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Tether reports it purchased 27 tons of gold during the fourth quarter
Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin in the world, said that it added approximately 27 metric tonnes of gold to its fund's exposure in the fourth-quarter?of 2025. This is largely unchanged from the third-quarter purchases, which were estimated by analysts at about 26 tons. Due to increased global tensions, gold's 18% increase year-to date on top of 64% growth by 2025, it has broken through psychological resistance levels, including $3,000 an ounce in March and $4,000 in October. It also reached $5,000 per ounce on Monday. The crypto company, which has been a major source of gold demand as spot gold prices have risen, has reported a high rate of purchases for the reserves that back the Tether USDT stablecoin. This digital dollar has $187 billion in tokens and the Tether-XAUT gold token is worth $2.7 billion. Each Tether dollar token represents one U.S. Dollar held in reserve. When a user gives Tether a dollar to hold in reserve, the company will issue one USDT. It also holds equivalent assets, like the U.S. Treasury bills. These reserves will allow USDT to be converted into dollars in the event of a need. The Tether XAUT is fully backed up by gold. In Tether's statement, Paolo Ardoino said, "We operate at a level that places the Tether Gold Investment Fund next to sovereign gold holders. This carries real responsibility." Poland's central banking system, which is the most active among the central banks that report their purchases, increased its total reserves to 550 tonnes in the fourth quarter. Tether didn't say how much gold was stored in Switzerland for the two products combined. Tether, the company that backs the Tether Gold token (XAUT), which accounts for 60% of global gold-backed stablecoins, held 16.2 tonnes of gold as of?the?end of December. The latest audit of Tether dollar stablecoin reserves, USDT, was released in the third quarter of 2018. It showed that the currency had a gold reserve of $12.9 billion at the end of September. This would have been equivalent to 104 tons at the time. As of September 30, the reserves that back Tether USDT are dominated by U.S. Treasury bonds, with gold making up only 7%. (Reporting and editing by Nia William; Polina Devitt)
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Gold miners' shares soar as bullion price reaches record high of $5,100/oz
Gold miners' shares soared on Monday as bullion price surged to a record $5,100 per ounce. This was a continuation of a historic rally, driven by safe haven demand in the face of geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. Gold's annual rise is expected to be 64% by 2025. This will be its highest rate of growth since 1979. The increase was mainly due to the easing of U.S. Monetary Policy, central bank purchases and investors flowing into ETFs in order as a hedge for global policy risks and macro-uncertainty. Gold is traditionally preferred by investors due to its low yields and the economic uncertainty that comes with it. Analysts at Societe Generale said that they now expect gold to reach $6,000 an ounce by the end of?year. However, this estimate is likely conservative and could go even higher. Bullion prices reached record highs in the last week. They have already risen by more than 18% so far this year. Fawad Rasaqzada is a market analyst for City Index. He said that as long as central banks continue to buy gold and governments flirt with FX interventions, it's difficult to know what will really cause this market to collapse, other than a wave profit-taking. Gold prices rising typically increases revenues, margins, cash flow, and balance sheets of miners, giving them more money to invest in expansion, dividends, or debt reduction. Newmont, the top mining company, rose by?3% while Barrick Mining gained 2.3%. Canadian mining companies Agnico Eagle Mines and Kinross gold? gained nearly 4%. Silver prices, which track the bullion rally rose to a new record high of $100 per ounce last Friday. Analysts at Scotiabank expect silver prices to remain strong for a longer period of time in the short to medium term. The shares of Hecla Mining and Coeur Mining both rose by 4.8% and 2.7% respectively. Canada's Endeavour Silver and Silvercorp Metals, as well as Wheaton Precious Metals, added between 4 and 6 percent. ETFs abrdn Physical Silver shares and iShares Silver Trust both jumped by 11%. (Reporting and editing by Maju Samuel in Bengaluru, with Pooja Menon from Bengaluru)
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China's position limits on tin and copper are causing a rise in the price of copper
On Monday, copper prices reached their highest level in over a week as?attention shifted back to the expectations of strong supply and demand disruptions. Meanwhile, tin prices fell after reaching record highs due to?position limitations imposed by China. As of 1700 GMT, tin on the London Metal Exchange was down 3.9% to $54,010 per metric ton after reaching a session record of $57,515 in the previous session. Copper rose 0.8% to $13,220.50 per ton, after reaching $13,311 as its highest since January 14. Copper, which is widely used in the construction industry, has reached a record price of $13,407 per ton. Its value has increased by more than 50% from the beginning of the last year. The rise in demand is attributed to concerns over disruptions due to accidents and strikes. This includes the?Mantoverde Mine of Capstone Copper, located in Chile. Also, forecasts indicate that data centres, which power artificial intelligence, will be increasing their demands. Alastair Munro, Marex metals analyst, said that "world growth projections have been revised higher primarily on the expectation of the future build-out of artificial intelligence as it begins to permeate society in all its forms." Munro pointed out that demand was also expected to improve, given China's plans for economic growth and the?surge of investment announced this month by state grid. China's State Grid announced about two weeks ago it would spend $574 billion to upgrade the power grid of the country between 2026 and 30. Analysts also cited dollar divestment and the attraction of hard assets like industrial metals. The Shanghai Futures Exchange was the main focus in the tin market. It claimed to have imposed restrictions on clients who failed to disclose a common control over trading accounts. Lead increased 0.6% at $2,037.50, and nickel fell 1% to $18,560.
