Free Republic

The Department of the Interior on Monday released a draft 2025 list of 54 minerals deemed critical to the US economy and national security. The update, developed by the US Geological Survey (USGS), includes six new additions: copper, silver, potash, silicon, rhenium and lead. Arsenic and tellurium were recommended for removal.

Silver bugs: Saudi Arabia Central Bank now buying Silver.

When the Bedale hoard was first discovered by metal detectorists in 2012, it was immediately recognized as one of the most significant assemblages of Viking-era silver objects and jewelry that had ever been found in England. Dating to the late ninth or early tenth century, the collection consists of 29 silver ingots and several elaborate neck rings, among other items. According to a statement released by the University of Oxford, a recent study of the origins of the Bedale silver is shedding new light on the international scope and far-reaching extent of Viking trade. Researchers led by Oxford archaeologist Jane...

For today's column, we have something a little bit different. Because while there is certainly plenty happening that is worthy of comment, I'm not sure it would be possible to put it all in better context than how Luke Gromen just did in the interview I recorded with him yesterday. This is the one I mentioned on Tuesday, that is perhaps the episode of the Arcadia Economics YouTube channel that I've been most looking forward to in the entire time I've been doing the show. So I've posted the gold and silver charts below, but rather than writing any more...

A Sudden Dislocation in the Silver Market July opened with an alarm bell. The Exchange for Physical (EFP) premium for silver, which reflects the cost of converting COMEX futures into deliverable metal, surged from near-zero levels to between 60 and 80 cents per ounce. This kind of move does not occur in isolation. At the same time, spot silver jumped more than two dollars, pushing beyond $38 per ounce. These changes appeared within a 48-hour window. Us Metal War Silver Becomes Strategic As Premiums Explode 01 The market had not been showing extreme activity beforehand. There was no retail panic....

Get ready for a deep dive into one of the most exciting technical setups in recent memory. In this episode of the Gold & Silver Show, Mike Maloney and Alan Hibbard break down a massive “cup and handle” pattern forming across multiple timeframes—6‑month, quarterly, and annual—forecasting a possible silver breakout into the $300–$500+ per ounce range (yes, really). From historic parallels to the 1970s bull run, you’ll see how current price action mirrors volatile, vertical gains—complete with confirmation signals across key charts. Discover why silver may need to hit $200–$468 (or more) just to reclaim its inflation-adjusted purchasing power, and...

If I'm not mistaken, 483 million ounces of silver were sold yesterday, within an hour, in an effort to stop this breakout in silver. This short position is now completely underwater, which means that whoever sold those ounces was either an extremely bad trader, or had no intention of making money in the first place. And since 483 million ounces is 57% of the annual mine supply, I'm assuming there is no physical silver to back this position. This amount is not available for sale, anywhere.….

Silver Nears 2011 Highs as Physical Market Fractures Silver markets are flashing red as the amount of physical silver available for immediate delivery in London has plunged to the lowest levels ever recorded. According to Daniel Ghali, senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, the so-called “free-float” inventory at the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) has dropped to just 155 million ounces. That’s less than a single day’s worth of trading volume for spot silver in London, and it marks an unprecedented squeeze in the world’s most important silver trading hub. What’s driving this crisis? A perfect storm of factors. The...

Known by the scientific name Vanilla tahitensis, Tahitian vanilla is found to exist only in cultivation; natural, wild populations of the orchid have never been encountered... "All the evidence points in the same direction," Lubinsky said. "Our DNA analysis corroborates what the historical sources say, namely, that vanilla was a trade item brought to Tahiti by French sailors in the mid-19th century. The French Admiral responsible for introducing vanilla to Tahiti, Alphonse Hamelin, used vanilla cuttings from the Philippines. The historical record tells us that vanilla – which isn't native to the Philippines – was previously introduced to the region...

Investors are pouring into silver and platinum as they seek "gold alternatives" and hedges against the U.S. dollar, sending prices for both metals soaring. With the U.S. dollar's status as a safe haven for global capital under threat, gold has enjoyed a historic rally, surging 25% since the beginning of the year as investors use it as a hedge against uncertainty. However, amid concerns that gold may now be overvalued, other precious metals such as silver and platinum are starting to catch up. Silver prices have surged to a 13-year high, and platinum prices are at their highest levels in...

