Flashback: The US Dollar Is Irrationally Strong Right Now

Flashback: The US Dollar Is Irrationally Strong Right Now

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)  December 16, 2025

As we wind down 2025, we’ve been reflecting on some of the biggest long-term shifts that defined the year.

Last week, we highlighted three: First, Charlie Kirk’s assassination —

Second, 2025 marked the start gun for the US debt crisis—with the refusal to cut the deficit, central banks rushing to dump US Treasurys for gold, and signs of stagflation.

And third, a bright spot: a competent, strategic approach to nuclear power from the Trump administration, finally laying the groundwork for a productivity boom fueled by cheap energy.

As we head into the holidays, we’re revisiting some of our earlier work that speaks directly to these themes—articles that warned about the direction things were heading, long before the headlines caught up.

I wrote this article in October of 2022 during a time when the US dollar was irrationally strong, interest rates were still near zero, and gold was cheap— less than $1,700 per ounce.

I suggested that readers, “think about turning at least a portion of your irrationally strong dollars into another asset that can stand the test of time.”

The message was that reserve currency status breeds arrogance. The dollar’s dominance allows Washington to behave recklessly—binge on debt, stoke inflation, and still count on foreign demand for its bonds.

But, as history shows, no reserve currency lasts forever. The Spanish real, the British pound… they all had their day. This article reminds us: so will the dollar.  

By the summer of 1497, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain were presiding over a rapidly growing empire.

 Christopher Columbus had already claimed most of the Caribbean islands on their behalf. Plus Pope Julius II had awarded virtually all of the western hemisphere to Spain in the infamous Treaty of Tordesillas.

 Spain was quickly on its way to becoming a global superpower. Ferdinand and Isabella knew it, and they realized that they needed a strong currency to match their strong empire.

 So on June 13, 1497, they announced a major monetary reform called the Medina del Campo, named for the site of a popular medieval banking conference at the time.

 The monetary reform was sweeping; they abolished most other coins in their domain, and re-established the real as the primary currency across Spanish lands.

 The real was a silver coin, weighing about 0.1 troy ounces or roughly 3.2 grams. And coins were minted in denominations of ½, 1, 2, 4, and 8 real.

 Over time, the 8-real coin (real de ocho) became the most popular; it was known as a “Piece of 8”, and eventually the “Spanish dollar”.

 By the mid-1500s under King Charles I of Spain, the Spanish dollar had become the world’s primary reserve currency. From the Americas to Europe to Asia, global trade and commerce were quoted and often settled in Spanish dollars.

 Dutch and Portuguese traders visiting Macau in the 1600s, for example, would frequently buy goods from Chinese merchants using Spanish dollars.

 In 1704, Queen Anne of Great Britain decreed that the Spanish dollar would be legal tender in the American colonies. And in 1792, the newly independent United States passed the Coinage Act which defined the US dollar as equivalent to the Spanish dollar.

 The Spanish dollar’s dominance in global finance was unparalleled. But like all reserve currencies that came before, it too lost its luster.

 Eventually the Spanish Empire’s strength faded. The government defaulted on its debts, confiscated private wealth, and suffered embarrassing military defeats.

 The Dutch guilder then began to displace the Spanish dollar in commerce and trade. And by the late 1800s, the British pound had become the world’s dominant reserve currency — matching the British Empire’s unparalleled size and economic power.

 This lasted until the mid-20th century when, after World War II, the United States dollar became the world’s primary reserve currency — a status the dollar has enjoyed for decades. 

Having the world’s reserve currency is an extraordinary privilege. It means that the rest of the world literally HAS to stockpile your currency.

 For example, whenever a company in Peru does business with a supplier in Malaysia, that transaction is quoted and settled in US dollars. This means that the banking systems in both Peru and Malaysia HAVE to maintain substantial holdings of US dollars in order to facilitate these transactions.

 This is the biggest reason why foreigners own trillions and trillions of dollars of US government bonds; bonds are the largest and most liquid financial instrument available for foreign investors who need to hold dollars.

 And because of this need for foreigners to own US dollar assets, foreigners own a whopping $7.5 trillion worth of US government bonds, roughly 25% of the national debt.

 This is really an enormous benefit for the US. And for an easy example, we need look no further than to the United Kingdom.

 The British pound was the world’s dominant reserve currency more than a century ago. Today the UK is still a significant economy. But they no longer have the unique reserve currency advantage.

 Now, you may be aware that, a few weeks ago, the British pound and British government bonds (known as gilts) began plummeting after the British government announced a series of tax cuts and economic reforms.

It turned out that the bond market wasn’t thrilled with the plan, so investors began dumping their British gilts and pounds.

 It was a full blown panic. And soon, the central bank had to step in to bail out the bond market. The Chancellor was sacked. And the Prime Minister canceled her planned tax cut.

 Essentially the British government had to capitulate to the demands of investors.

This is actually normal in countries that don’t enjoy reserve currency status. If a government wants to borrow money from the bond market, politicians have to appease investors and lay out a plan that will give everyone confidence.

 But not in the United States.

 Because the US issues the global reserve currency, the government can engage every ridiculous antic imaginable.

 They can fail to pass a budget (multiple times) resulting in a government shutdown. They can lock down the entire economy and pay people to stay home.

 They can pass a multi-trillion dollar spending package and insist it “costs nothing”. They can slash interest rates to zero or engineer record high inflation.

 And yet foreign investors will STILL buy US government bonds. And the dollar actually becomes STRONGER.

 It’s totally insane. None of that would be possible if the US dollar weren’t the world’s reserve currency.

 The curse of the reserve currency, however, is that policymakers usually believe their status will last forever. Spanish, Dutch, and British leadership never envisioned that their currencies would falter and be displaced by a rising power. And yet it happened. 

