Agora Financial Review: What They Don’t Want Investors to Know

I think that of all the online trading and investing advice scammers, Agora Financial and its many subsidiaries—which seem to pop up like mushrooms every other month—have to be the worst of the worst.

They target newbies and seniors in retirement who have little to no knowledge of how to trade or invest properly. Across more than a dozen services that I’ve tracked, every single one has underperformed the market, and that doesn’t even include the fees for their subscriptions.

They have also been caught flat-out lying about potential investment ideas many times in the past. The company has been sued many times and has lost nearly every time.

Agora is sneaky, though. It isn’t always obvious that many of their companies are owned by or partnered with them.

For example:

Agora, Inc. is a U.S.-based publisher of financial newsletters such as The Oxford Club and Wall Street Daily. Meanwhile, Agora Dealer Services Corp. operates as a Canadian wealth platform for advisors, providing technology and custody services. Both use the “Agora” brand, but they serve different markets.

The U.S. group focuses on direct-to-consumer financial media, while the Canadian entity focuses on B2B wealth management services, offering investment platforms, reporting tools, and back-office support for independent advisors.

Some of the other associated publishing brands include:

• Southbank Research

• Paradigm Press

Around 2021, Agora reportedly changed its name to Monument and Cathedral Holdings, likely due to the negative press from numerous lawsuits and fines levied against it by government regulators.

They also sold off Agora Financial to a company called MarketWise, which went public in 2021. MarketWise was run by many of the same people who had been running Agora Financial. MarketWise is now publicly traded under the ticker MKTW.

After changing its name, Agora now appears to be trying to reintegrate Agora Financial by buying it back, suggesting that the various name changes and corporate restructuring may simply be part of an ongoing rebranding effort.

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sources

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2025/07/07/this-secretive-company-built-an-empire-by-hawking-bad-financial-and-health-advice-on-facebook/

https://truthinadvertising.org/brands/agora/#:~:text=A%20Stipulated%20Order%20is%20entered,(formerly%20known%20as%20Agora%2C%20Inc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Ga87FNE6U&t=3s

https://truthinadvertising.org/brands/agora/

The Dollar Is Losing Credibility: Why Central Banks Are Racing to Hoard Gold

 

Central banks around the world are quietly preparing for financial turbulence — and their weapon of choice is gold.

Not long after a plane carrying millions of dollars’ worth of bullion took off from Switzerland, Serbian officials received a panicked call: the gold had been left behind on the runway. Perishable goods had been prioritized over precious metal. It was an expensive lesson — and a sign of just how desperate countries have become to secure their reserves.

Serbia is far from alone.

From Asia to Europe, central banks are rapidly building massive gold stockpiles, reversing decades of conventional financial thinking. As geopolitical tensions rise and confidence in the US dollar weakens, gold prices have surged to record levels — recently topping $4,600 an ounce — with some analysts predicting $5,000 soon.

At the heart of the rush is a growing fear: the global financial system is becoming unstable.

Over the past decade, gold’s share of central bank reserves has doubled, reaching its highest level in nearly 30 years. Today, more than a quarter of official reserves are held in bullion. At the same time, countries are cutting their exposure to the dollar and bringing gold stored overseas back home.

“We’ve moved from global stability to geopolitical chaos,” says economist Raphaël Gallardo. “Many governments now believe their dollar-based reserves can be frozen or seized overnight. The dollar is losing its role as the world’s anchor currency.”

For decades, the US dollar dominated global finance. It powered trade, stabilized currencies, and served as the backbone of central bank reserves. Even after the gold standard ended in the 1970s, the dollar remained supreme.

But that dominance is slowly eroding.

Political pressure on the Federal Reserve, rising US debt, and Washington’s growing use of financial sanctions — including freezing Russia’s reserves after the Ukraine invasion — have shaken confidence. Countries are now questioning whether their money is truly safe in American-controlled systems.

While the dollar still accounts for about 57% of global reserves, down from 66% ten years ago, there is no clear replacement. The euro, yen, pound, and yuan all lack the scale and trust to fully take its place.

So central banks are turning to something older than any modern currency: gold.

“Gold is nobody’s liability,” Gallardo explains. “It isn’t tied to any government. When trust disappears, people return to it.”

In June last year, gold overtook the euro to become the world’s second-largest reserve asset after the dollar. A survey by Invesco found that half of central banks plan to buy more gold, while two-thirds want to bring foreign-held reserves back to domestic vaults.

This repatriation trend is accelerating.

For decades, countries stored gold in financial hubs like London, New York, and Switzerland. The Bank of England alone holds around 400,000 bars worth over $500 billion. But recent political disputes have exposed the risks.

