Many investors in gold say the price of the precious metal is artificially curbed because of the paper gold trading on Western exchanges.

In this list you will find the many time-tested reasons (along with several new ones) why 2018 is the time to add gold bullion, or add more of it, to your holdings.

As predicted by virtually everybody, even itself, the United States Federal Reserve lifted its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 to a maximum 1.5% at its December meeting.

That's right: as of this moment it is official that bitcoin is now the biggest bubble in history, having surpassed the Tulip Mania of 1634-1637.

The BRICS counties are considering starting an internal gold trading platform, according to Russian officials. When this happens, the global economy will be significantly reshaped, and the West will lose its dominance, predicts a precious metals expert.

Rickards expects gold to go to $10,000 an ounce as some central banks may have to resort to the gold standard to restore confidence in the markets.

Russia's federal budget is prepared for the possible toughening of US sanctions. However, "If our gold and currency reserves can be arrested, even if such a thought exists, it would be financial terrorism," said Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.

The physical fundamentals are stronger than ever for gold. Russia and China continue to be huge buyers. China bans export of its 450 tons per year of physical production.

BRICS countries are discussing the possibility of establishing a single gold trade system, First Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Central Bank Sergey Shvetsov said Friday.

Despite what the crypto-evangelists will tell you, digital tokens will never and can never replace gold as your financial hedge. Here are six reasons why.

Normally when rates go up, the dollar strengthens and gold weakens. They usually move in opposite directions. So how could gold have gone up when the Fed was tightening and the dollar was strong?

In Q3, Ray Dalio went on a gold buying spree, increasing his GLD holdings by a whopping 575%. As a result of the surge in holdings, Bridgewater as of this moment, the 8th largest holder of paper gold, known as GLD.

Germany’s gold investment market has boomed in the past 10 years. In the face of successive financial crises and loose monetary policy, German investors turned to gold to protect their wealth.

United States President Donald J. Trump somewhat unpredictably did the predictable by naming Jerome Powell the new Chair of the Federal Reserve.

Bill Bonner spoke to James Rickards about central banks’ inability to stop the next financial crisis, as well as a possible financial market lock down.

By having control of the physical market for gold, China can threaten to use it to destabilize the dollar, without destabilizing the yuan.

Venezuela this month allowed a $1.7 billion gold swap with Germany’s Deutsche Bank AG to lapse, according to an opposition legislator who said it weakens the balance sheet of the crisis-stricken OPEC nation’s central bank.

Gold is better than cryptocurrencies due to its durability and intrinsic value, explains American banking giant Goldman Sachs.

The traditional post jobs report rally for gold is in full swing. Gold arrived at a key Fibonacci line at about $1268 as the US jobs report was released.

China, increasingly backed by Russia—the two great Eurasian nations—are taking decisive steps to create a very viable alternative to the tyranny of the US dollar over the world trade and finance. Wall Street and Washington are not amused, but they are powerless to stop it…