The same fate awaits the US dollar. 

Reserve currencies are usually displaced when economic power is in decline. Given the mountain of debt owed by the US government, the stagflation surging across the US economy, and the complete ineptitude to do anything about it, it certainly looks like that decline is taking place right now. 

In general it would be foolish to think that the dollar will remain the dominant global reserve currency forever. And its displacement may take place sooner rather than later. 

Once that happens, things will become a LOT more difficult for the US government. They’ll most certainly have to raise taxes. The central bank will have to print more money, sparking more inflation. 

And we’ll likely see revolts of the bond market, just like what happened in the UK; just imagine the US government forced to capitulate its sovereignty to the demands of foreign lenders. 

But that’s the future. For now, the dollar is still the top dog, only because it hasn’t been displaced (yet).

 In fact, at the moment, the US dollar is irrationally strong.

 Despite inflation that has reached multi-decade highs, and the growing national debt, the dollar is near an all-time high against the British pound. It’s at a 20+ year high against the euro. It’s strong against many major currencies. It’s even been strong against other asset classes including precious metals, crypto, and more.

 So this may be a good time to consider the future and think about turning at least a portion of your irrationally strong dollars into another asset that can stand the test of time. 

To your freedom,   James Hickman   Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/the-us-dollar-is-irrationally-strong-right-now-143374/?inf_contact_key=c9ed3e008cf121b7c272b4edeaec57db2343f9ac500826dd3f0e41b4c68affdd

This may Take Down the Paper System: Andy Schectman

This may Take Down the Paper System: Andy Schectman

Liberty and Finance:  12-8-2025

The world of precious metals is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by advancements in blockchain technology, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and changes in supply and demand dynamics.

 In a recent in-depth discussion between Kaiser Johnson and Andy Schectman, CEO of Miles Franklin, the intricacies of the current precious metals market were explored, shedding light on the potential disruption of traditional paper gold systems by tokenized gold and the implications of emerging geopolitical and economic trends.

The conversation began with an examination of current precious metals specials, before delving into the role of blockchain technology in revolutionizing the gold market.

Schectman explained how tokenized gold could offer a transparent, fully allocated, and instantly transferable alternative to the existing paper gold system, which has long been plagued by rehypothecation and fractional backing.

 This new paradigm has the potential to collapse the traditional paper gold market, as investors increasingly seek greater reliability and the ability to take physical delivery of their assets.

The importance of transparency, auditability, and deliverability in any blockchain-based gold solution was emphasized as crucial for gaining investor confidence.

As the COMEX and LBMA systems face declining trust and fragility, exacerbated by central banks repatriating gold and a surge in physical delivery demands, the need for a more robust and trustworthy system becomes increasingly evident.

The discussion then turned to the broader geopolitical landscape, where the emergence of the BRICS+ nations’ gold-backed unit (“the unit”) is set to challenge the U.S. dollar’s global dominance.

This new system, currently in beta testing, leverages cross-border payment technologies to bypass Western sanctions and aims to internationalize the digital yuan through a network of vaults across the Belt and Road Initiative countries.

Schectman highlighted the significant accumulation of physical silver and gold by sovereign entities, as well as the structural supply-demand imbalances caused by increased industrial use—particularly in AI data centers—and strategic stockpiling by governments.

 The recent addition of silver to the U.S. critical minerals list underscores the growing importance of these metals in the global economy.

As the precious metals market continues to evolve, Schectman emphasized the need for a hybrid strategy that combines physical holdings with tokenized assets to mitigate risks from technological or systemic failures. The fragility of complex supply chains and infrastructure highlights the importance of diversification and a cautious approach to investment.

Schectman encouraged investors to take note that the smartest market participants—central banks, commercial banks, and sovereign wealth funds—are actively accumulating physical metals, signaling a major price and supply shift that will eventually reach retail investors.

He stressed that holding physical metals remains the most reliable wealth preservation strategy amid fiat currency debasement.

The precious metals market is on the cusp of a significant transformation, driven by technological innovation and shifting geopolitical and economic trends.

As the conversation between Kaiser Johnson and Andy Schectman highlights, tokenized gold and the emergence of BRICS+ are set to play a major role in shaping the future of gold and silver investments. Investors would do well to take note of these developments and consider a hybrid strategy that combines physical holdings with tokenized assets.

https://youtu.be/DbfRCQn91BI

‘One-in-400-Year Currency Crisis’ Ahead: How Gold & Silver Signal the Final Phase

‘One-in-400-Year Currency Crisis’ Ahead: How Gold & Silver Signal the Final Phase | Morgan & Makori

Miles Franklin Media:  12-7-2025

Michelle Makori, President & Editor-in-Chief of Miles Franklin Media, speaks with David Morgan, Founder of The Morgan Report, Author of 'The Silver Manifesto' and producer of the Silver Sunrise documentary.

 Morgan warns: the world is entering what he calls a “one-in-400-year currency crisis” and fear will be the catalyst that triggers the final, explosive revaluation of gold and silver.

Morgan explains why industrial and monetary demand for silver are converging at unprecedented levels, why the structural supply deficit is accelerating, and why 90% of the metals’ bull market move tends to occur in the last 10% of time.

He argues that the precious metals market began its secular run in 2000 and the final 2.5-year acceleration window could now be opening.

He also breaks down the shock CME outage, the migration of metals trading from West to East, the growing role of India, Russia, and sovereign entities buying silver, and how a global monetary reset could unfold faster than most expect.

 In this interview, Morgan reveals what gold and silver are signaling about the next phase of the crisis and why it will be remembered for generations.

