Precious Metals and Market News

Gold and silver slip as Hormuz attacks lift oil, Fed-risk premium - Kitco PM Report - (Kitco NewsWire) - Spot gold and silver prices are weaker late Tuesday in North American trade, as higher Treasury yields, a firmer dollar and renewed Strait of Hormuz attacks offset the support metals had carried after last week’s weak payrolls report.

China’s central bank buys the dip, increasing gold reserves by 15 tonnes in June - (Kitco News) - As many analysts expected, central banks used gold’s further selloff last month to tactically increase their official gold reserves, with the People’s Bank of China continuing to dominate the market.

Digital gold could unlock bullion's next bull market by solving liquidity challenges, but trust remains a challenge - Gold Token SA’s Hemecker - (Kitco News) - Not only has gold surpassed U.S. Treasuries to become the world’s top central bank reserve asset, but the recent global energy crisis provoked by the war in Iran has proven the precious metal’s worth as an important source of liquidity, and according to one market executive, the yellow metal's evolution is just beginning.

Hong Kong begins trial of new central gold trading system, with first transactions complete and first bullion deposited - (Kitco News) – Hong Kong has begun the trial operation of a new central clearing and settlement system for gold, part of a broader set of policy and market initiatives intended to strengthen the city’s position as an international hub for the precious metals market.Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) announced the launch of the initiative earlier today.

Gold correction has reset the market, but MKS’ Shiels still sees $4,500 average price in 2026 - (Kitco News) - Gold's sharp correction from its record highs may have rattled investors, but MKS PAMP is urging them not to mistake the recent selloff for the end of the precious metal's secular bull market.

Gold and silver’s 2026 price lows are likely in, and a return to fundamentals will see renewed gains – Sprott’s Hemke - (Kitco News) – It’s been a frustrating four months for precious metals investors since the Iran War caused inflation expectations and rate hike projections to rise. But the lows of the year for gold and silver prices are already in, and gold and silver should begin benefitting from the long-term rally’s drivers once again, according to Craig Hemke at Sprott Money.

Gold holds above $4,100 as Fed minutes, Hormuz risk lift yields - Kitco AM Report - (Kitco NewsWire) - Spot gold prices are modestly higher and spot silver prices are weaker ahead of the North American market open Tuesday, as traders faded part of last week’s payrolls-led rally while Treasury yields, the U.S. dollar and crude oil prices moved higher. At the time of writing, spot gold was trading near $4,169.39 an ounce, up 0.10%, while spot silver was trading near $61.397, dow...

Gold, silver down and can’t escape the anchor of Fed rate hikes - Kitco PM Report - (Kitco News) - Spot gold and silver prices were weaker following the North American equities close, with traders fading part of last week’s jobs-led rebound while keeping Wednesday’s Federal Reserve minutes and Strait of Hormuz headlines in view.

Gold price may have found its floor as liquidation gives way to consolidation – Saxo Bank - (Kitco News) - Although gold prices have been unable to break initial resistance above $4,200, one market strategist expects the worst of the selling pressure from the months-long correction may now be over.

Natixis sticks with $4,600 gold target as central banks prepare to ramp up buying - (Kitco News) - Although gold has corrected sharply from its record highs above $5,500 an ounce, one precious metals analyst says the pullback has done little to alter the market's long-term bullish fundamentals, maintaining that prices can still end the year around $4,600 an ounce.

Higher Electricity Rates In Blue States Linked To Renewable Energy Policies - Higher Electricity Rates In Blue States Linked To Renewable Energy Policies Authored by AG News Staff via American Greatness, A new analysis by Always On Energy Research and the Institute for Energy Research concludes that renewable energy mandates and net-zero policies have contributed to higher electricity prices in states that adopted them, while states with fewer climate-relat...

Futures Slide, Oil Jumps After Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire Over - Futures Slide, Oil Jumps After Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire Over Markets are on the backfoot this morning with equity futures and macro credit under pressure, bond yields spiking, the USD higher, and oil jumping after President Trump thrust geopolitical risks back into focus by declaring the ceasefire between the US and Iran to be over calling it “a waste of time” after the US lau...

NATO Chief Backs Renewed US Strikes On Iran As 'Absolutely Necessary'  - NATO Chief Backs Renewed US Strikes On Iran As 'Absolutely Necessary'  Even if most individual NATO members are still reluctant to jump on board Trump's Iran war, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is busy praising American military action there amid the annual summit in Ankara. Rutte has freshly described the overnight fresh US military strikes on Iran in response to Tehran attack...

