Torgny Persson

Singapore Tops Global Rankings as the World’s Safest and Most Secure Nation

• 09 Aug 2019 03:02
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Singapore is perceived to be one of the safest countries in the world with a strong rule of law and a dynamic and liberal economy.

While this is true, it is encouraging to see that these are not mere anecdotal stories or claims, they are facts borne out by the myriad of global rankings which year after year rank Singapore as the safest countries in the world and the one of the... Continue Reading

The History of the World is a History of Gold

• 01 Aug 2019 19:01
• Torgny Persson
• 6 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Gold has been inextricably linked to human civilizations since at least 6000 BC. Gold has been used as money in countless civilizations for thousands of years. From the ancient Egyptians to the Roman Empire, from the Republic of Venice to the Spanish Empire, civilizations may rise and fall but the one constant they all had was gold.

A people without the knowledge of their past... Continue Reading

Gold Smuggling to India & Japan is a Symptom of Governments’ War against Gold

• 10 Jul 2019 05:50
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

On a nearly daily basis, the media across Asia covers cases of gold smuggling into countries such as India and Japan. On the surface this smuggling is undertaken to avoid government imposed frictions such as import or consumption taxes, which distort the local gold price.

But at a higher level gold smuggling is a symptom of a problem. And that problem is that these governments... Continue Reading

What is Money? | BullionStar

• 23 Jun 2019 20:35
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

For something used by nearly everyone on the planet on a daily basis, the subjects of money and currency are surprisingly little understood and shrouded in mystery. But perhaps that’s the way governments and their central banks like it.

From a time in which only gold and silver were considered money, to a contemporary banking system where debt is created out of thin air and... Continue Reading

BullionStar Cash & Bullion Account – Better than a Singapore Bank Account!

• 11 Jun 2019 23:41
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

As one of the innovative features BullionStar offers in bringing modern technology to the age old bullion sector, with a BullionStar account you can hold both bullion and cash on one and the same account.

Keeping funds on your BullionStar account allows you to save on costly bank fees, speed up your precious metals transactions, trade or average in and out of positions, and... Continue Reading

London’s annual Platinum Week: A showcase for the White Precious Metal

• 13 May 2019 11:58
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Each year during May, the great and the good of the global platinum market come together in London for a series of seminars and events known as “Platinum Week” organized by the London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM).

Participants comprise the heads of platinum mining companies, refineries and mints as well as attendees from the auto industry, industrial companies,... Continue Reading

Holding Precious Metals in your Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

• 29 Mar 2019 17:59
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

In the US, an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a tax-incentivized account structure designed to save for retirement. IRAs can be opened by any US resident with taxable income. A self-directed IRA is a version of the IRA structure that allows investment into a wide selection of assets.

Under IRS rules, a wide range of investment grade precious metals can be held within... Continue Reading

BullionStar Financials FY 2018 – Year in Review

• 10 Mar 2019 22:00
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

As one of the world’s most innovative bullion dealers, BullionStar is also committed to transparency which extends to BullionStar’s annual financial results, which we publish on our website every year in the form of a commentary with supporting graphics.

For the financial year to 30 June 2018 (FY2018), BullionStar grew total revenues to SGD 177.8 million. Sales of gold bars... Continue Reading

How much Gold is in the FIFA World Cup Trophy?

• 12 Jul 2018 00:20
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

A sporting trophy revered by the elite footballers of the world. A trophy with near mythical status in the eyes of players and fans alike. A trophy held aloft by a select few captains in its less than 50 year history. A legendary trophy made of gold.