 In this episode of The Real Story:

Why fear is now the dominant force behind gold and silver demand

The “one-in-400-year currency crisis” Morgan believes is already underway

Why industrial and monetary silver demand are colliding at the worst possible time

Structural silver deficit: how long it can continue before supply breaks

The 2.5-year “acceleration window” where 90% of the move historically occurs

CME halt: what it may signal about stress inside the system

How a monetary reset could unfold

00:00 Coming Up

01:31 Silver's Surge

03:53 Understanding the Silver Market Dynamics

07:43 Industrial & Monetary Demand for Silver

13:27 Speculations & Market Manipulations

29:11 Global Monetary Reset & Future Predictions

34:57 Market Factors Influencing Silver

40:48 Gold & Silver Investment Insights

42:05 Silver's Market Dynamics & Historical Context

46:30 Potential Substitutes for Silver

50:07 Recession Impact on Silver Demand

51:33 Currency Crisis & Financial System Reset

58:33 Future Outlook for Silver and Gold

01:06:19 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVSIz5BtpoM

Some Thoughts on Silver’s All Time High

Some Thoughts on Silver’s All Time High

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)   December 3, 2025

The ancient people of Uruk— who lived in modern-day southern Iraq more than 5,000 years ago— didn’t seem terribly interested in bequeathing colorful stories of their civilization to history.

Rather than memorialize abundant tales of their immense works, or chisel countless tablets embellishing stories of their military victories, the main artifacts they left behind to modern historians are rather mundane market accounts and grain prices.

It would be as if the only thing to be locked into a time capsule from our own era were the stock section of the Wall Street Journal. It would hardly be a reasonable description of our time.

Nevertheless, the ancient scribes of Uruk went to great lengths to record financial and commercial transactions. And one of the things we can see from their civilization is that they used silver (and NOT gold) as the primary medium of exchange.

It’s interesting to note that they did not bother minting coins. Rather, silver was weighed in bulk— the unit of measurement eventually becoming the shekel, around 8.3 grams— and then traded for grain.

(Just imagine paying for your groceries by piling a bunch of scrap and raw silver onto a scale.)

Gold was obviously a well-known commodity and considered extremely valuable... but far too rare to be used as everyday money. So silver remained the dominant financial standard for thousands of years.

Even by the time of the ancient Greeks, and then subsequently the Roman Republic, silver coins (the Greek drachma and Roman denarius) were the primary currencies of those civilizations.

But by then there was a bi-metallic system... a fixed ‘exchange rate’ that governments set between gold and silver.

In ancient Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, for example, cuneiform tablets show silver being exchanged for gold at a ratio of 10 to 1.

A few decades later, in the 6th century BC, King Croesus of Lydia minted the first standardized gold and silver coins, setting an official exchange rate—again, roughly 10 to 1.

The Persians under Darius the Great fixed it at 13 to 1. The Romans under Julius Caesar set it at 12 to 1.

Even as recently as 1792, the newly formed United States established a silver-to-gold ratio of 15 to 1 in the very first Coinage Act.

It wasn’t until the late 20th century—when postwar Bretton Woods gold standard was fully abandoned—that this ratio between gold and silver was finally left to the market. Since then it’s ranged from about 25:1… all the way up to 120:1.

Right now it’s somewhere in the middle of that modern range— around 73:1... and the ratio has been falling fast, primarily because silver has been on an absolute tear.

This is pretty crazy when you think about it; gold has skyrocketed this year. But silver is up even more.

And there are a lot of people who focus very heavily on this silver-to-gold ratio and believe that it will inevitably fall to its historic average of roughly 50:1. Still others think that the ratio will fall even further to 15:1, where it was originally set by Congress in 1792.

This would mean $85+ silver, or even $250+ silver.

But here’s the problem: the gold/silver ratio is meaningless. There’s no law or financial regulation requiring the ratio to be at a certain level. Just because it has historically hovered around 50:1 doesn’t mean it can’t go to 5,000:1.

Instead, in order to understand either metal’s trajectory, we should look at supply and demand.

This is why we’ve been so bullish on gold; for the past three years, central bank demand for gold has been soaring, primarily because foreign countries have been rapidly and aggressively diversifying their US dollar holdings.

And for a sovereign government, gold makes a lot of sense. It’s portable. Universally recognized. It’s a traditional strategic reserve asset.

And most importantly, unlike US government bonds or even IMF “Strategic Drawing Rights”, gold isn’t controlled by anyone... no other government, central bank, or supranational institution.

So there’s zero counterparty risk, i.e. no country has to be worried about being sanctioned or frozen out of its own gold bullion holdings.

This trend of foreign governments and central banks buying massive quantities of  gold has sent the metal to its all-time high. And that extra demand has been more than enough to offset weakening gold demand in the jewelry sector.

Moreover, as we regularly argue, this trend is not going away anytime soon. As long as the US fiscal situation remains dismal, foreign countries will continue diversifying out of the dollar.

Silver, on the other hand, does not have such a strong long-term catalyst.

Central banks aren’t buying it; the market is far too small, and silver far too cheap. Foreign countries can much more easily buy $100 billion worth of gold. They just can’t do that with silver.

We’ve predicted in the past that silver would likely follow gold’s run-up— NOT because it shares the same monetary fundamentals, but because investor psychology.

Obviously there’s no telling how far this speculation can go; investors could potentially push silver prices much, much higher from here.

But without that same long-term institutional demand from central banks, silver's trajectory is much harder to predict... and to justify.

It’s also noteworthy that more than half of silver demand comes from industrial applications such as solar panels, electric vehicles, 5G infrastructure, semiconductors, and medical technologies.

According to the Silver Institute, industrial demand for silver hit an all-time high of 680.5 million ounces in 2024, the fourth straight year of growth in that category.

Importantly, total silver demand has consistently outpaced supply. The global silver market ran a structural deficit in both 2023 and 2024, meaning more silver was consumed than produced.

This created an obvious catalyst for higher silver prices.