Senate Defense Bill Would Establish Fund For Government To Buy Into Private Companies - Senate Defense Bill Would Establish Fund For Government To Buy Into Private Companies Authored by Kevin Stocklin via The Epoch Times, A new bill in Congress would enshrine into law the ability of the executive branch to buy into private companies, and create a fund to finance the purchases. The Pentagon in Arlington, Va., in this file photo. Carolyn Kaster/AP The current Senate v...

Trump Tells Bessent To Halt US Trade With Spain, Calls Madrid A "Wasted Cause" - Trump Tells Bessent To Halt US Trade With Spain, Calls Madrid A "Wasted Cause" During a NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off trade with Spain over defense spending. "I didn't speak to Spain. Spain is a wasted cause. We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore," Trump told reporters. "By the way, I'd like you ...

Most Americans Don't Believe NATO Would Assist If The Country Were Attacked - Most Americans Don't Believe NATO Would Assist If The Country Were Attacked Via The Libertarian Institute Most Americans do not believe that European members of the North Atlantic Alliance would come to the United States' aid if attacked.  Politico reported that a NATO poll found that just 43% of Americans believe the bloc would assist the US if needed. While Politico was unable ...

"They're Scum": Trump Says US-Iran Ceasefire Is Over, Sending Oil Higher - "They're Scum": Trump Says US-Iran Ceasefire Is Over, Sending Oil Higher Brent crude futures jumped more than 6% in London after President Trump told reporters at a press conference in Ankara that the tentative ceasefire with Iran is over. "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore; they're scum," Trump told reporters.  Trump says the ceasefire between U.S...

Prospective Homebuyers Face Another Year Without Affordability Relief - Prospective Homebuyers Face Another Year Without Affordability Relief Goldman economist Ronnie Walker has some bad news for prospective homebuyers: while the housing market appears soft but broadly stabilizing, affordability pressures are unlikely to abate anytime soon. Walker expects mortgage rates to remain elevated through next year, while national home prices are still forecas...

US Bitcoin Reserve Stalls As Treasury And Commerce Vie For Control: Report - US Bitcoin Reserve Stalls As Treasury And Commerce Vie For Control: Report Authored by Micah Zimmerman via BitcoinMagazine.com, Sixteen months after President Donald Trump ordered his administration to build a federal bitcoin reserve, the White House says it is still working out how the fund should be structured, and a dispute between two departments has slowed the effort, accordi...

How America's Wealth Distribution Has Changed Over The Last 40 Years - How America's Wealth Distribution Has Changed Over The Last 40 Years Wealth reflects the value of everything households own, including homes, stocks, businesses, and savings, minus what they owe. Because different wealth groups own very different mixes of assets, long-term market trends can reshape how the nation’s wealth is divided. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Boyan Gi...

Only 5% of U.S. adults can ace this 8-question financial-literacy test. Can you? - Financial literacy just hit a 10-year low — and it is devastating bank accounts.

It can take as little as 5 minutes online to get prescribed a GLP-1 for weight loss. Why that’s risky. - The research suggests that these companies prioritize “quick prescriptions” over good care

As a red-hot global stock market stumbles into bear territory, this Wall Street bull spots a dip worth buying - Tom Lee of Fundstrat says he’s buying the dip, and not scared off by Samsung’s losses

I found a simple way to save money on frozen pizza. What’s your best money-saving trick? - “I changed my approach to cooking.”

Kevin Warsh plans to stop scripting the Fed’s next moves. It could trigger a wild ride for traders. - James Bullard, a former president of the St. Louis Federal Reserve, said Fed Chair Kevin Warsh could decide on policy changes without signaling to the market first, sparking volatility

It was the world’s hottest stock market. Now South Korea has entered bear territory. - The cumulative impact of several different narratives — competition, sustainability, excessive leverage, international outflows — has sapped the Korean market of its upward mobility since clocking up a record high in June.

Oil prices jump by the most in two months after Trump suggests U.S.-Iran cease-fire is over - Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate contracts climbed on President Donald Trump saying dealing with Tehran is “a waste of time”

‘I’d hate to end up with an unexpected tax bill’: I’m 73 and still work full time. Can I avoid paying taxes on my Social Security benefits? - “I’m actually earning more each week than I ever have before.”

