First, I look for smaller exploration companies that appear to be on the right track or that have started producing precious metals and are able to do so at a low cost per ounce.

…2017 was just the first year with a small increase after a huge drop off in exploration activity. It may take many years of future increases to get back to where the activity was in 2012, as projected increases in exploration spending are seen to be slow and steady.

After six years of primarily sideways action, gold broke decisively to the upside by breaking above strong resistance between $1,350 and $1,400 by soaring to near $1,450 before correcting moderately.

Several of the large banks are being investigated for illegal trading by the Department of Justice under the Trump administration, and some have already been indicted.