• FT: Bridgewater Sees Gold Rallying 30% Amid Volatility
  
  Bridgewater’s co-chief investment officer Greg Jensen recently told the Financial Times that gold prices could rally 30 percent to $2,000 an ounce.
• Palladium's Relentless Rally Pushes It Above $2,500
  
  Palladium surged the most since 2008 as scant supply and robust demand extend a record-breaking rally.
• Trade War Weakens China's 2019 Economic Growth
  
  China's economic growth sank to a new multi-decade low in 2019 as Beijing fought a tariff war with Washington, but forecasters said a U.S.-Chinese trade truce might help to revive consumer and business activity.
• Get Ready for Round 2 of Gold's Cash-Spinning Rally
  
  Gold's blistering rally isn't over, according to fund managers who see another leg up for the precious metal.
• Barrick Sees Gold Output Above Estimates on Nevada Boost
  
  Canadian miner Barrick Gold Corp.'s fourth-quarter gold production estimates came above analysts' expectations on Thursday, as its Nevada Gold Mines joint venture with Newmont Corp yielded more of the precious metal.
• Russia’s $40 Billion Gold Buying Binge Is Slowing Down
  
  Russia, the world's biggest buyer of gold, is losing interest in the precious metal.
• Novogratz Questions Altcoin Rally After Bitcoin Offspring Surges
  
  One of the biggest proponents of cryptocurrencies is sounding the alarm on the monster rally in altcoins.Bitcoin maven Mike Novogratz took to Twitter to profess skepticismover the swiftness and breadth of a surge that took many by surprise this week.
• OPEC Expects Lower Oil Demand as US Hits Milestone
  
  OPEC expects lower demand for its crude oil in 2020 even as global demand rises, it said on Wednesday, as rival producers grab market share and the United States looks set for another output record.
• Why Artisanal Gold Is Booming
  
  A rapid rise in the price of gold since 2000 has driven millions of people to deposits in Africa, South America and elsewhere where they dig for gold using basic technology.
• JPMorgan First Major Brokerage to Rate Saudi Aramco 'Overweight'
  
  JPMorgan is the first major brokerage to initiate coverage of Saudi Aramco with an "overweight," setting a price target of 37 riyals ($9.86) per share and saying it sees scope for an increase in the energy giant's proposed $75 billion base dividend.
• Bitcoin's 20% Jump Is Best Start to Year Since 2012
  
  Bitcoin is off to its best start to a year since 2012, gaining about 20% in two weeks amid renewed enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies.
• HSBC Hikes Gold Forecast to $1,613 as Fear Stokes Demand
  
  HSBC raised its 2020 forecast on gold prices Friday to $1,613 an ounce from $1,560 as a volatile week ended in favor of gold investors, with geopolitical tensions reigniting haven demand for the metal. 
• Aramco's 'Greenshoe Option' Pushes IPO to Record $29.4B
  
  Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco announced Sunday that its initial public offering raised a record $29.4 billion, a figure higher than previously announced, after the company used a so-called "greenshoe option" to sell millions more shares to meet investor demand.
• Barron's: Gas Could Hit $3 Even Without Mideast Tension
  
  Gasoline prices at the pump have seen their strongest start to a new year since 2014 and reportedly have the potential to top $3 a gallon on average for the first time in six years.
• Morgan Stanley Bullish on China Banks After Stress Test
  
  China's broad push to corral risks has put its financial system in the position to withstand even an economic slowdown to about half the pace of the current expansion
• Reuters Poll: US Dollar to Dominate in Directionless Forex Market
  
  The U.S. dollar, which has dominated currency market trading for the last two years, looks set to do so again in 2020, according to the latest Reuters poll of foreign exchange strategists.
• Saudi Aramco Props Up Mideast Energy Debt Market
  
  Gulf Arab energy companies took on marginally more total debt in 2019 compared with the previous year, but the increase was skewed by a surge in borrowing by Saudi Aramco and its refining joint venture.
• Soaring Pork Prices Keep China's Inflation at 7-Year High
  
  Soaring pork prices that nearly doubled in December over a year ago kept inflation at a seven-year high despite government efforts to ease meat shortages caused by a disease outbreak, official data showed Thursday.
• WSJ: Trump's Export-Import Bank Reversal Saves Agency
  
  The U.S. Export-Import Bank, an agency that finances exports for American businesses, was renewed for seven years with the help of President Donald Trump, The Wall Street Journal is reporting.
• Cryptocurrency Mistruths in Lending and Borrowing
  
  There are a lot of mistruths and omission-riddled conversations, passing as facts on the internet. Even with this misinformation, the crypto world should applaud itself for facilitating the birth and growth of its markets.
• Bitcoin Traders Feel Fever of 'Halvening' Months Ahead
  
  Bitcoin enthusiasts are beginning the new year fixated on something that likely won't happen until May.Whether a planned reduction in rewards for mining Bitcoin will boost prices or it's already factored in is dominating discussions across mediums from Twitter to analyst...
• Investors Fear Oil Price Spike Will Hurt Corporate Profits
  
  Investors are worrying that rising energy costs, due to an escalating conflict between the United States and Iran that has caused a spike in oil prices, will hurt U.S. corporate earnings.
• Oil Falls 4% on Waning Mideast Fears, Surprise US Build
  
  Oil futures fell more than 4% on Wednesday in a wild swing, soaring close to a four-month high in early trade on an Iranian rocket attack on U.S. forces in Iraq before retreating as the countries quickly ratcheted back tensions.
• Saudi Aramco Shares Hit New Low on US-Iran Tensions
  
  Saudi Aramco shares hit a new low on Wednesday after Iran launched missiles against U.S. bases in Iraq, but Gulf debt markets were stable as some had feared stronger action in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian military commander.
• Bitcoin Goes Ballistic After Breaking Through $8,000 Level
  
  Bitcoin climbed to the highest since November after breaching the $8,000 price level.

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