How Precious Metals Continue to Define the Financial Landscape Amid Policy, Geopolitics, and Shifting Global Systems
In a week that could reshape momentum, gold and silver surged to unprecedented heights—driven by geopolitical tension, liquidity flows, and a dramatic squeeze in silver trading. As markets recalibrate, the coming days’ data will set the tone for metals, interest rates, and broader direction. Here’s a refreshed breakdown for Prime Assets readers.
Weekly Market Recap
Monday – October 13, 2025
Gold and silver both climbed to record levels: December gold reached $4,124.30/oz, and silver touched $50.56. The mixed pressures of the U.S. government shutdown and a steep short squeeze in silver markets drove demand for safe-haven assets. Traders even reportedly shipped silver bars from New York to London to exploit pricing gaps. Platinum and palladium saw gains as well. In Washington, the budget deadlock deepened after President Trump’s directive to lay off workers, and Democrats stood firm on tying resolution to health‑care and subsidies negotiations.
Tuesday – October 14, 2025
Metals pushed higher early, with gold spiking at $4,190.90 overnight and silver climbing to $52.49 before giving back some ground. By midday, gold traded around $4,151.80, and silver hovered at $50.38—suggesting the momentum may be moderating. Meanwhile, global markets softened after China sanctioned U.S. divisions of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, intensifying trade tensions. The shutdown remained a central factor. All eyes on Fed Chair Powell’s upcoming remarks, expected to reaffirm possible rate cuts later this year.
Wednesday – October 15, 2025
Gold again hit a new high overnight ($4,235.80), with December futures around $4,210 midday. Silver followed, reaching $51.55 as demand in safe havens intensified amid policy uncertainty and trade volatility. In London, thin silver inventories provoked additional pressure. Powell signaled that rate cuts may still lie ahead this month, bolstering the metals case, and even JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon—classically cautious on gold—called it “semi‑rational” to hold some.
Thursday – October 16, 2025
Gold and silver both marked fresh records overnight: December gold at $4,263.40 and silver at $52.89. Support came from technical flows, safe-haven demand, and renewed trade diplomacy. Treasury Secretary Bessent floated extending tariff pauses if China relaxed rare-earth export controls—drawing a pointed “you’re in one now” from President Trump regarding a trade war. Meanwhile, conflicting statements on foreign energy deals and a mixed Beige Book report underscored a bifurcated U.S. economic picture, with pockets of strength and weakness across regions.
Friday – October 17, 2025
Gold futures briefly hit $4,392 before easing back to $4,321; silver spiked to $53.77 and then settled nearer $52.43. The week ended with elevated caution in markets: global equities slid, U.S. regional bank struggles resurfaced (including losses at Zions’ California Bank & Trust and Western Alliance), and banking stocks shed over $100 billion in value this week alone. The U.S. dollar suffered its worst week in months as bond yields fell (10‑year dipping below 4%), and markets priced in roughly 53 basis points of Fed cuts by year-end. The IMF also warned that renewed U.S.–China trade friction could trim global growth by 0.3 percentage points.
Wall Street Buys 1,300+ Tonnes of Gold Before BRICS Currency Launch
The Big Picture
Major institutions and global central banks have accumulated over 1,300 tonnes of gold since 2022 as BRICS nations explore a shared currency platform. The thesis: momentum toward de‑dollarization is nudging allocations toward hard assets—and gold stands front and center.
Driving the News
The article frames the surge not as a panic reaction but a strategic hedge: entities preparing for perceived dollar erosion. BRICS’ plans to build a robust, non‑USD settlement architecture (rather than a new unit per se) appear to be accelerating that hedge. That shift has prompted flows into bullion, mining equities, and futures.
By the Numbers
- 1,300+ tonnes: Gold added by major institutions since 2022
- $4,043.30/oz: Cited gold futures peak (+52% YTD)
- 50+ nations: Already settling trade in yuan, rupee, ruble, etc.
- 70% → 58%: Dollar share decline in global reserves
- $700 billion: Estimated three-year increase in BRICS intra‑trade
- ETFs: 2024 marked the first year of gold ETF stability after three years of redemptions
Why It Matters
If BRICS non‑USD clearing endures, U.S. financial dominance may be challenged at the margins. That dynamic strengthens the case for supplemental allocation to assets outside direct USD exposure—especially gold. The timing is critical: institutions may reposition ahead of any currency-launch tipping points.
What to Watch
- BRICS infrastructure: settlement rails, governance, convertibility
- Capital flows: central-bank buying rate, ETF net flows, mining equity performance
- Trade dynamics: expanded non-USD payment share
- Crypto adjuncts: growing adoption of Bitcoin or similar as settlement alternatives
The Bottom Line
The 1,300+ tonne accumulation by institutional actors reinforces that the metals rally may reflect a structural repositioning—one that extends beyond cyclical flight. As BRICS rails mature and policy risks persist, gold continues to command strategic attention.
