The World Gold Council has just released its latest Central Bank Gold Reserve Survey, and we thought it was the perfect moment to jump in with a quick update on what’s inside and why it matters for all of us. For the third year in a row, central banks around the world have purchased over […]
At the time of writing, world leaders are making public calls for peace, while privately preparing for escalation. President Trump has left the G7 early, speaking in unambiguous terms about the deepening conflict between Israel and Iran. The rhetoric is increasingly hawkish, the military posturing more visible, and the potential for direct US involvement growing […]
You’d be forgiven for missing it, but gold has overtaken the euro as the world’s second-most held reserve asset. It now makes up 20% of global central bank reserves. The euro lags behind at 16%. The dollar still sits at the top, for now, but its share is steadily eroding. In 2024 alone, central banks […]
For years, silver has been the forgotten metal. It sat quietly while gold took center stage. Traders dismissed it. Central banks ignored it. Most of the financial world barely gave it a second glance. But something has changed. Silver has surged past $36 an ounce, not with a gentle climb, but with the kind of […]
This week, the European Central Bank lowered its benchmark rate to 2 percent. It was the eighth cut in the past year. Since last June, borrowing costs across the Eurozone have been halved. It is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of concern. Inflation pressures have eased, but the real driver is […]
There’s something happening in the gold market. It isn’t loud or headline-grabbing, but it could reshape everything we take for granted about global finance. The Shanghai Futures Exchange has announced major reforms. On paper, it’s about futures contracts and foreign investor access. But in reality, it’s China laying the foundation for something far more ambitious. […]
There’s a line that came to mind this week. Something a wise man once said: “Narratives, like currencies, only work if people believe in them.” Well, belief is wobbling. Let’s start with something rather curious. Most didn’t notice but a few days ago the cost of credit default swaps on U.S. government debt quietly rose to levels […]
This week ECB President Christine Lagarde proposed that the euro could rival the dollar if only the EU would finish what it started. Her wish list included deeper capital markets, more military muscle, new trade agreements, and a jointly-financed supply of “safe” assets. In short, she wants a stronger currency. What she has is the […]
This week, Japan’s government bond market, one of the largest and most tightly managed in the world, showed unexpected signs of strain. Auctions for 30- and 40-year government bonds saw no demand. For a major economy with a historically captive investor base, that’s a significant moment. It suggests growing unease around long-term debt, fiscal credibility, […]
In a recent note, ECB economists highlighted the risks that could arise from rising demand for physically settled gold contracts, particularly during periods of geopolitical stress. Their concern? That such demand might contribute to wider financial instability in the eurozone. It’s a rare admission. And an important one. Gold has long been viewed as a […]