Asian Metals Market Update for 27th August 2026 I will be focusing on key support (short-term and medium-term) as I am bullish on precious metals and non-ferrous metals for the rest of the year. Chintan Karnani Thu, 08/27/2026 - 07:00

Two tests decide whether a retirement account can hold bullion, and the industry quotes only one of them. The purity figures everyone cites are not in the tax code. The condition that is there cost one couple $411,000 when they kept eligible coins in a home safe. The post What Are the IRS Rules for a Precious Metals IRA in 2026? appeared first on GoldSilver.

How Will Metals React to Trump Iran D-Day Epstein analyzes chart patterns, noting a significant retracement in gold prices and bullish trends in metals like silver, copper, and platinum. Ira Epstein Mon, 08/24/2026 - 06:06

#html-body [data-pb-style=HG7MXWF]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll} Pawn shops typically lend about 25% to 60% of an item's estimated resale value, while selling generally provides a higher upfront payment because ownership transfers to the buyer. Pawning is often the better choice if you want temporary access to cash, can meet the repayment terms, and want the option to retrieve your valuables later. This guide compares how both options work, what affects the amount you receive, and the advantages of each approach. Key Takeaways The main difference between pawning and selling is ownership. Selling transfers ownership permanently in exchange for immediate payment, while pawning lets you retrieve your item after you pay back the loan and any applicable interest and fees. A pawn shop can provide quick cash without a credit check. Pawn loans are based on an item's estimated resale value rather than the borrower's credit history, and many transactions are completed in just minutes. Selling generally provides more money because the buyer acquires full ownership. Pawn loans provide a cash loan based on the item's estimated resale value, while selling typically offers a higher upfront payment with no repayment obligation. Most pawn customers retrieve their valuables. According to the National Pawnbrokers Association, approximately 85% of pawn customers redeem their collateral, showing that most pawn loans end with borrowers recovering their pledged property. Jump to: What Is a Pawn Loan | How to Pawn Items | Selling items for more money | Pawning vs Selling | How to Recover a Pawned Item | Can you Pawn Gold? | Is it Better to Pawn or Sell Gold? | Pawning or Selling? What Is a Pawn Loan? A pawn loan is a secured loan in which you simply bring a valuable item to a pawnshop as collateral in exchange for short-term funds. These loans are non-recourse, collateral-based loans, meaning the pledged item secures the loan rather than the borrower's credit history. Pawn transactions are often completed in just minutes because the loan is based on the value of personal property rather than the borrower's income or credit qualifications. Common items accepted include gold, jewelry, watches, electronics, and other valuables with established market demand. The average pawn loan nationwide is less than $180, according to the National Pawnbrokers Association, and pawnbrokers make thousands of loans every day for less than $50, although loan amounts vary based on the item's resale value and local market conditions. Do Pawn Loans Require a Credit Check? No. Pawn loans are collateral-based rather than credit-based, so pawnshops do not perform credit checks or report loans to consumer credit agencies. The National Pawnbrokers Association also notes that pawn loans have no effect on a consumer's credit history because they are secured by the pledged item rather than the borrower. How Long Does a Pawn Loan Last? Pawn loan periods vary by state and pawn shop. For example, Florida law sets a 30-day maturity date, while California requires pawn loan contracts to provide a minimum loan period of four months. Some states also provide additional redemption periods or allow loan extensions. If you pay back the loan, plus any applicable interest and fees, before the applicable redemption period expires, you can retrieve your item and retain ownership. Check your state’s pawn laws and the specific terms on your pawn ticket to confirm the loan period, redemption deadline, fees, and extension options that apply to you. How Much Interest Do Pawn Shops Charge? Pawn shop interest rates and fees vary by state, so the cost of pawning can depend on where the transaction takes place. In Florida, for example, the maximum combined interest and pawn service charge is 25% per month, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Florida consumers also have 60 days from the pawn date to redeem their merchandise by paying the principal and finance charge. What Happens If You Don't Repay the Loan? According to the Federal Reserve , if you do not repay the loan before the loan period expires, the pawn shop keeps the collateral and becomes the legal owner of the item. The item may then be offered for sale to recover the loan amount and related costs. Because pawn loans are non-recourse, borrowers typically do not owe additional money after forfeiting the pledged collateral. According to the National Pawnbrokers Association, approximately 85% of pawn customers redeem their collateral, showing that most pawn loans end with customers recovering their pledged property. How to Pawn Items at a Pawn Shop To pawn an item, you have to bring a valuable such as gold, jewelry, electronics, or bullion and a valid government-issued photo ID to a pawn shop. The pawnbroker evaluates the item's condition, authenticity, resale value, and current market demand before making a loan offer. If you accept the offer, you'll receive payment and a pawn ticket listing the loan amount, repayment terms, deadline, interest, and applicable fees. If you decline, you can take the item back with no obligation to complete the transaction. Many pawn shops complete the entire evaluation and payment process during a single visit. What ID Do You Need to Pawn an Item? Pawn shops generally require a valid government-issued photo ID to complete a pawn transaction. Identification requirements vary by state and pawn shop, so additional information or proof of ownership may be required depending on the item and local regulations. How Are Pawn Transactions Regulated? Yes. Pawn transactions are regulated by 14 federal statutes, along with state and local laws governing interest rates, loan durations, redemption periods, recordkeeping, and customer identification