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Gold reaches record high of $5,100 due to geopolitical concerns
On Monday, gold prices soared to record levels of $5,100 as investors sought refuge from the international political turmoil. Silver and platinum prices also reached new highs. By 11:37 am, spot gold had risen 1.9% to $5,076.43 per?ounce? After hitting a new record of $5,110.50, ET (1637 GMT), gold prices were up 1.9% to $5076.43. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery gained 1.9%, to $5 074.10. Gold prices are supported by the elevated level of geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability. Central banks continue to be strong buyers, as they diversify their foreign exchange reserves and decrease reliance on the U.S. Dollar," said Ryan McIntyre. McIntyre said that investor inflows have resumed into exchange-traded physical funds, and holdings are up by about 20% over the past year. TRUMP'S 100% TARIFF THREATEN ON CANADA Donald Trump, the U.S. President, said that if Canada follows through with a trade agreement?with China he will impose a tariff of 100%. Adrian Ash, BullionVault's head of research, said that "Trump and Trump" will be the main drivers for precious metals in 2018. This move is driven by a wave of new investors who are making their first investments. Private investors in?Asia, Europe and the Middle East are leading this movement. They want to increase their personal holdings of silver and gold. Investors also focused on the possibility of a coordinated currency-intervention by U.S. authorities and Japanese authorities. The criminal investigation by the Trump administration into Fed chairman Jerome Powell is also overshadowing this week's Federal Reserve Meeting, where the central bank will be expected to keep rates unchanged. Powell has been under pressure from Trump to lower interest rates. This would support?non yielding gold which has gained 18% this year, after 64% gains in 2025. Gold reached major milestones last year. It was the first time that gold exceeded $3,000/oz or $4,000/oz. Some analysts say that gold may reach $6,000/oz by the end of the year. Analysts from Societe Generale predict gold will reach $6,000/oz before the end of the year, but caution that this is a conservative estimate and there may be room for more gains. Morgan Stanley, on the other hand, said that the rally may continue and highlighted a bull case target of $5700. Silver spot reached a record high of $113.61 per ounce. The price of silver broke through the $100 barrier on Friday, as momentum-driven and retail buyer buying contributed to the tightness in the physical markets. "Momentum has been strong. Chinese silver prices are at a significant premium over London prices. This indicates that further gains could be made in the near term. But such high prices will reduce industrial demand," said UBS Analyst Giovanni Staunovo. Spot palladium rose 6.2% to 2,135.22, its highest level since 2022, while spot platinum climbed 3% to an ounce of $2,849.60 after reaching a record high of $2,918.80.
