Central Bank Gold Buys This Year Reach an All-Time Quarterly High in Q3, 400 Tons Purchased Is the ‘Most on Record’

According to the World Gold Council’s (WGC) latest quarterly report, worldwide gold demand, excluding over-the-counter (OTC) markets, was 28% higher year-over-year. While demand jumped higher than last year in the third quarter, central bank gold buying tapped an all-time quarterly record in Q3 2022. The quarterly report indicates that the world’s central banks purchased close … Read more

Professor Steve Hanke Says US Economy Was Flat Over the Last Year, but Stresses ‘It’s Going to Hit South’

Amid the chaotic economy, plagued with central bank tinkering, supply chain issues, and red-hot inflation, the professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, Steve Hanke believes a “pretty big recession” will take place in 2023. Speaking in an interview on Oct. 28, Hanke said that he updated the probability of a U.S. recession to … Read more

ECB Raises Benchmark Rate by 75bps and Tones Down Long-Term Refinancing Operations

On Thursday, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced the central bank’s third consecutive benchmark bank rate increase this year, raising the rate by 75 basis points (bps). In addition to the rate hike, the ECB changed the central bank’s targeted longer-term refinancing operations terms and conditions noting that they need to be “recalibrated.” ECB Hikes … Read more

Canada’s Tiff Macklem Insists ‘Rate Increases Are Warranted,’ Canadian Columnist Says Central Bank’s Governor ‘Needs to Go’

Canadians have been dealing with rising inflation and the Bank of Canada raising the benchmark interest rate following more than two years of monetary easing tactics. On Sunday, Canadian central bank governor Tiff Macklem explained that “reasonably good harvests” will contribute to reducing food inflation. The day before Macklem’s statements on CBC Radio, Canadian columnist … Read more

UN Report Urges Fed to Suspend Interest Rate Hikes, Presses for ‘Public Spending’ Increases

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned that the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes and the slew of other central banks raising rates, could pose harm to the global economy. UNCTAD calculated that for every Fed basis point rise, the economic output of wealthy countries declines by 0.5%, and for … Read more

China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and UAE Trial Cross-Border Transactions With Digital Currencies

The monetary authorities of four jurisdictions in Asia have carried out tests with international settlements using state-issued digital currencies. Cross-border payments and foreign exchange transactions totaling over $22 million were made as part of the pilot project with the participation of the Bank for International Settlements. Asian Central Banks Pilot Real-Value International Settlements With Digital … Read more

ECB President Christine Lagarde Blames Climate Change for Europe’s Torrid Inflation

According to the French politician currently serving as the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, Europe’s scorching hot inflation can be blamed on climate change. During her interview with Madame Figaro, Lagarde stressed that people need to take into account that “climate disasters” affect price stability a great deal. ECB Board Member … Read more

Bitcoin’s Mathematical Monetary Policy Is Far More Predictable Than Gold and Fiat Currencies

This past April, records show that 19 million bitcoins have been mined into existence and 133 days later, there are 1.88 million bitcoins left to mint today. The network’s block subsidy halving is expected to occur on or around April 20, 2024, as there are less than 91,000 bitcoins left to mine until that point. … Read more