requirements. Selling Items for More Money at a Pawn Shop Selling generally results in a higher upfront payment than a pawn loan because the buyer assumes full ownership and the pawnshop can immediately prepare the item for resale. The final offer depends on the item's condition, authenticity, and current market demand. Unlike a pawn loan, selling does not involve repayment, interest, or redemption periods. Once the sale is complete, ownership permanently transfers to the buyer. Pawning vs Selling: Key Differences Feature Pawning Selling Purpose Receive a cash loan using the item as collateral while keeping the option to retrieve it later, unlike selling. Receive more money by transferring ownership to the buyer permanently. Ownership You keep ownership if you repay the loan within the agreed loan period. Ownership transfers to the buyer once the sale is complete. Payment Loan amount is based on the item's estimated resale value and local market conditions. (typically 30-60% of the item's resale value) Selling an item often provides a higher upfront payment because the buyer acquires full ownership. (usually provides 60-80% of the item's value.) Future Obligation You must repay the loan, plus applicable interest and fees, to redeem the item. No repayment, interest, or future financial obligations. Best For Makes sense if you need fast cash but want to keep the item. It makes sense if you no longer need the item and want to maximize its total value. Typical Process A local pawn shop evaluates the item, and many customers receive money in just minutes if they accept the loan offer, without extensive negotiations. Pawn shops, in most cases, do not require credit checks for pawning items, making this option accessible to many borrowers. The buyer evaluates the item and makes a purchase offer. If you accept the deal, ownership transfers immediately. Neither pawning nor selling usually requires a credit check. Instead, both transactions are based on the value of the item, allowing borrowers and sellers to access quick cash without affecting their credit scores. Transaction Speed Many pawn shops complete the evaluation and loan offer during the same visit. Selling to a pawn shop is typically quicker than selling through online marketplaces because payment is made once the offer is accepted. Key Considerations Loan amount depends on the item's resale value, condition, and other factors, including local market demand. Payment depends on the item's condition, authenticity, demand, and other market factors. How To Recover a Pawned Item To recover a pawned item, you must pay back the loan before the agreed loan period expires. The repayment amount includes the original short-term loan, plus any applicable interest and fees. Once payment is complete, the pawn shop returns your item, and the transaction ends. Unlike selling items, redeeming a pawned item allows you to regain ownership after using it to access temporary funds or quick cash. If you cannot repay the loan by the deadline, many pawn shops may offer a renewal or extension, although policies vary by location and applicable state law. Can You Pawn Gold Jewelry and Gold Bullion? Yes. Pawn shops may accept both gold jewelry and investment-grade gold bullion, but they are evaluated differently. Jewelry offers can depend on gold purity, weight, condition, craftsmanship, and resale demand, while bullion coins and bars are more closely evaluated according to metal content, purity, weight, authenticity, and the current gold price. For bullion, current spot prices provide an important reference point when evaluating an offer. As of August 2026, gold prices trade at approximately $4,400 per ounce and silver price at $66 per ounce, although actual pawn and buyback offers vary based on the product, purity, weight, condition, and dealer spread. What Types of Bullion Can You Pawn or Sell? Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion can commonly be pawned or sold in the form of coins, bars, and rounds. Recognized bullion products can also be easier for buyers to authenticate and resell. Popular examples include 1oz American Gold Eagles, 1oz American Silver Eagles, Gold Canadian Maple Leafs, and investment-grade bullion bars produced by refiners such as 1oz Gold Valcambi, and the 1oz gold Argor-Heraeus. Unlike many local pawn shops that evaluate a broad range of secondhand goods, specialized precious metals dealers focus specifically on bullion. For example, SD Bullion's buyback program purchases a wide range of investment-grade products, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars, while publishing transparent buyback pricing for many of its most commonly traded products. Is It Better to Pawn or Sell Gold? Selling gold is the better choice if you want to permanently convert the metal into cash, while pawning may be more suitable if you want temporary funds and intend to recover the gold after repayment. For investment-grade bullion, comparing a local pawn shop offer with a specialized precious metals dealer can also help establish how the offer relates to the current spot price. For bullion owners comparing selling options, SD Bullion has operated in the precious metals market since 2012 and is currently BBB Accredited with an A+ rating. Its buyback program purchases investment-grade gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products and publishes buyback pricing for commonly traded bullion. Pawning or Selling: Which Is the Best Option? If you need immediate cash and no longer want the item, selling typically provides a higher payment because the buyer can purchase it for resale and earn a profit. The main advantage of a pawn loan is the ability to retrieve the item after you pay back the loan. Understanding the key differences between these options helps you choose the right approach. Compare the benefits, costs, and any applicable fees before making a decision, since these factors directly affect how much money you receive and the overall value of the transaction. Selling gold or silver bullion? Compare SD Bullion's current buyback prices for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars before accepting an offer. SD Bullion's buyback process lets sellers lock in a price, ship their metals for verification, and receive payment after the products are inspected and approved. Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Pawn loan terms, repayment periods, interest rates, fees, and state regulations vary by pawn shop and jurisdiction. Always review the terms of any transaction before pawning or selling your valuables.

