Cloud Seeding with Silver Iodide is Back

Cloud Seeding with Silver Iodide is Back

Cloud seeding – a silver-based technology used worldwide for more than 50 years to increase rainfall – is making a comeback. For example, some drought areas in Texas are boosting rainfall by about fifteen percent annually, an additional two inches, due to cloud seeding, according to the West Texas Weather Modification Association, a rain enhancement group based in the City of San Angelo. Other U.S. states are currently seeding or considering official programs, including Arizona, Idaho, California, and Colorado, although local jurisdictions often cloud seed independently. Mexican officials have commenced seeding in five states. Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates, has cloud seeded, and last year, China, which has the world’s most active clouding seeding programs, used it to help replenish the Yangtse river basin, areas of which are in drought conditions. In total, more than a dozen countries have cloud seeding efforts. In a twist, Chinese authorities seeded clouds prior to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to drain moisture from clouds before the games so athletes would not compete in wet weather.

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Gold Market: An Unseasonal August May Lie Ahead

Gold Market: An Unseasonal August May Lie Ahead

Month in review Gold gained 3.1% in July helped by a lower dollar and a spike in breakeven inflation rates Global gold ETFs shed holdings for a fourth consecutive month but COMEX managed money net long futures positions more than offset the decline, rising by 93t

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Gold Demand Trends Q2 2023

Gold Demand Trends Q2 2023

Central bank buying slowed in Q2 but remained resolutely positive. This, combined with healthy investment and resilient jewellery demand, created a supportive environment for gold prices.

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Gold Mid-year Outlook 2023: Between a Soft and a Hard Place

Gold Mid-year Outlook 2023: Between a Soft and a Hard Place

Developed market central banks are nearing the end of their tightening cycles.1 For now, market consensus points to a mild contraction in the US in late 2023 and slow growth in developed markets. But given the historical lag between monetary policy and economic performance, investors are wary that a hard landing may be still to come.

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Could a Composite of Minerals Including Silver Replace Lithium in Batteries?

Could a Composite of Minerals Including Silver Replace Lithium in Batteries?

Engineers seek safer alternatives

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Red Carpet Review: Platinum Trends

Red Carpet Review: Platinum Trends

The Platinum Guild (PGI) delves into Hollywood glamour and discusses the real star of 2023 red carpet: platinum!

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Monthly Gold Market Insights from World Gold Council

Monthly Gold Market Insights from World Gold Council

Gold fell 0.9% in May, but currency moves were a prominent factor and outside of the US and Canada, gold saw gains. Global gold ETFs added to holdings for the third month in a row, but these gains were offset by a fall in Managed Money net long futures positions.

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World Platinum Investment Council Quarterly Report

World Platinum Investment Council Quarterly Report

Today we publish our thirty-fifth Platinum Quarterly data set, which examines activity in the first quarter of 2023. It also includes an updated forecast for full-year 2023. Independent analysis is provided by our research partner, Metals Focus.

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Gold Market Commentary: Gold rally takes a breather in April

Gold Market Commentary: Gold rally takes a breather in April

Month in review Gold in US$/oz returned just 0.1% in April, consolidating after a strong run up during Q1 Support for gold came from lower rates and positive ETF flows while lower inflation expectations and profit taking created a drag.

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Mixed picture for gold demand in Q1

Mixed picture for gold demand in Q1

Continued momentum in central bank buying and resurgent Chinese consumer demand contrasted with a negative contribution from ETFs and weakness in India. Q1 gold demand (excluding OTC) was 13% lower y/y at 1,081 tonnes (t). Inclusive of OTC, total gold demand strengthened 1% y/y to 1,174t as a recovery in OTC investment – consistent with investor positioning in the futures market – offset weakness in some areas.1

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Worldwide Total Silver Demand Hits Record High in 2022

Worldwide Total Silver Demand Hits Record High in 2022

All major silver groups recorded high demand in 2022, contributing to a new total global record of 1.242 billion ounces. In particular, industrial demand – which makes up nearly half of all silver demand – rose by 5 percent, physical silver investment rose by 22 percent, jewelry increased 29 percent, and silverware jumped 80 percent. This upward demand has risen 38 percent since 2020 as countries continue their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Jewelry Industry Trade Shows Are Alive and Well in 2023

Jewelry Industry Trade Shows Are Alive and Well in 2023

The jewelry industry trade shows are alive and well in 2023, according to a recent market research study conducted by THE MVEye (MVI Marketing LLC). The study, completed by members of the jewelry trade, including retailers, wholesalers, designers, and manufacturers, focused on their likelihood to attend jewelry trade shows in 2023. "The results of this study are very encouraging for the jewelry industry," said Liz Chatelain, President of THE MVEye. "Despite the challenges faced by the industry in recent years, it is clear that trade shows remain a vital part of the business landscape."

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Total Global Silver Demand Posts Record High of 1.24 Billion Ounces in 2022

Total Global Silver Demand Posts Record High of 1.24 Billion Ounces in 2022

The Silver Institute today released World Silver Survey 2023. Please click here for a press release outlining the main drivers of last year’s silver market and an outlook for 2023.

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Gold Gears up for Brewing Crisis

Gold Gears up for Brewing Crisis

Quarter in review: gold's all-time-high in sight Gold gained 9% in Q1 2023, but see-sawed on bond market volatility A surge in March to record the highest monthly inflows since 2019, reversed two weak months for global gold ETFs and futures investment

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Swiss Watch Exports Increase 12.2 Percent in February

Swiss Watch Exports Increase 12.2 Percent in February

Swiss watch exports rose 12.2 percent in February, bolstered by business in all main geographic markets and each timepiece material, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said on Tuesday.