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Shares jump as US backs $1.6 billion USA Rare Earth Funding
USA Rare Earth announced on Monday that Trump's administration will support a $1.6billion debt-and equity funding package for it to build a Texas magnet and mine facility to supply the defense and high tech sectors. Over the weekend, it was reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce had taken a 10% stake of USA Rare Earth in Oklahoma as part of an effort to?boost the production of critical materials and reduce reliance on the market leader China. USA Rare Earth shares grew 15% on Monday to $28.42. Rare earths are a grouping of 17 minor elements and magnets made of them can be found in many products including cell phones and fighter jets. They also appear in electric vehicles, medical kits, and even medical equipment. USA Rare Earth is developing a mine with Texas Mineral Resources in Sierra Blanca (Texas) that will be open by 2028. The company has a magnet production plant in Stillwater (Oklahoma) that is scheduled to open later this year. After taking stakes in MP Materials and Lithium Americas, Trilogy Metals is the latest investment to strengthen Washington's crucial minerals presence. DETAILS OF THE DEAL USA Rare Earth?said that it received a letter indicating $277 million of proposed federal funding, and $1.3 billion for a proposed senior secured loans under the CHIPS Act. Last year, it was reported that this was happening. Repurposed for funding minerals-related project. The deal excludes a price guarantee or a price floor that had been offered to MP Materials last year in a similar transaction. MP received a guaranteed price of $110 for each kilogram of light rare earths that it sells. Executives said that USA Rare Earth would need to purchase light rare earths from the market, and they assume it will pay $125 a kilogram. USA Rare Earth issuing 16.1 million shares of stock and approximately 17.6 million warrants. The company also raised $1.5 billion in private equity investment (PIPE), anchored by Inflection Point. Under this, it will issue 69,8 million shares for $21.50 per share. Inflection Point, a company with a specific purpose for acquisitions, helped USA Rare Earth to go public in the past year. Michael Blitzer, the chairman of each company, is a renowned businessman. Total investment of $3.1 billion, including the PIPE agreement and the government's proposed investment. Costs for the mine, magnet facilities?and other related projects will be around $4.1 billion. USA Rare Earth would still need an additional $600,000,000 to cover the cash and investments that were announced on Monday. The company has not yet lined up customers and is instead aiming to become a "safety-stock" that supplies niche products when needed. Executives believe this will result in a higher margin approach. On a conference call with investors, CEO Barbara Humpton said: "What is the cost of not having anything? That is what drives our early sales strategy." Last month, a senior Trump official stated that the administration is Planning more "historic" deals with the U.S. Mining sector . (Reporting from Ernest Scheyder, Shashwat Chandhu and Vallari Srivastava, in Bengaluru, and editing by Devika Syamnath and Shilpa Majumdar, and Alexander Smith).
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India and EU conclude talks on landmark trade agreement amid strained US-India relations
India and the European Union have completed negotiations on a long-coveted deal which will be announced Tuesday, said?the South Asian nation’s trade secretary on Monday. Both sides hail this agreement as?historic in light of strained U.S. relations. The agreement paves way for the free exchange of goods between India and the 27 European nations, who together account for a quarter the world's Gross Domestic Product and have a combined market of over 2 billion consumers. "It's a deal that is balanced and forward-looking for better integration of the EU into the economy." "The deal will boost trade and investment between both sides," said India's Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. The trade between the two countries reached $136.5 billion during the fiscal year ending March 2025. FLURRY OF TRADE DEALS An Indian government official who is familiar with the matter stated that formal signing will take place only after legal vetting, which could last up to six months. The official said, "We anticipate the deal will be implemented in a year." This agreement comes just days after the EU concluded a crucial?pact, with Mercosur in South America, and follows agreements last year with Indonesia Mexico and Switzerland. In the same time period, New Delhi signed agreements with Britain and New Zealand, as well as Oman. The deals show that the world is trying to protect itself from US threats, such as President Donald Trump's attempt to seize Greenland or his tariffs on European nations. After almost two decades of intermittent negotiations, India will open its largest and most protected market to the EU, which is its biggest trading partner. Last year, a fast-track agreement was reached on negotiating. India and the EU have been working to finalize the agreement after Prime Minister Narendra modi and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agreed last year to speed up the negotiations. After a nine-year hiatus, two-way talks re-launched in the year 2022 gained momentum when Trump imposed tariffs on certain trading partners. This included a 50% tax on goods imported from India. A trade agreement between India and the United States collapsed last summer due to a breakdown of communication between their governments. The EU and India were locked in a last-minute give-and-take over steel and cars, which was one of the final points. India, a major producer of steel, has been pressing the EU to "reduce trade restrictions on its steel exports". As part of the agreement, it was reported on Sunday that India planned to reduce tariffs on imported cars from the EU from up to 110% to as low as 40%. New Delhi insists on protecting millions of subsistence-farmers.
