In the first episode of The Pod of Gold for 2025, Nicholas Frappell, Global Head of Institutional Markets at ABC Refinery, breaks down a whirlwind start to the year for gold.

Just one month into 2025, gold has already hit two record highs, with the latest peak at $2,830 USD. But what’s driving the price action?

The big headline is Trump’s new tariffs, imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China over the weekend. Nicholas explains how these tariffs are impacting gold and silver markets, short-term borrowing rates, and the US dollar. They also explore what this means for inflation, trade, and economic growth as the global economy braces for uncertainty.

From gold’s technical targets and managed money positioning to the broader geopolitical and currency implications of a new trade war, this episode unpacks all the critical market movements shaping 2025.

PODCAST INFO:

• • ABC Refinery website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.abcrefinery.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Nick Frappell: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/nick_frappell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Shae Russell: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/shaearussell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

  Timestamps:

  • • (0:00) – Introduction: Gold’s wild start to 2025
    • (1:33) – Market Reaction: Short-term borrowing rates and spot market shifts
    • (2:30) – Trump’s Tariffs: The impact on gold, silver, and global trade
    • (5:17) – Gold Spot: All time high.
    • (6:20) – Managed Money Positioning: How traders are adjusting to volatility
    • (7:45) – Gold prices ‘Stronger for longer’ and ‘Fixation on gold reaching US $3,000’.
    • (9:30) – Currency conversation: What are the impacts on gold and currencies during a trade war?

    Don’t miss this must-listen episode as markets brace for a volatile year ahead!

In the final Pod of Gold episode for 2024, Nicholas Frappell, Global Head of Institutional Markets at ABC Refinery, unpacks a tumultuous year for the gold market and provides a look ahead to 2025. Exploring the latest market movements, including the impact of the proposed Trump tariffs on gold and silver imports, recent shifts in gold’s forward curve, and key technical price levels for the metal.

Frappell offers insights into geopolitical developments, from the fall of the Assad regime in Syria to China’s pivot toward fiscal expansion. The discussion also touches on managed money positioning, ETF outflows, and how these factors are shaping the gold market as we close out the year. With forecasts for gold’s targets in 2025 and a recap of pivotal moments from the past year, this episode is packed with expert analysis to wrap up 2024.

PODCAST INFO:

• ABC Refinery website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.abcrefinery.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Nick Frappell: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/nick_frappell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Shae Russell: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/shaearussell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

Timestamps:

• • (0:00) – Introduction and Gold Market Overview
  • (1:00) – Impact of Trump’s Proposed Tariffs on Gold and Silver Imports
  • (5:15) – Managed Money Positioning and ETF Trends
  • (7:06) – Gold’s Technical Levels and Ichimoku Cloud Analysis
  • (9:00) – Gold’s Targets on Point and Figure
  • (10:30) – Geopolitical Update: Syria and Middle Eastern Uncertainty
  • (12:09) – China’s Fiscal Expansion and Its Global Implications
  • (14:08) – Key Takeaways for Gold Investors in 2025

• Special Announcement:

  We’ll be back with fresh episodes in late January 2025, featuring deep dives into market positioning, geopolitical trends, and new gold forecasts. Until then, we wish all our listeners a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

  Don’t miss this insightful wrap-up of the year in gold!

In this episode of The Pod of Gold, Nicholas Frappell, Global Head of Institutional Markets at ABC Refinery discusses the recent "Trump bump" and gold's subdued trading behavior. Dive into managed money positioning and technical analysis using the Ichimoku Cloud, exploring what the charts indicate for gold's future, including the potential for a move beyond $2,700.

The discussion shifts to the geopolitical landscape, providing unique insights into Middle Eastern tensions and the renewed prominence of the Assad regime in Syria. As the year winds down, we reflect on key takeaways for gold investors, including the dangers of fixation on specific price targets like $3,000 per ounce.

PODCAST INFO:

• ABC Refinery website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.abcrefinery.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Nick Frappell: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/nick_frappell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Shae Russell: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/shaearussell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

Timestamps:

• (0:00) – Introduction and Overview

• (1:24) – Recap of recent gold moves

• (3:34) – Managed Money Positioning

• (7:17) – Gold Targets

• (8:54) – $3,000 for gold?

• (10:08) – Global tensions on the precious metals price

• (15:28) – Key takeaways