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The Fed is meeting today. Here’s what experts are saying about the odds of a rate cut.

Americans are bearing the financial burden of higher costs for every type of loan, from mortgages to credit cards, after two years of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. With the central bank meeting today, economists and consumers alike have one question on their minds: When will the central bank start cutting rates?   [...] READ MORE

Gold ETFs, holdings and flows

Are Gold ETFs Backed By Physical Gold? Physically-backed gold exchange-traded funds (gold ETFs) are an important source of gold demand, with institutional and individual investors using them as part of well-diversified investment strategies. Our comprehensive data set covers more than 100 physically-backed gold ETFs and similar products worldwide, providing regional and fund-specific analysis of demand [...] READ MORE

America’s Office Fire Sale Has Barely Begun

Covid-19 drained many occupants from office buildings, but that doesn’t mean owners are desperate to sell—yet. PHOTO: JIMIN KIM/ZUMA PRESS If offices are in such hot water, where are all the forced sellers?   Office-building owners have been under pressure since the Covid-19 pandemic hollowed out their buildings in early 2020. According to data from [...] READ MORE

Asia gold: Dealers grapple as sky-high rates erode demand in key hubs

Physical gold demand in Asia dwindled on the back of sky-high prices as consumers abstained from making fresh purchases, forcing dealers to offer deep discounts last seen a year earlier in India and lower premiums in China this week.   “Gold is behaving in a characteristically price elastic way which is to say consumers are [...] READ MORE

Fed Crushes Household Net Interest Income in Break From Past

(Bloomberg) -- When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, US households — in aggregate — usually get a boost to interest income that outweighs the extra cost of servicing debt. Not this time.   The annual interest bill that Americans pay on mortgages, credit cards and other debt has climbed by almost $420 billion since [...] READ MORE

All eyes on the Federal Reserve: What to know this week

The major US stock indexes have backed off record highs ahead of the Federal Reserve's all-important March meeting.   On Wednesday, that tension will finally be resolved.   The US central bank is set to release its latest monetary policy decision and updated economic projections at 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday afternoon, with investors looking [...] READ MORE

A New Buy Signal for Gold

Gold’s rally isn’t over yet.   In the Oct. 17, 2023, issue of the Institutional View, I highlighted the metal’s powerful bullish reversal from its support level of $1811 an ounce. After gold hurdled $1940 without breaking below $1900, my work generated a Buy signal for the metal.   Then, in the Dec. 29 issue [...] READ MORE

Silver price pulls back as early Fed rate-cut hopes fade

Silver price corrects after nearing the top of a major range at circa $26.00. The decline could be as a result of fading hopes the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the near term. Long-term fundamentals however support, including positive global growth and robust demand.   Silver price (XAG/USD) pulls back at the start [...] READ MORE

Inflation seems stubborn, but people keep spending. What’s going on?

Recent survey data shows consumers’ views of the economy have leveled out after marching higher over the winter. What’s consumers’ relationship with the economy these days? It’s complicated.   As last year drew to a close, inflation appeared to be heading decisively downward, consumer confidence was shooting higher, and many Americans’ wages were finally outpacing [...] READ MORE