As global markets react to mounting uncertainties, gold has emerged as the standout performer in the financial landscape. This analysis examines the recent surge in gold prices, the underlying factors driving this movement, and what experts predict for the precious metal's future trajectory amid evolving economic policies and market sentiment.Gold Reaches Historic Heights Amid Global UncertaintyOn Wednesday (April 16), COMEX gold broke through the $3,300 per ounce threshold, setting a new historical high. Since the beginning of 2025, international gold prices have cumulatively risen by more than 25%, a performance significantly outpacing other assets1. This remarkable rally comes against a backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty and shifting investor sentiment.With Trump's frequ

The recent market has become highly disorderly due to fluctuations in Trump's tariff policies, with dramatic falls and rises triggered by mere words. In this emotional market environment, news can only determine short-term trends. Despite significant volatility, these large fluctuations do not represent medium to long-term market directions. Therefore, Trump's statement about delaying tariff policy implementation by 90 days alone cannot confirm that US stock indices have entered a reversal pattern - what if he changes his mind again in the near future?Technical Observation of US Stock IndicesWith neither news nor fundamentals yielding clear conclusions, it's evident that the market is heavily influenced by emotions. Therefore, tracking the market using technical analysis methods will be mo

Last week's financial market was truly spectacular, though it still fell short compared to the face-changing Trump. We previously speculated that Trump would look for a way to step down, thereby helping the market stabilize and rebound. Although his final actions did indeed help risk assets find a bottom, his rhetoric of "I haven't surrendered, these are all strategies" and the weekend hints about "exemptions" strongly suggest that a second market bottom is highly probable1.The Failed Tariff StrategyLooking at the developments on the tariff issue, although things didn't unfold exactly as anticipated, the 90-day postponement essentially represents a delaying tactic forced upon the US after its original strategy failed. Judging from China's rapid responses and countermeasures, Trump's cards

Global investors and American voters may now regret elevating Trump—a leader whose erratic nature has repeatedly pushed financial markets to "witness history" within days. While Trump insists these developments are part of his grand plan, feedback from China and Europe clearly indicates his bluffing strategies have backfired. At this point, figuring out a graceful way to step back has become the most urgent task.Previously, we discussed how the new president would need to trigger a correction in overvalued assets while fostering his own leading stocks. However, the real challenge lies in managing the market disruption caused by these operational adjustments. The last double-digit weekly drop in U.S. equities happened five years ago during Trump's presidency, though this time, there's no ex

Since mid-March, international crude oil prices have experienced a rebound. NYMEX WTI crude oil futures rose from $65.6 per barrel on March 10 to $69.37 per barrel by March 25, an increase of about 5.7%. Similarly, ICE Brent crude oil futures rose from $68.65 per barrel to $72.54 per barrel during the same period.This price rally is driven by supply-side disruptions, including geopolitical crises and U.S. sanctions, which have led to downward revisions in crude oil production forecasts for 2025. OPEC+'s implementation of compensatory production cuts has eased concerns about oversupply. However, factors such as China’s shift to new energy vehicles and reduced oil demand in the U.S. due to tariffs and fiscal tightening make it unlikely that crude oil will break away from its oversupply trend

At the latest Federal Reserve meeting last week, policymakers unsurprisingly chose to maintain the status quo on interest rates. The relatively dovish tone of the communication improved market sentiment slightly, yet significant uncertainty remains over the future trajectory of monetary policy. Opinions are split: some believe that former President Trump's anti-globalization policies might lead to inflation or stagflation, preventing the Fed from cutting rates, while others anticipate that recession risks will compel the Fed to implement aggressive monetary easing to stabilize the economy. Examining bond market data can help determine which of these scenarios is more plausible.Recent Trends in 10-Year Treasury YieldsSince peaking at over 5% during the previous U.S. rate-hiking cycle, the 1

Overnight, the Federal Reserve maintained interest rates as anticipated, while announcing significant policy adjustments. According to the FOMC statement, beginning April 1st, the Fed will slow its balance sheet reduction pace, decreasing Treasury securities reduction limits from $25 billion/month to $5 billion/month, while maintaining the MBS reduction cap at $35 billion/month. The committee noted increased economic uncertainty but still forecasts two interest rate cuts this year, totaling 50 basis points altogether.Benchmark Rate Unchanged, Balance Sheet Reduction Slowed, Two Rate Cuts - All Within ExpectationsFed Chairman Powell broke new ground in the press conference by addressing tariffs for the first time, acknowledging that Trump's policies are impacting the economy. He emphasized

U.S. Economy Facing Rising Risks of RecessionSince January, recession risks in the U.S. economy have become increasingly salient. Optimistic market sentiment has subsided, and policy shifts under the Trump administration—including tariff hikes, federal budget cuts, and layoffs at Doge Corporation—have significantly dampened economic momentum.Key indicators show evident deterioration:On March 11, the U.S. 10-year treasury yield fell to 4.28%, down from January's optimistic peak of 4.79%. The U.S. Dollar Index also sharply declined from 110.17 (January 13) to 103.39 (March 11).The Atlanta Fed drastically cut its Q1 2025 GDP growth forecast from 3.9% to -2.4%, citing weak consumer spending and net exports.Recent retail sales figures notably missed expectations, consumption growth slowed sharp

The US stock market has experienced a continuous decline over the past three weeks, with an overall drop of around 5%. From the perspective of market trends over the past year and a half, this three-week period often marks an important node, indicating either the end of an adjustment or the conclusion of a phase. Therefore, whether the market can stabilize this week will have significant reference value.Using the S&P 500 as a reference, every adjustment since the middle of last year has lasted about three weeks, followed by a resumption of the upward trend. Even in slightly longer-term market trends with more weekly adjustments, there usually is a small rebound or correction after three weeks. If history repeats itself or if trends need to continue, the US stock market should not exper

Germany Announces Historic Fiscal Stimulus PlanGermany dropped a bombshell today as the incoming German government announced an unprecedented fiscal stimulus plan. This includes establishing a €500 billion special infrastructure fund, providing "unlimited" support for defense spending, and permitting local governments to increase borrowing. Altogether, the total scale of this plan could exceed €1 trillion.The magnitude of Germany's fiscal stimulus plan is on par with the historic impact of the reunification of East and West Germany over 35 years ago. In the short term, this initiative aims to "provide a safety net" to prevent further economic deterioration. From a mid-term perspective, the plan is expected to bring a "paradigm shift" to Germany's economic growth model. With increased defen

Last night, former President Donald Trump made a statement indicating plans to include multiple cryptocurrencies as part of the reserve system. This announcement sparked a surge in the cryptocurrency market. However, despite the short-term boost, we believe the broader market trend will remain unaffected by such political moves. After the initial excitement subsides, the market is likely to return to its original rhythm and structure.Recent Trading Opportunities and Market MovementsFor some time, we have been positioning ourselves to capitalize on the buying opportunity around the 85,000-86,000 range. Following entry, prices unexpectedly dipped further, with last week’s price bottoming out at approximately 78,000. However, Friday's significant lower shadow and the support at the previous g