Designed in 1970 by Italian Artist artist Silvio Gazzaniga, the FIFA World Cup Trophy is, in the words of its creator, "a... Continue Reading

Cashless Society, Negative Interest Rates and Hyperinflation – Part 2

• 24 Jun 2018 05:34
• Torgny Persson
• 4 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Imagine a country in which banks hold virtually no cash at all. A country where if you walk into a bank branch, the clerk won’t be able to help you make a deposit. A country where there’s a good chance that if you grabbed a wad of cash and walked into an electronics store or a major nightclub, they wouldn’t be able to assist you in buying a new computer, nor get your drink on.... Continue Reading

Investing in the Noble Metal of Platinum

• 06 Jun 2018 19:27
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

As a recognized investment precious metal, many of the world's leading refineries and mints now offer investment grade platinum bars and platinum coins within their physical precious metals product suites. These include minted platinum bars from the famed refineries of Heraeus, Valcambi and Argor-Heraeus, and platinum bullion coins such as Royal Canadian Mint Platinum 1 oz Maple Leafs... Continue Reading

Customer Order Number 100,000 at BullionStar

• 09 May 2018 00:36
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Since it's establishment in 2012 in Singpore, BullionStar has had many notable achievements, and recently reached another milestone by completing its 100,000th customer order, awarding a PAMP gold bar to the lucky customer who placed this order. With customers from over 100 countries worldwide for both precious metals purchases and secure precious metals storage, BullionStar is now... Continue Reading

BullionStar adds Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin as Payment Options and Currencies

• 01 May 2018 22:07
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin have now been added to the list of transactional currencies which can be used to purchase gold bullion and silver bullion at BullionStar.

Since May 2014 BullionStar has accepted Bitcoin as a payment option and was one of the first bullion dealers worldwide to do so. Now with the addition of Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum, BullionStar... Continue Reading

BullionStar Wins First Place in Bullion Directory’s 2018 Awards

• 11 Mar 2018 23:36
• Torgny Persson
• 2 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BullionStar has won a Bullion Dealer of the Year award in the 2018 “Bullion Directory” Awards. Bullion Directory is a global online directory of the world’s precious metals dealers, listing over one thousand bullion dealers globally, and its awards are decided by the voting public. With competition from across the world, BullionStar secured first place in the ‘Rest of World’... Continue Reading

The Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin

• 26 Feb 2018 04:10
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

With the recent emergence and recognition of a diverse range of crypto currencies, the technology of blockchain is rapidly gaining traction as a profound innovation that has potential to alter entire industries.

Described in quite simple terms in the white paper that laid the foundations for Bitcoin, the design principles behind blockchains are now also being used in newer... Continue Reading

The Celebration of Chinese New Year

• 11 Feb 2018 22:39
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

New Year and the Spring Festival are a central part of Chinese tradition in mainland China and in Chinese communities all across the world. Chinese New Year is a movable event which this year falls on 16 February and which ushers in the “Year of the Dog”, the 11th year in the Chinese Zodiac calendar. Chinese New Year is an auspicious time associated with many customs and traditions... Continue Reading

The Role of Gold as Turmoil hits wider Financial Markets

• 09 Feb 2018 06:01
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

With continued selloffs this week led by US stock markets, and now moving into Asian markets, the complacency that had set in in financial markets has come to an abrupt halt as volatility reappears. Aside from the equity bourses, the emerging cryptocurrency markets have also suffered a multi-week selloff which has left investors unclear as to what lies ahead. In such market turmoil,... Continue Reading

Your Weight in Gold

• 29 Jan 2018 21:07
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

There are many phrases and sayings in the English language that illustrate the high-regard with which societies hold for gold. These phrases are embedded into natural language and have evolved over time based on an intrinsic appreciation by civilizations that gold is rare and of high value. One example is the saying “worth your weight in gold”. Although a metaphor, what would be... Continue Reading

The 5 Largest Gold Nuggets that Still Exist

• 02 Jan 2018 21:48
• Torgny Persson
• 5 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The discovery of large gold nuggets has always caused excitement for gold miners and the general public alike. Although most of the big gold nuggets discovered receive nicknames and these names pass into legend, many of history’s big gold nuggets have been melted down and no longer survive.

The world’s largest surviving gold nuggets are now held and displayed in places as... Continue Reading

Gold for Christmas – Gold’s Importance in Religion

• 25 Dec 2017 06:04
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

From religious artwork to religious symbolism, gold and religion have always been symbolically linked in nearly all of the world’s major religions. Due to its unique glow and yellow shine, gold is symbolic of the sun and the energy of the divine.

