Gold prices reflect a shift in paradigm – Part I

401(k) Hardship Withdrawals Hit Record High The AI bubble and data center buildout have helped catapult equity markets to new highs (pre-Middle East conflict), minting a record number of 401(k) millionaires. However, beneath the surface, hardship withdrawals from 401(k) plans have also climbed to a record, reinforcing the view that the K-shaped economy is becoming more entrenched. Vanguard's How America Saves 2025 report shows that hardship withdrawal activity "increased to a new high" of 6% in 2025, up from 4.8% in 2024 and about 2% before the pandemic. The increase marks the...

The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed new Iran-related sanctions, a day before US and Iranian officials will meet for another round of talks in Geneva amid the major US military buildup in the Middle East. The Treasury Department said that it imposed sanctions on more than 30 sanctions on individuals, entities, and vessels accused of […]

The US military confirmed that a P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft transited the Taiwan Strait. China says it monitored the Navy’s plane.  “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” a statement from the 7th Fleet said, adding that the […]