Silver prices have reached a new all-time high, surpassing the $65 per ounce mark, making it the best annual performance in history. The surge is driven by supply shortages, growing demand from high-tech industries, and the inclusion of silver on the US list of critical minerals.
On December 16, US President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan territorial waters. He accused Venezuela of stealing American assets and declared its government a "foreign terrorist organization."
The National Bank of Ukraine has set the official exchange rates for December 15: the dollar fell by 8 kopecks, the euro by 5 kopecks, and the Polish zloty remained unchanged. The official exchange rate for the dollar is UAH 42.1936, for the euro UAH 49.4678, and for the zloty UAH 11.7143.
Gold prices rose 1% to a seven-week high, supported by a weakening dollar and geopolitical instability. Silver set a new all-time record, rising 10.4% for the week.
Gold prices fell 0. 1% to $4205.4 per ounce, while silver rose 1.1% to $61.34 per ounce, reaching an all-time high. Investors are awaiting Fed Chair Jerome Powell's interest rate forecast.
High-tech stocks, crypto assets, and gold remain in demand among investors. New investment opportunities are also emerging – some of them are available to Ukrainians.
Trump helped the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace agreement and economic pacts. This will give the US access to the region's valuable minerals, although the implications for the 30-year conflict remain unclear.
Nikita Sheremet set a world junior record and updated the adult record of Ukraine at the European Championships in Lublin. This happened during the men's 4x50m freestyle relay.
In New Zealand, a man swallowed a Fabergé pendant worth 33,000 New Zealand dollars in a store. Police are waiting for the jewelry to pass naturally, and the suspect will appear in court on December 8.
This year, the price of silver has risen by 100%, outperforming gold, thanks to supply shortages and high industrial demand. Metal reserves are close to historical lows, exacerbating the risk of scarcity.
Stocks showed moderate growth on Tuesday, while cryptocurrencies and global government bonds stabilized after sell-offs. This happened amid an expected interest rate hike in Japan, which affected global markets.
In Sudan, the military government has offered Russia the opportunity to establish a naval base on the Red Sea coast, which could provide Moscow with strategic access to key international trade routes. The proposal includes the deployment of up to 300 military personnel and four ships, as well as permits for mineral extraction.
Bitcoin, after reaching a record high of $126,210. 50 on October 6, fell by 11.8% to less than $85,000. This drop led to a decline in crypto industry stocks, including Coinbase Global and Robinhood Markets.
Pavlo Korostylov and Zlatoslava Volosenko were recognized as the best athletes of November by the NOC of Ukraine. Korostylov won gold, silver, and two bronze medals at the World Shooting Championship, while Volosenko won bronze at the European Taekwondo Championship among juniors.
Sotheby's auction house in the UK sold the "Jack" hare-shaped jewelry piece for £82,550. The 18-carat gold piece with a ruby eye, created by Kit Williams, was previously the object of a worldwide treasure hunt.
The presidents of DR Congo and Rwanda will meet with Donald Trump in Washington next week to conclude a peace agreement. The US is mediating the conflict and plans to attract investments in Congo's mining sector.
The price of silver surged to a record high, exceeding $54. 76 per ounce, driven by hopes of a US Federal Reserve rate cut and a supply shortage. The London silver market reported a severe supply deficit, impacting prices in Shanghai and New York.
Swiss parliamentarians have appealed to the prosecutor's office, demanding an investigation into whether gifts to Donald Trump from business leaders violated anti-corruption legislation. This occurred after a lucrative tariff agreement was concluded between the countries.
American analysts have identified little-known sanctions that could harm the Russian war machine, focusing on chemicals for lubricants and tires. Blocking the Chinese company Xinxiang Richful and other suppliers could create a shortage of these critical materials.
The Central Bank of Russia has begun direct sales of gold from its reserves on the domestic market. This is aimed at supporting the ruble and covering budget needs.
The price of gold fell by 0. 3% to $4,153.49 per ounce, futures fell by 0.5% to $4,150. Investors are taking profits, awaiting the Fed's decision on a rate cut amid conflicting signals.
In Asian trading, gold rose by almost 1% due to a weakening dollar and weak economic data from the US, which strengthened expectations of a Fed interest rate cut in December. The spot price of gold rose to $4,166.13 per ounce, February futures to $4,201.15.
French law enforcement has arrested four more individuals in connection with the €88 million crown jewels robbery from the Louvre. The detainees are two men aged 38 and 39, and two women aged 31 and 40, all from the Paris region.
Ukrainian athletes won 35 medals at the European Muaythai Championship in Athens. Among them are 15 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze awards.
The price of gold rose to $4,141. 49 per ounce, reaching its highest level since November 14. This happened after the Fed signaled a possible rate cut in December, which increased the probability of such a decision to 81%.
World coffee prices sharply dropped after Trump's decision to lift 40% tariffs on agricultural imports from Brazil. Arabica futures on ICE fell by 4.6% to $3.5925 per pound, while robusta dropped by 5% to $4400 per ton.
The golden toilet "America" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan was sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for $12 million to an unknown buyer. The 18-karat gold art object, which functions as a regular toilet, satirizes excessive American wealth.
The Louvre plans to install 100 video cameras by the end of 2026 and open a police station on its premises. These measures are part of a security enhancement program following a robbery on October 19, 2025, during which eight pieces of jewelry were stolen.
Gold prices fell to their lowest level in more than a week as markets scaled back expectations of a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month. Spot gold fell 0.1% to $4041.54 an ounce, while gold futures for December delivery fell 0.8% to $4040.30 an ounce.
The Royal Mint of Great Britain has unveiled a new coin featuring Freddie Mercury as part of its "Music Legends" series. The coin commemorates the 40th anniversary of Freddie Mercury's performance at the Live Aid charity concert, and its value ranges from £18.50 to £9,350.
