Group 1 - The global physical gold market is experiencing significant divergence, with Asian buyers continuing to purchase aggressively while U.S. investors are cashing out at high levels, reflecting differing regional perspectives on economic outlook and gold market trends [1] - In the U.S. market, there is an oversupply of gold bars and coins, leading some precious metal dealers to reduce premiums to the lowest levels in six years to stimulate sales. Retail investors are facing additional costs when selling gold, with the cost to sell an ounce of American Eagle coin dropping from $175 four years ago to about $20 now [3] - The demand for gold bars and coins in North America and Western Europe has been declining for the past three years, with the first quarter of 2025 showing the largest gap since records began in 2014, primarily driven by sell-offs in the U.S. market [3] Group 2 - In the first quarter of 2025, demand for gold bars and coins in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 3%, with China seeing a 12% increase and countries like South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia experiencing over 30% growth [4] - Concerns over the impact of Trump's tariffs and domestic currency depreciation have made gold a preferred asset for Asian investors, who have played a key role in the recent rise in gold prices since 2024 [4] - Wall Street's views on whether the gold price surge has ended are mixed, with Goldman Sachs reaffirming its prediction of gold reaching $4,000 per ounce next year, while Morgan Stanley expects it to reach $3,800 by the end of this year, and Citigroup forecasts a drop below $3,000 next year [4]