From Chinese aunties queuing in Shenzhen markets to out-of-stock Turkish refineries and a Korea Mint offer that sold out within an hour, silver’s dizzying rally is leaving banks and refiners scrambling to meet unprecedented demand from retail investors. After surging almost 150% last year, the white metal has taken it up a notch in 2026, jumping by around a third in a few weeks as the Trump admini...
From Chinese aunties queuing in Shenzhen markets to out-of-stock Turkish refineries and a Korea Mint offer that sold out within an hour, silver’s dizzying rally is leaving banks and refiners scrambling to meet unprecedented demand from retail investors. After surging almost 150% last year, the white metal has taken it up a notch in 2026, jumping by around a third in a few weeks as the Trump administration ushers in a new age of imperialism, while renewing attacks on the Federal Reserve. China was an early epicenter of the consumer frenzy for silver coins and bars, but with prices setting records the craze is spreading. “It’s the highest demand I’ve ever seen,” said Firat Sekerci, the general manager of Public Gold DMCC, a bullion dealer based in Dubai. “Most refineries in Turkey have been out of stock for the smaller bars — 10 ounces, 100 ounces — for the past 10 days.” Retail investors in Turkey are now prepared to pay as much as $9 an ounce above global benchmark prices in London to get their hands on silver, while premiums are elevated across the Middle East, Sekerci said. That’s prompting global banks to prioritize shipments to the country and region, resulting in less metal reaching India and leaving demand there unmet, according to two dealers familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named as they are not permitted to speak publicly. A short squeeze last October showed how local supply constraints can quickly go global, especially for a less-liquid metal like silver. At the time, Indians loading up ahead of the Diwali festival, along with tariff fears that kept supplies locked up in the US, drained liquidity in London and pushed benchmark silver prices to the highest since the 1970s. Investor demand for silver is now even higher in India than it was in October, with smaller bars and coins in vogue, according to Samit Guha, the chief executive officer of MMTC-PAMP India Pvt., the country’s largest precious metals refiner. Read More: Sold Out in India, Pani...
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s public dismissal of a vice-minister during an inspection tour of a major industrial zone reflects growing anxiety within the leadership as Pyongyang prepares for a pivotal ruling party congress amid persistent economic strain, according to analysts. By firing the official on the spot, Kim appears to be signalling zero tolerance for delays and mismanagement while r...
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s public dismissal of a vice-minister during an inspection tour of a major industrial zone reflects growing anxiety within the leadership as Pyongyang prepares for a pivotal ruling party congress amid persistent economic strain, according to analysts. By firing the official on the spot, Kim appears to be signalling zero tolerance for delays and mismanagement while reinforcing his authority ahead of the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea to be held early...
Australian businesses are holding off on major investments until economic uncertainty eases, according to a new report, as renewed inflationary pressures raise the risk the Reserve Bank may be forced to pivot to hiking interest rates. Almost two-thirds of executives say they are pausing spending until conditions improve, CreditorWatch Pty Ltd. ’s Business Sentiment Survey showed Wednesday, while 7...
Australian businesses are holding off on major investments until economic uncertainty eases, according to a new report, as renewed inflationary pressures raise the risk the Reserve Bank may be forced to pivot to hiking interest rates. Almost two-thirds of executives say they are pausing spending until conditions improve, CreditorWatch Pty Ltd. ’s Business Sentiment Survey showed Wednesday, while 72% say rising prices are inhibiting growth. The cautious outlook is flowing through to hiring, with 43% of firms polled not planning to recruit in the next 12 months. The result comes a day before the release of jobs figures and a week out from a quarterly inflation report, both of which will be crucial data points for the RBA at its Feb. 2-3 policy meeting. The central bank may be approaching an inflection point where it needs to decide whether to keep its key rate unchanged at 3.6% or shift to raising borrowing costs in order to douse fresh price pressures. The RBA undertook a brief easing cycle between February and August last year when it cut the key rate by 75 basis points. However, at its December policy meeting, Governor Michelle Bullock said further easing is unlikely in the near-term , and the next move could well be a hike. The revival of inflation pressure and little prospect of further rate relief is likely to weigh on consumers. Still, the CreditorWatch report noted confidence remains strong, with 76% of executives optimistic about the year ahead. National Australia Bank Ltd. is due to release its monthly business confidence report on Tuesday. Other key data points from the CreditorWatch survey: Among those expecting to recruit, 66% favor casual or short‑term contractors over permanent employees Construction remains the most cautious industry, with leaders in the sector among the most likely to say rising costs are affecting their growth Some 83% of executives report changes in customer behavior over the past year, including slower approvals, tighter budgets, l...
If you are wondering whether Oracle's current share price reflects its long term potential, it helps to step back and look closely at what you are paying for today. The stock last closed at US$179.92, with a 7 day return of an 11.1% decline, a 30 day return of a 6.3% decline and a 1 year return of 5.3%, while the 3 year and 5 year returns sit at 107.9% and 211.8% respectively. Recent news coverage...
If you are wondering whether Oracle's current share price reflects its long term potential, it helps to step back and look closely at what you are paying for today. The stock last closed at US$179.92, with a 7 day return of an 11.1% decline, a 30 day return of a 6.3% decline and a 1 year return of 5.3%, while the 3 year and 5 year returns sit at 107.9% and 211.8% respectively. Recent news coverage has focused on Oracle's role as a major software and cloud player, with investors watching how...