Gold steady as US-Iran deal hopes counter inflation fears

With oil prices under pressure and hawkish expectations for the Federal Reserve intensifying, the U.S. dollar has risen against the Canadian dollar for the third consecutive day.

The Pentagon's Next Critical Minerals Source Is Already In Its Own Warehouses. Last week, U.S. Navy destroyers began escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz under Project Freedom, the most aggressive American action in the strait since Iran shut it down in March. The naval blockade of Iranian ports is now in its fifth week. U.S. warships are running mine-clearance operations, intercepting Iranian-fl...

A report indicates that despite significant investments, the U.S. is still at least a decade away from substantially reducing its dependence on China for critical rare earth minerals, implying continued Chinese dominance.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Fed minutes indicate support for rate hikes if inflation proves persistent.