But it’s important to understand that industrial demand is not the same as central bank demand.

When central banks buy gold, they aren’t trying to time the market or flip it for a profit. They’re diversifying reserves. It’s a long-term, strategic shift—motivated by growing mistrust in the US dollar.

In short, central banks buy gold irrespective of price.

But silver doesn’t have that kind of anchor. Industrial demand is highly cyclical. It depends on global manufacturing activity, tech infrastructure, energy-sector spending, and overall economic health.

In an economic slowdown, much of that industrial demand could dry up quickly.

If the AI bubble bursts and data centers downsize, silver demand slows. If the “green energy” push implodes, and people decide they don’t want—or can’t afford—electric vehicles and solar panels, silver demand drops.

Jewelry demand, though smaller than industrial, faces the same problem. It’s sensitive to consumer spending.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting that the silver price is going to fall. I’m saying that it’s important to understand the differences.

With gold, foreign central banks are a clear and obvious long-term driver of demand. Silver demand, on the other hand, is being driven by speculation and highly volatile (and unpredictable) global economic factors.

And I think it’s important to be clear-eyed about the differences.

 To your freedom,     James Hickman   Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/some-thoughts-on-silvers-all-time-high-153993/?inf_contact_key=c283cc76def72d7f9afe99847a20b2322294a318289bad97137125bd69e8bd38 

Why the BRICS Just Launched their Gold-backed Unit

Why the BRICS Just Launched their Gold-backed Unit

Arcadia Economics:  12-5-2025

The financial world is buzzing with a development that could mark a seismic shift in international trade and monetary policy: the BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – have officially launched a new gold-backed digital unit of account, aptly named the “unit.”

This isn’t just another digital token; it’s a meticulously crafted system with the potential to redefine global economic relations.

Launched on October 31st in a controlled trial phase, the “unit” operates on blockchain technology, seamlessly integrating with existing national currencies.

What sets it apart is its innovative backing structure: 40% gold and 60% major BRICS currencies. Crucially, there are no bonds or long-term debt involved.

This is a bold departure from the fiat currency systems that have dominated global finance for decades, and it echoes an idea first proposed at the influential 1944 Bretton Woods Summit – an idea that was ultimately sidelined in favor of U.S. dollar dominance and the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) system.

This move signals the establishment of a new monetary zone, a bridge between East and West, with gold poised to become the central “password” or reserve asset for transactions.

The “unit” is currently undergoing a “pumpkin batch” phase – a controlled environment allowing real transactions and daily data publication.

This staged rollout highlights a growing divergence between Western and Eastern financial spheres, suggesting that future trade with BRICS nations may increasingly necessitate holding gold and key BRICS currencies in reserve baskets.

This ambitious financial undertaking unfolds against a backdrop of significant market activity. We’re witnessing rising yields, fluctuating commodity prices for gold, silver, copper, and energy products, and a palpable metal supply squeeze, particularly in industrial powerhouse China.

 The metal market, in fact, is exhibiting unusual behavior, with indications of a rolling shortage and backwardation in silver – a clear sign of stress in the physical availability of these crucial commodities.

Looking ahead, we can anticipate deeper dives into these market dynamics, including JP Morgan’s 2026 outlook for base and precious metals.

The evolving financial ecosystem will also necessitate a closer examination of cryptocurrencies actively engaged in payment rails, such as Ripple and Cardano, which are likely to play an increasingly important role.

The launch of the BRICS “unit” is undoubtedly a development to watch closely. It represents a potential paradigm shift, challenging established financial norms and paving the way for a more multipolar monetary landscape.

https://youtu.be/LZmchKNj8ME

What Most People Don’t Know About Selling Gold For Cash

What Most People Don’t Know About Selling Gold For Cash

The more you know, the better your gold payout — and the less likely you’ll fall for lowball offers or hidden fees.

Wealthy Single Mommy  Wed, October 29, 2025

Gold price keep hitting record highs — could not be a better time to sell.

Selling gold sounds simple: take your jewelry or coins to a buyer and walk out with cash. But like most “easy money” situations, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Gold buying is one of those industries where small bits of knowledge can make a big difference. The more you know, the better your payout — and the less likely you’ll fall for lowball offers or hidden fees.

1. The price is negotiable

Don’t accept the first offer you hear. Most gold buyers start low — often 20–40% under what they’re willing to pay. Ask, “Is that your best price?” and mention you’re getting multiple quotes. Just like in any negotiation, confidence pays — literally. Be prepared to walk away.

2. The “spot price” isn’t what you’ll get

The gold price you see on financial websites — known as the spot price — is for pure 24K gold in bulk. Most jewelry is 10K to 18K, meaning it’s mixed with other metals. You’ll only be paid for the percentage of gold in your piece.

3. Weight and purity determine your payout

Reputable buyers test your items using acid or X-ray equipment. Always watch the test and ask for the results in writing. Some unscrupulous buyers will “downgrade” purity to pay less.

If you’re unsure about what you have, get a quick appraisal from a local jeweler before you sell.

4. Gold teeth and dental crowns have real value

Yes — dental gold is typically 16K to 22K and can be sold for scrap. Refiners or specialized buyers will pay by weight, though they may deduct a small amount for extraction. A tooth can fetch $300 and a bridge $1,200.

5. Electronics contain gold, too

Old circuit boards, phones, and CPUs have trace amounts of gold. It’s not worth much in small batches, but if you have bulk electronics — especially old computer parts — you may have hidden cash sitting in storage.

6. What you’ll get from gold changes every day

Before heading out, check the live gold price per gram at trusted sites like Kitco or JM Bullion. Knowing the market rate keeps you from being shortchanged.

7. Gold in your ring is probably worth more than the diamond

Most gold and jewelry buyers are only interested in diamond of .3 carat weight or more and even larger diamonds have dramatically decreased in value in recent years. Sometimes even smaller diamonds of very high quality can bring in less than $50.