Sweden's Arkeologerna announced that archaeologists working in Viggbyholm, Täby, outside of Stockholm, unearthed a stunning 1,000-year-old Viking Age treasure trove. The site was inhabited from around a.d. 400 to 1050 and contains more than 20 houses and other buildings. Beneath the flooring of one structure, former occupants concealed an array of valuables they were never able to retrieve, for reasons that are still unknown. The collection includes eight silver neck torcs, two silver armbands, one ring, two pearls, and 12 coins that were turned into pendants. These had been carefully wrapped in a cloth purse and placed in a ceramic...

In comex silver trading this week 684 new contracts (3.4 million oz) were written and 704 delivery notices were issued. News flash: NONE of those delivery notices were from the HSBC “customer” account that I have been calling out for more than a year. This HSBC account issued 94 delivery notices (470,000 oz) on first notice day for the May contract (May 29). Since then they have not sold any silver. This is far below the average 5.5 million oz per month they have issued over the prior 18 contracts. This HSBC account has sold over 100 million oz of...

The dollar keeps losing value with accelerated devaluation appearing inevitable, stocks seem inflated, and bonds don't seem good either. Gold and silver seem poised to go much higher, but the fees seem high for precious metal IRAs. Thoughts?

Gold gains some ground despite U.S. dollar’s rebound as traders focus on the continuation of the pullback in Treasury yields. From the technical point of view, gold needs to settle above the resistance at $3235 – $3245 to gain additional upside momentum in the near term. Silver remains stuck below the 50 MA at $32.51 as traders wait for additional catalysts. If silver moves back below the $32.00 level, it will head towards the nearest support at $31.45 – $31.75. Platinum tests new highs as rally continues amid tariff optimism. Platinum is heading towards the nearest resistance at $960 –...

The naked short on the March silver contract is the HSBC "customer" account. I had posted about this situation a couple of days ago on X, pointing out that the OI was one of the highest ever at this point in the delivery cycle: https://x.com/DtDS_WSS/status/1904572463012282757 Over the last two days, that HSBC "customer" account has issued delivery notices on 417 contracts (2.1 million ounces) dropping the open interest as of this morning's open to 223 (1.1 million ounces). Last notice day is tomorrow (March 28) so they have delayed to the last moment… This isn't the first time HSBC was...

Many precious metals investors have heard about silver manipulation or suspected it, but few fully understand how it works or can clearly explain it. Many also intuitively sense that silver's price is artificially low and should be much higher but struggle to identify what—or who—is keeping it suppressed. I have committed myself to studying silver price manipulation, documenting the evidence, educating others, and exposing these practices to bring them to an end and ensure justice is served. In this article, I will explain in clear and accessible terms how silver's price is systematically manipulated and suppressed. Simply put, the goal...

Is silver pricing manipulated? AI gives an answer.” How much manipulation in silver’s price can now be identified? Identifying the exact extent of manipulation in silver’s price is challenging because it involves a mix of verifiable data, allegations, and market dynamics that are not fully transparent. However, based on available evidence, expert analyses, and historical cases, we can outline some key areas where manipulation has been identified and discuss how much it might influence silver prices as of February 22, 2025. Evidence of Manipulation Historical Legal Cases: JPMorgan Chase (2020): JPMorgan paid a $920 million fine after admitting to “spoofing”...

Financial writer and precious metals broker Bill Holter is back with a new warning on the effects of the Trump DOGE team (Department of Government Efficiency). Everyone now knows of the huge unfolding fraud and waste being uncovered in federal government audits. It simply has to be done for the nation to survive, but what many are missing are the consequences of these audits that are unavoidable. Holter and his former business partner Jim Sinclair (RIP) laid out the US bankruptcy scenario nearly five years ago on USAW. The post was titled “Trump Win Offers a Way Forward After US...

The price of gold is setting a string of all-time records, buoyed by strong physical demand. The rush to buy the precious metal is intensifying as investors and institutions seek to secure their assets in the face of economic uncertainty. Stress signals are multiplying on the market, with delivery times lengthening, inventories under pressure and bullion premiums soaring. This upward movement reflects a growing crisis of confidence in paper gold and official gold reserves, as market players increasingly demand physical deliveries. Cours de l'or en dollars This week, StoneX's CEO sprang a surprise by declaring on Sky News Arabia that...