Peter's Blog

Is a “Taper Tantrum” on the Horizon?

Over the last several months, analysts have focused on Federal Reserve rate hikes. The central bank nudged rates up in December, and then bumped them another .25 points in March. Many observers expect the Fed to boost rates another two – maybe even three more times in 2017. But all of this focus on interest […]

Information: As Precious as Gold

In the United States and other economically advanced countries, we tend to take information for granted. With the proliferation of smartphones and ubiquitous data networks, we literally have information at our fingertips 24/7. But in less developed countries, that’s not the case. Information is as scarce and valuable as gold. Slowly, but surely, that’s beginning […]

Turks Buying Gold, Uncertain of Their Political Future

A constitutional referendum in Turkey in mid-April could bring the most significant change to the county’s political structure since the introduction of its multiparty election system in 1945. With all of the uncertainty surrounding the vote and a shaky monetary system, Turks are starting to buy gold in large quantities. Turkish gold imports surged 17-fold to 28.2 […]

Rising Interest Rates Don’t Necessarily Spell Doom for Gold and Silver

Conventional wisdom tells us Federal Reserve monetary tightening is bad for precious metals. Analysts typically assume rising interest rates and a strengthening dollar will suppress gold prices. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates twice in the last four months and has hinted at as many as three more hikes in 2017. While the economic […]

Pop Goes the Retail Bubble

That hissing sound you hear is the air coming out of the retail bubble. According to a recent CNBC report, nine retailers have already filed for bankruptcy in 2017. That equals the total number of retail bankruptcies in 2016 and puts the industry on pace for the largest number since 2009, when 18 retailers went […]

Gold: The Safe Place to Go

Gold finished the first quarter of 2017 up 8% for its best quarterly showing in a year, and Todd Colvin of Ambrosino Brothers says the yellow metal’s Q1 performance bodes well for the future. In a CNBC interview, Colvin said his focus on the macro picture makes him bullish on gold. “It’s not just US […]

Has the Bloom Dropped Off the Trump Rose?

In the wake of Donald Trump’s election, the stock market soared. Consumer’s expressed optimism about the future. There was even talk of robust economic growth. But as we’ve moved into the second quarter of 2017, there seems to be cracks forming in this rosy narrative. Despite the optimism, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s growth forecast fell […]

Day 70: Trump’s Approval Now at 35%

This week Trump’s approval rating falls to historic lows considering his term length. The downturn comes after the healthcare fail, his latest sweeping cuts to environmental protection. Trump Pivots on Healthcare Reform, Now Courting Dems and Moderates Republicans pulled the healthcare bill from the table after being unable to garner enough support to pass it. […]

World’s Largest Gold Canadian Maple Leaf Stolen from German Museum

An enormous gold coin weighing as much as an NFL linebacker and worth millions was stolen from the Bode Museum in Berlin at about 3:30 a.m. Monday morning. The massive 221-pound (100-kilogram) gold coin, which measures 21-inches in diameter and is 1-inch thick, is worth over $4,000,000, according to Christian Science Monitor.

New British £1 Coin Designed with Cutting Edge Security Features

The British Royal Mint has just released a new 12-sided £1 coin designed to combat counterfeiters and to replace an estimated 45 million fake coins currently in circulation. The new features of the anti-forgery coin include a “12-sided bimetallic design, a hologram, and fine lettering,” according to Bloomberg. The coin also includes some secret features […]