Silver Surge Crowns Hindustan Zinc India’s Top Metals Giant

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Hindustan Zinc Ltd. has benefited from silver’s rally. to surpass some of its biggest competitors, including parent Vedanta Ltd., and become the largest metals company in India by market capitalization. One of the nation’s largest manufacturers of white metal, the company’s stock increased more than 6% on Friday, surpassing 15% in gains so far this year. The company’s market value increased to over $32 billion, marginally surpassing that of leading competitor JSW Steel Ltd.

Gold and silver reached all-time highs as concerns about a damaging trade war between the US and Europe grew, following President Donald Trump’s increasing push to annex Greenland. As the dollar was affected by Trump’s aggression and demand for safe havens increased, spot gold was trading near $4,670 per ounce, while silver rose by as much as 4.4%.

The United States will impose tariffs on eight European nations that oppose the plan to acquire Greenland, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In February, the 10% levy will take effect. 1 and rose to 25% in June.

European leaders will meet urgently in the coming days to discuss possible countermeasures. Member states are debating a variety of options for how to respond, including retaliatory levies on US goods valued at €93 billion ($108 billion), according to people familiar with the discussions.

The EU can respond to coercive trade measures in several ways thanks to the ACI, the bloc’s most potent retaliation tool. According to Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets in Singapore, the Greenland-inspired tensions are distinct from the Liberation Day tariffs of the previous year because they “point to a deeper geopolitical fault line.” Referring to NATO, she stated, “Using tariff threats inside the alliance is a kind of trust shock that can leave a stickier risk premium.”

Precious metals have risen sharply this year after the US detained Venezuela’s leader in 2025 and then escalated its threats to seize Greenland. Furthermore, the Trump administration has stepped up its criticism of the Federal Reserve, casting doubt on its independence and promoting the debasement trade, in which investors avoid government bonds and currencies because they are concerned about the amount of debt.

China’s Silver Squeeze Sparks Mayhem: $80 Breakthrough Fuels Bubble

Posted on January 2, 2026January 2, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Silver sank after breaking above $80 per ounce for the first time amid a historic rally driven by speculative trading and a persistent mismatch between supply and demand.

Increased central bank purchases, inflows into exchange-traded funds, and three consecutive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have made precious metals hot in recent months.

The value of China’s only pure-play silver fund dropped by its daily maximum of 10%, ending a wild bull run that led the fund’s manager to issue rare warnings. The sudden decline in the UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF follows weeks of gains driven by increasing global interest in precious metals, which the manager called “unsustainable.” Spot silver is on track for its best annual performance since 1979 after reaching a record high of $72.70 per ounce on Wednesday.

UBS SDIC Fund Management Co. announced new restrictions after three consecutive days this week of exceeding the 10% upward limit. Starting in December, there will be a cap on new Class C share subscriptions, typically the best option for short-term investors, decreasing from 500 yuan to 26-100 yuan ($14.25), according to a statement on the fund manager’s website. Strong investor interest in precious metals has focused on silver, with a historic short squeeze in October fueling the notable global spot price rally.

Palladium, gold, and platinum have all surged, and other Chinese funds linked to these metals have also seen significant gains, as investors caution. This year, the silver fund has surged by nearly 220%, while Shanghai-traded silver futures have risen about 128%. The premium over the underlying asset jumped from 7% at the start of the month to nearly 62% by Wednesday. As the fund’s value declined and futures rose, this premium is expected to decrease on Thursday.

Commodities that do not pay interest benefit significantly from lower borrowing costs, with traders betting on additional rate reductions in 2026. Physical premiums have hit extreme levels due to relentless industrial demand from solar panels, EVs, AI data centers, and electronics, pushing against dwindling inventories. Elon Musk’s weekend remarks highlighting the growing investor frenzy around precious metals triggered Monday’s early momentum.

“This is not good,” Musk said on X in response to a tweet about Chinese export restrictions.

Many industrial processes rely on silver. The US’s blockade of oil tankers in Venezuela and Washington’s actions against the Islamic State in Nigeria over the past week have increased the appeal of these metals as safe havens. Silver inventories are at their lowest point ever, raising the risk of supply shortages that could impact several industries.

