Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that gold prices are experiencing the strongest annual increase since 1979, surpassing $3,800 per ounce, driven by factors such as Federal Reserve rate cuts, global central bank gold purchases, and strong safe-haven demand due to geopolitical uncertainties, with a year-to-date increase of over 40% in gold futures [1] - The recent price surge indicates that any price corrections in the coming weeks or months are likely to be shallow adjustments, as new buying interest emerges with each decline, reflecting macroeconomic fundamentals rather than mere speculative bubbles [1] - Silver has shown an even stronger performance, breaking through $44 per ounce with a year-to-date increase of over 50%, supported by structural demand from the photovoltaic industry and electrification processes, highlighting silver's dual identity as both a currency and an industrial metal [1] Group 2 - On Wednesday, gold futures fell from the previous day's historical high, with the main contract for September delivery settling at $3,732.10 per ounce, marking the largest single-day dollar and percentage decline since August 11 [2] - September silver futures also declined by 0.9% to $43.777 per ounce, with both gold and silver settlement prices still ranking as the third highest in history [2] - Investors are awaiting the upcoming U.S. initial jobless claims and the preferred inflation indicator of the Federal Reserve, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, for new clues on monetary policy direction [1]