Venezuela, for example, cannot access $2 billion worth of gold held in London due to diplomatic tensions. Russia’s reserves in Europe remain frozen. These cases have sent shockwaves through central banks worldwide.

As a result, nations like India, Hungary, Turkey, Poland, and Germany have moved tons of gold back home. China has gone even further, stockpiling more than 2,000 tonnes in its drive to challenge US financial dominance.

Meanwhile, the United States still claims the world’s largest reserve at over 8,000 tonnes — although Fort Knox hasn’t been officially audited since 1953.

Not everyone is buying.

The UK famously sold much of its gold in the early 2000s at historically low prices — a move now widely criticized. Some economists also argue that cryptocurrencies could one day compete with gold and fiat currencies as reserve assets.

So far, central banks remain skeptical. Crypto is volatile, untested at scale, and often still tied to the dollar.

For now, gold remains the ultimate fallback.

“Whenever political uncertainty rises, central banks turn to gold,” says Invesco’s Rod Ringrow. “It’s the last line of defense if paper money fails.”

Despite gold’s rise, experts say the dollar isn’t collapsing — yet.

“There’s no real successor,” says economist Jonathan Fortun. “If we ever end up settling trade in gold again, the dollar won’t be the main problem. We’ll already be in serious trouble.”

But the message from central banks is clear:

In a world of sanctions, debt, and geopolitical rivalry, trust is fading. And when trust disappears, nations don’t turn to promises — they turn to metal.

Brasil China Power Move: Brazil Strikes $27B Currency Deal as Global Tensions Rise

Brazil just took a major step toward deepening its financial ties with China.

On Monday, Brazil’s central bank announced a new $27.7 billion currency swap agreement with the People’s Bank of China, designed to protect both countries’ financial systems during market crises.

The five-year deal will be signed this week in Beijing and gives Brazil access to Chinese yuan in times of stress—similar to the emergency dollar lifeline it already has with the U.S. Federal Reserve.

But this isn’t just about money.

The agreement comes as global markets remain shaky following renewed trade tensions linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. With volatility rising, Brazil is quietly building a financial safety net outside Washington’s orbit.

At the same time, China is preparing to pour over $4.5 billion into Brazil’s economy, targeting electric vehicles, clean energy, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductor manufacturing.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made the message clear during his visit: Brazil is betting big on China.

“If it’s up to my government, our relationship with China will be indestructible,” Lula said.

While Brazil still maintains strong ties with the U.S.—including a permanent swap line with the Federal Reserve—this new deal signals a strategic shift in how the country balances global power.

China remains Brazil’s top trading partner. The U.S. is still its largest investor. Now, Brazil is positioning itself between both superpowers—while making sure it’s protected if tensions explode again.

In a world moving toward economic blocs and financial rivalries, Brazil just chose its next move.

US Dollar Slips as Gold Takes Center Stage in Global Reserves

 

The US dollar’s dominance in global foreign exchange reserves is fading fast. New data shows the dollar now accounts for roughly 40% of total global reserves, the lowest level in at least two decades.

Why the Dollar Is Losing Ground

Over the past ten years, central banks have steadily reduced their reliance on the US dollar. In that period alone, the dollar’s share has fallen by nearly 18 percentage points.

This trend reflects rising concerns about US debt, geopolitical tensions, sanctions risk, and long-term currency stability. Instead of concentrating reserves in a single currency, many countries are choosing to diversify.

Gold Is the Big Winner

As the dollar’s share declines, gold has emerged as the primary beneficiary. Gold now represents about 28% of global reserves, its highest level since the early 1990s.

Remarkably, gold now makes up a larger share of reserves than the euro, Japanese yen, and British pound combined. This signals a clear shift toward assets that are not tied to any one government or political system.

Why Central Banks Are Stockpiling Gold

Gold is viewed as a safe haven during periods of uncertainty. It carries no credit risk, cannot be frozen through sanctions, and tends to hold its value during inflation or currency weakness.

With geopolitical risks rising and financial systems under strain, central banks see gold as a dependable store of value.

Impact on Markets

This shift is already showing up in price action.

• Gold surged nearly 65% in 2025, its biggest annual gain since 1979.

• The US dollar index fell about 9.4%, marking its weakest year in eight years.

What It Means Going Forward

While the US dollar remains the world’s primary reserve currency, its dominance is clearly eroding. The growing role of gold highlights a long-term move toward safety, diversification, and reduced political risk.

If current trends continue, gold is likely to remain a core pillar of global reserves for years to come.