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Gold reaches record high of $5,100 due to geopolitical concerns
On Monday, gold prices reached record highs above $5,100 as investors sought refuge amid political tensions around the world. Silver and platinum prices also reached new records. By 10:13 am, spot gold had risen 2.3% to $5,096.60 an ounce. After hitting a new record of $5,110.50 at 1513 GMT ET, gold prices were up 2.3%. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery gained 2.3%, to $5 094.30. Gold prices are supported by the elevated level of geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability. Central banks continue to be strong buyers, as they diversify their foreign exchange reserves and decrease reliance on the U.S. Dollar," said Ryan McIntyre. McIntyre said that investor inflows to physically-backed exchange traded funds have resumed. Holdings are up by approximately 20% over the past year. TRUMP'S 100% TARIFF THREATEN ON CANADA Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that he would impose 100% tariffs on Canada if they follow through with a trade deal with China. Adrian Ash, BullionVault's head of research, said that "Trump and Trump" will be the main drivers for precious metals in 2018. This move is driven by a?wave of first-time investors. Private investors from Asia and Europe are leading the charge, as they rush to increase their personal gold and silver holdings. Investors also focused on the possibility of a coordinated currency-intervention by U.S. authorities and Japanese authorities. The criminal investigation by the Trump administration into Fed chairman Jerome Powell is also overshadowing this week's Federal Reserve Meeting, where the central bank will be expected to keep rates unchanged. Powell has been under pressure from Trump to lower interest rates. This would be a?supportive of non-yielding Gold, which has gained 18% this year so far after gaining 64 % in 2025. Gold reached major milestones last year. It was the first time that gold exceeded $3,000/oz or $4,000/oz. Some analysts say that gold may reach $6,000/oz by the end of the year. Analysts from Societe Generale predict gold will reach $6,000/oz before the end of the year, but they warn that this estimate may be conservative and there is still room for gains. Morgan Stanley, on the other hand, said that this rally could continue and highlighted a bull case target of $5700. Silver spot reached a new record high of $112.18 per ounce. The price of silver broke through the $100 barrier on Friday, as momentum-driven buying and retail investor?buying contributed to the tightness of the physical market for precious and industrial metal. "Momentum has been strong. Chinese silver prices are at a significant premium over London?prices. This indicates that further gains could be made in the near future. But such high prices will reduce industrial demand," said UBS Analyst Giovanni Staunovo. Spot palladium rose 6.2% to 2,133.75 dollars, its highest level since 2022.
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Canada PM Carney says that the review of USMCA will be thorough.
Mark Carney, Canadian prime minister, said that a review of the U.S. Mexico-Canada free trade deal, which is due to begin later this year, will be thorough. He described U.S. president Donald Trump as an aggressive negotiator. Carney said that some of Trump's recent criticisms should be seen in the context of USMCA negotiations. The three-nation agreement came into effect in July 2020. Trump, who has often mused about annexation of Canada, said last week that Canada " Because of the United States", and threatened on Saturday to impose 100% Tarif If Ottawa concludes a "trade agreement" with China, it will impose a tariff on all Canadian imports. Carney said that "we will soon enter a formal negotiation and review of the USMCA... we expect a robust'review. "The President is an able negotiator and I believe some of these comments and positions should be viewed within a broader context." Trump claimed earlier this month that the USMCA was not needed by the United States, calling it a "sham". You can also find out more about the other options here . (Reporting and editing by Chizu Nomiyama; David Ljunggren)
Hezbollah's chief in Lebanon says the group is concerned about confronting US threats against Iran
Naim Qassem said that the leader of Lebanon's Iran aligned Hezbollah, Naim, was worried about Washington's threats against Iran. He also expressed concern for any threat made by Washington towards Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ayatollah Khamenei.
The tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel have increased following a crackdown against protests in Iran that resulted in thousands of deaths in recent weeks. President Donald Trump suggested this could lead to an American response. Tehran warned that any attack against?Khamenei could trigger a "holy conflict".
"We are worried about what is happening and targeted by potential aggression. We are?determined?to defend ourselves. We will decide in due time how to proceed, whether we intervene or do not, but we are not neutral", Qassem stated in a television address.
Hezbollah's leader claimed that mediators told the group that the U.S., Israel and others were considering attacking it in the event of an attack on Iran. He said a war against?Iran would ignite the entire area this time.
Hezbollah suffered a severe blow in 2024, during the cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that Hezbollah claimed was to support Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire in 2024 that was mediated by the United States, but both sides have accused each other of violating it. Reporting by Laila Basam and Maya?Gebeily Writing by Jaidaa?Taha Editing Peter Graff
(source: Reuters)