Gold Is Ripping Higher... And No One Cares

Gold Is Ripping Higher... And No One Cares

Normally, when there's a stock or an asset making big moves higher like this, it's all you'd see on TV. You'd be bombarded with questions from distant relatives and neighbors about how much more they should buy.

With gold? Crickets.

That's despite gold having an amazing 2024. The precious metal was up 28%, beating the 23% return for the S&P 500 Index.

And it's already off to a hot start in 2025, recently breaking out to new all-time highs. In the short term, gold prices have risen as investors have turned to safe havens because of fears over a global trade war.

But instead of money pouring into gold, we're seeing money moving out of gold funds here in North America.

According to the World Gold Council, North American physically backed gold exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") saw net outflows of nearly $500 million in January. This is the second straight month of net outflows in the West.

Other parts of the world, however, are starting to get behind the metal.

European funds added a net $3.4 billion of gold in January. This was the largest monthly inflow for Europe since March 2022. The World Gold Council also reported that global gold-trading volumes rose 20% in January.

Global investors are finally ready to add gold back to their portfolios, but North American investors aren't as convinced. They have too many options to invest in, like the Magnificent Seven, bitcoin, or anything that claims to use artificial intelligence.

For now, gold is in a ripping bull market, but it's not loved. And that tells me prices can still go higher.

Of course, the reason why every investor needs to own gold is simple... It's the ultimate "chaos hedge."

Gold has been used as a currency throughout all recorded history. Its supply is limited, and it also has some real-world uses, such as for jewelry and electronics components.

When things get rocky in the economy or stock market, folks turn to gold as a safe haven. It has historically held its value across borders, cultures, and political systems... in peacetime and in wartime.

I've always said every investor needs to own some gold. With the current hated bull market, plus the risks I see in the economy... more gains are on the way for this chaos hedge.

But gold isn't the only place you should be looking to invest...

According to my friend Joel Litman over at our corporate affiliate Altimetry, President Donald Trump's plan to deregulate the American economy could send a group of little-known stocks soaring as soon as March 3.

Luckily, Joel has developed a system to identify exactly which stocks may benefit, so you can get in before that crucial date.

In a recently released interview, Joel explained...

On top of all that, you'll receive one of Joel's best picks for free, just for tuning in. Get all the details here.

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
February 15, 2025

Reader question of the week...

Q: I always look forward to your health updates. What do you think of the Suja uber greens drink? It's got a lot of good veggies, including cucumbers, celery, grapefruit, chard, lettuce, and lemon, and it has only five grams of sugar, and it actually tastes pretty good. Thanks in advance. – K.L.

A: Thanks for your question, K.L.

Longtime readers know I advise against drinking juices in place of whole produce, and green drinks like this Suja one you mentioned are a good example of why... They always look super healthy until you really break down the nutrients you're getting per bottle.

One of the biggest issues is the lack of fiber. When you eat a piece of fruit – like an orange – the fiber in the fruit helps slow the absorption of sugar. But when you're drinking something with sugar, there's no fiber to slow the absorption, so your body gets a glucose spike. (These spikes increase your risk of developing diabetes and cancer.)

And the amount of nutrients you're getting from these drinks isn't impressive. Let's compare one bottle of Suja – which the company says contains 1.5 servings of fruits and vegetables – with a cup of raw kale (one of the vegetables listed as an ingredient):

You can see that for almost every nutrient, kale wins. That cup of kale also gives you fiber, calcium, magnesium, and folate. Of course, while kale is a superfood, it's not exactly the tastiest thing to eat. So let's also compare a bottle of Suja with one small grapefruit:

Grapefruit doesn't come out as well, but it does still contain fiber (which, again, helps slow the absorption of sugar), beta-carotene (which helps with eye health), and lycopene (which helps protect against certain types of cancer).

I'm not saying this Suja juice is harmful, especially if you're not downing several bottles a day. (That sugar would start to add up.) If you enjoy drinking it, it's certainly a healthier treat than a can of soda. Just don't use it as a replacement for whole fruits and veggies.

Keep sending your questions, comments, and suggestions our way. We read every e-mail... feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com.