Ideas and analysis on money, markets and the world around us.
The Greek/Euro union may have been teetering on the brink this week, but the precious metals markets remained somewhat ambivalent to the situation - until Asia's woes hit the headlines. Head of Dealing and Settlements…
Read the articleIn the media warm-up for Wednesday's UK budget, we were told of Britain's poor productivity and Chancellor Osborne subsequently confirmed that his priority is to address it. Comparative figures for Europe quoted by the…
Read the articleGold and silver had a poor week, with no relief from drifting prices after the end of the second quarter. The gold price opened on Monday morning in the Far East at $1,187 and fell to a low point at $1,158 yesterday.…
Read the articleThe Greek Gods might be stomping their feet on Mount Olympus, but it appears the precious metals markets are not interested as the greenback retains control. Dealing Manager at online precious metals dealer, GoldMoney,…
Read the articleThis coming Sunday Greece will hold its referendum. The question to be asked is not, as the foreign press initially reported it, about leaving the euro. It is about accepting or rejecting the troika's bail-out terms.…
Read the articleMake no mistake; the Greek crisis is a euro crisis that threatens the solvency of the ECB itself, and therefore confidence in the currency. Before going into why, a few comments on Greece will set the scene. Last…
Read the articleHedge funds and high-frequency traders have finally forced gold into a US dollar loss this year as shown in our introductory chart, but silver is still in positive territory. This week gold declined $29 with a break…
Read the articleIt's been a week where precious metals' prices have been dominated by the conflicting pressures of a stronger US economy and dollar versus a potential Greek exit from the Eurozone. Dealing Manager Kelly-Ann Kearsey…
Read the articleCurrency devaluation is seen by nearly every macro-economist to be the cure for trade deficits. Recently they have recommended it to Greece, arguing for the reintroduction of the drachma so that the Greek economy can…
Read the articleWindow-dressing or the management of prices for a favourable mark-to-market valuation at year-ends, half-years and quarters has long been a distorting feature in financial markets. And, with bank capital adequacy ratios…
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