Since it is relatively rare, indestructible and doesn't decay and corrode, the use of gold in religion also conveys a preciousness... Continue Reading

The Most Outlandish Gold Products You Can Buy

• 17 Dec 2017 19:59
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Since gold is a rare and valuable substance, it has always been associated with opulence and wealth. None more so than when gold is combined with a product to give that product an air of luxury and exclusivity. Sometimes the match between gold and a product works well, yielding a classic luxury good boosted by its gold content. Other times the outcome may not be so sophisticated, and... Continue Reading

Gold Demand in the Singapore Bullion Market

• 11 Dec 2017 00:21
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Singapore’s gold market is now one of the largest in the region after strong growth, particularly over the last 5 years since the Singaporean government exempted investment precious metals from Goods and Services Tax GST in October 2012.

The gold market in Singapore is both a wholesale market and a retail market. The wholesale market includes bullion banks, trading houses and... Continue Reading

Mustafa Centre: Gold in Singapore

• 06 Dec 2017 06:49
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The Mustafa Centre in Singapore's Little India is well-known as a slightly eccentric and congested shopping mall and arcade in which to buy all manner of diverse items. It also sells a lot of gold jewelry and a small selection of gold bullion.

But after navigating through the busy streets and actually finding the Mustafa Centre, the next challenge involves locating the Centre's... Continue Reading

Eat Gold

• 29 Nov 2017 22:40
• Torgny Persson
• 5 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

A common phrase in the mainstream financial media is that ‘you can’t eat gold”. This claim is usually trotted out by CNBC and Bloomberg talking-heads as a way of disparaging the benefits of investing gold in times of crisis. But the claim is both wrong and misleading, because you actually can eat gold. And drink it too.

Furthermore, Wall Street and its cheerleaders are... Continue Reading

Buy Silver Bullion in Singapore

• 28 Nov 2017 15:43
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Singapore offers a number of benefits when buying and storing silver. In Singapore, the majority of silver bullion bars and silver bullion coins from the world’s major mints and refineries are exempt from Goods and Services Tax (GST). There are also no taxes or duties on the import or export of silver. Singapore is also … Continue Reading

Store Gold in Minced Meat? 26 Ways to Store Gold

• 26 Nov 2017 23:16
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

If you buy and take delivery of gold bars or gold coins and want to keep your gold close at hand in your own home, you will still need to ensure that it is safely stored on your property, preferably in a hidden location that only you and close family members are aware of. There are many hiding places in a house or on a property to store gold, some more sensible than others. Taking... Continue Reading

28 Reasons to Buy Physical Gold

• 23 Nov 2017 05:07
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

There are many compelling reasons to own physical gold in the form of investment grade gold bars and gold coins. Among them are gold’s ability to retain its purchasing power over time, and it’s safe haven status in times of financial turmoil and uncertainty.

Gold has been known throughout history as the pre-eminent form of money and its track record as a stable money is... Continue Reading

Degussa Singapore Closing its BullionStore

• 20 Oct 2017 09:18
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Exactly 2 years after opening a retail bullion shop in Singapore and expanding outside Europe, Degussa GoldHandel has announced that it is closing its Singapore shop on 31 October. Of possible relevance to the decision, the Degussa Singapore operation has been loss making since inception, with full year results to 31 December 2016 showing a new loss of SGD 2.8 million.

Although... Continue Reading

BullionStar Rebuilds Community Center in Fire-Ravaged Slum in Batam, Indonesia

• 12 Oct 2017 22:17
• Torgny Persson
• 8 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Across the border of Singapore, a ferry-ride away, a fire broke out on Saturday, 8 July 2017 in a slum in Muka Kuning, Batam, Indonesia. The fire destroyed 10 huts tragically affecting the lives of the families living there who already struggle daily to make ends meet. We decided to take a small step towards making a difference in this community and funded the restoration of the... Continue Reading

The Chinese Gold Market Essentials

• 05 Oct 2017 20:28
• Torgny Persson
• 2 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

A series of 8 articles about the Chinese Gold Market have now been added to Gold University section of BullionStar’s website. These articles are collected titled “Chinese Gold Market Essentials”. The articles are mostly structured around the supply – demand equation of the Chinese gold market which has the Shanghai Gold Exchange at its core, as the market’s allocation... Continue Reading

