Global gold demand in Q2 surges to $132 bln

Global demand for #gold in the Q2 of 2025, including over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, rose by 3% year-on-year to 1,249 metric tons, according to a report by the World Gold Council (WGC). In value terms, total demand for gold surged by 45% to $132 bln.

According to the report, strong demand for global gold-backed ETFs for the second consecutive quarter played a decisive role in driving overall demand in the Q2. Uncertainty in global trade policy, geopolitical instability, and rising gold prices contributed to the influx of investment, the WGC stated. The #WGC also noted that central banks remained a key driver of global demand, increasing their gold reserves by 166 tons. Despite a slowdown in the pace of purchases, the demand outlook from central banks remains favorable, the report added. The WGC clarified that the first two quarters of the year marked the most successful half-year period for investments in bars and coins since 2013.

The average quarterly price of gold stood at $3,280.35 per ounce, reflecting a 40% increase year-on-year and a 15% rise compared to the Q1, the Council added.

The First 100 Days

"As we reach our Historic First 100 Days, I am proud to announce that the Presidential Personnel Office has surpassed 80% of all Political Hires across our largest Departments, including the United States Department of Justice, State, Defense, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and Commerce. We have now beaten ALL RECORDS set by previous Administrations, and will continue working hard to hire the most competent, hardworking Patriots, who will help us usher in our Country’s Golden Age. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Apr. 22, 2025: Gold prices rocket to HISTORIC HIGH of $3,500 per ounce

This development coincides with the US dollar index SINKING to a 15-month low, while weakening significantly against the euro, British pound, Japanese yen, and Swiss franc.

'This will be WORSE than 2008' — Peter Schiff warns of ECONOMIC COLLAPSE

The economist who called the 2008 crash is sounding the alarm again:

“We’ve basically been living off the charity of the rest of the world… creating money to fund massive deficits.”
“Get out of crypto… Bitcoin isn’t digital gold — it’s digital risk.”

"It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California. They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE! These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!"

Microsoft, Google, Meta, other tech companies slash more than 21,000 jobs this year

Microsoft said today it is laying off 1,900 employees. It joins dozens of other tech companies, including Google, Amazon, TikTok and Meta, in slashing tech jobs. It's the latest sign that Silicon Valley is still trying to adjust from the boom times of the pandemic. NPR's Bobby Allyn reports.

So far, in 2024, over 75 tech companies have laid off over 21,000 employees.

The tech industry has been shedding jobs for years now. Last year marked one of the worst in recent memory, with some 260,000 techies losing their jobs. This year isn't expected to be anywhere near that total, but the layoffs haven't stopped. The way executives are defending the continuation of job cuts may sound familiar. And no, it's not AI.

The biggest driver of the recent tech layoffs we've been seeing is still companies trying to correct for their overhiring during the pandemic surge given that the high-interest-rate environment and tech downturn have both lasted longer than initially expected.

Estimates that just about 20% of the job losses in tech have been explained away by artificial intelligence, with tech companies trimming and reshuffling staff and investing more in automation. The big focus is on generative AI, which is the next gold rush in Silicon Valley. And while the economy is improving, sticky inflation and still historically high interest rates are dampening the outlook.