Dakota Johnson quickly sells $6 million midcentury modern home in L.A. - “Fifty Shades” star Dakota Johnson has officially sold her stunning Los Angeles home for just a few dollars under her $6 million asking price—just days after putting it on the market.

After selling her $5 million Westchester home, Drew Barrymore shows off her RV - Drew Barrymore is going back to basics for her summer getaway this year—revealing that she is ready to take an adventure in an RV.

Trump says Iran ceasefire is 'over' after latest round of strikes - The president was asked about the ceasefire after an escalation of fighting in the Middle East.

Fed meeting minutes to show 'family fight' over rates. The squabble could drag on for a while - There have been few instances over the past 35 years or so when the Fed has only made one rate move, be it up or down.

Bezos' Blue Origin valued at $130 billion in first public fundraising round - Bezos' Blue Origin is raising outside capital in a round valuing the rocket company at $130 billion, sources told CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Apple commits $30 billion to Broadcom for U.S. chipmaking push - Apple is expanding its Broadcom partnership in a $30 billion-plus chipmaking agreement, its largest American manufacturing commitment to date.

Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Netflix, SpaceX, Apple, Wynn, Block, Strategy, General Motors & more - Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Wednesday.

Christine Lagarde leaves door open to early ECB exit, as she mulls French politics - The European Central Bank's Christine Lagarde has declined to rule out an early end to her term as president, as she mulls a foray into French politics.

Job seekers giving up: Labor force participation rate falls to lowest in 50 years, outside of Covid era - A drop in the unemployment rate helped provide some upside to what was an otherwise downbeat jobs report — but it was for all the wrong reasons.

U.S. job creation cools in June with payrolls growth of just 57,000; unemployment rate at 4.2% - Nonfarm payrolls were expected to rise by 115,000 in June and the unemployment rate to hold steady at 4.3%.

Europe wants to rebalance trade with Beijing, but can't quit Chinese air conditioners - A historic heat wave has driven unprecedented demand for Chinese-made air conditioners in Europe, underscoring the tough task Brussels faces in rebalancing trade with Beijing.

World Cup could boost the June jobs report by 40,000, Goldman estimates - Nonfarm payrolls are projected to post a gain of 115,000, according to the Dow Jones consensus.

China gold reserves rose in June the most since 2023 even as bullion tumbled - By Dylan Duan and ​Ryan WooReutersTuesday, July 7, 2026 China's central bank reported its biggest monthly increase in gold reserves ​in more than 2 1/2 ‌years in June, official data showed today, though bullion prices tumbled. The People's Bank of China maintained gold purchases for a ​20th straight month, with its reserves ​hitting 75.44 million fine troy ounces by the ⁠end of June, versus 74....

Hong Kong begins trial operation of gold clearing and settlement system - Enoch Yiu, Julie Zhang and Wynna WongSouth China Morning Post, Hong KongTuesday, July 7, 2026 Hong Kong inaugurated on Tuesday the trial operation of a gold clearing and settlement system, a step toward building the city into a trading hub and price-setter for the precious metal. The decision was announced at the Hong Kong FIC & Bond Connect Summit by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who haile...

Citi to join 'club' of clearing banks controlling London gold market - By Leslie HookFinancial Times, LondonMonday, July 6, 2026 Citigroup is set to join the "club" of banks that control London's $200 billion-a-day physical bullion market, as the U.S. bank expands its reach into precious metals at a time of huge volatility for gold and silver. The bank is the first new clearing member to join the biggest gold market in a decade, and will bring to five the total nu...

Gold market manipulation hasn't gone away and GATA still needs your help - 10:55a ET Wednesday, June 24, 2026 Dear Friend of GATA and Gold (and Silver): The last year has been dramatic for the monetary metals. Sharp increases in price, indicative of short squeezes, have been offset by counterintuitive downward smashes even as a major war has broken out while another has intensified. News reports and analysis have emphasized the role of some central banks as major long...

Will this be the month of liberation for the monetary metals? - 10:19a ET Sunday, July 5, 2026 Dear Friend of GATA and Gold: A friend from the U.S. heartland writes:  "Over the decades we gold bugs have seen numerous rumors of gold price surges, crashes, and coming disasters of one sort or another come and go without materializing. So naturally I am skeptical of the latest one making the rounds about prices gravitating to China from London and New York.  "N...

