Peter's Blog

New Insights from the Fed’s Meeting Minutes: Market Expects Rate Cuts

Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s June 17–18 meeting show policymakers content to hold their fire—for now. The Fed kept its benchmark federal-funds range at 4¼–4½ percent and left both the interest rate on reserve balances (4.4 percent) and the primary-credit rate (4.5 percent) untouched. Officials insisted that “recent indicators suggest that economic activity […]

Gold Sits at 28% on the Year as Tariff Clock Winds Down

Gold ended last week at a record-setting US $3,332 per ounce, up 1.8 % on the week and a blistering 28 % year-to-date. The metal’s march higher has come even as Wall Street cheers fresh equity highs and a softer dollar, underscoring bullion’s stubborn appeal as fiscal storm clouds gather. Yesterday’s price action was orderly—just […]

Japan’s Inflation Problem Is Cornering Its Central Bank

As the west muddles through murky economic waters, many call on the Federal Reserve to hold off a recession. But, as our neighbors to the east show us, central banks are highly constrained in what they can actually accomplish, and more inflation isn’t the right move.

Inflated Dreams: How the Fed Blew Up Housing Costs

Consumer confidence remains in the dumps, thanks in large part to rising prices in essential goods and services like housing. Contrary to the Trump administration’s preference for lower interest rates, the solution to the housing affordability crisis is to end the Fed, which created and still sustains the problem.

Trump Demands Fed Easing to Finance Even Larger Deficits

While it’s correct to criticize the Federal Reserve for inevitably bungling monetary policy, the Trump administration is wrong to criticize Jerome Powell and the FOMC for failing to cut rates. Printing money, contrary to President Trumps belief, is never the answer.

New Policy Report: Fed has Bad News for Congress

In a report released on Friday, the Fed provided a monetary policy update to congress, highlighting its perspective on keeping rates constant and its outlook on the future of the economy. The report comes after the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept its federal-funds-rate target locked at 4¼ %–4½ % for a sixth straight meeting […]

The Technicals: Gold Bull Market Still Looks Very Strong

This analysis attempts to look at different metrics to understand the current momentum in the gold and silver markets. It is meant as an analysis on potential price direction in the very short-term (a few weeks to 1-2 months).

BoE Freezes Rates at 4.25% While CPI Re-Accelerates

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept its main Bank Rate steady at 4.25 percent yesterday, resisting a growing chorus for relief even as inflation flared again and growth sputtered. Minutes published Thursday reveal a 6–3 split—the most dissent since 2020—with Swati Dhingra, Dave Ramsden, and newcomer Alan Taylor pushing for a 25-basis-point […]

Fed Holds Rates Steady as Inflation Persists, Gold Climbs Higher

Yesterday the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced its decision to hold the federal funds rate steady within a target range of 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 percent, signaling caution as inflation remains persistently high and economic uncertainty lingers. Fed Chair Jerome Powell maintained an optimistic stance, asserting the economy remains in a “solid position,” despite continued […]

ECB Cuts Interest Rates Amid Persistent Economic Risks

On June 5th, the European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council announced another round of interest rate reductions, lowering key rates by 25 basis points. Starting June 11th, the deposit facility rate will fall to 2.00%, the main refinancing operations rate to 2.15%, and the marginal lending facility rate to 2.40%. This move underscores the ECB’s […]