Market News

High-flying tech stocks fall fast. Warning: volatility lies ahead! Football is back, children are in school (or on Zoom classes), a chill is felt in the morning air and in some parts of the country the leaves are beginning to turn yellow, red and brown in Mother Nature's stunning fall display. Yet, despite this small sense of the new normal, the stock market cratered last week in a topsy-turvy week in which investors dumped high-flying ... >> Read More        

How do you plan for uncertainty? This question has plagued investors since the beginning of time. Moreover, it is an inherent challenge for most people attempting to build their long-term wealth because outpacing inflation means making your money grow with equities, bonds, or commodities, all of which represent levels of uncertainty. The problem, however, is more specific than mere uncertainty. After all, investors expect occasional drops in the value of their assets. The serious problem ... >> Read More        

The origins of Labor Day may surprise you. For many Americans, Labor Day marks a day off from work –  a traditional end of summer rite of passage marked by backyard barbecues, street parades (pre-pandemic of course), parties and fireworks. As we witness history in 2020 unfold, with new protests this weekend at the Kentucky Derby and elsewhere, we offer perspective to reflect back on what was occurring in our nation just over 125 years ... >> Read More        

Silver defied gravity in 2020 – outperforming even gold – during this historic rush into precious metals. Getting a late start to the precious metals rally is not unusual historically, according to well-respected independent commodities research firm – CPM Group, founded in 1986 via a management acquisition of the Commodities Research Group at Goldman Sachs. After trading as low as $12.13 an ounce in March, the silver rally gained tremendous steam in the summer months, ... >> Read More        

Trust in Money. As summer winds down, the case for gold diversification grows stronger every day. Wells Fargo's Head of Real Asset Strategy John LaForge outlined in a research note to clients on Aug. 24 the factors that drove gold up 35% in 2020. They are: low long-term interest rates excessive global money printing a weakening U.S. dollar The fourth reason he states might be shocking to some: distrust in the global monetary system. Here's ... >> Read More        

The recent surge in gold prices has reinvigorated the conversation about sourcing gold from a lesser explored source: e-waste. Consider that every year the world manufactures electronics which, in total, contain $21 billion worth of gold and silver according to the United Nations University, a global think tank. Moreover, the same research shows that less than 15% of these precious metals are recovered after the electronics are discarded. As the global appetite for electronics increases, ... >> Read More        

Election politics take center stage. Only 70 days until the presidential election. The nation is hurtling towards one the most contentious and most significant presidential elections in decades. Indeed, the political conventions are now in full swing. And, thanks to Covid, the nominating conventions are virtual. Instead of in front of thousands of in-person delegates, Joe Biden officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in a virtual event last week. President Trump and the Republicans follow ... >> Read More        

The list of venerable Wall Street firms, hedge fund managers and billionaires who are betting big on gold in 2020 is nothing new. But this is. Stop the presses! Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. just announced a $565 million stake in Barrick Gold Corp. – the world's second largest gold miner. Why is this big news? Historically, Buffett has said he doesn't favor gold investment plays. Apparently, 2020 is different. But, we all knew that ... >> Read More        

By the first week of August gold reached an all-time high of $2,059 per ounce. While increases like this can arise from a number of circumstances, it seems reasonable that a pervasive sense of uncertainty is one of the biggest contributing factors. Consider that this run-up is happening at a time when consumer demand for gold has fallen sharply. Jewelry sales fell by approximately 46% in the first six months of 2020. Gold investors have ... >> Read More        

Money is transitory. It is the only way to transact business/pay bills. From the beginning of time, this has always been the role of money. Wealth is different. Wealth is measured in real things. Property. It always has been and always will be. In the United States, wealth and money (dollars) have become intertwined over the past fifty years or so. This is a recent phenomenon and is only due to the dominance of the ... >> Read More