Young Research & Publishing Inc.

Investment Research Since 1978

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Gold, Silver, and Currencies

Young Research & Publishing has been providing research and insights on precious metals and currency markets to institutional investors, corporate financial officers, business owners, and individual investors for over four decades. Richard C. Young started Young Research & Publishing in the 70s to publish the authoritative Young's World Money Forecast, a 50-page monthly investment report on the precious metals and currency markets. Today, our research on gold, silver, and currencies is geared toward investors in or nearing retirement who are looking to preserve and protect wealth. 

Can Boris’ Brexit Deal Pass?

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With the announcement of a Brexit deal agreed to between Boris Johnson and the EU, the only question left is, can the deal make it through the House of Commons? Johnson's coalition partner, the Democratic Unionist Party, has said it will not back the deal, which means it will have a very hard time passing the House. James Blitz reports in the FT: James Forsyth in The Spectator has a good assessment of where the problem lies. He says Mark Spencer, the Conservative chief whip, calculated last night that if the DUP backs Mr Johnson, the government will win on Saturday with a majority of just … [Read more...]

Are Central Banks about to Burn the Dollar?

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For decades the gold standard reserve currency of the world has been the American dollar, but now as Eva Szalay and Colby Smith report for the Financial Times, that preeminent role may be at risk. They write: The US dollar has long towered over global markets and finance. But cracks are starting to appear in the edifice. The greenback’s pre-eminent role in official funds and international trade is formidable and unlikely to fade quickly. But the latest data from the IMF on central banks’ reserves show a subtle shift away from the dollar that analysts say could signal a rethink on the … [Read more...]

Is Gold a Good Long-term Investment?

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Since President Nixon closed the gold window in August of 1971, the price of gold has increased more than 37-fold. From a price of $40.65 at month-end August 1971, gold has risen to $1,528 today. A $1,000 investment in gold at the end of August 1971 would be worth over $37,000 today—a compounded annual return of 7.8%. How Does Gold’s Return Compare to Stocks and Bonds? Gold’s 7.8% return since August of 1971 compares favorably to the 7.4% return that intermediate-term U.S. Treasury securities delivered over the same time. More surprising to some is that gold has even appreciated more than … [Read more...]

The World Just Got Serious About Regulating Cryptocurrencies

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For years anonymous crypto-currencies have been criminals' favorite method of hiding and laundering their money. That could all be about to end. Mike Orcutt explains at the MIT Technology Review that the Financial Action Task Force, a global standard-setting group, has put cryptocurrencies in its crosshairs. The group wants to clamp down on cryptocurrencies being used as a way to launder money. Orcutt reports: One of the biggest knocks against cryptocurrency has always been its status as a refuge for tech-savvy criminals. Even as some bigger players—particularly exchanges that handle many … [Read more...]

Is Bitcoin a Currency, or an Asset?

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Bitcoin speculators are in the midst of another wild ride in the crypto-currency's price, which shot up as high as $13,387.26/bitcoin on June 26 after having settled for months in the $3,500-range.  Prices have now fallen back below $9,500 in the span of a month, taking back some, but certainly not all, of what speculators made in the last rally. Something many Americans are confused about is, whether bitcoin is a currency, or an asset. For tax purposes, the IRS is treating bitcoin like an asset. Laura Saunders reports for the WSJ: According to an IRS spokesman, there is no explicit … [Read more...]

Is Bitcoin a Better Investment than Facebook’s Libra?

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As I wrote to you on Wednesday, Bitcoin and Libra are two different animals. One is a digital asset and one is digital cash. Bitcoin being the asset, Libra being the cash. But is Bitcoin an asset worth investing in? As I’ve written to you in the past, I love the idea of blockchain’s trustless ledger. But with my money or your money? No. Are Today’s Bitcoin Investors Making the Same Mistake as Isaac Newton? Beyond Bitcoin, Has Crypto-Boredom Set in? Can Bitcoin Ever Really Be a Currency? Emergency Cash: Bitcoin or Dollars? What do I think of Bitcoin? Part I Paul Singer … [Read more...]

Can Turkey’s Lira Survive?

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The Turkish central bank is employing short-term borrowing to bolster the lira. Investors and currency traders are uneasy with the actions. Laura Pitel and Adam Samson report for the FT: Turkey’s central bank has bolstered its foreign currency reserves with billions of dollars of short-term borrowed money, raising fears among analysts and investors that the country is overstating its ability to defend itself in a fresh lira crisis. Reported net foreign reserves held by the central bank stood at $28.1bn in early April — a sum that investors already believed was inadequate because of … [Read more...]

Can IBM Revolutionize Foreign Exchange with Blockchain?

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IBM has rolled out a new service called IBM Blockchain World Wire that hopes to optimize and accelerate foreign currency exchange. Rachel Wolfson reports on the new service at Forbes, writing: IBM is paving the way for banks and other regulated financial institutions to join the blockchain revolution. Rather than going through a series of intermediaries when sending money across borders, IBM has created a real-time, global payments network to support cross-border transactions and foreign exchange in more than 50 countries using digital assets, also known as cryptocurrencies or “stable … [Read more...]

Cryptocosm and Life After Google: Is Tether No Longer Credible?

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What happens when the core promises of a crypto-currency no longer hold true? Frances Coppola, a Senior Contributor at Forbes explains that Tether, a so-called "stablecoin," that is supposedly pegged to the U.S. dollar may not be as linked to the fiat currency as has been advertised. She writes: USDT is the foremost stablecoin in the crypto world. Pegged one for one to the U.S. dollar, it is widely used as a vehicle for getting dollars in and out of crypto exchanges. Crypto enthusiasts will tell you that holding USDT (“Tethers”) is the same as holding dollars. But now, Tether, the issuer of … [Read more...]