Bullion Rally: Gold Hits Near Seven-Week Peak, Targets $4K/Oz

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

The bullion asset rose to seven-week highs above $4,320 per ounce. The precious metal rallied on the possibility that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will lower interest rates next year. Lower interest rates could support the non-yielding precious metal by taming gold’s opportunity cost

Furthermore, the risk-averse bias and uncertainty may increase safe-haven flows, which would raise the price of the yellow metal. However, last week’s hawkish comments from Fed officials may help the US dollar.
Traders will take more cues from the speeches by Fed Governor Stephen Miran and New York Fed President John Williams later on Monday.
Gold is trading in positive territory today. As long as the price stays above the crucial 100-day Exponential Moving Average, the precious metal’s positive outlook will continue.

Additionally, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI), which is above the midline at 68.75, supports the upward momentum. This illustrates the yellow metal’s bullish momentum. Silver has more than doubled, and the yellow metal has increased by more than 60 percent this year, both on track for their best yearly results since 1979.

Gold went bullish after conflicting statements from Federal Reserve officials led metal traders to reduce bets on additional monetary easing in the world’s largest economy next year. Global risk appetite has decreased due to skepticism that tech stocks, which have propelled global benchmarks to all-time highs, can sustain their high valuations and aggressive AI spending.

The first upside barrier to watch is the $4,345–$4,355 range, which is both the high of December 12 and the upper limit of the Bollinger Band. XAU/USD could return to its all-time high of $4,381 if there is sustained upward momentum. The next resistance level is situated at the $4,400 psychological mark

Copper Claws Back Gains With Base Metals After Friday’s 3% Tumble

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Copper regained some of Friday’s steep decline as investors shifted their focus to the outlook for a tighter market in 2026.

The industrial metal increased by up to 1.5% on the London Metal Exchange after dropping 3% the previous session, as a selloff in shares related to artificial intelligence raised concerns about demand for the metal used in electrical wiring and renewable energy equipment.

This year, copper has surged 30% following mine disruptions that reduced supply and as traders send large volumes to the US in anticipation of potential import tariffs. Additionally, a wave of investment in green energy and power infrastructure has fueled optimism about long-term demand.

However, Friday’s drop highlights how the metal’s fortunes are now partly connected to the US tech boom and are susceptible to any decline in enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and tech valuations.

Copper increased 1.2% to $11,656.50 a ton on the LME as of 12:42 p.m. in Shanghai, after reaching a record high near $12,000 a ton on Friday before pulling back due to Wall Street’s tech selloff. Zinc rose 1.1% on Monday, and aluminium was up 0.4%.

Rivian Stock Tumbles 6% as In-House AI Chip Bids Farewell to Nvidia

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Rivian revealed its own artificial intelligence chip designed to replace Nvidia technology as part of a broader effort to improve automated-driving features in future vehicles, which caused its stock to lose 6% on Thursday.

Rivian Autonomy Processor 1 chips and a new lidar sensor will be installed in the automaker’s upcoming R2 sport utility vehicles.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. will produce the chips that will support Rivian’s goal of eventually offering autonomous driving capabilities when paired with the new sensor and AI model developments. In an interview, RJ Scaringe, Rivian’s CEO, stated, “This is not a bet one takes lightly; this is a huge commitment that has taken us years.”

Typically, reducing expenses while improving performance is difficult. However, here we lowered costs by hundreds of dollars per vehicle while also significantly boosting performance. Nvidia is currently the world’s most valuable company, leading in chips used in data centers to train AI models.

The company’s automotive chip division remains small, accounting for only about 1% of sales, but it aims to expand. By developing its own in-car chips and making them standard hardware to justify the investment, Tesla has defied the outsourcing trend.

The Elon Musk-led company has also adopted a camera-only strategy, claiming it more closely resembles human driving and that additional sensors like lidar are too costly. Rivian disagrees, supporting many robotaxi and automakers that emphasize lidar’s ability to monitor a vehicle’s environment and support other sensors.

Delivery of Rivian’s R2 will begin shortly after it enters production in the first half of 2026. Since the initial models won’t have the new chip or lidar, their automated driving features will be more limited. Rivian will gradually roll out software updates starting in 2027 that will enable its cars to travel from one place to another without drivers needing to keep their hands on the wheel or their eyes on the road.

Initially, this will apply only to highways before expanding to other types of roads. Rivian’s main goal is to convince customers and investors to see it as a higher-margin software company that can support autonomous driving of personal vehicles.