Precious Metals; Phase 1 Completing, Get Ready For Phase 2 After the rally completes, a precious metals pullback is likely upcoming, to be followed by resumed broad market leadership Gary Tanashian Sun, 08/16/2026 - 23:41

#html-body [data-pb-style=BHFG1Q7]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll} Gold Pushes Above $4,400, Asian Silver Demand Accelerates, and Debate on Extreme Price Targets Return $1,000 Silver Price Forecasts Gold and silver extended their advance, with spot gold price ending the week around $4,375 an ounce and silver at $64.55, while the gold-silver ratio eased to roughly 67:1. Gold’s longer-term bull case remains closely tied to fiscal deterioration. U.S. national debt is approaching $40 trillion, while large monthly deficits and elevated interest costs continue to reinforce concerns over currency debasement and sovereign finances. Gold has recovered from its midyear consolidation. After spending much of June and July between roughly $4,000 and $4,200, gold bullion broke higher in early August and subsequently traded above $4,400. China, Treasury yields and Japan have emerged as potential catalysts for gold’s renewed strength. The market has focused on reports of accelerating Chinese purchases alongside concerns over U.S. bond yields and the possibility of Japan reducing Treasury holdings. Precious-metals trading is becoming increasingly accessible around the clock. CME’s expansion of gold futures toward 24/7 trading gives investors additional ability to hedge and react to weekend and off-hours developments, potentially increasing speculative participation. China’s physical precious-metals market remains heavily tilted toward gold. Bullion benefits from VAT-free treatment, while silver and platinum face a 13% VAT, leaving Chinese retail silver investment relatively small despite the country’s enormous role in global refining and industrial consumption. India is emerging as a significant source of incremental silver demand. Indian silver ETFs reportedly absorbed nearly 14 million ounces in July alone, while the country is forecast to require another roughly 4,000 tonnes—about 130 million ounces—before year-end. Artificial intelligence is adding another dimension to industrial silver demand. The update cites an estimate of just over 40 million ounces of silver consumption tied to AI infrastructure build-outs, roughly half the amount attributed to global automobile manufacturing. Bullish silver forecasts are becoming increasingly aggressive, but timing remains contentious. Analyst Michael Oliver has discussed prices above $300 and potentially $1,000 an ounce, while the update argues that relative valuations—such as silver versus gold, equities and housing—may ultimately matter more than any headline nominal target. The overarching thesis is that silver could eventually outperform gold as monetary and physical-market pressures intensify. The update expects a substantially lower gold-silver ratio and argues that silver could reach prices in the hundreds of dollars over a longer horizon, while explicitly cautioning that such a move is not expected within the next year and may instead unfold over the coming decade. Gold Pushes Above $4,400, Asian Silver Demand Accelerates, and Extreme Price Targets Return to the Spotlight Gold and silver moved higher again this week, with spot silver price closing at $64.55 per ounce and spot gold finishing at $4,375 per ounce. The gold-silver ratio ended near 67 ounces of silver for one ounce of gold, ticking slightly lower as both metals advanced. Gold Breaks Out of Its Summer Trading Range For most of June and July, gold remained locked in a relatively tight consolidation range, with approximately $4,200 per ounce serving as resistance and $4,000 as the psychological floor. That consolidation represented a substantial pullback from gold's January all-time high, with the metal at one stage more than 25% below that peak. That changed on August 5, when gold broke out of the range. Prices subsequently traded above $4,400 per ounce, putting the metal in position to potentially extend its recovery. The narrative surrounding gold also shifted with the breakout, with renewed attention turning toward reports of accelerating Chinese gold purchases. China was not the only factor cited. Analysts have also focused on recent words and actions from the U.S. Treasury suggesting concern about elevated bond yields. Currency-market intervention involving the Japanese yen has added another dimension, with speculation that U.S. officials want to avoid a scenario in which Japan becomes a significant seller of its Treasury holdings. U.S. Debt Remains a Major Part of Gold's Bigger Picture Behind the shorter-term price action is a much larger fiscal story. U.S. national debt is approaching $40 trillion, having more than doubled since gold traded near its late-2015 bottom of approximately $1,050 per ounce. Over roughly the same period, gold has increased more than fourfold. The trajectory continues to attract attention. The document points to a recent monthly U.S. budget deficit of $432 billion, while an aging population and the cost of servicing government obligations with interest rates near 5% threaten to produce still larger deficits and additional debt. From a long-term precious-metals perspective, the argument is that government fiscal problems and currency devaluations have historically accompanied major advances in gold's relative value. Gold Trading Moves Toward a 24/7 Market The structure of precious-metals trading is changing as well. CME Group recently launched gold futures that trade essentially 24 hours a day, seven days a week, filling the previous gap in weekend trading hours. Because gold is a global commodity whose fundamental market never operated strictly around U.S. trading hours, the expanded schedule gives market participants additional opportunities to hedge risk and react to developments occurring outside traditional sessions. The development could also bring more retail speculation into