Wall Street Joins BRICS Gold Bull Run, Sees $10,000 Price Ahead
The Big Picture
Spot gold crossed $4,078.05/oz as mainline financial players amplify exposure to bullion in parallel with BRICS central banks. The narrative: this is not a panic move but a value‑realignment hedge ahead of broader de-dollarization. Bold forecasts point to $5,000 by 2026 and even $10,000 before 2030.
Driving the News
A pullback in U.S. equities, soft dollar action, revived trade risk, and strengthened rate-cut expectations fueled flows into gold. Simultaneously, BRICS nations are ratcheting up reserves and deploying settlement rails that tie gold directly to real assets—reinforcing long-duration hedges.
By the Numbers
- $4,078.05/oz: New all-time high
- +54% YTD: Price advance
- $5,000 → $10,000: Path forecasted by analysts
- >1,000 tonnes (2024): Additional central-bank accumulation
- ~12,500 tonnes: Combined BRICS reserves
- 70% cobalt / 90% niobium: BRICS share of critical minerals underpinning the infrastructure
Why It Matters
Rising gold allocations by institutional players and central banks suggest a structural shift in reserve thinking—tilting away from exclusive reliance on the U.S. dollar and toward tangible boundary‑resilient assets.
What to Watch
- Price thresholds: the journey toward $5,000 and beyond
- Flow metrics: central-bank buys, ETF demand, miner performance
- Macro triggers: Fed signals, trade headline shifts, dollar trends
- BRICS rails: adoption levels, conversion mechanisms, policy commitment
The Bottom Line
As BRICS and Wall Street increasingly align in gold, the narrative pivots from speculative to strategic. With parallel rails emerging, scenarios once dismissed (like $10,000/oz) gain plausibility in a rebalanced global system.
BRICS Currency Backed by Gold and XRP Shows Impressive Progress
The Big Picture
A proposal for a gold-backed BRICS currency leveraging the XRP Ledger is evolving past theory. China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa are reportedly testing interoperability, tokenization, and settlement architecture. The effort aims to redraw global financial plumbing—minimizing reliance on Western rails.
Driving the News
Analysis of regulatory documents and pilot disclosures suggest that BRICS central banks and the New Development Bank are experimenting with XRPL features like escrow and automated settlement. Brazil’s central bank even named Ripple in public research, and private-sector firms are reportedly piloting token-based finance. Russia’s parliament confirmed that national digital currencies are being aligned with this structure. Meanwhile, China and Russia continue to boost gold reserves as foundational backing.
By the Numbers
- 2020s: Initiation of XRPL pilot efforts
- 2026: Target window for official launch
- 2+ nations (China, Russia): Publicly expanding gold reserves for systemic support
- 5: Member nations participating in XRPL-linked development
Why It Matters
This initiative signals a direct challenge to USD supremacy. Bypassing SWIFT and U.S.-dominated banks, countries can route payments through ledger systems invisible to traditional channels. Gold acts as the anchor; XRP becomes a digital transit layer.
What to Watch
- Launch timing: date and scope of integration
- Scope and scale: how deeply XRPL features embed into national rails
- India’s posture: balancing caution with participation
- Reserve behaviors: continued gold purchases across BRICS
- Ledger expansion: increased pilot participation and tech scaling
The Bottom Line
The progression from concept to pilot shows that the BRICS gold‑XRP model may not remain theoretical. As infrastructure, policy alignment, and technical shifts converge, a parallel financial ecosystem may gain substance—setting a new frame for global settlement dynamics.
Next Week’s Economic Calendar
October 20–24, 2025 (ET)
| Date | Event |
| Monday, Oct 20 | 10:00 am — U.S. Leading Economic Indicators (Sept.) |
| Tuesday, Oct 21 | None scheduled |
| Wednesday, Oct 22 | None scheduled |
| Thursday, Oct 23 | 8:30 am — Initial Jobless Claims 10:00 am — Existing Home Sales |
| Friday, Oct 24 | 8:30 am — Consumer Price Index (Sept.) 9:45 am — S&P Global Flash U.S. Services PMI (Oct.) 9:45 am — S&P Global Flash U.S. Manufacturing PMI (Oct.) 10:00 am — Consumer Sentiment (final) |
Impact on Precious Metals Markets
- Leading Economic Indicators (Mon, 10:00 am ET)
↑ LEI: Forward momentum; risk-on tone → bearish for metals
↓ LEI: Slower growth; caution tone → bullish for metals - Initial Jobless Claims (Thu, 8:30 am ET)
↑ Claims: Softening labor → bullish for gold/silver
↓ Claims: Strong labor → bearish for metals - Existing Home Sales (Thu, 10:00 am ET)
↑ Sales: Resilience → bearish for metals
↓ Sales: Slowdown risk → bullish for metals - Consumer Price Index (Fri, 8:30 am ET)
↑ CPI: Inflation risk → bearish for metals
↓ CPI: Easing pressure → bullish for metals - S&P Global PMIs (Fri, 9:45 am ET)
↑ PMI: Growth optimism → bearish for metals
↓ PMI: Contraction concerns → bullish for metals - Consumer Sentiment (Fri, 10:00 am ET)
↑ Sentiment: Higher spending, yields support → bearish for metals
↓ Sentiment: Risk-off tone → bullish for metals
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