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Gold prices have lost nearly 11% since the Iran war began, and reasons to buy are piling up again

Section: Daily Dispatches

By Myra P. Saefong
MarketWatch, New York
Monday, April 27, 2026

The value of gold has declined by nearly 11% since the Iran war began in late February, but opportunity in the precious-metals market for investors isn't just about that decline in prices: The rally in oil is expected to help boost gold's appeal too.

Royal Canadian Mint says its gold is traceable and clean, but it comes from a Colombian drug gang

Section: Daily Dispatches

Royal Canadian Mint says its gold is traceable and clean, but it comes from a Colombian drug cartel

By Justin Scheck
The New York Times
Monday, April 27, 2026

In the shadowy global gold industry, where terrorists, drug dealers, and dictators launder illegally mined gold into the mainstream market, one major supplier says buyers can count on its product to be clean and ethically sourced.

U.S. trade chief urges allies to pay more for critical minerals to undermine China

Section: Daily Dispatches

By Aime Williams
Financial Times, London
Wednesday, April 22 2026

President Trump's top trade official has told U.S. allies they must pay more for critical minerals sourced from outside China as Washington tries to break Beijing's stranglehold on supplies.

Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, said American allies must be ready to pay a "national security premium" for the minerals, which would be sourced from within a proposed group of trading partners including Europe.

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U.S. Mint buys drug cartel gold and sells it as 'American'

Section: Daily Dispatches

By Justin Scheck, Simon Posada, and Federico Rios
The New York Times
Sunday, April 26, 2026

Every year the United States Mint sells more than $1 billion of investment-grade gold coins. Each is stamped with an icon like the bald eagle, signifying the government’s guarantee, required by law, that the gold is 100 percent American.

"To hold a coin or medal produced by the Mint is to connect to the founding principles of our nation," the Mint declares.

But a New York Times investigation has found that the government's program of gold sales is based on a lie.

Will China's deal with Australian mining giant BHP boost yuan internationalization?

Section: Daily Dispatches

Sylvia Ma and Kandy Wong
South China Morning Post, Hong Kong
Friday, April 24, 2026

Australian mining giant BHP's decision to adopt a yuan-denominated index for a major Chinese buyer poses a challenge to the U.S. dollar's long-standing dominance in iron ore pricing, delivering a hard-won victory for Beijing, analysts said.

Treasury secretary sees potential new swap lines as boost to dollar's dominance

Section: Daily Dispatches

By Daniel Flatley
Bloomberg News
Friday, April 24, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent talked up the idea of extending currency swap lines to more countries as a way to strengthen "dollar dominance" in a social media post today as speculation continues over why rich countries such as the United Arab Emirates would be interested in the arrangement.