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2022 Silver Jewelry Sales Results

2022 Silver Jewelry Sales Results

Silver has become an increasingly important category for many jewelers over the past several years, both in driving sales and providing margin. To determine specifics on market performance and help support the category's further growth, the Silver Institute fielded a market measurement study for the thirteenth year.

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Buckle Up—Japanese Akoya Pearl Prices Have Skyrocketed 80% with No End in Sight

Buckle Up—Japanese Akoya Pearl Prices Have Skyrocketed 80% with No End in Sight

March 8, 2023 By Jennifer Heebner, Editor in Chief Joshua Israileff was stunned at the prices of Akoya Pearls when he visited the International Jewellery Tokyo fair in mid-January: costs per strand were about what he would charge his own clients. “Prices were 30–80% more for AAA goods,” says one of the owners of ASBA USA. In fact, after two days of walking the fair, he realized that one of the first vendors he shopped and turned down—“I wanted her to waive 10%,” he recollects—was actually offering fair prices. “She was right, and I was wrong.”

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Platinum Quarterly Update Covering Q4 and FY 2022 and Forecast FY 2023

Platinum Quarterly Update Covering Q4 and FY 2022 and Forecast FY 2023

Today we publish our thirty-fourth Platinum Quarterly data set, which examines activity in the fourth quarter and full year 2022. It also includes an updated forecast for 2023. Independent analysis is provided by our research partner, Metals Focus.

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Gold Winded by Strong US Data

Gold Winded by Strong US Data

February in review Gold shed 5.2% over the month, as surprisingly strong US economic data propelled both yields and the US dollar higher...

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Indian Investors Offered More Silver Product Choices

Indian Investors Offered More Silver Product Choices

• Indian Investors Offered More Silver Product Choices • Solar Cells May Use Most of the World’s Silver Reserves by 2050 according to Australian Study • New Study Confirms Current Levels of Silver in European Freshwater Bodies Pose No Health Concerns • Silver’s New Role in Photography Spurred by E-Commerce • 3D-Printed Polymer with Silver Flakes Could Mean Mass-Produced, Less-Costly Wearables • Silver-Coated Test Strips Help Doctors Confirm Heart Attacks • Silver Can Make Poultry Waste Less Dangerous to People, Chickens and the Environment • Royal Canadian Mint Silver Bullion Coin Honors No. 2 Construction Battalion • Silver Institute Upcoming Events

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Futures Blaze a Trail for Gold ETFs

Futures Blaze a Trail for Gold ETFs

Gold price rallies from previous net short lows in futures positioning have been strong and durable; the current rally looks similar It is not merely a short covering. Long positioning has been as active as previously, suggesting a buy-in to gold’s tactical case. And short positions remain, signalling an uncrowded trade While European outflows have masked nascent North American inflows, our analysis suggests that futures historically lead ETFs which could entice a more sustained rally.

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Silver Market To Face Headwinds in 2023

Silver Market To Face Headwinds in 2023

Silver is off to a good start in 2023. The year-to-date silver price average for 2023 (through to February 7) is more than 8 percent higher than the full year price average for 2022. Silver is also expected to achieve a new high in industrial applications, the most important category in the demand complex.

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Lab-Grown Diamonds

Lab-Grown Diamonds

The Lab-Grown Diamond revolution is arguably the most exciting and dynamic new direction to happen in the jewelry industry since the introduction of quartz watches. THE MVEye has been studying the development and acceptance of lab-grown diamond since 2004.

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Gold

Gold

Gold Claims a Gain in 2022

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Gold

Gold

The global economy is at an inflection point, as major central banks continue their efforts to stifle inflation. Gold’s performance in the new year will be shaped primarily by economic growth, interest rates and inflation, with additional influence from geopolitics and the US dollar.

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Gold

Gold

Gold demand firmer in Q3: Healthy Q3, driven by stronger consumer and central bank buying, helped year-to-date demand recover to pre-COVID norms.

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Platinum

Platinum

Platinum Quarterly Q3 2022

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Platinum

Platinum

Despite resilience in the automotive, jewellery and industrial sectors, combined with reduced mining and recycling supply, a reduction in ETF holdings and exchange stocks saw a platinum surplus in Q2’22 of 349 koz, and the forecast 2022 surplus increase to 974 koz.

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Silver

Silver

Indian Investors Are Taking Advantage of Increasing Silver Investment Options

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Silver

Silver

Silver News December 2022

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Silver

Silver

Release of the Silver Institute's 2022 Interim Silver Market Review

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Silver

Silver

Generational Silver Jewelry Purchases Examined in New Report

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Silver

Silver

New Silver Compound Moves Electric Car Sector Forward

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Jewelry Retail

Jewelry Retail

The number of active US jewelry companies continued to decline in the second quarter, according to the latest data from the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT).

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Watches

Watches

Swiss watch exports continued their eight-month upward swing in the first half of 2022 rising 11.9 percent year-over-year, led by strong demand in the U.S. market, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said Tuesday.

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Publicly Trade Jewelry Companies

Publicly Trade Jewelry Companies

Review the latest shareholder reports on publicly traded jewelry companies throughout the world.

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Mined Diamonds

Mined Diamonds

Diamond group De Beers sparkles as sales of gems at auction hit £340m at the end of 2022

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Mined Diamonds

Mined Diamonds

Dr. Evan M. Smith of GIA examines the ongoing challenge to find, evaluate, and develop the next generation of diamond deposits.

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