Gold continues to break new record levels, climbing above $4,300 per ounce and reaching around $4,350 on Friday morning, benefiting from safe-haven demand amid rising uncertainty in global markets. These gains reflect growing concerns over the stability of the US financial system, particularly regarding the quality of loans at regional banks, alongside the decline of the 10-year US Treasury yield below 4%, its lowest level since April. This combination has reinforced gold’s appeal as a safe-haven asset for investors.
Meanwhile, the US dollar continues to weaken against major currencies, with the DXY index sliding to 98.00, marking a loss of approximately 0.7% since the start of the week. The dollar’s decline is attributed to a mix of economic and geopolitical factors, including the ongoing US government shutdown, persistent US-China tensions, and concerns about lending practices at regional banks. The dollar’s weakness has been clearly reflected across major currency pairs, with the euro and British pound gaining against the greenback, while USD/JPY remains under continuous downward pressure for the fourth consecutive day, approaching 149.50.
US markets experienced downward pressure on major stock indices, with Wall Street futures falling between 0.6% and 0.9%, highlighting reduced risk appetite amid ongoing economic and political uncertainty. In Europe, French Prime Minister Sébastien Le Cornu survived two no-confidence votes, allowing him to proceed with parliamentary discussions on next year’s budget. Meanwhile, the EUR/USD pair remained steady above 1.1700 Friday morning as markets await the release of revised HICP inflation data for September. The British pound rose to a ten-day high of 1.3450, supported by the weakening US dollar and statements from Bank of England officials.
Amid these developments, gold continues to benefit from safe-haven flows, while the US dollar faces persistent downward pressure. Global markets remain significantly influenced by economic and geopolitical factors, emphasizing the need for effective hedging strategies and a balanced allocation between safe-haven assets and dollar-linked investments, with careful monitoring of any sudden shifts that may impact market direction in the coming days. Under these circumstances, gold’s upward momentum may continue, while the dollar remains under pressure, reflecting the broader trend of demand for safe-haven assets amid global uncertainty.