precious-metals derivatives. The document argues that outsized derivatives continue to exert significant influence over the day-to-day spot prices of gold, silver and other precious metals, making the expansion of around-the-clock leveraged trading an important development to watch. China's Gold Market Dominates Its Silver Investment Market Physical-market developments in China tell a notably different story for gold and silver. A Metals Focus report highlighted in the update suggests China's market has increasingly become one dominated by gold bullion rather than high-grade gold jewelry when measured by ongoing weight sold. Tax treatment provides gold with a significant advantage. Gold bullion in China trades VAT-free, while silver and platinum bullion face a 13% VAT in addition to dealer premiums. Consequently, Chinese investment demand for silver bullion remains relatively small compared with gold. Estimated Chinese investor purchases of silver bullion amount to slightly less than 13 million ounces annually, a modest figure compared with a global physical silver market approaching one billion ounces. China's industrial silver footprint, however, is another matter. Halfway through 2026, the country was on pace to import more than 4,000 tonnes of fine silver, primarily for industrial uses. China is also the world's largest silver refiner, with substantial quantities of silver entering the country as a byproduct of other major metals mining operations before being refined and, in some cases, exported again. Indian Silver Demand Surges India is emerging as another major component of the physical silver story. In July alone, Indian silver ETFs collectively purchased nearly 14 million ounces, according to the figures cited in the update. That comes ahead of India's important festival and wedding seasons during the second half of the year. India is forecast to require another 4,000 tonnes of silver before the end of 2026, equivalent to nearly 130 million ounces. The update suggests a meaningful portion of that metal may ultimately need to come from China. If physical demand accelerates while available London inventories decline, the resulting pressure could again push silver lease rates into the broader financial spotlight. AI Adds Another Source of Industrial Silver Demand Artificial intelligence infrastructure is also beginning to appear as a measurable component of silver consumption. The update cites what it describes as the first estimated breakdown it has seen for industrial silver demand associated with AI build-outs, putting the figure at just over 40 million ounces. For perspective, that estimate is approximately half the amount of silver reportedly consumed each year by automobile manufacturing worldwide. If AI infrastructure continues expanding rapidly, the sector could become another meaningful source of competition for a metal already critical to a wide range of industrial applications. The $300 and $1,000 Silver Debate Returns Against that tightening physical-market backdrop, bullish silver price forecasts have become increasingly aggressive. Michael Oliver has recently said he would not be surprised to see silver exceed his $300-per-ounce target and eventually move beyond $1,000 per ounce. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu-c1Ra6eAU) The problem, according to the update, is less the possibility of extreme prices than the aggressive timelines attached to such forecasts. Oliver's call for $300 silver by the end of summer 2026 is highlighted as particularly vulnerable to criticism if the target fails to materialize on schedule. Rather than concentrating solely on nominal price targets, the update emphasizes what silver can purchase relative to other assets. The gold-silver ratio, for example, briefly reached the mid-40s earlier this year before rebounding, and the longer-term thesis presented is that the ratio could eventually return to—or fall below—its May 2011 low near 33:1. Silver Versus Stocks and Real-World Assets The same relative-value argument extends to equities. The S&P 500-to-silver ratio fell below 60 ounces in late January before rebounding to nearly 120 ounces. The author's longer-term thesis is that eventually just 20 ounces of silver could purchase the equivalent nominal value of the S&P 500 index, which closed the week at 7,785. History demonstrates just how extreme those relationships can become. In early 1980, the ratio briefly fell to only 2.3 ounces of silver for the nominal value of the S&P 500. The update similarly argues that median-priced U.S. homes could eventually become considerably cheaper when measured in ounces of bullion. A Longer-Term Case for Silver in the Hundreds Ultimately, the update's silver thesis is not centered on predicting an exact nominal peak. Instead, it focuses on the possibility that silver's price relationship with gold and competing assets could dramatically change during a future precious-metals mania. The document argues that historical price data show periods when spot silver and prices measured outside COMEX futures trading hours have reconverged, often while moving higher together for months or even years. The author believes another such convergence could eventually accompany substantially higher silver prices. Importantly, the outlook is not presented as a one-year forecast. The author explicitly states that he does not expect the full move to happen within the next year, but is betting that over the next decade, record debt and unfunded liabilities across the Western world could help drive gold, silver and precious-metals derivatives into a far more volatile market environment. Watch last week's full market update to review the charts behind these trends—including gold's breakout, China's and India's silver flows, historical gold-silver relationships, and the long-term price data driving the debate over where silver could ultimately go.   Source(s): Gold Breaks Out of Its Summer Range | Bloomberg News sponsored by COMEX's CME Group https://youtu.be/n2bVZ_G4bUM?si=a3b9t0fOXWaOO119