Consumer “Inflation Expectations” Throw the Fed another Curveball - The Fed watches inflation expectations closely. It wants them to remain “anchored.” But consumer inflation expectations have become unanchored.

Home Prices in the Largest Countries of Europe in Q1 2026, from Splendid Housing Bubbles to a Market that’s Back to 2010 - Prices for Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Czechia, Finland, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria.

My Take on the Zero-Sum New-Vehicle Market in the US: Decades of Stagnation & Decline Interrupted by Steep Plunges - But not all automakers are losers in this tough market.

Standard, commemorative ₦100 notes remain legal tender – CBN - The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed that both the standard ₦100 banknote and the commemorative ₦100 banknote remain legal tender and must be accepted for all transactions across the ...

SpaceX's first bitcoin wallet movements in six months likely don't signal sales - Onchain trackers found the newly public company shifted a tiny amount of bitcoin between its own addresses. Nothing reached an exchange.

Bitcoin's inflation quagmire gets stickier as renewed MidEast conflict sends oil price soaring - Your day-ahead look for July 8, 2026

Crypto and stocks tumble after Trump declares ceasefire 'over' following Iran strikes - Bitcoin fell, altcoins slid after Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is "over" as U.S. and Iran traded airstrikes.

Reserve Bank of India still favors crypto prohibition to curtail tax evasion: Reuters - Indian regulators maintained a hawkish stance despite the growing embrace of digital assets and technology by governments worldwide.

Validators embrace XRP Ledger's recent upgrade. But not everyone’s on board yet - The new software leads among the network's validators, yet by node count it sits behind the older v3.1.3, and the security amendment bundled with it remains a separate, slower vote. The upgrade needs 80% of the trusted validator list to activate.

Live markets: Bitcoin drops to $62,000, stocks slide, oil soars as Iran ceasefire collapses - Hedge funds have turned the most bearish on the yen since 2007, boosting bets on further losses to nearly 138,000 contracts as of June 30.

Bitcoin under pressure as Trump says Iran ceasefire is over - Major cryptocurrencies are trading in the red as renewed U.S.-Iran airstrikes push oil higher.

BlackRock-backed Securitize slides 40% after SPAC debut despite tokenization boom - The decline fits into a pattern of recently-public digital asset companies sliding after debut, Arca's Jeff Dorman said.

Crypto exchange Kraken is trying to become a bank in Europe - Kraken's focus is on Lithuania as the jurisdiction to secure the license, according to a person familiar with the plans.

SpaceX IPO powers record $3.86 billion in tokenized equities trading in June - SpaceX tokens captured $1.19 billion, or 31% of total monthly volume, with Backpack’s SPCX leading trading at $1.08 billion.

Musk’s SpaceXAI and Cursor Set to Launch First Joint AI Model as Soon as Wednesday - Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI and code editor Cursor plan to release their first jointly built AI model as soon as Wednesday, according to an internal memo. Preparing For Launch, No Pun Intended SpaceXAI, the artificial intelligence (AI) arm of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is preparing to release its first jointly developed AI model with Cursor as soon […]

Polymarket Switches on Instant Bitcoin Lightning Deposits, Cutting 60-Minute Waits to Under a Second - Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market, has enabled instant bitcoin deposits over the Lightning Network, with new rails powered by the Spark protocol crediting funds in under one second. Opening up New Avenues Polymarket has switched on instant bitcoin deposits via the Lightning Network, a payments layer built on top of the Bitcoin network (powered […]

Vaneck: Saylor’s Strategy Sold $135 Million in Bitcoin Without Tapping Its $1.25 Billion Monetization Program - Vaneck Head of Digital Assets Research Matthew Sigel says the roughly $135 million in bitcoin Strategy sold last week did not draw down the company’s $1.25 billion BTC Monetization Program, leaving that capacity fully intact. On Strategy’s Side, Somewhat Strategy Inc.’s (Nasdaq: MSTR) latest bitcoin sales did not count against the company’s previously announced $1.25 […]

Russia Drops Wallet Reporting From Its Final Crypto Bill: Here’s What the Law Now Says - Russia’s State Duma Financial Markets Committee has approved the final version of the country’s landmark crypto bill, dropping mandatory wallet-address reporting and clearing the way for a second reading. A Major Reform Is Underway Russia’s parliamentary Committee on Financial Markets has approved the final version of the country’s sweeping digital currency bill, clearing the path […]

