It’s Donald Trump’s Economy Now
It’s Donald Trump’s Economy Now Authored by William Galston via RealClearPolitics, When the Commerce Department released a report on April 30 showing that the economy had shrunk during the first quarter of 2025 – the first such decline since 2022 – President Donald Trump was quick to respond. “This is Biden,” he said, adding that […]
Where The Money Went: USG Funding To Counter-Mis/Disinformation Initiatives
Where The Money Went: USG Funding To Counter-Mis/Disinformation Initiatives Authored by Andrew Lowenthal via The Brownstone Institute, Last week, my non-profit liber-net unveiled a new database of US government awards to mis-dis-and-malinformation (MDM) and other content control initiatives. A previous Network Affects post broke down where that money came from. This one details where the money went, specifically the countries, regions, […]
Authenticity Questions Arise: Shanghai Bank’s Gold Bar Found Containing Suspicious Materials
Shanghai residents raised concerns after a customer discovered dark impurities inside a gold bar purchased from a bank when having it made into jewelry. Despite initial resistance from the bank, which blamed the jeweler and suggested tampering, the matching serial numbers on the gold bar and bank documents confirmed it…
China’s Central Bank Uses Gold Imports to Manage Currency Appreciation Amid Trade War
China’s central bank (PBOC) has authorized commercial banks to purchase foreign currencies specifically for gold imports following an expansion of gold import quotas last month. This strategic move comes as gold prices have rallied amid market volatility caused by President Trump’s trade war, which has also strengthened Asian currencies as…
China Leads Historic Surge in Gold ETF Demand Amid Trade Tensions and Currency Concerns
Global physically-backed gold ETFs experienced significant growth in April, adding $11 billion and extending their inflow streak to five consecutive months. Total assets under management reached a new high of $379 billion, with holdings increasing by 115 tonnes to 3,561 tonnes. Asian markets led this surge, accounting for 65% of…
Poland Outshines ECB with Gold Holdings as National Bank Builds Strategic Reserve
Poland’s central bank (NBP) now holds 509.3 tonnes of gold, surpassing the European Central Bank’s 506.5 tonnes, according to NBP governor Adam Glapiński. This represents a dramatic increase from just 14 tonnes in 1996 and 102 tonnes in 2016, with the pace of acquisition accelerating significantly after 2022. Gold now…
How Gold and Silver Help Protect Your Portfolio from Inflation
Inflation has a way of sneaking up on you. It chips away at your buying power, distorts long-term plans, and quietly erodes the value of your money. But you’re not powerless. For centuries, investors have turned to precious metals as a defense mechanism. Creating a gold and silver inflation hedge…
Gold Returns to London as Tariff Exclusion Normalizes COMEX Premium
Gold held in London vaults increased by 0.6% to 8,536 metric tons in April as bullion flowed back from New York after the Trump administration excluded gold from import tariffs, normalizing the premium of COMEX futures over London spot prices. From December to March, market participants had moved significant gold…
China’s Central Bank Continues Gold Buying Streak But at Declining Pace
China’s central bank (PBoC) has continued its gold buying streak for the sixth consecutive month, adding 70,000 ounces (just over 2 tons) to its reserves in April. However, this represents a declining trend in monthly purchases, down from nearly 3 tons in March, 5 tons in January and February, and…
Gold Rally Continues Amid Global Uncertainties, But Analysts Flag Technical Warning Signs
Gold continues to dominate commodities trading, reaching a peak of $3,500 per ounce in April and currently trading around $3,320. Investors are pouring money into gold-backed ETPs due to uncertainties surrounding Trump’s trade tariffs, economic policies, and global geopolitical risks. While JP Morgan projects gold to exceed $4,000 within a…