interestrates

The precious metals market saw an exceptionally strong move on Wednesday, with silver jumping sharply above $91 per ounce, reaching an unprecedented level. Investors poured into safe-haven assets amid persistent inflation concerns and growing expectations that U.S. interest rates may be cut.
Silver prices climbed more than 5% to $91.5535 per ounce, while gold traded just about $10 below its all-time high. The move follows gold’s record breakout above $4,600 per ounce on January 12, which marked a new historic peak.

Lower Rates and Inflation Boost Precious Metals Appeal
Falling interest-rate expectations are supporting precious metals, as lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold and silver. In periods of uncertainty, these metals tend to regain their role as stores of value.
U.S. analysts noted that inflation at the end of last year came in below earlier forecasts, sparking intense debate. Some economists attributed the sudden dip in inflation to the temporary U.S. government shutdown between October 1 and November 12, 2025, which may have distorted short-term data.
At the same time, precious metals have benefited from uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve and speculation about political pressure on its leadership. Discussions involving Fed Chair Jerome Powell have once again raised concerns over the independence of the U.S. central bank.
While Powell has reportedly received strong backing from central bankers worldwide, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned that political interference poses systemic risks to the global financial system.

Geopolitics Drives Demand for Safe-Haven Assets
Geopolitical developments have also played a key role in boosting demand for safe-haven investments. Actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump, including a tougher stance toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and renewed tensions involving Greenland, have added to market uncertainty.
Further pressure comes from violent protests in Iran, where analysts warn of a potential weakening—or even collapse—of the Islamic Republic’s government. Together, these risks have reinforced investor demand for assets that tend to preserve value during periods of global instability.

Citi Raises Price Targets: Gold at $5,000, Silver at $100
The bullish sentiment has been reflected in updated forecasts. Analysts at Citigroup have significantly raised their near-term price targets, now projecting within the next three months:
Gold at $5,000 per ounceSilver at $100 per ounce
According to the bank, the combination of monetary policy expectations, geopolitical risk, and structural supply constraints creates a favorable setup for further gains.

Market Strains Disrupt Global Silver Supply
Silver’s rally is being amplified by supply-side pressures. Since last year, silver has outperformed gold by roughly 150%, driven in part by a brief price dip in October and ongoing supply constraints in London.
Conditions could tighten further as traders await the results of a U.S. Section 232 investigation, which could lead to tariffs on silver imports. Fears of potential duties have reportedly prompted investors to stockpile silver in U.S. warehouses, reducing availability elsewhere and straining global supply.

Precious Metals Rally Extends to Asia
The rally is not limited to Western markets. Singapore also recorded strong gains. In early trading, spot gold rose to $4,621.92 per ounce, while silver climbed to $89.7457 per ounce.
Other precious metals followed suit, with platinum and palladium also moving higher—signaling that investors are broadening exposure across the entire precious metals complex, not just gold and silver.

#Silver , #GOLD , #Inflation , #FederalReserve , #interestrates

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President Donald Trump has once again urged the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates following fresh data showing cooling inflation in the United States. December figures put annual inflation at 2.7%, which Trump says clearly supports a more accommodative monetary stance.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the inflation reading as “great” and called on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to move quickly and deliver meaningful rate cuts. According to Trump, further delays would restrain economic growth and unnecessarily raise borrowing costs for businesses and households.

CPI Data Reinforces Signs of Easing Price Pressures
Trump’s comments came shortly after the release of the December Consumer Price Index (CPI), which showed inflation remaining stable and not accelerating beyond market expectations.
An even stronger signal came from core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices. Core inflation fell to 2.6% year over year, coming in below expectations and reinforcing the view that pricing pressures in the U.S. economy are gradually easing.
Trump cited the CPI data as evidence that the Fed is falling behind economic reality, suggesting that rate cuts could stimulate growth, boost demand, and encourage lending activity.

Markets Turn Optimistic, Bitcoin Jumps
The inflation report had an immediate positive impact on financial markets. Shortly after the data was released, Bitcoin surged above $92,000, signaling renewed risk appetite among investors.
Lower interest rates typically:
increase system liquiditysupport equity marketsbenefit risk-sensitive assets, including cryptocurrencies
As a result, market optimism has grown around the idea that 2026 could bring monetary easing, provided inflation remains under control.

The Fed Remains Cautious for Now
Despite political pressure, an immediate rate cut appears unlikely. The CME Group FedWatch tool suggests markets currently expect the Fed to hold rates steady at its next meeting.
According to the latest probabilities:
there is roughly a 95% chance that rates will remain unchanged at the January meetingonly a small probability is assigned to a 25-basis-point cut
Can the Fed Resist Trump’s Pressure?
Recent Fed meeting minutes indicate policymakers want to see additional, sustained evidence of declining inflation before taking further action. This caution follows a series of rate cuts implemented last year.
Major banks share a similar view. JPMorgan, for example, no longer expects near-term Fed rate cuts, even after softer inflation reports. Some Fed officials have also pointed to uncertainty around fiscal policy and tariffs, noting that their potential impact on prices remains unclear.

Political Signals and Market Expectations
Statements from a sitting U.S. president often have a meaningful influence on market sentiment, and traders closely monitor Trump’s remarks as potential signals of future policy direction.
If inflation remains stable or continues to decline, expectations for rate cuts could strengthen as the year progresses. The latest CPI report has therefore provided strong support for those arguing that the Fed should begin easing monetary policy sooner rather than later.

#FederalReserve , #interestrates , #USPolitics , #bitcoin , #CryptoMarkets

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John Williams, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, expressed strong confidence that the current U.S. interest rates are well-calibrated for today's economic conditions. He believes they will support sustainable growth, job creation, and help the central bank reach its 2% inflation target.
"Our monetary policy is in a strong position," Williams stated during his speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. He added that the Fed now has better control over the risks threatening its dual mandate of full employment and price stability.

After Rate Cuts, the Fed Plans a Cautious Approach
His comments came shortly after the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) decided to cut rates by 75 basis points in 2025. Williams is among those advocating a cautious strategy, suggesting the Fed should wait for more data before making further moves.
According to him, it's essential to monitor the labor market, which he said is returning to pre-pandemic levels:

“The recovery is gradual – without signs of mass layoffs or sudden economic downturns,” he assured.
He also added that unemployment will likely remain stable this year and gradually decline over the next few years.

Trump's Tariffs Seen as Temporary Inflation Spike
Williams also commented on the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, calling them a one-time price shock. He expects inflation to peak between 2.75% and 3% in the first half of the year, but then drop to 2.5% by year-end, with the economy maintaining above-average growth.

A Divided Fed: Not Everyone Supports Rate Cuts
The Fed's December meeting minutes revealed a split among committee members. Some favored a 25-basis-point rate cut, while others preferred keeping rates unchanged.
The minutes, released on December 30 in Washington, highlighted internal hesitation:

“Some participants who supported a rate cut said the decision was very close, or that they could have supported holding rates steady,” the document said.

Odds of a January Rate Cut Are Falling
Following the release of the minutes, the odds of a rate cut in January fell to just 15%.
Stephen Stanley, chief U.S. economist at Santander US Capital Markets, noted:

“The near-even split in the vote underscores Jerome Powell’s continuing influence as Fed Chair.”
The Fed now finds itself at a delicate crossroads—seeking the right balance between supporting growth and controlling persistent inflation.

#Fed , #JeromePowell , #interestrates , #fomc , #TrumpTariffs

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“