Many people are surprised to learn that while resale value of lab-grown diamonds or cubic zirconia is $0 or close, the gold setting is always valuable — especially now.

8. Gold in jewelry is probably worth more than the gemstone

Unless your ring or necklace has an unusually large and high-quality ruby, sapphire, emerald or other gemstone, it probably worthless — no matter how much you paid for it, or how much you love it. However, the gold setting is absolutely worth its weight in gold.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/creators/lifestyle/story/what-most-people-dont-know-about-selling-gold-for-cash-162602378.html

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Tuesday Morning 12-2-25

Silver Jumps To An All-Time High, Supported By Tight Supplies

Money and Business   Economy News - Follow-up   Silver prices jumped more than 2% on Monday morning, hitting a new record high, benefiting from a continued decline in global supply and rising expectations of an interest rate cut in the United States this month.

Silver traded at $57.86 an ounce, its highest level ever, extending its gains for the sixth consecutive day after rising 6% in Friday's session.

On the stock market, shares of silver mining companies also rose on Monday, with Sun Silver shares climbing 20% ​​and Silver Mines shares rising 12% in Australia, while shares of China Silver Group, listed in Hong Kong, jumped 14%.

Silver prices have more than doubled since the start of the year, supported by limited supplies in physical markets.

In 2025, silver stole the spotlight from gold after recording unprecedented record levels, confirming that its controversial title of "the devil's metal" is not without reason, as it is known for its sharp fluctuations that confuse markets and surprise investors.

Silver, which usually moves in the shadow of gold, made a historic leap this year, after its price exceeded $54.47 an ounce in mid-October, an increase of 71% year-on-year, before retreating slightly only to rise again amid a supply shortage crisis.

Market experts believe that this wave is not temporary, but rather carries new dynamics that may push prices even higher.   https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=62914

Silver Prices Are Set To Shine In 2025 

Stock Exchange   Silver prices reached record highs in 2025, placing it in the spotlight and attracting the attention of global investors, despite challenges related to limited supply.

The metal, sometimes called "the devil's metal" due to its extreme volatility, achieved exceptional gains this year, coinciding with the rise in gold prices, which surpassed $4,000 per ounce.

Silver prices reached a record high of $54.47 per ounce in mid-October 2025, marking a 71% increase compared to the previous year, before declining slightly and then rising again.

This surge in  silver prices is attributed to data indicating continued high demand relative to limited supply. A significant portion of the price increase is attributed to the growing demand from India, the world's largest consumer of silver.

The metal is used in the manufacture of jewelry, household items, and decorative objects, and the country's annual consumption is approximately 4,000 metric tons.

Prices in India rose to a record high of 170,415 rupees per kilogram on October 17, an increase of 85% since the beginning of the year, while the Indian market relies on imports that account for about 80% of its supply.

The industrial and technological dimension of silver demand is no longer limited to investment or traditional use. It has expanded to include growing industrial needs, particularly with the increasing production of electric vehicles, artificial intelligence applications, and solar energy.

Silver is used in standard electric vehicle batteries at a rate of approximately 25 to 50 grams per vehicle, and this could reach one kilogram in future vehicles with solid-state batteries. Silver is also utilized for its high electrical and thermal properties, making it a key component in modern clean energy industries.

Experts explained that the current supply and demand cycle, coupled with the scarcity of mine production in Central and South America over the past decade, makes silver one of the rare metals that combines investment value with industrial applications, reinforcing expectations that its prices will remain high in the near future.

October 2025 marks the third time in 50 years that silver prices have peaked, following January 1980 when the Hunt brothers attempted to control the market, and again in 2011 after the US debt ceiling crisis, when investors turned to gold and silver as safe havens.     https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=62888

Gold Prices Remained Stable In Baghdad But Rose In Erbil

Monday, December 1, 2025 | Economy Number of views: 233   Baghdad ( NINA ) – Gold prices in Baghdad remained stable on Monday, while rising in Erbil.

The selling price of one mithqal (approximately 4.5 grams) of 21-karat gold from the Gulf, Turkey, and Europe in Baghdad's wholesale markets on Al-Nahr Street was 850,000 Iraqi dinars, with a buying price of 846,000 dinars.

The selling price of one mithqal of 21-karat Iraqi gold was 820,000 dinars, with a buying price of 816,000

dinars. In jewelry shops, the selling price of one mithqal of 21-karat Gulf gold ranged between 850,000 and 860,000 dinars, while the selling price of one mithqal of Iraqi gold ranged between 820,000 and 830,000 dinars.

Gold prices in Erbil have risen, with the selling price of 22-karat gold reaching 888,000 dinars, 21-karat gold 848,000 dinars, and 18-karat gold 727,000 dinars. /End  https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1264630

The Dollar Continues To Rise In Baghdad And Erbil

Stock Exchange   The exchange rate of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar rose on Monday afternoon in the markets of Baghdad and Erbil, coinciding with the closing of the stock exchange.

The dollar prices rose in the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges to record 142,900 dinars for 100 dollars, while the prices this morning were 142,650 dinars for 100 dollars.

Selling prices rose in exchange shops and local markets in Baghdad, with the selling price reaching 144,000 dinars for 100 dollars, while the buying price reached 142,000 dinars for 100 dollars.

In Erbil, the dollar also recorded an increase, with the selling price reaching 142,300 dinars per 100 dollars, and the buying price reaching 142,100 dinars per 100 dollars.  https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=62936

Oil Prices Rose, Supported By OPEC+ Production Plan And Concerns Over Venezuela.

Economy |01/12/2025   Oil prices rose   by as much as 1.5% after OPEC+ countries confirmed their plan to halt production increases during the first quarter of next year, in addition to concerns about potential US action against Venezuela, an oil-producing nation, which caused market volatility.

