

The White House is taking direct control over access to frontier AI models, wresting authority from Anthropic and OpenAI that previously decided who could use their most advanced systems through two cyber-security initiatives. "The administration determined that private-sector control over frontier model access posed national security risks that required direct government oversight," according to a CNBC report published July 17 that detailed the policy shift. Anthropic's Project Glasswing and OpenAI's Project Daybreak had operated as private-sector gatekeeping programs, determining which entities — including foreign governments, corporations and research institutions — could access the companies' most advanced AI systems. The White House will now assume that authority, centralizing decisions previously distributed across the two labs. The move carries significant implications for the $200 billion-plus AI industry, potentially slowing model release timelines and raising compliance costs for major players including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Microsoft. The policy shift could reduce profit expectations for companies that have invested billions in frontier AI development, as government oversight introduces uncertainty around commercialization timelines. The transfer of authority marks a sharp departure from the industry's previous self-regulatory approach. Under the prior framework, Anthropic and OpenAI independently vetted access requests for their frontier models, balancing security concerns against commercial interests. The White House intervention effectively replaces that dual-track system with a single government gatekeeper. The policy shift comes as the Trump administration has pursued a broader reassertion of authority over AI governance. In recent months, the White House has indicated it views frontier AI models as strategic assets warranting the same level of government oversight applied to nuclear technology and advanced semiconductors. The administration's previous push to overrule existing AI regulation has faltered as Republicans split on the issue, according to a separate report. **Compliance Costs Set to Rise for AI Labs** For Anthropic and OpenAI, the loss of autonomy over access decisions introduces new compliance burdens. Both companies had structured their cyber initiatives as voluntary security programs; the transition to government-mandated access control could require additional staffing, reporting and audit mechanisms. The financial impact, while not yet disclosed, is expected to weigh on margins at a time when both companies are racing to monetize their frontier models. Anthropic, which has raised more than $7 billion from investors including Amazon and Google, had positioned Project Glasswing as a responsible-access framework that balanced security with commercial deployment. OpenAI's Project Daybreak served a similar function, screening access requests for its GPT-series models. Both programs will now operate under White House direction, with the administration setting the criteria for who can access frontier systems. **Broader Market Implications** The policy shift extends beyond Anthropic and OpenAI. Google, which develops its Gemini family of frontier models, and Microsoft, which has integrated OpenAI's technology across its product suite, could face similar government oversight as the White House expands its regulatory footprint. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 could see pressure as investors reassess the regulatory risk premium embedded in AI stocks. The last time the U.S. government asserted direct control over an emerging technology class was in 2022, when the Commerce Department imposed export controls on advanced semiconductors to China. That move reshaped the semiconductor supply chain and contributed to a 30% decline in Nvidia's data center revenue forecast over the subsequent quarter, according to company filings. While the AI access controls are narrower in scope, the precedent suggests markets may price in a similar adjustment period. The policy also raises questions about international competitiveness. China's AI labs, including Baidu and Alibaba, operate without comparable government access restrictions on their frontier models, potentially giving them a commercial advantage in markets where U.S. AI companies now face additional regulatory hurdles. The White House has not specified whether the access controls will apply to foreign entities seeking to deploy U.S. frontier models abroad. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

