Group 1: Gold Market - Gold prices have surged significantly, climbing 9% in the first three weeks of 2026 and a remarkable 75% over the past 12 months, signaling fiscal stress, currency debasement, and heightened geopolitical risk [2][11]. Group 2: Corporate Developments - Novartis (NVS) CEO Narasimhan revealed the pharmaceutical giant is pursuing more biotech deals with China than with Europe and has secured an agreement with the U.S. government that shields it from tariffs [3][11]. Group 3: Energy Sector - The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts years of downward pressure on oil and gas prices due to persistent supply, indicating a challenging outlook for energy markets [4][11]. Group 4: Cryptocurrency Market - Major cryptocurrency assets experienced a downturn, with Coinbase Global (COIN) falling 4.4%, Bitfarms (BITF) down 7.5%, and MicroStrategy (MSTR) declining 5.5% [5][11]. Group 5: Investor Confidence - Despite renewed Trump tariff threats, ZEW German Investor Morale is anticipated to improve for a second consecutive month, even as the EU-US trade war intensifies [6][11].
Gold Surges Amid Geopolitical Tensions; Novartis Eyes China, US Tariff Shield