By 00:52 GMT, Brent crude had pared its gains to settle at $62.99 a barrel, up 0.98%. US West Texas Intermediate crude also rose 0.99% to $59.12 a barrel.

OPEC+ had agreed in early November to halt production increases, a move aimed at slowing efforts to regain market share amid concerns about oversupply.

Following Sunday's meeting, OPEC+ stated that it reaffirms the importance of a cautious approach, while maintaining full flexibility to halt or reverse any further voluntary production adjustments. https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=271009

Oil Companies Extend Invitations To US Firms To Manage The West Qurna/2 Oil Field

Economy | 05:12 - 01/12/2025   Mawazin News – Baghdad   The Ministry of Oil announced that it has taken the necessary steps to transfer the management of the West Qurna/2 oil field to a major American oil company, emphasizing that this move aims to sustain production and enhance the stability of global markets.

In a statement, the Ministry said, "The procedures included direct and exclusive invitations to a number of major American companies, entering into direct negotiations with them, and receiving their bids. The transfer process will be conducted through transparent competition and according to the established criteria for awarding oil field development contracts."

The Ministry added that "transferring the management of the West Qurna/2 field to an American oil company will serve mutual interests, enhance the stability of global markets, and ensure the continuity of Iraqi oil production operations, market share, and the sustainability of the country's resources."

It affirmed that this step strengthens the joint economic relations between Iraq and the United States and contributes to the transfer of modern technology, benefiting both countries.

The Ministry noted that "the participation of more major American companies in developing the Iraqi oil sector underscores Iraq's strategic importance in this sector and contributes to diversifying the international expertise operating within it, thus achieving Iraq's economic interests and ensuring their sustainability."   https://www.mawazin.net/Details.aspx?jimare=271035

 For current and reliable Iraqi news please visit:  https://www.bondladyscorner.com

Designing the Perfect Money | Hidden Secrets of Value Ep. 5 | Alan Hibbard

Designing the Perfect Money | Hidden Secrets of Value Ep. 5 | Alan Hibbard

GoldSilver:  12-1-20205

Ever wonder why gold coins appear in nearly every movie, video game, and myth — from Lord of the Rings to Super Mario Bros.?

Deep down, humanity knows gold represents real value.

 In this episode of Hidden Secrets of Value, Alan Hibbard unpacks why that instinct is correct — and why our modern monetary system is collapsing without it.

 He explores the layers of money, revealing how the entire financial system rests on promises built atop a missing foundation: gold, silver, and bitcoin.

👉 In this video, you’ll discover:

The difference between decentralized and distributed systems — and why most crypto projects (and central banks) are not truly decentralized.

The Monetary Layer Pyramid, from Layer 1 (gold) to Layer 4 (credit cards).

Why fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar leak value — and why your energy and time are slipping away with them.

How the 1971 end of the gold standard removed the base layer, triggering decades of financial decay.

 Why gold, silver, and bitcoin must return as the “Layer 1” foundation for personal and economic stability.

💡 Questions this episode explores:

Can any cryptocurrency truly be decentralized?

 What’s the difference between security, scalability, and decentralization — and can all three exist together?

Why does everything in the economy feel unstable — and what can you do to fix it in your own life?

How do gold, silver, and bitcoin function as the true base layer of value?

Alan connects it all: physics, finance, and freedom.

If you’ve ever felt trapped on the financial treadmill, this episode shows how to step off — by rebuilding your foundation on honest money.

 Watch the full series here: https://goldsilver.com/hsov

If the foundation of money is broken, everything built on top will fall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpWLPfoDw6A

The ‘Biggest Crash In History’ Is Starting, How To Prepare Now

The ‘Biggest Crash In History’ Is Starting, How To Prepare Now

Jing Pan  Sat, November 29, 2025   Moneywise

Robert Kiyosaki Warns The ‘Biggest Crash In History’ Is Starting, Says Millions To ‘Lose Everything.’ How To Prepare Now

As markets push into their final stretch of 2025, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki has issued a chilling new warning.  “BIGGEST CRASH IN HISTORY STARTING,” he wrote in a recent post on X (1).

According to Kiyosaki, this is the very downturn he’s been predicting for more than a decade — and he believes the fallout will be severe.

“In 2013 I published RICH DADs PROPHECY predicting the biggest crash in history was coming. Unfortunately that crash has arrived. It’s not just the US. Europe and Asia are crashing. AI will wipe out jobs and when jobs crash office and residential real estate crashes.”

At first glance, his warning may seem at odds with the U.S. stock market, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq remain near record highs. But concerns about AI-driven job losses are widespread — and layoffs continue to dominate headlines (2).

The silver lining, according to Kiyosaki?

He believes this environment could create enormous opportunities for those who prepare.

“While millions will lose everything…. if you are prepared…this crash will make you richer,” he wrote.

So how would Kiyosaki prepare?

“Time to buy more gold, silver, Bitcoin and Ethereum,” he said.

Let’s take a closer look at these assets.

Precious metals

Kiyosaki has never been shy about his love for gold and silver — and in moments of crisis, he turns to them with even more conviction. His stance is clear: “I’m not buying gold because I like gold, I’m buying gold because I don’t trust the Fed,” he said in an interview back in 2021 (3).

Gold and silver have long been viewed as safe-haven assets. Unlike fiat currencies, they can’t be printed at will by central banks and their value isn’t tied to any single country or economy. That scarcity, combined with their history as a store of value, is why investors often flock to the metals during periods of inflation, economic turmoil or geopolitical instability — pushing prices higher.