New Release Now Available! Australian Lunar Series 2018

• 23 Sep 2017 02:56
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Australian Lunar Series 2018 now available for ordering! Continue Reading

Gold Price: USD 65,000/oz in 5 years? Speech by Torgny Persson

• 20 Sep 2017 23:38
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Is it realistic that the price of gold could reach USD 65,000/oz in 5 years? In this speech, BullionStar's CEO, Mr Torgny Persson, shares his views on the gold price as well discusses the following topics: 1) Money System of Today - How does our monetary system work? Or doesn't work? Do fiat currencies like the US Dollar have any real intrinsic value? 2) Gold Manipulation - Price of... Continue Reading

2 Winners of the Silver Britannia Competition by BullionStar and The Royal Mint

• 13 Sep 2017 21:59
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

In the month of August 2017, we launched a competition in collaboration with The Royal Mint. The competition invited customers of The Royal Mint and BullionStar to promote the Royal Mint Brand in Singapore through any medium! We received numerous top quality submissions and after much deliberation, we present to you the two winners of the competition, Ms. … Continue Reading

BullionStar Media

• 07 Sep 2017 00:20
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BullionStar's website features a wide variety of original analysis and content on precious metals markets globally and which provides readers and viewers with unique and up-to-date insights that are not available elsewhere. A case in point is the BullionStar Perspectives video series which gives viewers free access to leading independent analysis of precious metals markets. In July,... Continue Reading

BullionStar Financials FY 2017 – Year in Review

• 04 Sep 2017 07:03
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BullionStar is transparently releasing sales data and information about the company's overall financial performance for each financial year. This blog post presents the financials as they stood at the end of the financial year 2017. BullionStar increased its sales revenue to SGD 186,200,000 for FY 2017, up 38.7% from SGD 134,200,000 for FY 2016. BullionStar handled 15,213 buy orders... Continue Reading

Gold Price: USD 65,000/oz in 5 years?

• 07 Aug 2017 02:14
• Torgny Persson
• 30 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Although the international price of gold is set by paper gold markets, these markets cannot price physical gold accurately because they don’t trade physical gold. Instead they trade infinitely scalable fractional claims on physical gold. Conversely, real physical gold is not a claim on gold. It is gold. Real physical gold is real money, and is the ultimate form of saving and store of... Continue Reading

BullionStar’s Extensive Range of Royal Mint Gold Coins and Silver Coins

• 05 Jun 2017 19:02
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BullionStar carries an extensive range of investment grade gold bullion coins and silver bullion coins minted by Britain’s famous Royal Mint. The Royal Mint is fully owned by Her Majesty’s Treasury and has the distinction of being the world’s oldest mint. BullionStar’s range of Royal Mint bullion coins includes gold and silver Britannia coins, gold … Continue Reading

Buy and Sell Gold and Silver with Bitcoin

• 27 May 2017 18:09
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Following Bitcoin's recent strong price appreciation, Bitcoin holders may be thinking of taking profits or diversifying some of their Bitcoin position into physical precious metals. It is therefore interesting to know that BullionStar's online transactional website fully supports Bitcoin and has done so since May 2014. Using BullionStar's website, customers can buy gold and silver... Continue Reading

What sets the Gold Price – Is it the Paper Market or Physical Market?

• 29 Mar 2017 21:36
• Torgny Persson
• 9 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Everyone involved in the global gold market is aware of the gold price, the price that is constantly quoted in the financial media. But where does this gold price come from, i.e. where is it discovered? Is the gold price formed through the massive trading volumes of the paper gold markets such as the COMEX gold futures markets and London OTC unallocated gold market, or is the gold price... Continue Reading

BullionStar Financials FY 2016 – Year in Review

• 22 Mar 2017 13:22
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BullionStar has adopted a transparent approach in releasing BullionStar financials i.e. information about the company's overall performance and sales data for each financial year. This blog post presents the financials as they stood at the end of the financial year 2016. FY 2016 was a very strong year for BullionStar with sales revenues totaling SGD 134,200,000, a 111.7% increase from... Continue Reading

