Gold reached an unprecedented high of $2,135.39 per ounce on Monday, propelled by mounting optimism about potential US interest rate cuts in the coming year.
However, profit-taking later moderated the surge, with gold trading at $2,069.01. Analysts note that the Israel-Hamas conflict has also contributed to gold’s rise as investors seek the safe-haven asset amidst global uncertainty.
Factors Driving Gold’s Momentum:
Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, highlighted concerns over global economic stability and the Israel-Hamas conflict as factors driving investor demand for gold.
Additionally, expectations of future Federal Reserve rate cuts have diminished the US dollar’s strength, rendering gold more attractive to investors as it trades near three-month lows.
Bitcoin’s Surge and Market Movements:
Bitcoin climbed above $40,000 for the first time since May, buoyed by prospects of broader cryptocurrency trading in the United States.
Major stock markets in Europe and Asia mostly experienced declines, while oil prices saw a drop amidst these fluctuations.
Fed’s Position and Rate Cut Speculation:
Despite Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s attempts to moderate expectations of immediate US rate cuts in early 2024, market sentiment remains resolute in betting on potential monetary policy easing.
Powell’s comment on the US economy being “well into restrictive territory” following a series of interest rate hikes hasn’t deterred market bets on potential rate cuts.
Traders have positioned a 60 percent chance of a US rate cut, with full pricing for one expected in May.
Market Response and Cryptocurrency Expectations:
Kyle Rodda at Capital.com noted the market’s growing investment in rate-cut expectations and highlighted recession risks as additional factors augmenting gold’s allure.
Bitcoin’s resurgence above $40,000 is tied to expectations of potential approval for selling spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by firms like BlackRock, anticipated by next month, as reported by Bloomberg.
Developments in Equities Trading:
Troubled Chinese developer China Evergrande briefly surged over 13 percent following a court’s decision to allow additional time to formulate a restructuring plan to avoid liquidation.
Evergrande, facing massive liabilities and a default on debt repayment in 2021, continues to navigate through significant financial challenges amidst ongoing legal proceedings.
