Author: Money Mechanics

Gold remains under pressure as a strong US dollar and hawkish Fed expectations weigh on prices. Central bank speeches and US payrolls data could determine gold’s near-term direction. The technical outlook stays bearish unless prices reclaim key resistance above $4,100. has slipped back below the symbolic $4,000-an-ounce level this week, touching around $3,960 on Tuesday morning, its lowest level in eight months. The decline has been driven largely by expectations that US monetary policy could remain tighter for longer. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish tone has strengthened expectations of a rate hike before year-end, supporting the US dollar while…

Stone Ridge Asset Management has grown assets under management across its mutual catastrophe bond, insurance-linked securities and reinsurance fund strategies by more than 8% in the last quarter of record, with additional AUM growth in the following weeks taking them to around $7 billion, a new all-time high.The New York based alternative risk premia focused investment manager has now expanded its insurance-linked securities (ILS) assets under management across its two main dedicated mutual cat bond and ILS fund strategies, as well as its diversified alternatives fund, by an impressive almost 29% in the last year of record, adding $1.5 billion…

When AI agents begin working for people — and increasingly for one another — they will need a way to find jobs, pay for services, and build trust. Crypto exchange OKX is betting that future is closer than many expect, launching a marketplace where AI agents can hire one another, settle payments autonomously, and build portable on-chain reputations. Called OKX AI, the marketplace opens to developers on Tuesday following a closed beta involving 50 early AI service providers. The marketplace builds on technology OKX previously developed to let AI agents hold digital wallets, make payments using stablecoins, and establish persistent…

(Oil & Gas 360) By Greg Barnett, MBA – The June 2026 Monthly Energy Review confirmed something that would have been almost unimaginable a generation ago: the United States has largely solved its domestic energy supply problem. Oil production remains near record levels. Natural gas production remains abundant. Energy exports continue to balance a system capable of producing more energy than the nation consumes. The shale revolution did not simply reshape American energy markets. It fundamentally altered America’s position within the global energy system. Yet almost simultaneously, markets continue to behave as though energy scarcity remains a genuine concern. Oil prices…

Jonathan Van Ness has candidly spoken out about a “devastating” family incident, revealing that they were forced to rehome their dog after he attacked their cat and left her in the hospital with life-threatening injuries.Van Ness, 39, who is nonbinary and uses he, she, and they pronouns, shared the emotional update on their Instagram account, where the “Queer Eye” star explained that their dog, George, had been removed from their home in New York City after getting into a confrontation with their cat, Liza.Liza’s jaw was broken in the altercation and the feline had to undergo emergency surgery. “This is…

Gold (GC=F) August futures opened at $4,101.10 per troy ounce on Monday, June 29, 2026, essentially flat, up 0.1%, from Friday’s closing price of $4,096.30. As of 7:58 a.m. ET, the price of gold was $4,051.10 a.m. ET. Gold prices have been relatively steady since last week. For comparison, gold prices opened up last Monday at $4,163.90, compared to $4,101.10 this morning. All eyes will be on the June jobs report this Thursday. If the labor market shows strength or resilience, the Fed can squarely focus on its other mandate: controlling inflation. The consumer sentiment report is also due this…

Gold notched a notable turn in June, slipping into negative year-to-date territory after a sharp pullback from its January peak. The decline marked a sharp break from the metal’s powerful 12-month rally, as a stronger U.S. dollar, higher Treasury yields, easing safe-haven demand tied to the Iran conflict, and lingering inflation concerns all appeared to weigh on prices. For investors, the question has pivoted from “how long will the rally last?” to “is this a normal correction—and, if so, is it a buying opportunity or a signal that further declines are on the way?” Fundamentally, gold still offers some vital…

File photo: The Japanese national flag flies in front of the container pier in the Tokyo port.Toshifumi Kitamura | Afp | Getty ImagesChina on Monday blacklisted four Japanese government defense research institutes and imposed tighter export restrictions on dozens of other Japanese entities, escalating a months-long campaign to restrict Tokyo’s access to dual-use goods, including rare earth minerals. The Ministry of Commerce added 20 entities, including the National Institute for Defense Studies and research centers for ground, naval, and air systems, to the export control list. Several units under Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were also targeted. Domestic exporters,…

One of the oldest homes in California’s wine country has been brought to the market for the first time in more than a decade—having changed hands on only a few occasions since it was built for one of Sonoma County’s most prominent “pioneering settlers.” Built in 1868, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom Greek Revival home in Healdsburg is referred to as Hassett’s Ranch in honor of John D. Hassett, the man who commissioned it all those years ago, when it was seen as “one of the most prestigious homes of its era,” according to the listing.Now on the market for $3.9 million,…

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com While on holiday in France, I got an email from reporter Susan Tompor asking about the current attractiveness of Series I Savings Bonds. Are these investments drawing more attention as inflation rises? My immediate reaction was, “yes, definitely.” But I added, “For savvy investors seeking inflation protection, TIPS are the more attractive investment right now, because market real yields have moved much higher than the 0.90% fixed rate on I Bonds.” Responding to Tompor, my advice on I Bonds was to hold off on 2026 purchases until at least mid-October, when we will know the new…