This time, he’s putting special emphasis on silver.  “Silver is the best and the safest. Silver is $50 today. I predict silver will hit $70 soon and possibly $200 in 2026,” he wrote.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/robert-kiyosaki-warns-biggest-crash-112900040.html

Don't Be Surprised If Silver Blows Past $200 Rapidly | Michael Oliver

Don't Be Surprised If Silver Blows Past $200 Rapidly | Michael Oliver

Liberty and Finance:  11-27-2025

Michael Oliver explains that momentum charts, not simple price charts, reveal a major breakout in gold relative to the S&P500 which signals the beginning of a large asset shift into monetary metals.

He shows that silver is also breaking out relative to gold which means silver is positioned to lead the move rather than follow behind.

 He argues that silver has been artificially trapped in a 50-year range and is now set up for a violent repricing that could send it far above $100 or even $200 within a couple quarters.

 He believes the repeated quick rebounds from the high 40s prove that big money is buying every dip and that the real surge is just beginning.

He warns that a global government bond crisis and a topping US stock market will push investors into gold and especially silver.

INTERVIEW TIMELINE:

0:00 Intro

1:40 Huge gold & silver rally

16:36 No pullback ahead?

18:58 Silver is a monetary metal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OZEAP5TSbI

“Oops! We’re a Major Silver Producer Now”

“Oops! We’re a Major Silver Producer Now”

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)  November 20, 2025

When mining superintendent Marcus Daly arrived in Butte, Montana in the late 1870s to evaluate a cluster of silver prospects, it was a mundane business trip— the mad western gold rush was over by then.

The area was known for its patchy silver veins, and Daly’s job was to decide whether there were still any mines worth buying.  All the ‘experts’ thought the boom was over. Gold and silver had fallen out of favor... and mines were selling for less than the value of the dirt.

So when Marcus Daly went underground at a modest site called the Anaconda, he noticed the ore didn’t look like a typical silver deposit... and that something much bigger was hiding below.

Daly pushed for the property’s purchase—about $30,000 which would be about $1 million today. His reasoning? Beneath the silver veins, Daly had spotted a massive copper system.

The timing couldn’t have been better for a nation racing into an industrial age.

Telegraph lines, electrical wiring, motors, early power systems — America was devouring copper as fast as anyone could pull it out of the ground. And Daly’s discovery pushed the Anaconda operation from a forgettable silver claim into one of the engines of American industrial growth.

For years, that copper carried what became the Anaconda Copper Mining Company.

Output scaled, profits climbed, and Butte became synonymous with industrial metal.

But the silver never went away. As miners pulled the copper out of the ground, they were also extracting silver... which was sort of ‘in the way’ of the copper.

At first the silver was just an afterthought; Anaconda was a copper company, plain and simple. They just happened to mine some silver, almost begrudgingly, as an afterthought. And throughout the early 20th century and the Roaring 20s, nobody paid attention.

Then the Great Depression hit.

Copper demand—and prices—collapsed almost overnight as factories slowed, construction stalled, and electrical projects were shelved indefinitely.

Anaconda took a beating like everyone else—but it didn’t fold.

The “accidental” silver kept generating revenue even as the industrial economy stalled... and that silver revenue kept Anaconda alive when competitors were going out of business left and right.

It gave the company the diversification it needed to survive the worst phases of the worst commodity cycle — and stay standing when others didn’t.

This is far from an isolated incident—the mining industry is no stranger to these necessary pivots.

And it’s also not just a quirky footnote— it’s the kind of setup that gives investors a chance to buy into something most investors write-off.

For example, the latest edition of our premium investment research newsletter featured a company that ordinarily mines a critical industrial metal—one that’s necessary for all modern technology.

Funny thing is, this company also just happens to produce gold and silver.

They never set out to be precious metals miners. In fact, the company has been extremely successful in its core industrial metal business.

But with gold and silver prices hovering near all-time highs, the company is now minting profits from precious metals. Revenue is through the roof, but shareholders of the business are basically getting all of it for free.

That’s because, right now, the company’s stock is trading at a fairly low multiple JUST based on its industrial mining revenue... which means the market is valuing all the gold and silver production at zero. That’s completely absurd.

Overall this company trades at just FOUR times earnings. At that valuation, even if it were just an industrial producer, it would still be undervalued.

But it also produces enough silver to be close to a top 10 producer in the world.

There’s no rational reason for this business to be selling for such a cheap price. Yet the recent selloff in gold and silver prices only made it cheaper. Some mining companies fell 30%, even though they're still raking in record profits.

To your freedom,         James Hickman  Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/oops-were-a-major-silver-producer-now-153915/?inf_contact_key=f0a788da85fc4d6a6683a85762244fc59ee4b048ce23149d13a848abfdc3679b

Why Chinese Billionaires Just Dumped $47 Billion Into Gold (2026 Crash Warning)

Why Chinese Billionaires Just Dumped $47 Billion Into Gold (2026 Crash Warning)

Financial Insight:  11-20-2025

In Q3 2025, Chinese billionaires moved $47 billion out of US stocks into physical gold — the largest capital flight since 2007.

This isn't just portfolio rebalancing. It's the exact same pattern that happened 12-18 months before the 2008 financial crisis when Chinese investors sold $31 billion in US equities right before the S&P 500 crashed 57%.

The wealthiest investors in China have access to real-time manufacturing data, banking intelligence, and government information that Western retail investors never see.

When they spot a crisis coming, they act first. In 2006-2007, they quietly exited before Lehman Brothers collapsed. Now they're doing it again in 2025.

 This video breaks down:

✅ The $47.2 billion capital flight (official data from Q3 2025)

✅ Why this mirrors the 2007 warning signal before the crash

✅ The four systemic risks Chinese billionaires see coming

✅ Why they're choosing gold specifically (and gold's performance in past crashes)

✅ The three waves of capital flight (we're only in Wave 1

✅ Exact portfolio allocation strategy to protect yourself

✅ Timeline: Q2 2026 expected crash based on historical patterns Chinese manufacturers are seeing AI chip orders decline 22% — six months before it shows up in corporate earnings.