Key Takeaways

• US dollar share of global reserves: ~40%

• Gold share of global reserves: ~28% (highest since the 1990s)

• Gold now exceeds euro, yen, and pound combined in reserves

• Gold prices jumped 65% in 2025

• Dollar index dropped 9.4% in 2025

US Trade Deficit Hits 16-Year Low. 2 Ways You Can Use This for Trading Right Now

 

Trade Deficit Hits 16-Year Low — But Don’t Be Fooled

The U.S. trade deficit plunged 39% in October to $29.4 billion, its lowest level since 2009. At first glance, it looks like a major economic win. In reality, the drop was driven by a surge in gold exports and a sharp pullback in imports as companies adjusted to new tariffs.

Exports climbed 2.6%, helped largely by a wave of gold being shipped back overseas after tariff fears faded. Imports fell 3.2% to their lowest level in nearly two years, with pharmaceutical products seeing the biggest decline.

Despite the dramatic monthly drop, the broader trend hasn’t changed. The U.S. trade deficit is still up 8% year-over-year, totaling $782.8 billion for the first 10 months of 2025. If normal patterns return, 2025 could still end up with one of the largest trade deficits on record.

China continues to lose share as a U.S. trading partner, with imports falling sharply, while Vietnam, Mexico, Taiwan, and parts of Europe pick up the slack.

Bottom line: The headline looks bullish, but the underlying data suggests this is more about temporary distortions than a true structural improvement.

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2 Ways You Can Use This for Trading

1. Gold Reversal / Mean Reversion Trade

Logic:
The trade deficit drop was heavily influenced by gold exports normalizing after tariff fears eased. That suggests the gold “panic bid” earlier in the year is unwinding.

How to trade it:

• Look for short setups in gold (GC, GLD, GDX) on rallies into resistance.

• Or rotate into industrials / cyclicals that benefit when capital moves out of defensive assets.

Narrative to watch:
If headlines shift from “uncertainty” to “stability,” gold often bleeds slowly — great for swing shorts or put spreads.

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2. Supply Chain Rotation Trade (China → Vietnam/Mexico)

Logic:
Imports from China are collapsing, while Vietnam, Mexico, Taiwan, and Europe are gaining share. This is a structural shift, not a one-month anomaly.

How to trade it:

• Bullish on Mexico ETFs (EWW), Vietnam exposure (VNM), and logistics companies tied to nearshoring.

• Look at rail, trucking, and border infrastructure plays that benefit from increased North American manufacturing.

Narrative to watch:
Every new tariff headline or China tension story reinforces this trend. That creates repeated momentum opportunities.

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Quick Strategic Take

• Short-term: Gold and defensive assets are vulnerable as panic unwinds.

• Medium-term: Nearshoring and non-China supply chains are the real winners.

• Macro filter: If imports keep falling, consumer weakness becomes the next trade (retail shorts, discretionary weakness).

"Trump’s Tariffs: A Cure for Inflation or a Costly Gamble?"

Mar 07 2025

On the Mar 05 John Oakley show on AM 640  

Dan Mcteague,(President for Canadians for Affordable Energy (CAE))  in Canada mentioned he had heard through the grapevine that Donald Trump's real goal might be to actually manipulate interest rates.

He's doing this because The Fed has been trying to do that and has gone as far as they can go but still having a tough time getting it in check.

Generally as the unemployment  rate rises, inflation will come down and thus interest rates will eventually drop.

So through 

1)starting a trade war

2)focusing on paying down the deficit

3)laying off federal workers

4)reducing spending both at home and abroad like in ukraine

The top 3 would all directly increase unemployment rates. The unemployment report that came out this morning showed a 4.1% increase up from 4.0% in Janurary. So a modest uptick.

When you first look at it, it seems like Trump is actually increasing prices especially from the tariffs but if it does play out the way he's anticipating then it will work out better in the long run for American's.

The alternative is if the tariff plan doesn't work then and it creates a fullblown recession which some economists like Robert Fry have said recently.

His other plans to reduce inflation include

1. Deregulation: The administration aims to reduce regulations across various sectors, particularly in energy and housing, to lower production costs and, consequently, consumer prices.

   thedailyguardian.com

2. Energy Production: By increasing domestic energy production, especially oil and gas drilling on federal lands, the administration seeks to lower energy costs for consumers.

   thedailyguardian.com

3. Tax Cuts: Proposals include reducing corporate tax rates from 21% to 15% to incentivize domestic manufacturing and potentially lower consumer prices.

   m.economictimes.com

4. Tariffs on Imports: The administration plans to impose a 10%-20% baseline tariff on all foreign imports, with a 60% tariff on imports from China, aiming to boost U.S. manufacturing.

   nerdwallet.com

5. Immigration Policies: Plans to deport unauthorized immigrants and restructure immigration laws are intended to address labor market dynamics and wage pressures.

   nerdwallet.com

However, experts caution that some of these measures, particularly broad tariffs and strict immigration policies, could lead to higher consumer prices and labor shortages, potentially exacerbating inflation rather than mitigating it.