12.17.25 - Gold forecast to glitter again next year

12.17.25 - Gold forecast to glitter again next year

Gold last traded at $4,338 an ounce. Silver at $66.21 an ounce.

BRICS Enters Second Stage of Expansion -Watcher.Guru

Just when it seemed the BRICS alliance had quieted down, it has resurfaced; this time with reports that it is entering a second phase of expansion. Despite efforts by the Trump administration to slow BRICS' momentum, progress has been limited, and the challenge remains a steep uphill battle.

Russia's BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov confirmed on Tuesday that the alliance has entered the second stage of expansion. He did not reveal a specific timeline for when the bloc intends to invite new countries into the grouping. "We have now entered, I believe, the second stage of expansion. I will not speculate here about when, who, and in what capacity we will have further rapprochement with BRICS," said Ryabkov to PIR Center.

He also hinted that the second stage of expansion could also happen through a new category of BRICS partner countries. "Opportunities exist for this, including through the creation of a category of partner states. BRICS already has quite a few of these countries that have recently achieved this status," he said.

The diplomat stressed that Russia's Chairmanship in 2023 was a major success as the BRICS expansion took place under its watch. Ryabkov explained that the alliance ensured a smooth integration of the new members into the bloc. Every founding member country played an important role in inducting the new countries. "All BRICS members acknowledge that we have accomplished this task quite effectively," he said.