Stephen Miran’s Fed Nomination and Gold’s Historic Warning Signals

Black and gold-themed digital graphic featuring the headline “STEPHEN MIRAN’S FED NOMINATION” in bold yellow Impact font with black outline, and the subheading “Gold’s Historic Crisis Warnings” in white Impact font. Left side shows a portrait-style silhouette of Stephen Miran against a stylized Federal Reserve seal. Right side features a gold bar, gold coins, and a rising gold price chart, symbolizing gold’s role as a crisis hedge.
Table summarizing spot prices and weekly changes for USD gold, NZD gold, USD silver, NZD silver, and NZD/USD. Shows percentage declines in metals and a 1.41% rise in the NZD.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Weekly Price Overview – 13 August 2025

A strong Kiwi pressured local gold and silver despite firm USD metals.

🟡 NZD gold fell $145 to $5,622.44 (-2.51%), continuing its sideways consolidation above key support at $5,200. USD gold dropped $38 to $3,345.35 (-1.13%) but remains well-supported above its green uptrend line.

NZD silver slid $1.22 to $63.65 (-1.88%), pulling back from record highs but staying well above its breakout zone near $62.50. USD silver eased $0.19 to $37.87 (-0.49%), holding just under resistance at $37.50 with $50 still in sight.

💱 The NZD/USD rose 83 basis points (+1.41%) to 0.5950, now testing resistance at its red downtrend line. Long-term momentum suggests the Kiwi could be heading higher.

📈 Technicals show gold consolidating in tight ranges and silver pausing near highs. Any dips toward major support zones still look like buying opportunities — particularly for silver in both USD and NZD terms.

Two-panel chart showing NZD gold down to $5,622, consolidating above $5,200 support within an upward channel. USD gold fell to $3,345, trading in a wedge pattern above its green uptrend line, suggesting dips remain buying opportunities.
Two-panel chart comparing NZD silver and USD silver. NZD silver fell to $63.65, pulling back from highs but holding above breakout support at $62.50. USD silver dipped to $37.87, staying just under resistance at $37.50, with an uptrend toward the $50 target intact.
Daily chart of NZD/USD showing an 83 basis point rise to 0.5950. Price is approaching resistance at the long-term red downtrend line, with the 200-day moving average below as support. Indicators suggest long-term upside potential.

Gold Tariff Scare: What Changed — and What Didn’t

Tariffs on gold were the big news this past week. It was no, then yes, then no — prices whipsawed on shifting headlines. In this week’s feature article we unpack what actually changed, what didn’t. Plus, the simple steps to keep your wealth plan steady if headlines flip again.

Hero graphic with gold bar and silver coin over market charts, U.S. and China flags; headline ‘Trump’s Tariffs & Precious Metals: Exemptions, Risks, and What Comes Next?’ and red badge ‘Updated • 12 Aug 2025 — gold remains tariff-free.’

ASB: Tariffs Could Linger, RBNZ Likely to Cut Below 3%

This week brought another trade shock: the US has slapped a 15% tariff on around NZ$9 billion of our exports. Up from the previously announced 10%. ASB’s latest report says it’s a big hit for beef, dairy, and wine — together half of what we send Stateside — and while services are spared for now, the tariffs could stick around longer than anyone hopes. With Washington potentially raking in US$30–50 billion a month from its new tariffs, ASB warns they could be “sticky” and become part of the landscape. ASB expect the RBNZ to shift from brake to accelerator, with rates likely heading below 3% by year-end to soften the blow.

Stephen Miran at the Fed: What It Could Mean for the Dollar – and for Gold

Back in February, we covered Stephen Miran’s Trade Policy Blueprint in our article The Coming Global Trade Reset. His main goal was clear: weaken the US dollar to help exports and rebalance trade, but still keep the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. That’s a tricky task. A dollar that’s too weak risks losing global confidence. A dollar that’s too strong hurts US exports.

Now, President Trump has nominated Miran to fill a vacant seat on the Federal Reserve Board. One vote on the FOMC won’t shift policy overnight, but it could influence the tone inside the Fed. Miran has said that tariffs don’t always cause inflation. He has also backed ideas that would make the Fed more responsive to White House trade goals. If those views carry through, we could see more pressure for lower interest rates and a softer dollar over time.

Why does this matter for gold? Three main reasons:

1️⃣ Weaker USD means higher gold pricing power. Gold is priced in US dollars worldwide. If the dollar falls, gold becomes cheaper for buyers using other currencies. That often pushes the USD gold price higher.

2️⃣ Trade and currency uncertainty boosts safe-haven demand. When the Fed’s independence is questioned or trade policy becomes more political, investors often turn to gold as a hedge.

3️⃣ Reserve currency risk encourages diversification. Trying to weaken the dollar while keeping its reserve status is a gamble. If it fails, central banks and investors may hold more gold to protect their wealth.

Miran’s appointment is more than just a staffing change. It could be a sign that US trade, currency, and monetary policy are moving in the same direction. In that environment, gold’s role as a store of value and portfolio insurance may only grow stronger.

Chart(s) of the Week: Gold Flashing Major Warning Signs

Two very different charts are pointing to the same conclusion — capital is quietly but steadily moving away from risk assets and into gold.

1️⃣ Tom Bradshaw’s “Danger Zone” Signal
Gold has now surged above the 40% annual return threshold — a level Tom calls the “Danger Zone.” In the past 50 years, every spike has preceded a major recession. Gold’s recent rally suggests deep systemic concerns are brewing beneath the surface of the economy.

Chart plotting gold’s annual returns from 1971 to 2025 with a red ‘Danger Zone’ line at 40% year-over-year gains. Spikes above this threshold in 1973–75, 1980–82, 2006–07, and 2009–10 align with severe recessions. A new spike in 2024–25 raises concern for another major downturn.

Source.

2️⃣ Patrick Karim’s Gold vs S&P 500 Trend
Despite the recent US stock market bounce, when measured against gold, equities remain in a long-term downtrend. This is classic “capital rotation” — where smart money gradually moves from overvalued stocks into the relative safety of gold.

Long-term log-scale chart of the S&P 500 with key downturns marked in 1949, 1974, 2009, and projected 2036; highlights periods when commercial real estate (CRE) downturns capped stock market gains. Lower panel shows gold vs S&P ratio trending upward during CRE-related equity weakness, suggesting capital rotation into gold.

Source.

The Takeaway
Gold isn’t simply reacting to headlines — it’s sending a broader warning about market stress and possible economic trouble ahead. Historically, these signals have not been false alarms.

With tariffs shaking trade flows, policy shifts brewing at the Fed, and gold flashing historic warning signals, the months ahead could be anything but calm. Whether you see the recent pullbacks as buying opportunities or signs to stay cautious, preparation is key. Review your wealth plan now — and if you need help positioning in gold or silver, we’re here to guide you through whatever comes next.

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