Gold Eyes $5,000 and Silver Targets $100 as Supply Squeeze Tightens
Resource nationalism and a physical squeeze are driving the wildest metals rally in history, and Wall Street thinks we’re just getting started.
If you were waiting for a sign to look at your jewelry box with newfound respect, this is it. The global financial markets have officially caught gold fever, and for once, its more volatile sibling, silver, is steering the ship. On Wednesday, January 14, precious metals staged a historic rally that left seasoned traders breathless and short-sellers weeping, as gold tore past $4,600 an ounce and silver smashed through the $90 ceiling. The psychological milestones of $5,000 gold and $100 silver, once dismissed as the fever dreams of aggressive perma-bulls, are now blinking on the dashboard of major investment banks.
The catalyst for this vertical ascent isn't just the usual inflation hedging or currency debasement; it is a full-blown supply shock rooted in geopolitical chess. The narrative shifted dramatically on January 1 when China, the world’s heavy hitter in metal refining, decided to tighten its grip on the global tap. By implementing strict export licensing and slashing the number of authorized silver exporters to a mere handful of companies, Beijing effectively weaponized the supply chain. The result is what analysts are calling "resource nationalism," a polite term for a very rude awakening for Western industries dependent on these metals for everything from electric vehicles to AI chips.

