Clint Siegner
Money Metals Exchange
The rapidly eroding confidence in our institutions gets plenty of news coverage. We expect it will be a dominant theme for investors in the years ahead.
Investing success may require correctly answering the question about what to own in a world where free market forces are taking a back seat to crooked politicians and incompetent central planners.
The guilty verdict against Donald Trump is currently the biggest news story. It would be a mistake to ignore the impact an event like this has on investor psychology.
Kevin O’Leary, of Shark Tank fame, summed it up this way:
"The American brand has been dragged through the mud, sunk to the level of a banana republic where rulers take their political enemies out to the jungle to disappear."
The rule of law is what makes the U.S. much more investable than Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, the Trump story isn’t the only thing shaking confidence. It isn’t even the only one from last week.
On Thursday, Chuck Schumer and 22 other Democrat legislators sent a letter imploring the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute anticompetitive behavior in the oil and gas industry.
The editorial board at the Wall Street Journal says the evidence supporting allegations of price collusion is flimsy. The Federal Trade Commission is looking to scapegoat the industry for higher fuel prices. Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, and Democrats generally are certainly eager to avoid the blame.
Regulators always tend to be captured and ineffective, but they now seem to have stopped paying anything more than lip service to the notion of impartiality.
Recent events have been an eye-opener for Americans and they are more nervous by the day.
That has implications for investing.
In decades past, large-cap oil and gas stocks performed as a solid investment and a good hedge against inflation.
Today, investors have other factors to consider before buying shares.
They have to wonder whether or not the company can avoid price controls and/or a politically motivated prosecution by the Department of Justice.
The stories keep coming, and the bull market in uncertainty is beginning to roar.
Picking winners and losers from the universe of conventional assets – stocks, bonds, and money markets – will be a challenge. Oil stocks are a great example. It might make sense to own them, but you definitely can’t ignore the politics.
This is one reason gold and silver bullion have gotten more attention from investors, and it is why even more inflows of investment into the monetary metals are probably coming.
Money Metals Exchange and its staff do not act as personal investment advisors for any specific individual. Nor do we advocate the purchase or sale of any regulated security listed on any exchange for any specific individual. Readers and customers should be aware that, although our track record is excellent, investment markets have inherent risks and there can be no guarantee of future profits. Likewise, our past performance does not assure the same future. You are responsible for your investment decisions, and they should be made in consultation with your own advisors. By purchasing through Money Metals, you understand our company not responsible for any losses caused by your investment decisions, nor do we have any claim to any market gains you may enjoy. This Website is provided “as is,” and Money Metals disclaims all warranties (express or implied) and any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, legality, reliability, or availability of any content on the Website.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD recovers to 1.1750 region as 2025 draws to a close
Following the bearish action seen in the European session on Wednesday, EUR/USD regains its traction and recovery to the 1.1750 region. Nevertheless, the pair's volatility remains low as trading conditions thin out on the last day of the year.
GBP/USD stays weak near 1.3450 on modest USD recovery
GBP/USD remains under modest beairsh pressure and fluctuates at around 1.3450 on Wednesday. The US Dollar finds fresh demand due to the end-of-the-year position adjustments, weighing on the pair amid the pre-New Year trading lull.
USD/JPY rises to near 156.60 as US Dollar Index refreshes weekly high
The USD/JPY pair trades 0.2% higher to near 156.60 during the late Asian trading session on Wednesday. The pair gains as the US Dollar trades higher, following the release of the Federal Open Market Committee minutes of the December policy meeting showed on Tuesday.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD Price Annual Forecast: Growth to displace central banks from the limelight in 2026 Premium
What a year! Donald Trump’s return to the United States (US) Presidency was no doubt what led financial markets throughout 2025. His not-always-unexpected or surprising decisions shaped investors’ sentiment, or better said, unprecedented uncertainty.
US Dollar Price Annual Forecast: 2026 set to be a year of transition, not capitulation Premium
The US Dollar (USD) enters the new year at a crossroads. After several years of sustained strength driven by US growth outperformance, aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed) tightening, and recurrent episodes of global risk aversion, the conditions that underpinned broad-based USD appreciation are beginning to erode, but not collapse.
GBP/USD Price Annual Forecast: Will 2026 be another bullish year for Pound Sterling? Premium
Having wrapped up 2025 on a positive note, the Pound Sterling (GBP) eyes another meaningful and upbeat year against the US Dollar (USD) at the start of 2026.
Gold Price Annual Forecast: 2026 could see new record-highs but a 2025-like rally is unlikely Premium
Gold hit multiple new record highs throughout 2025. Trade-war fears, geopolitical instability and monetary easing in major economies were the main drivers behind Gold’s rally.
Top 10 crypto predictions for 2026: Institutional demand and big banks could lift Bitcoin
Bitcoin’s (BTC) adoption story is unraveling and the king crypto could see institutional demand return in 2026. Crypto asset managers like Grayscale are betting on Bitcoin’s rally to a new all-time high next year, and themes like Bitcoin as a reserve asset are emerging.
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