Market Insights

Before the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency market took away the spotlight in the latest months of the year, gold reached an all-time high (ATH) of $2777.80/oz and closed the year at $2606.72/oz.  

Benefiting from the decline in the dollar, gold prices edged up by 0.23% last Friday.

The U.S. initial jobless claims data performed strongly, causing investors to worry about the timing of interest rate cuts in the U.S. and the robust performance of American corporate activities.  

The latest meeting minutes from the Federal Reserve show that policymakers acknowledge disappointment with recent inflation figures.

Due to the increased expectations of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve and the death of the Iranian president in a plane crash, gold prices temporarily surged to a historic high near the 2450 mark. 

Boosted by China’s announcement of new economic measures and rising expectations of a Fed rate cut, gold prices rose nearly USD 40 last Friday, marking the second consecutive week of gains.

The US dollar and US Treasury yields rebounded, but signs of cooling US inflation reinforced hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut this year, keeping gold prices near a one-month peak with a slight drop of 0.39%.

In April, the U.S. consumer price index rose less than expected, and retail sales data were also weaker than anticipated, increasing the likelihood of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.  

Benefiting from the decline in the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasury yields, as well as Powell continuing to tightly shut the door on interest rate hikes, the price of gold rebounded by nearly 1%, briefly approaching the USD 2,360 mark.  

Gold prices fell 1% as some investors took profits, and investors are awaiting key inflation data this week to gain more clues about potential rate cuts in the U.S. this year.