Infographic: Bullion Banking Mechanics

• 20 Feb 2017 15:17
• Torgny Persson
• 2 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Bullion banking is a commonly used term, but what does it refer to? And who are these bullion banks? This new infographic from BullionStar guides you through the shadowy world of bullion banking centred in the City of London, and looks at the paper gold creation process, how the banks use unallocated gold accounts to allow the trading of gigantic amounts of fictitious gold, and how the... Continue Reading

Infographic: Gold ETF Mechanics

• 04 Jan 2017 00:53
• Torgny Persson
• 3 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Gold-backed Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are a product class that has grown rapidly in recent years. The financial media regularly reports on the gold holdings within these products, and the customer bases of these ETFs include both institutional and retail investors. But what exactly are the mechanics of these products, what do they provide and not provide to their holders, and what... Continue Reading

The Gold Market – Where Transparency means Secrecy

• 21 Nov 2016 01:36
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The following speech, by BullionStar precious metals analyst Ronan Manly, was given to an audience during a Precious Metals Seminar held at BullionStar’s shop and showroom premises in Singapore on 19 October 2016. Introduction Good evening ladies and gentlemen, you are all very welcome to this event at BullionStar. This evening, I will be discussing the … Continue Reading

Guest Post – Jayant Bhandari: Gold Price Skyrockets in India after Currency Ban

• 19 Nov 2016 09:54
• Torgny Persson
• 4 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The following guest post was written by Jayant Bhandari in two parts. Part 1 was first published by Jayant on November 9. Part 2 was first published by Jayant on November 16. Parts 1 and 2 were originally published on the ‘Acting-Man.com’ website as “Gold Price Skyrockets in India after Currency Ban” and “Gold Price Skyrockets … Continue Reading

Bullion Banking 101 – Speech by BullionStar CEO, Torgny Persson

• 10 Nov 2016 12:01
• Torgny Persson
• 14 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The following speech, by BullionStar CEO Torgny Persson, was given to an audience during a Precious Metals Seminar held at BullionStar’s shop and showroom premises in Singapore on 19 October 2016. Introduction What have I got here? It’s 87 grams of gold. As many of you know, we have our own bullion vault integrated in BullionStar’s … Continue Reading

Trump and Gold

• 09 Nov 2016 13:04
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

It was an event-filled and turbulent evening last night as the results for the 45th US presidential election rolled in, signalling that the majority of the American electorate had voted for Republican candidate Donald Trump. Trump received over 270 of the 538 electoral college votes needed to secure a majority. Trump will now be inaugurated as … Continue Reading

BullionStar attends LBMA Conference in Singapore, October 2016

• 22 Oct 2016 03:37
• Torgny Persson
• 1 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Introduction This year, the well-known annual conference of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) was held in Singapore between Sunday 16 October and Tuesday 18 October at the impressive Shangri-La Hotel. The conference attracts delegates and speakers from across the world of bullion, with representatives from precious metals refiners, mints, bullion banks, brokers, trading and... Continue Reading

Infographic: The Indian Gold Market

• 16 Sep 2016 00:54
• Torgny Persson
• 2 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The Indian gold market is one of the world’s largest and most extensive gold markets, with an estimated 23,000 tonnes of private gold held within India’s borders. In India, gold is revered and held as a traditional form of savings and wealth preservation, particularly in the form of gold jewellery. With minimal gold mining production, … Continue Reading

Additional Gold & Silver & Platinum Coins GST-free in Singapore

• 14 Sep 2016 03:56
• Torgny Persson
• 0 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Starting 1 September 2016, the exemption of gold, silver and platinum coins from Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Singapore has been extended. The following coins, all available for ordering at BullionStar.com, are now available for purchase without any GST. The updated IRAS Guide on Exemption of Investment Precious Metals (IPM) can be found here. United … Continue Reading

The World’s largest Precious Metals Refineries

• 19 Aug 2016 14:53
• Torgny Persson
• 9 Comments

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

There are many precious metals refineries throughout the world, some local to their domestic markets, and some international, even global in scale. Many, but by no means all, of these refineries are on the Good Delivery Lists of gold and/or silver. These lists are maintained by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and they identify … Continue Reading