Saylor: Bitcoin Needs Just 3.3% Annual Growth for Strategy to Fund STRC Dividends ‘Indefinitely’ - Strategy Inc. (Nasdaq: MSTR) executive chairman Michael Saylor says bitcoin only needs to appreciate faster than 3.3% a year for the company’s capital gains to fund its STRC dividends indefinitely, calling the metric behind that math one of the most misunderstood attached to the stock. Speaking His Mind, as Always Michael Saylor is once again […]

Plaintiffs Alleges "Harassment by Posting of … News Accounts … Referenc[ing His] Ongoing Litigation … [with] His Ex-Wife" - A court refuses to order defendant to stop such posting.

Today in Supreme Court History: July 8, 1941 - 7/8/1941: Justice James Byrnes takes oath. The post Today in Supreme Court History: July 8, 1941 appeared first on Reason.com.

Trump Administration Continues Push for Liberalized Gun Rules - The ATF is reconsidering some of its dumber regulations as the feds sue states with restrictive gun laws.

Brickbat: Friends in High Places - A court sentenced former Singapore Traffic Police officer Shivasuria Maniam Kesaval to 16 months in jail after he unlawfully accessed… The post Brickbat: Friends in High Places appeared first on Reason.com.

Open Thread - What’s on your mind?

Supreme Court Begins Answering Lingering Questions About Constitutional Constraints on Gun Control - After upholding the Second Amendment rights of drug users and carry permit holders, the justices will address the constitutionality of "assault weapon" bans.

$150K Settlement as to Community College "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility" Requirements for Teaching - The Institute for Free Speech, which represented Bakersfield College Prof. Daymon Johnson, reports: Johnson has secured a settlement that makes… The post $150K Settlement as to Community College "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility" Requirements for Teaching appeared first on Reason.com.

Eleventh Circuit Panel Strikes Down (by 2-1 Vote) Florida University Professor Speech Restrictions - The restrictions appeared in the law that Gov. Ron DeSantis promoted as the "Stop W.O.K.E. Act."

Nigel Farage Resigns His Parliamentary Seat—and Is Standing for Election Again - The Reform U.K. leader wants to reframe questions over his undeclared gifts as a “people vs. the establishment” fight. But a fresh mandate from Clacton won’t answer whether he followed parliamentary rules.

Afghan Special Forces Veteran Died in ICE Custody After Officers Denied Him an Inhaler - The death certificate blames an adverse drug reaction and meth. His family calls that impossible.

Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund Is a (Another) Slush Fund - If Trump’s settlement stands, future presidents will have a roadmap for turning lawsuits into spending programs and political grievances into taxpayer-financed payouts.

There and Back Again: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act - The House’s amendment to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a great improvement over the Senate’s version. However, the bill is still filled with policies that won’t help, but rather harm, the housing market.

After the Castro Tyranny, Cubans Should Lead Their Transition to Freedom - When and if the Cuban dictatorship finally collapses, it would be best to let Cubans themselves determine their return to freedom.

A Federal Gas Tax Holiday Would Be Expensive and Ineffective - When the federal gas tax comes up for reauthorization in 2028, Congress should simply let the gas tax expire.

The SEC Throws in the Towel on Gag Orders - Facing an increasingly speech-friendly Supreme Court, the SEC reluctantly–and belatedly–decides to stop censoring its victims.

Five Weapons. One Target: Your Freedom. - The top tools of tyrants aimed right at your liberty. Washington, Webster, Paine, Madison, and more - they saw every one of them coming and warned us. On this Episode - what they use against us and what’s self-inflicted. The post Five Weapons. One Target: Your Freedom. appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

They’re not Grievances. They’re STOLEN Power - Declaration of Independence: That long list of charges against the king aren’t mere “grievances.” That word isn’t even in the text. They Founders didn't secede and fight a long, bloody war over mere complaints about bad policy. American Independence was built on something else spelled out in the text itself, and understood by everyone at the time. On this Episode - It's the foundation of the de...

Let’s Not Forget What Madison Said About War - What Madison is pointing out is that among all the ways that government destroys the liberty of its own people, its wars are the worst. The post Let’s Not Forget What Madison Said About War appeared first on Tenth Amendment Center.

