Gold is one of the most recognized words in the world. However, little is known by the casual citizen about gold aside from its monetary value—more specifically, where it comes from. You can find some of the largest, most productive gold mines operating in every corner of the world. Interactive Map – use the plus The post The World’s 10 Most Prolific Gold Mines first appeared on CMI Gold & Silver ..read more

Investing in platinum and palladium may not be as familiar to previous metals buyers as investing in gold and silver. While humans have mined and traded gold and silver for thousands of years, platinum and palladium have had a much shorter history. Platinum was discovered in 1735, while palladium wasn’t discovered until 1803. However, in The post Tips to Invest in Platinum and Palladium first appeared on CMI Gold & Silver ..read more

For centuries, nations and central banks have accumulated reserves of gold to conduct trade, pay for military campaigns, and fund exploration and settlement. Before the advent of fiat — paper — currencies, gold was the primary medium of exchange. Although today’s consumers are more likely to pay for goods and services with dollars rather than The post Why Central Banks Are Buying Gold first appeared on CMI Gold & Silver ..read more

Shadow Debt is a concerning phenomenon that gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can have a devastating impact on your financial future. But what is shadow debt, and what’s the best way to avoid taking it on? What Is Shadow Debt? The term “shadow debt” has been used for years to describe debt that isn’t typically reported to the major credit-reporting agencies such as Experian. Usually, this debt comes in the form of an unsecured loan — that is, a loan for no collateral is required. Shadow debt can include personal loans from friends and family members, as well as payday loans, fi ..read more

There’s a commonly held belief among investors that as interest rates rise, the prices of precious metals such as gold and silver drop. Likewise, as interest rates fall, investors expect spot pricing for gold and silver to increase. At first glance, this would seem to make sense. After all, rising interest rates would make fixed-income investments such as money market funds and bonds more attractive (and vice versa). However, although changes to the benchmark interest rate set by the Federal Reserve — known as the federal funds rate — often cause knee-jerk short-term movements in the spot pri ..read more

Costco Gold: Should You Buy It? It seems like everyone is getting into the gold business, including the wholesale retailer Costco. In late 2023, Costco began selling gold bars, rapidly selling out with each new shipment. The company’s expansion into precious metals—including the recent addition of silver coins and bars—taps into the public’s growing demand for tangible assets. Wells Fargo estimates Costco’s gold sales are an astonishing $100 million to $200 million monthly. People are flocking to buy Costco’s gold as a hedge against inflation, to protect against economic uncertainty, and to s ..read more

Current State of Inflation Stubbornly high inflation is outpacing wage growth, eroding consumer purchasing power, and raising expectations that the Fed may have to prolong its current high interest rates to get prices under control. This risks further squeezing household budgets and potentially tipping the economy into a recession. All these factors are fueling significant anxiety both in the United States and globally. The Ipsos “What Worries the World” survey from April 2024 found that inflation remained the top global concern for an astonishing 25 consecutive months. In the U.S., inflation ..read more

Prepare Your Portfolio The impact of who will become president in 2024 is on the minds of many investors. According to a Janus Henderson survey of 1,000 investors, 49% of those surveyed said they were “very concerned about the 2024 presidential election.” By comparison, 35% of the respondents said they were very concerned about persistent inflation, while only 29% cited the risk of recession. Perhaps not surprisingly, older investors nearing retirement or already in retirement were more likely to express heightened concerns about the election than younger investors. It’s understandable some i ..read more

Historically, investors have increased buying precious metals bullion during periods of market instability. That’s because precious metals bullion acts as a haven of value that preserves wealth during tumultuous times. Recently, however, many market analysts and investors alike have expressed concern we might be entering into an even greater period of volatility. The Federal Reserve confirms this in its latest Financial Stability Report, which cites increasing geopolitical tensions that could lead to supply chain disruptions, declines in asset prices, and significant losses to both businesses ..read more

Gold bullion prices can get volatile as market trends shift, fluctuating in response to many economic and political signals. Price volatility gives a lot of investors the idea to try and time the market. If you could find that spot where the price dips lowest, you could make a lot of money. In reality, though, things don’t usually work out that way. That same volatility that makes timing the market appealing also makes it almost impossible to pull off with consistency. The best time to get into the gold market remains “as soon as possible.” What makes market timing so difficult? Why should yo ..read more