Maryland, Alaska Leaders Named “Sound Money Legislators of the Year” In Maryland, Del. Wayne Hartman and Sen. J.B. Jennings are recognized for restoring the sales tax exemption on purchases of precious metals that was controversially repealed in 2025. Jp Cortez Fri, 08/14/2026 - 09:18

Platinum’s Changing Investment Story: Deficits, Geopolitics and New Sources of Demand Platinum is also extraordinarily scarce. According to Sterck, it is about 30 times less available than gold. MoneyMetals Mon, 08/10/2026 - 09:40

Stocks, Commodities and Precious Metals; Big Changes Coming Stocks, commodities and precious metals are bullish, as anticipated, but post-election balance will shift Gary Tanashian Sun, 08/09/2026 - 11:11

Markets Question Fed's Inflation Resolve After July FOMC Meeting The Fed has yet to take any meaningful policy steps to fight inflation. This is beginning to influence bond markets and could ultimately strengthen the case for owning precious metals. MoneyMetals Thu, 08/06/2026 - 14:45

A correction creates buying opportunity — but only if you choose the right product. Here is which physical formats minimize premiums and deliver the most metal per dollar when prices dip. The post What Are the Best Physical Precious Metals Products to Buy During a Correction? appeared first on GoldSilver.

Metals: Gold and Silver Testing Recent Lows Ira Epstein discusses the current state of the metal markets, highlighting significant declines, particularly in silver, while noting that platinum remains relatively stable. Ira Epstein Fri, 07/17/2026 - 07:29