that seemed to move the gold market the most, were news on inflation and supply and demand concerns. Now for the most part, the market holds its breath on every comment made by any Fed official regarding interest rates, watching the action in the dollar and unemployment / jobs news.
May Jobs Report Dramatically Boosts Gold
It will be very interesting to hear what the Fed presidents NOW have to say after this very weak May jobs report. Continue reading →
Military Lending Act – How it Impacts Pawnbrokers
The Department of Defense expanded the Military Lending Act (MLA) regulation last year. It becomes effective for pawn transactions on October 3, 2016. Are you ready? Continue reading →
American Eagles Sales as of June 2, 2016
The following chart includes the year to date totals from the U.S. Mint as of 5pm on June 2nd. Continue reading →
Precious Metals Investors Waiting on the Sidelines
Now that the minutes of the April FOMC meeting have been revealed and the market has absorbed the news, market participants now sit on the sidelines awaiting U.S. data to be released later in the week before considering entering the gold market again. Continue reading →
FLASH GAGE – Yellen Offers Insights Into Fed’s Intentions
Ok, she folded under the pressure. Being a compassionate person, feeling sorry for the poor Wall Street Bond trader delaying his weekend trip to the Hamptons, Fed Chair Yellen answered the question we were all waiting to hear during her interview today with Harvard professor Greg Mankiv. Continue reading →
Will Fed Chair Indicate a June Rate Hike Today?
Will she or won’t she? Continue reading →
Silver the Sole Metal With Some Support
The price of gold is trying to consolidate around the $1,220 level as the cloud of higher interest rates hovers above. Redemptions seen in the Gold ETFs overnight and open interest in the CME futures also seen declining in the past few days. Continue reading →
San Fran FED Chair Comments Impact Gold
It is inevitable that the precious metal markets will be influenced right after comments of any FED governor. Continue reading →
Gold Selloff An Overreaction to FED?
It’s a little after 3 am on the east coast as I start my comment today, because I have to leave early this morning on business and will be driving, Continue reading →