Precious Metal & Rare Coin Market News
Economic Q&A with Peter Boockvar
By David Zanca, Senior Portfolio Manager In speaking with many of my clients over the last few months, I've been asked several questions about the state of the economy, the current and future prices of gold, and how you can best protect your wealth. As we all can see, there is a great deal of volatility and instability in the current market environment. Inflation is at a 40-year high, significantly impacting everything from mortgage rates ... >> Read More
Central Bank Gold Purchases Climbs Third Month in a Row
In June, central banks around the globe bought a total of 59 tonnes of gold to add to their vaults. In June, there were no central bank sales as governments hung onto the gold they already own. June marked the third consecutive month in which central banks bought ever larger amounts of gold to add to their coffers. Why do central banks buy gold? The same reason that you do. Central banks buy gold for ... >> Read More
The Fleeting History of the Fugio Cent
No coin more perfectly represents the passage of time than the Fugio Cent. The coin, sometimes called the Franklin cent, is a work from Benjamin Franklin. An inscription on the obverse reads “fugio” which is Latin for “I flee,” referring to the common adage that time flies. This is a fitting sentiment for a coin that was minted for only one year in 1787. The same side shows a bright sun with rays shining down ... >> Read More
Gold Rises After Fed Rate Hike as Inflation Sizzles at 40-year High
The Federal Reserve hiked interest rates by .75 basis points Wednesday afternoon, pushing the Fed fund rate to 2.25-2.50%. This marks the fourth-rate hike by the central bank this year. Yet, as CPI inflation ratcheted to another fresh 40-year high at 9.1% in June, it is evident that the Fed is losing its battle in the fight against inflation. Spot gold climbed after the Fed announcement, recently changing hands at $1,737 per ounce. Gold has been ... >> Read More
Do You Know Your Great-Great Grandmother’s Name?
Answer quickly: what are your great-great grandparent's names? If you don't know, you aren't alone. The reason I ask is that when you get to a certain age in life, some people begin to consider their legacy and how they will be remembered throughout the generations of your family that will come after you. We live in an era where time moves fast. In a few short decades, we've seen the introduction of the Internet, ... >> Read More
It’s the Dollar, Stupid
The 1992 presidential campaign slogan, "It's the economy, stupid," reflected the Democratic contender's view that the Republican incumbent was out of touch with the economy. Bill Clinton ultimately did prevail against George H.W. Bush in that contest. Investors today may be wondering why gold isn't performing better – especially with inflation at 40-year highs and a potential recession looming on the horizon. With all due respect and no insult intended, we gently remind investors "It's ... >> Read More
Three Reasons the U.S. Mint Produced This Odd Denomination
Three-cent pieces were first produced in silver in 1851 to help smooth the simple act of buying a postage stamp, which cost three cents at the time. The odd denomination was also seen as a solution for merchants to easily make change for some of the foreign coins that were still legal tender in our country. Then, the Civil war broke out. The war impacted nearly every aspect of American life during its tumultuous years, ... >> Read More
Will the Fed Be Humble and Nimble When It Comes to Recession?
The Federal Reserve launched onto center stage this year when it delivered its biggest interest rate hike in decades to combat surging inflation. While U.S. interest rates are rising now, the central bank kept interest rates at zero percent coming out of the Covid crisis. In fact, while inflation climbed steadily higher in late 2021 into early 2022 – and you were paying more for everything from gas to groceries – the Fed sat on ... >> Read More
Gold Loves Bad News
Unfortunately, many investors today see plenty of bad news no matter where they look. Consequently, more people are considering how an investment in gold can buoy their portfolio. For this reason, it is important to understand the nature of gold during periods of economic uncertainty. Research published in the Journal of Banking & Finance offers some answers. The researchers explored a 30-year period spanning 1979 to 2009. Their findings reveal one simple truth: “gold loves ... >> Read More
Gold Delivers on Its Enduring Status as a Safe-Haven
Using a baseball analogy, 2022 threw Americans a lot of curve balls that no one was expecting. We've seen gasoline rocket above $6 a gallon, mortgage rates soar from 3% last year to 6% today and the stock market tumble over 20%. Everyday goods simply cost more with inflation at a 40-year high. The cryptocurrency market collapsed – with Bitcoin falling from over $67,000 in late 2021 to just over $17,000 last week. Amidst the ... >> Read More