Automated Moderation Is Here to Stay - This blog post is part 1 of a 2-part series. The second part will set out recommendations for companies and policymakers.Six years ago—one month into a global pandemic—we argued that the automated moderation processes many platforms were rapidly adopting should be highly transparent, easily appealable, and temporary. We warned that "protocols adopted in times of crisis often persist when the cr...

Help EFF Cut the AI Hype - In the global race to build and dominate the AI industry, it can sure seem like the interests of ordinary people sit last on the agenda. It's just the opposite for EFF. While companies furiously jam AI tools into their veins and your eyeballs, EFF’s technologists, activists, and attorneys have been meticulously cutting through the hype to ensure AI can serve your privacy and free expression. Te...

LGBT Q&A: How Can I Wipe Online Data That Points To My Queer Identity? - This Pride, we’re answering all your digital rights questions in season two of our initiative, LGBT Q&A.  You Asked: Is there a way for me to wipe data about me online that could point to my queer identity? EFF’s Answer: You cannot protect everything all the time, but there are ways to wipe information about yourself online.  Most information available about you online will typically be found i...

Physical Therapist Files Legal Challenge Against Leavenworth, Wa. for the Right to Run a Small In-home Practice - For more than 15 years, licensed physical therapist Nicole Bulow has helped people get back to the lives they love, guiding active adults through injury […] The post Physical Therapist Files Legal Challenge Against Leavenworth, Wa. for the Right to Run a Small In-home Practice appeared first on Institute for Justice.

South Milwaukee Orders Residents to Take Down Whimsical Skeleton Display, a Violation of Their First Amendment Rights - Sean and Laura Oster have a bone to pick with South Milwaukee. The post South Milwaukee Orders Residents to Take Down Whimsical Skeleton Display, a Violation of Their First Amendment Rights appeared first on Institute for Justice.

New Illinois Law Allows Barbers and Cosmetologists to Learn and Earn - SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—A new Illinois law will allow residents to earn money while they are learning the skills necessary to become licensed barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, braiders, […] The post New Illinois Law Allows Barbers and Cosmetologists to Learn and Earn appeared first on Institute for Justice.

TAURUS RENEWS PLATINUM-LEVEL CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP - BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 24, 2025 — The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is pleased to announce that Taurus Holdings Inc. has renewed their commitment to the organization as a Platinum-level corporate partner. “At Taurus, we believe that the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental to the American way of life,” said Taurus USA The post TAURUS RENEWS PLATINUM-LEVEL CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP appear...

CA NON-RESIDENTS CAN APPLY FOR CARRY PERMIT STARTING APRIL 22 - BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 22, 2025 — Thanks to a preliminary injunction in the Second Amendment Foundation’s (SAF) case CRPA v. LASD, starting Tuesday, April 22, non-resident SAF members can apply for a California carry permit.  The injunction requires that California accept permit applications from any United States resident outside the state who is a The post CA NON-RESIDENTS CAN APPLY FOR CARR...

SCOTUS DENIES CERT IN WORTH, SAF WIN IN EIGHTH CIRCUIT STANDS - BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 21, 2025 — In a case that could potentially have far-reaching implications for similar lawsuits across the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court has denied Minnesota’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari in Jacobson v. Worth, the Second Amendment Foundation’s (SAF) challenge to the 18-20-year-old carry ban in the state. Minnesota asked the The post SCOTUS DENIES CERT IN WORTH, SAF ...

VA: Major Victory – Court Rejects Richmond’s Attempt to Kill GOA’s Gun Ban Lawsuit - We have another important victory in the fight against Virginia’s unconstitutional gun and magazine bans. A three-judge panel has denied the Commonwealth’s attempt to consolidate the lawsuits challenging Virginia’s new gun control laws. That means Crump v. Katz, GOA and VCDL’s lawsuit against the so-called “assault firearm” and magazine bans, can continue in Lancaster County. This matters. Rich...

VA: Jay Jones Launches Emergency Attack on Virginia Gun Owners’ Court Victory - Attorney General Jay Jones did not waste any time attacking Virginia gun owners. Just days after GOA, GOF, VCDL, VCDF, and gun rights journalist John Crump secured a preliminary injunction in Crump v. Katz, Jones and the Commonwealth are running to the Supreme Court of Virginia to try to bring the gun bans back. GOA’s attorneys will be working throughout the Independence Day weekend … Read more...

