China will be the global powerhouse of the 21st century. This was reconfirmed while I visited an international precious metals conference in Dubai this week. Among the speakers was the Vice President of the Shanghai Gold Exchange. China is gradually opening its financial markets and gold is one of the cornerstones of this development.... »
China's New Silk Road and Its Implications for Gold
April 20 2015
Olav Dirkmaat
Three Reasons Why ABN AMRO Is Wrong about the Gold Price
April 7 2015
ABN AMRO, a Dutch government-owned bank, is currently a hot topic in the Netherlands. The bank’s board gave themselves a generous increase in salary, provoking public outrage. These directors act as if they’re working for a privately-owned bank, while all future losses will be shouldered by Dutch tax payers.... »
Olav Dirkmaat
Three Things You Should Avoid When Reaching for Yield
March 30 2015
This month, Rabobank was the first Dutch bank to lower its interest rate on saving accounts below 1 percent. Other banks are expected to follow promptly, considering that over 25% of all outstanding European government bonds currently yield a negative interest rate. For the first time in history,... »
Olav Dirkmaat
How a Single Word by Yellen Unleashed the Largest Volatility in 20 Years and What It Means for Your Pension
March 23 2015
Last Thursday, the Federal Reserve published the minutes of their latest meeting. These minutes are a careful exercise in ‘copying and pasting;’ only a few words are changed or deleted each time. Last week the market was obsessed with one single word, waiting anxiously whether or not it would be removed.... »
Olav Dirkmaat