Nvidia’s China Comeback: H200 AI Chips Get U.S. Export Nod with 25% Uncle Sam Cut

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

President Donald Trump authorized Nvidia to export its H200 artificial intelligence chip to China with a 25% surcharge fee. This decision could help the highly valued company recover billions of dollars in lost revenue from an essential international market.

Trump announced this decision in a post on his Truth Social network after weeks of discussions with advisors about whether to allow H200 exports to China. He mentioned that he informed Chinese President Xi Jinping about the action, and Xi responded positively.

Trump specified that only “approved customers” would receive these shipments, and noted that companies Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. would also be eligible.

Nvidia’s efforts to convince Trump and Congress to ease export restrictions that have hindered its ability to sell AI chips to the world’s largest semiconductor market have finally paid off. Since November, the relationship between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Trump has strengthened.

Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren, quickly criticized Trump’s decision, calling it a “colossal economic and national security failure” that provided China with resources to develop next-generation artificial intelligence.

The H200 is at least a generation ahead of what Chinese companies, such as Cambricon Technologies Corp. and Huawei, currently offer, along with Moore Threads Technology Co. Additionally, China currently requires more chips than its domestic businesses can supply. However, Beijing has previously discouraged the adoption of Nvidia’s products, particularly among state-affiliated corporations and agencies, in an effort to reduce the country’s reliance on American technology

In his post, Trump stated, “We will protect national security, create American jobs, and maintain America’s lead in AI.” He added that NVIDIA’s American customers are already making progress with their advanced Blackwell chips, which are not included in this agreement.

Morgan Stanley Slams Brakes on Tesla Hype: Downgrades to Hold at $425 on Overheated Valuation

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Elon Musk is keen to transform Tesla into a robotics and AI company. Morgan Stanley noted that the electric car manufacturer’s stock price already reflects its involvement in these sectors and is currently at a “full valuation.”

The investment bank downgraded Tesla’s rating to “hold” for the first time since June 2023. Tesla is currently the second-most expensive company in the S&P 500 Index, following Warner Bros., with shares trading at approximately 210 times projected earnings over the next 12 months. Discovery, Inc. leads at a valuation of 220 times, while Palantir Technologies Inc. ranks third with a multiple of 186.

In his initial report to clients as the new head of Tesla coverage, analyst Andrew Percoco commented, “While it is well understood that Tesla is more than an auto manufacturer, we expect a choppy trading environment over the next year.” He acknowledged the limitations of estimates and noted that the catalysts for Tesla’s non-auto businesses appear to be priced into the stock at current levels.

Percoco has set a price target of $425 for Tesla, suggesting a potential decline of 6.6% from Friday’s closing price. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, he has taken over from Adam Jonas, a long-time Tesla analyst at Morgan Stanley, who maintained an “overweight” rating on the stock since September 2023. Percoco’s current assessment assigns Tesla an “equal-weight” rating. At present, the company has 28 buy ratings, 19 hold ratings, and 16 sell ratings, with an average price target of $388.

Percoco estimates that Tesla’s Optimus initiative is valued at $60 per share and believes the company is well-positioned to lead in the humanoid robotics market.

However, he anticipates a 12% decline in electric vehicle sales volume in North America over the coming year, citing a general downturn. Despite CEO Musk’s focus on AI initiatives, including self-driving cars and humanoid robots, Tesla shares have largely disregarded a meltdown in profits this year. The stock has risen roughly 10% this year, following significant increases of 63% in 2024 and 102% in 2023. Nonetheless, it has experienced a turbulent year within the S&P 500 Index.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse Retreat: Deep Cuts Spark $815 Analyst Target

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Mark Zuckerberg is expected to significantly reduce funding for the metaverse, which he previously promoted as the future of the company and as the reason behind its rebranding from Facebook.

The metaverse team, which includes the virtual worlds product Meta Horizon Worlds and the Quest virtual reality unit, may face budget cuts of up to 30% next year, according to sources familiar with the discussions who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the company’s plans.

While a final decision has not yet been made, these sources indicated that such substantial cuts could result in layoffs as early as January.

Shares rose as much as 6% intraday before settling up 3.4% to $661.53. Concerns about the metaverse’s $70 billion+ burn rate since 2021 have subsided as investors see the cuts as a welcome reallocation towards high-growth AI.

