Global financial markets on January 24th were dominated by significant movements across asset classes, driven by geopolitical tensions and shifting monetary policy expectations.
Oil prices closed higher on Friday, bolstered by the United States dispatching a naval fleet to the Middle East and imposing new sanctions on Iran, raising concerns over potential supply disruptions.
Gold prices surged, briefly breaking through the $1,990 per ounce mark to hit a record high, and posted a weekly gain exceeding 8% as investors sought safe-haven assets amidst global uncertainty.
Silver prices also climbed, for the first time surpassing the significant $100 per ounce milestone, reflecting a broad-based rally in precious metals driven by strong investor demand for alternatives.
The Japanese Yen experienced a substantial appreciation, while the US Dollar suffered its largest weekly decline since June, as market participants adjusted their expectations for interest rate differentials.
European stock markets ended a five-week winning streak, with airline stocks particularly under pressure, as concerns over the economic outlook and geopolitical risks weighed on sentiment.
In macroeconomic developments, the European Union announced it would temporarily suspend its plan to impose retaliatory tariffs on approximately 93 billion euros worth of US goods.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that the focus of trilateral negotiations involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine is on the specific conditions for ending the ongoing conflict.
Delegations from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are scheduled to continue their talks on the 24th in Abu Dhabi, aiming to find a pathway towards peace.
President Putin engaged in discussions with a US envoy regarding a Ukrainian peace plan, although the Russian side indicated that territorial issues remain unresolved.
On the corporate front, Intel issued a profit warning, causing its stock price to plummet by 17% and making it one of the most actively traded securities.
Tesla announced the temporary deactivation of its basic Autopilot driver-assistance system for vehicles in the United States and Canada.
Meta Platforms temporarily blocked teenage users from accessing its AI character features and is developing a dedicated version for younger audiences.
Investors are quietly shifting capital away from US assets, rotating into gold and emerging markets, signaling a potential change in global capital flows.
The largest Dutch pension fund revealed it significantly reduced its exposure to US Treasury bonds last year, a trend also observed in several other Nordic countries.
Analysts at UBS suggested that Intel might secure collaborations with major tech companies as its 14A manufacturing process becomes viable, while other analysts remain uncertain about the long-term profit prospects of its 18A process.
In currency markets, the British Pound strengthened against both the US Dollar and the Euro as traders scaled back their bets on imminent interest rate cuts from the Bank of England.
A summary of commodity markets showed oil prices advancing, silver breaking the $100 barrier, and base metals generally posting gains amid heightened risk-off sentiment.
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