This weekend saw Russia move troops into parts of Ukraine, setting off global diplomatic conversations and making investors nervous. Gold stocks in particular saw a jump of more than one percent, reaching an intraday high of $1,354 an ounce, as traders sought a safe-haven. (Physical gold doesn’t seem to be quite as reactive yet.) It…
MyRA Accounts: A New Way to Save or Retirement Nationalization?
On January 28, President Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress and the American public. In the early days of the United States, the address was nothing more than a letter from the president to Congress about the current state of the union. Today, the address tends to focus on the…
From Make-Believe Money to Viking Treasure: Our Top 5 Coin Stories of 2013
It was an eventful year for precious metals. As the spot price of gold and silver oscillated in response to economic uncertainty and concerns over stimulus tapering, some investors urged the selling of precious metal assets. Others — looking for a hedge against inflation — nabbed as much as they could at low prices. Yet…
December Job Growth Lowest Since January 2011
Momentum in the labor market has halted after months of higher-than-expected numbers, according to the most recent figures from the Labor Department. U.S. employers added just 74,000 jobs in December — the lowest pace since January 2011 — and missed its estimate by more than 120,000. The blame is falling on winter weather and many…
Paper vs. Physical Gold: Their Differences and Why It Matters
There’s a gold civil war taking place right now — one we lovingly call the Clash of Paper Gold vs. Physical Gold. On one side, speculators play the game of futures and options markets. On the other side, physical investors are buying bargain-priced gold bullion in record numbers as a hedge against future instability. Each…
Brace for it: Janet Yellen Confirmed as Fed Chair
After months of wondering, we finally have confirmation: Janet Yellen is the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Her first day is February 1, after Ben Bernanke completes his term this month. Votes were 56 to 26 in her favor on Monday, though many senators were absent because of the poor weather in Washington. Those…
