September 5, 2017 -- Gold prices broke out to a new 2017 high last week. Silver's gains were even more impressive on a percentage basis, although the white metal remains below its April high of $18.55. Safe-haven assets have come back into vogue on Wall Street, at least for now.

The tensions with North Korea ratcheted higher over the weekend. Kim Jong-un tested a hydrogen bomb estimated to be 7 times more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima. Seismic sensors detected a magnitude 6.3 quake resulting from the detonation. This may be confirmation that North Korean talk about developing more powerful bombs is more than just bluster.

The test came on the heels of a missile launch over Japan last week. President Donald Trump has taken a hard line when discussing potential U.S. responses to nuclear testing in North Korea. Investors will be anxious about how this latest provocation gets handled.

Americans will also be bracing for another massive hurricane. Irma is headed for Florida and may strengthen to Category 5 before making landfall – possibly in Miami.

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