Right. So, gold and silver. Supposedly safe havens. The things you buy when the world feels… wobbly. And, honestly, it’s been feeling rather wobbly lately. Prices were soaring, everyone was piling in, and I thought, “Okay, sensible move. Diversification. Adulting.” It all felt… responsible. Until it didn’t. Which, let’s be honest, is often the way with sensible plans.
There was a definite whiff of speculation, you know? Like everyone was trying to predict not just the economy, but each other’s predictions. It reminded me of those meme stocks, only shinier. Then, towards the end of January, crash. Not a full-blown apocalypse, but a definite wobble. And that, naturally, got me thinking. (Thinking being the operative word. Often followed by mild panic.)
The Fed Chair & My Increasingly Fragile Nerves
Apparently, the big news was Trump nominating Kevin Warsh to run the Federal Reserve. Which, I confess, I hadn’t entirely followed. I was too busy comparing charts and wondering if I should sell everything and invest in alpaca farms. (A fleeting thought, admittedly.) But the market seemed to react, and quite strongly. The moment the news hit, gold and silver both took a tumble. It was… disconcerting.
Gold went from around $5,300 an ounce to… well, below $5,000. It’s recovered a bit, but the dip was noticeable. Silver fared even worse, dropping from $115 to around $80. I checked my portfolio. Several times. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV +8.34%) is still showing a year-to-date gain (10%, which is… something), but it’s down 31% from its peak. I’m trying not to dwell on the peak.
Is ‘Safe’ Even Safe Anymore? (A Personal Crisis)
What this all means, I think, is that ‘safe’ is a relative term. Gold and silver aren’t the solid, predictable anchors they used to be. They’re now swayed by… confidence in the chairman of the Federal Reserve? It feels… precarious. Like building a financial house on sand. Or, worse, on Twitter.
The S&P 500 has risen a bit since the start of the year (around 2%), so maybe people are feeling less panicked and less inclined to rush into precious metals. Though, knowing my luck, the moment I relax, everything will go haywire again. I’m half expecting a rogue asteroid to hit the planet. It would certainly explain a lot.
I’m starting to think that diversifying with dividend stocks might be the saner option. At least then I’d be getting something back, even if the world is ending. It’s a long-term strategy, I tell myself. A mature, responsible investment. (Though I may still buy a small alpaca farm, just in case.)
Units of Cryptocurrency Lost: 12. Hours Spent Watching Charts: 9. Number of Panicked Texts to Friends: 24. Will become disciplined long-term investor: Remains to be seen.
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2026-02-10 16:32