Free Republic

ICBC Standard Bank PLC said on Monday it is buying a precious-metals vault from Barclays PLC’s, in the latest move by the Chinese bank to increase its role in the market’s infrastructure. The move makes parent ICBC, the world’s biggest bank by assets, the first Chinese lender to own a vault in London and extends its influence in precious metals from pricing to storage. With China the largest consumer of many metals, the country’s banks have increasingly bid to own or help run the infrastructure in these markets. China accounts for more than a quarter of global gold demand, but...

Citing concerns about about a possible economic crisis and a desire for monetary stability, the State of Tennessee is now officially on record supporting the establishment of a depository facility to house gold and other precious metals for Tennesseans. In a remarkable example of bi-partisanship on serious issues, the resolution passed unanimously in both the state House and Senate before being signed by the governor. But more work remains, according to pro-Constitution and sound money activists supporting the efforts. Analysts and supporters said the measure was an important step on the road to restoring honest money and a stable monetary...