**Western nations are racing to secure rare earth supply chains outside China, creating a new investment theme for commodity-focused portfolios.** Rare earth supply chains are drawing increased investor focus as Western governments push to reduce reliance on Chinese sources of the critical minerals used in EVs, wind turbines and defense systems. "The geopolitical dynamics around rare earths are creating a structural shift in supply chains that we haven't seen in decades," Paul Schoffstall, a portfolio manager at Sprott Asset Management, said. China controls roughly 60 percent of global rare earth mining and more than 80 percent of processing capacity, according to US Geological Survey data. The US Pentagon's supply deal with Australian miner Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. — valued at roughly $258 million under the Defense Production Act — is facing scrutiny in Malaysia, where Lynas operates its largest processing facility outside China, highlighting the complexity of building alternative supply routes. The push for supply chain diversification could drive capital flows into rare earth mining and refining projects outside China, with the US, Australia and Canada emerging as key beneficiaries. The next catalyst for the sector is the US Department of Energy's updated critical minerals assessment, expected later this year. Rare earth elements — a group of 17 metals including neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium used in permanent magnets — have become a flashpoint in US-China trade tensions. Both the Biden and Trump administrations pursued policies aimed at reducing dependence on Chinese supply, though through different approaches. Sprott's focus on rare earths reflects a broader trend among asset managers seeking exposure to commodities tied to the energy transition and national security. **Supply Chain Bottlenecks Persist** Beyond mining, the bottleneck in rare earth supply chains lies in processing capacity. China's dominance in separation and refining technology means that even ore mined outside China often ends up being processed there. Western-backed projects in Australia, the US and Canada are working to close this gap, but commercial-scale facilities remain years away. Lynas's Malaysian processing plant, which handles ore from its Mount Weld mine in Western Australia, is central to the non-China supply chain but faces local regulatory hurdles. The US has also turned to allies in its procurement strategy, though the approach has drawn criticism. A recent report described Washington's global hunt for rare earths as risking friction with partner nations, as the US pushes for priority access to limited processing capacity. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Gold closed at $4,015.83 an ounce, down 1.8% for the week, after repeatedly testing the $4,000 support level. "Gold has failed to inspire and looks poised to challenge the year's low near $3,943," Marc Chandler, managing director at Bannockburn Global Forex, said. The metal opened the week at $4,108.18 an ounce before sliding to a weekly low of $3,959.37 on Friday. A brief rally to $4,122.63 on Monday faded after stronger-than-expected U.S. retail sales data — up 0.2% in June — reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain restrictive policy. June CPI cooled to 3.5%, but the data failed to provide sustained support. A sustained break below $4,000 could trigger further selling toward $3,600, according to Bank of America technical analysts, while the seasonal pattern suggests gold typically bottoms in early August before resuming its uptrend. **Wall Street Turns Bearish** The latest Kitco News Weekly Gold Survey showed Wall Street overwhelmingly bearish on gold's near-term prospects. Of 14 analysts, 11 — or 79% — predicted further price declines, while one expected gains and two saw sideways trading. Main Street sentiment remained divided, with 40% of 169 retail investors looking for higher prices, 36% expecting declines, and 24% forecasting consolidation. "Unlikely to see a breakout to the upside until the sentiment clearly changes to a 'no-hikes' Federal Reserve," Adrian Day, president of Adrian Day Asset Management, said. Alex Kuptsikevich, senior market analyst at FxPro, said he expects gold to decline toward $3,300 by September, citing a continuing downward trend that began with January's peaks. CPM Group issued a sell recommendation at $3,980 an ounce with a target of $3,820 and a stop loss at $4,090. **Oversold Signals Point to Potential Rebound** Despite the bearish sentiment, several indicators suggest the selloff may be reaching exhaustion. Paul Wong, managing partner at Sprott Inc., said gold is trading at minus two to three standard deviations oversold across multiple internal measures. "It means that it's harder and harder to push down the price of gold," Wong said. "The bulk of the selling is probably done." Jesse Colombo, independent precious metals analyst, noted that a triangle pattern has formed on the daily gold chart, with multiple failed attempts to push gold below $3,960. "That's a sign that buyers are coming in at these levels," Colombo said. "My hope is that the selloff is reaching exhaustion." Bank of America technical analyst Paul Ciana said gold's current correction remains disproportionately short relative to the preceding 121-week advance. While prices could test $3,600, he recommended investors consider averaging down to build positions, with accumulation below $4,000 and more aggressive buying in the $3,700 to $3,600 area. The next major catalyst for gold will be the European Central Bank's monetary policy decision on Thursday, followed by July's S&P Global Flash PMI data on Friday. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.