They're watching US debt hit $35.7 trillion (130% of GDP).

 They're preparing for potential asset seizures as US-China tensions rise.

And they're front-running the dollar's decline as a reserve currency.

The smart money is moving. The only question is: will you listen this time, or will you be another retail investor who learns too late that when billionaires run for the exits, you should too?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NiSLQC-XNQ

How the U.S. is Using Crypto and Gold to Erase $37 Trillion in Debt Without You Noticing

How the U.S. is Using Crypto and Gold to Erase $37 Trillion in Debt Without You Noticing

Economy Rewind:  11-15-2025

The U.S. government owes $37 trillion. More debt than any nation in history. They're not planning to pay it back. They're planning to erase it. Not through default. Not through austerity. Through devaluation.

Strategic, calculated theft of purchasing power from everyone holding dollars.

 The mechanism: Bitcoin and gold revaluation.

You're watching the most sophisticated debt elimination strategy ever attempted. The U.S. is building a parallel financial system, accumulating strategic reserves in Bitcoin and gold, preparing to revalue those assets at multiples of current prices, and using that revaluation to technically balance unpayable debt.

When they revalue Bitcoin and gold upward, they simultaneously devalue the dollar downward. Every dollar you hold loses purchasing power. This is legal theft. And it's happening now.

THE HISTORICAL PRECEDENT (1933-1934):

 The setup: U.S. drowning in debt, debt-to-GDP 40%, economy collapsing.

The execution: FDR issued Executive Order 6102—made gold ownership illegal. Americans turned in gold at $20.67/oz (official price since 1879). After gold collected, FDR revalued it to $35/oz (69% increase overnight).

 The result: Government gold reserves jumped $4B to $6.8B. Created $2.8B from thin air. Real debt burden fell 40% to 25% of GDP within 5 years. Americans holding dollars lost 40% purchasing power through resulting inflation.

This is the playbook. It's happening again.

CURRENT SITUATION:

U.S. debt: $37T (132% of GDP, highest except WWII)

Annual interest: $1.2T (more than defense budget)

By 2027 at 5% rates: $1.8T annual interest (6% of GDP) Unsustainable.

 Cannot tax out, cannot grow out, cannot cut spending enough. Only option: Devaluation.

THE NEW STRATEGY:

January 23, 2025: Trump signed executive order establishing Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Directs Treasury to acquire/hold Bitcoin as strategic asset. Current holdings: 210,000 Bitcoin (seized from criminals) = $21B at $100K/coin.

 Target: Senator Cynthia Lummis's Bitcoin Act proposes 1 million Bitcoin over 5 years.

Acquisition method: Not market buying (too expensive). Seizing from investigations, accepting as fines from crypto companies, potentially mining with government energy infrastructure. Quiet accumulation.

THE REVALUATION PLAN:

Phase 1 (2025-2026): Quietly acquire 1M Bitcoin at avg $120K = $120B total cost.

Phase 2 (2027): Announce Strategic Bitcoin Reserve operational. Revalue Bitcoin to $1 MILLION per coin for government balance sheet purposes (10x current price).

Result: 1M Bitcoin acquired for $120B now worth $1T on balance sheet. Created $880B from thin air. Market follows:

Once U.S. declares Bitcoin worth $1M, market reprices. Goes to $300K, then $500K, then $800K+ over next year. Government sets the floor.

GOLD REVALUATION:

 Current holdings: 8,133 tons (261M oz) Market value: $2,800/oz = $731B Book value: $42.22/oz (statutory price from 1973) = $11B on government books

 The move: Revalue gold to $20,000/oz for strategic reserves/debt backing purposes.

Result: 261M oz × $20K = $5.2 TRILLION in balance sheet value. Created $5.2T from thin air.

Combined revaluation: Bitcoin $1T + Gold $5.2T = $6.2 trillion in new balance sheet value to offset debt. Market follows:

Gold goes from $2,800 to $5K, then $8K, then $12K+ toward $20K official price.

THE COST TO YOU:

Bitcoin $100K to $1M = dollar lost 90% value relative to Bitcoin Gold $2,800 to $20K = dollar lost 85% value relative to gold Real-world impact:

Dollar loses 50-70% purchasing power against everything.

Your $100K savings: After 3 years of 20% annual inflation, buys what $35K bought before. Lost 65% purchasing power.

 Government's $37T debt: Nominally still $37T, but in real terms worth $13T. Erased $24T debt burden by devaluing currency.

THE TIMELINE:

 2025 (NOW): Accumulation phase. U.S. acquiring Bitcoin quietly. Gold narrative building.

 YOUR WINDOW TO POSITION.

2026: Crisis phase. Debt ceiling fight, bond market stress. Crisis creates justification for extraordinary measures.

2027: Revaluation phase. Bitcoin revalued to $1M, gold to $20K. Dollar collapses. Inflation explodes 30-50% first year. If you positioned in 2025, you survive. If not, destroyed.

2028-2030: Stabilization. Bitcoin $500K-$800K, gold $15K-$18K. New dollar purchasing power.

Reset complete.

WINNERS:

U.S. government (debt erased)

Early Bitcoin holders (bought at $30K-$100K)

Early gold holders (bought at $1,800-$2,800)

Foreign governments with gold reserves (China, Russia, India)

The wealthy (assets inflate nominally)

LOSERS:

 Middle class (savings evaporated)

Bondholders (repaid in worthless dollars)

Pension funds (hold massive bonds)

Workers (wages don't keep up)

Renters (priced out)

Small businesses (can't raise prices fast enough)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xwAmXqKgvs