Global central banks have added more gold to their reserves in the third quarter than in any quarter since late 2024, according to the World Gold Council, an industry body.

Central banks and other official institutions bought a net 321 tonnes of gold from July through September, up 42% from a year earlier, the World Gold Council says.

The council says portfolio diversification and risk management remain the main reasons behind the buying.

Central bank purchases so far this year stand at 675 tonnes, 6% higher than over the same stretch last year.

Gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) also returned to inflows, adding 211 tonnes and lifting total holdings to a record 4,256 tonnes.

Total gold demand slipped 1% from a year earlier to 1,369 tonnes, but its value jumped 22% to $188 billion as the gold price averaged $4,262 per ounce.

Demand for gold bars and coins fell 19% to 268 tonnes, while jewelry demand dropped 17% to 313 tonnes, the weakest third quarter in the council’s records.

Technology demand rose 3% to 85 tonnes, its highest quarterly total since late 2021, as AI-related manufacturing lifted electronics demand.

Says Louise Street, senior markets analyst at the World Gold Council,

“The third quarter was a mixed bag for gold demand. Gold ETF inflows came roaring back, with geopolitical risk and concerns around fiscal discipline driving institutional interest, in contrast to retail investors who held back amid uncertainty over the gold price outlook. Central Banks remained an important pillar of demand as pronounced buying continued from the official sector…

The outlook for gold looks finely balanced through to the end of the year. While rising interest rates and mixed inflation expectations present potential headwinds, the combined shadows of geopolitical risk and financial market stress may cause participants to seek stability in gold.”

Gold is trading at $4,130 an ounce at time of writing.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Global Central Banks Splurge $42,423,360,000 on Gold in Just Three Months Amid Heightened ‘Geopolitical Risk and Concerns’ appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Berkshire Hathaway has eliminated its Amazon position and grown its Alphabet stake more than sixfold under new CEO Greg Abel.

Abel moved quickly on the conglomerate’s roughly $358 billion investment portfolio after Warren Buffett retired as CEO on December 31st, 2025.

In the first quarter, Berkshire trimmed six holdings and sent 16 others packing, including Amazon, which the firm first bought in early 2019 and which had advanced roughly 150% to 200% over the holding period.

The sales followed the December exit of longtime portfolio manager Todd Combs for JPMorgan Chase, and Abel cut predominantly non-core positions Combs had overseen.

Between December 31st, 2025, and September 25th, Berkshire’s Alphabet stake grew from $5.59 billion to $36.37 billion as Abel treated Google’s parent much as Buffett once treated Apple.

Alphabet benefits from Google’s greater-than-91% share of global internet search and YouTube advertising revenue.

Google Cloud, the world’s No. 3 cloud infrastructure platform, delivered an 82% year-over-year sales jump in the June-ended quarter on artificial intelligence demand.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Warren Buffett’s Successor Abruptly Dumps Amazon, Pours Cash Into Favorite Tech Stake appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

An armored truck driver hired to load cash into ATMs has been accused of stealing $259,574 from the machines and spending the money on cars, a cruise and other purchases.

Federal prosecutors say Christopher Skinner, 41, formerly of Milford, New Hampshire, worked alone at ATM locations across the state and removed cash bundles before servicing the machines between February 2nd and February 26th of 2024.

A federal indictment charges Skinner with 18 counts of bank theft plus money laundering and conspiracy counts tied to two FDIC-insured banks. His partner, Amee Skinner, 37, formerly of Conway, faces related laundering counts. Both pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire and are presumed innocent.

Prosecutors say cash deposits into the couple’s accounts rose sharply afterward, and funded the purchase of cars, a luxury cruise and other purchases.

“The defendants allegedly used the stolen funds to make substantial personal purchases, including $40,000 in cash for a 2019 GMC Sierra and $28,814 in cash for a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. According to the indictment, the defendants also used stolen funds to pay for additional travel, retail, and online purchases.”

If convicted, the Skinners face years in prison.

“The bank theft counts each carry a maximum prison term of 10 years. The money laundering counts carry a maximum prison term of 10 years, and the money laundering conspiracy count carries a maximum term of 20 years.”

The indictment was filed August 5th of 2026.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post New Hampshire Bank ATM Loader Accused of Stealing $259,574, Spending the Loot on Cars, Luxury Cruise appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

U.S. prosecutors have seized nearly $84 million from bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets tied to a Montana payments firm linked to Tether.

The civil forfeiture targets Capstone, a money services business that allegedly posed as an information technology company to open accounts at major banks while moving money for crypto firms, reports Reuters.

Court filings say Capstone, registered in Montana, processed payments for two crypto companies through a bank in Dominica. Prosecutors say the firm also ran a scheme that converted fraud proceeds into crypto by posing as FBI agents.

Nearly $81 million was seized from Capstone accounts at Wells Fargo and about $2 million from an account at JPMorgan Chase. Roughly $1.2 million worth of Tether’s dollar-pegged token was taken as well, according to the July filing first reported by The Information.