The rally represents relief from a bet that has long irritated shareholders, with Mizuho analyst Lloyd Walmsley projecting that the cuts could increase 2026 EPS by $2 to $29.50, maintaining an Outperform rating and $815 target.

More broadly, Meta’s AI initiatives, such as the restructuring of Superintelligence Labs, stand in stark contrast to the metaverse’s stagnation, where Horizon Worlds user engagement is still relatively low (less than 300,000 monthly active users).

Meta has confirmed a decrease in resources allocated to the metaverse, stating that futuristic projects within its Reality Labs division—such as AI glasses and other wearables—are expected to benefit from these savings. A company spokesperson mentioned, “We are reallocating some of our investment from the Metaverse within our overall Reality Labs portfolio due to the momentum in wearables and AI glasses. We do not intend to make any significant changes beyond that.”

Proposed cuts to the metaverse budget are part of the company’s budget planning for next year, which included several meetings at Zuckerberg’s Hawaii compound last month. Sources have reported that Zuckerberg has instructed Meta executives to pursue overall cuts of 10%, a typical request made during budget cycles.

The metaverse group was created in response to the diminished level of industry-wide competition in this technology compared to earlier times.

Meta Under Fire: EU Set to Investigate WhatsApp’s AI Overhaul

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

The European Union intends to begin looking into how Meta Platforms Inc. added AI capabilities to WhatsApp this year, according to the Financial Times, in what may be the most recent investigation into Big Tech’s hegemony over the local internet landscape.

The European Commission is getting ready to launch an investigation into how the US company incorporated its “Meta AI” system into the well-known messaging service.

It also stated that the agency might announce the investigation in the next few days. What part of the rollout, which started in March, the agency might be focusing on is unknown. According to the FT, the commission’s upcoming investigation is grounded in conventional antitrust law rather than the Digital Markets Act. The Trump administration views that broad legislation as a set of guidelines for companies like Alphabet, Google, and Apple Inc. — as the area’s effort to limit the US technology’s impact in Europe.

The EU has in recent years ramped up pressure on Big Tech, seeking to curb potential market abuses as the US tech titans’ clout and digital footprint expanded. US President Donald Trump has long denounced EU antitrust and technology regulations that hinder US businesses

The American president threatened to impose fresh tariffs and export restrictions on advanced technology and semiconductors in retaliation to other nations’ digital services taxes that hit American technology companies.

Silver’s Wild 2025 Ride to Record Peaks – Why This ‘Devilish’ Asset Still Has Legs

Posted on November 30, 2025December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Silver, often called the “Devil’s metal” because of its volatility, has reached record highs this year and still has potential for further gains amid a supply shortageThe price of an ounce of gold has climbed above $4,000 this year, and silver’s value has been rising in tandem with gold.

Silver prices hit a record high of $54.47 per troy ounce in mid-October, up 71% from the previous year. They have since somewhat retreated but are now increasing again despite limited supply.

Over the past fifty years, silver prices have peaked in October only three times, including January 1980, when the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market by acquiring a third of the global supply, and 2011, when U.S. gold and silver were seen as safe-haven assets during the debt ceiling crisis.

This year, silver’s rise—driven by a short squeeze—caught many investors off guard. Unlike earlier investment waves, the 2025 silver boom relied on a mix of low supply, high demand from India, industrial demand, and tariffs. Silver’s market is only about a tenth the size of gold’s. It saw a slight decline after Liberation Day, while gold prices surged.

The gold-silver ratio—which indicates how many ounces of silver are needed to buy one ounce of gold—spiked above 100, indicating that many ounces of silver are required to buy one ounce of gold. A low ratio means gold is relatively cheap, while a high ratio suggests silver is undervalued and likely to increase.

This ratio hit a record high in April. This year, silver proved to be an attractive, low-cost investment, especially in a country where roughly 55% of the population depends on agriculture. Silver prices in India surged dramatically on October 17, reaching a record high of 170,415 rupees per kilogram, an 85% increase since the start of the year.

However, 80% of India’s silver supply is imported. Historically, the UK has been India’s main silver supplier, but increasingly, the UAE and China are filling that demand. Over recent years, London’s vaults have been rapidly depleting: the London Bullion Market Association held 31,023 metric tons of silver in June 2022, but by March 2025, that volume had fallen to about 22,126 metric tons—its lowest level in many years.