Core Viewpoint - Precious metal prices surged on Monday, with gold reaching a record high due to concerns over a potential U.S. government shutdown, which could delay key employment data and cloud the Federal Reserve's monetary policy path [1] Group 1: Gold Market Dynamics - Spot gold prices rose by 1% to a record high of $3,798.73 per ounce, surpassing last Tuesday's peak, marking six consecutive weeks of price increases [1] - Year-to-date, gold prices have surged over 40%, driven by central bank demand and the Federal Reserve's return to interest rate cuts, with expectations of continued upward momentum [1] - Gold ETFs are at their highest holdings since 2022, indicating strong investor interest and support for the price increase [1] Group 2: Other Precious Metals - Silver prices increased by 1.2%, while platinum and palladium also saw significant gains, supported by ongoing market supply tightness and inflows into precious metal-backed ETFs [1] Group 3: Economic and Policy Implications - Investors are closely watching a meeting between U.S. congressional leaders and Trump, as failure to reach an agreement on a short-term spending bill could lead to a government shutdown, threatening the release of critical economic data, including the employment report expected to show a slowdown in job growth for September [1] - Barclays strategists noted that gold prices do not appear overvalued relative to the U.S. dollar and government bonds, suggesting that gold should carry a certain premium related to the risks of the Federal Reserve losing its independence [1]