Tether said it was a customer of the Dominica bank and that its assets there were limited. A spokesperson addressed Capstone’s alleged conduct.

“Tether had no knowledge of the conduct by Capstone alleged by the Department of Justice.”

The Justice Department did not allege wrongdoing by Tether or the other firms involved. Spokespeople for Wells Fargo and JPMorgan declined to comment.

A lawyer for Capstone told Reuters the firm denies wrongdoing and plans to challenge the complaint.

Tether issues USDT, a dollar-pegged cryptocurrency used to move value on crypto networks.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post $80,000,000+ in JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Belonging to Montana Payments Firm Abruptly Seized Over Potential Fraud appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Banks risk losing $230 billion in payments revenue as stablecoins, tokenized deposits and central bank digital currencies move into wider use, according to a survey conducted by IT services and consulting firm Capgemini.

Capgemini’s World Payments Report 2027 projects those instruments will make up about 4% of global payments volume by 2030, pressuring foreign exchange spreads, correspondent banking, float income and transaction fees that banks thrive on, says Capgemini.

The study says about $4 trillion sits trapped in accounts used to fund cross-border settlement. Nearly 60% of large corporates would take stablecoin services from non-banks if their banks fall behind, even though 71% still prefer banks for tokenized payments when cost and quality are equal.

Only 21% of banks are actively scaling at least one of these tools. Tokenized deposits ranked as banks’ top near-term priority because they stay on balance sheets and fit existing rules. Leaders that are already scaling are three times more likely to find new revenue streams and expect to offset losses in 15 months versus 25 months for other banks.

Capgemini’s global head of payment services Jeroen Hölscher framed the stakes for lenders.

“With $230 billion at stake, banks must decide what role they want to play in this emerging ecosystem.”

The report surveyed 1,110 corporates with more than $1 billion in revenue and 300 banking executives across nine markets. Capgemini is a global consulting and technology firm headquartered in Paris, France.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Banks Risk Losing $230,000,000,000 in Payments Revenue As Stablecoins and Tokenized Deposits Scale, According to Survey appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

The City of Sacramento is launching an $8 million guaranteed income program that will pay eligible foster youth $900 a month with no strings attached.

The city and United Way California Capital Region say the Foster Youth Guaranteed Income Program will send the money for up to two years, or until a recipient turns 25, whichever comes first.

Applications open October 1st of 2026 and close at 11:59 p.m. on October 31st of 2026. One hundred eligible applicants will be chosen by lottery, with notices starting the first week of November. Payments are set to begin January 15th of 2027.

Applicants must be ages 16 to 23 when payments start, live in the city or county of Sacramento, or be receiving homeless services there. They must be former foster youth who left care after age 16, or current foster youth within 90 days of leaving when payments start. Household income has to sit at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Immigration status does not affect eligibility.

Recipients do not have to join any other services to keep the checks. They can spend the money as they choose.

The city is paying for the program with Measure L, the 2022 Sacramento Children’s Fund that requires the equivalent of 40% of local cannabis tax revenue to go to child and youth services.

United Way California Capital Region will run the program. The nonprofit has administered guaranteed-income pilots in the region since 2021.

Mayor Kevin McCarty addressed the funding.

“Supporting former foster youth as they transition into adulthood is an investment in their future and our community’s future. We’re putting our Measure L funding where it can have the greatest impact.”

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Major US City Launching $8,000,000 No-Strings-Attached Guaranteed Income Program That Pays Enrollees Hundreds of Dollars Monthly appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

People on Supplemental Security Income are getting two payments in October because the November check is arriving early.

The schedule from the Social Security Administration moves a payment to the prior business day when the first of the month falls on a weekend or federal holiday.

November 1st is a Sunday, so the November payment is set for October 30th.

The regular October payment still goes out on October 1st. That is not an extra check.

Recipients get nothing on November 1st, then the next SSI payment is December 1st.

People on regular Social Security keep the usual birthday schedule. The early deposit is only for SSI.

People who get both can see three deposits in October, because the Social Security check still comes on its own date.

The maximum SSI payment in 2026 is $994 for an individual and $1,491 for a couple, with an average payment around $736.

SSI supports low-income Americans who are 65 or older, blind or disabled.

The same shift hits in December. January 1st, 2027 is a federal holiday, so that payment moves to December 31st.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Social Security SSI Recipients Getting Two Payments in October – Here’s Why appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

A dental patient has spent years mailing $1 payments after a bill came in at triple the out-of-pocket limit they say was set before treatment.

The Redditor told the dentist insurance was maxed out and they could only cover $400 with no extra work beyond that, then confirmed the cap again in the chair.

Staff later said the total was $1,200 and that the work had already been done, so that was the bill.

The patient paid the agreed $400 and was billed for the rest.