ATF’s Fake Rollback Keeps Biden’s Gun Control Alive, Fight Back! - Thanks to GOA’s lawsuit, a federal judge in Texas vacated Biden’s “Engaged in the Business” rule in its entirety. That rule tried to twist the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to impose backdoor universal background checks by redefining who counts as a “dealer.” Now, ATF has proposed a replacement rule that claims to “rescind” the Biden rule, but in reality keeps … Read more

Massachusetts lender to acquire NH bank for $160M - The acquisition is set to expand Hometown’s footprint in New Hampshire and add $743 million in assets.

Bank7 to buy 71% of Century Bank, maybe - Century said it’s not involved in the share sale. But after its largest shareholder defaulted on loans at another bank with Century shares as collateral, the sale is, in part, up to the courts.

Klarna applies for ILC charter - CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski called a U.S. banking license a "natural next step, giving customers tools to borrow responsibly and build financial confidence."

U.S. Bank pursues Gen Z with payments-first strategy - By treating payments as the entry point to banking relationships, the Minneapolis-based lender is cultivating a low-cost funding base in a fiercely competitive deposit environment, said executive Arijit Roy.

AI will reshape financial services, and regulation will follow - As banks move toward AI-first services, managing autonomy will be the main challenge for regulators, according to the U.K.’s primary financial watchdog.

An 'always-on' treasury operation is becoming a banking necessity - To thrive in the new age of real-time payments, banks must invest in a continuous operating model that integrates payments, treasury and working capital into a seamless ecosystem.

PNC Bank rolls out new mobile banking app - The national bank is releasing an upgraded version of its mobile app to its users in phases after absorbing 780,000 former FirstBank customers last month.

Study shows decade-long decline in federal enforcement activity - Counter to prevailing narratives about rules and enforcement activity whipsawing from one administration to the next, public citations by federal banking regulators have steadily declined over the past decade — under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Axos to buy San Francisco fintech and its AI technology - The Las Vegas bank's deal for Arc Technologies comes three months after Capital One paid $5 billion for AI-native payments firm Brex.

Robinhood mainnet launch signals broader bet on tokenized finance - With Robinhood Chain now live, the company is pushing into tokenized equities, stablecoin lending and international markets.

Project Insight: uncovering the complexities of global value chains - Project Insight developed a proof-of-concept dashboard to enhance policymakers' understanding and monitoring of global supply chain developments. By unifying detailed firm-level datasets, macroeconomic information and advanced analytics within a collaborative platform, the project demonstrated how granular and complex GVC dependencies can be studied more effectively.

On the comparison of capital requirements for global systemically important banks - Basel III introduced a comprehensive package of capital reforms to bolster the resilience of the global banking system. While the standard supports regulatory convergence across jurisdictions by establishing a common minimum set of requirements for internationally active banks, it also gives national authorities flexibility to exceed the minimum standards. Heterogeneous applications of Basel II...

Blockchain consensus mechanisms and fragmentation - by Daniel Eidan, Jon Frost, Rudraksh Kansal, Ulf Lewrick, Sang Hyuk Lim, Tomasz RybarczykWhile all permissionless blockchains use token-based incentives to sustain honest validation, differences in how validator rewards, coordination and participation are structured lead to distinct equilibria and trade-offs between decentralisation, security and scalability. These trade-offs underpin the emerg...

Federal Reserve Board requests comment on a proposal to amend its requirements for banks to maintain anti-money laundering programs - Federal Reserve Board requests comment on a proposal to amend its requirements for banks to maintain anti-money laundering programs

Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with Small Business Bank and announces termination enforcement actions with BNP Paribas S.A., BNP Paribas USA, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., an... - Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with Small Business Bank and announces termination enforcement actions with BNP Paribas S.A., BNP Paribas USA, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., and Community Bankshares, Inc.

Federal Reserve issues initial findings from its 2025 triennial payments study - Federal Reserve issues initial findings from its 2025 triennial payments study

Press Release: FDIC Issues List of Banks Examined for CRA Compliance - PRESS RELEASE | JULY 2, 2026 FDIC Issues List of Banks Examined for CRA Compliance WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)...

Press Release: Agencies Release List of Distressed or Underserved Nonmetropolitan Middle-Income Geographies - PRESS RELEASE | JUNE 30, 2026 Agencies Release List of Distressed or Underserved Nonmetropolitan Middle-Income Geographies WASHINGTON — Federal ...