Dentist didn’t obey my limit and sent me big bill…
by u/DavidinCT in pettyrevenge

For about four and a half years they mailed $1 each month — enough to stay current and dodge late fees without clearing the disputed balance.

After the dentist died, the office called, heard the original dispute, wrote off what was left with no credit hit and apologized.

One commenter summed up the reaction.

“Health care billing in general is a scam.”

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Patient Sends $1 Monthly Payments for Years to Protest Dentist’s Alleged Overcharge – ‘Health Care Billing In General Is a Scam’ appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

A Hinge first date has ended with one person covering both meals after the other showed up more than an hour late, flirted with the server and walked out.

TikTok creator @christiancooks99 says the plan was for 6:30 near his apartment. He waited about 40 minutes with no reply, went home, then came back after she messaged around 8 p.m. that she had just arrived.

When he said he was 10 minutes away, she warned she would leave if he was not there by 8:30.

He said that after they sat down she complimented the server’s hair and jewelry in a way that felt openly flirtatious.

@christiancooks99#dating #relationships #storytime? original sound – christiancooks

He stepped away briefly. When he came back she had taken her food and gone. A napkin note said she headed to O’Tools to watch the game. Both checks were unpaid.

Viewers urged firmer boundaries next time.

“Have strict boundaries Christian, you seem kind and empathetic and many people can take advantage of that.”

Others said he should have left after the first long silence and never gone back.

He says she told him it was not nice to keep a lady waiting and she did not sound like she was joking.

When he asked why she was late, she said she had told him she would be. He said she never texted that.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Man Says First Date Flirted With the Server After Arriving an Hour Late – Then Left Him With the Check appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Federal prosecutors say they’ve obtained a guilty plea from an Ohio resident who ran a fraudulent investment scheme that stole more than $3 million from victims across two states.

John E. Brown II, 45, of Brecksville, Ohio, pleaded guilty on September 29th, to 17 counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminal proceeds, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

The scheme centered on nonexistent bundled tickets to sporting events and theme parks that Brown falsely portrayed as fluctuating in value like stocks and doubling through splits.

Victims wired funds after seeing fake documents and actors posing as successful investors, yet Brown moved roughly $1.375 million to casinos for personal gambling.

Three victims lived in Berea, Mayfield Heights and North Royalton, Ohio, while two others resided in Cape Coral and Orlando, Florida.

Each wire fraud count carries a maximum 20-year prison term, while each money laundering count allows up to 10 years, with sentencing scheduled for January 7th, 2027.

The FBI Cleveland Division conducted the investigation.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

The post Ohio Resident Admits to Orchestrating $3,000,000 Fake Ticket Investment Fraud Scheme appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

A Connecticut bank customer has lost $89,000 after someone allegedly completed an unauthorized in-person wire transfer from his account.

Westport police charged a 38-year-old Brooklyn, New York man in the case, reports Patch.

John Hammonds, 38, was arrested Monday on first-degree larceny and third-degree identity theft charges and remains in custody in lieu of $70,000 bail.

Police say the victim’s bank alerted him that someone made an unauthorized in-person wire transfer of $89,000 from one of his accounts to an unaffiliated account in January of 2025.

Investigators identified Hammonds as a suspect after Westport police said he conducted the transaction at an M&T Bank branch in New York while representing himself as the victim.

Westport police obtained an arrest warrant, and on August 20th the department was notified that New Jersey authorities held Hammonds and planned to extradite him to Connecticut on unrelated charges.

After extradition, Westport detectives charged him and he was arraigned in Stamford Superior Court, with his next court date set for November 9th.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post New York Man Accused of Draining $89,000 From Connecticut Account With In-Person Wire Transfer appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Americans who overpaid for certain generic drugs can now file for a share of about $96.5 million.

A multistate coalition led by Michigan says a federal court in Connecticut this month gave preliminary approval to a plan that splits funds from Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex, Heritage and Heritage’s parent Emcure.

Attorney General Dana Nessel of Michigan is telling shoppers who bought listed generics from May of 2009 to December of 2019 to check the site and file.

Attorney General Nessel says consumers who paid high generic prices because companies put profits over fairness are now entitled to compensation.

“Consumers who paid the high price of generic drugs because companies placed profits over fairness are now entitled to compensation.

This settlement holds companies accountable for conspiring to inflate drug prices. If you purchased certain generic medications during the covered period, I encourage you to check your eligibility and file a claim. My office is committed to putting money back into the hands of those it belongs to: the consumers.”

Eligible buyers can file at AGGenericDrugs.com, call 1-866-290-0182 or email info@AGGenericDrugs.com.

The states have been pursuing the price-fixing cases since 2016.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Generated Image: Midjourney

The post Americans Can File for a Share of $96,500,000 in Generic Drug Price-Fixing Settlements appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Consumer advocate Lindsay Owen’s new book, Gouged, traces how corporations use software—from ever-changing prices to opaque algorithms—to squeeze every penny from you.