Core Viewpoint - The recent decline in gold prices, following record highs, has sparked debate among investors about whether this represents a warning sign or a buying opportunity, with billionaire investor Thomas Kaplan advocating for the latter [2]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Gold prices reached a record high of approximately $5,500 at the end of January, but fell over 9% the following day after President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh for head of the Federal Reserve, marking the sharpest one-day drop since 1983 [5][6]. - The price of gold had been increasing due to persistent inflation, unpredictable trade policies, geopolitical tensions, and overall market chaos, but the nomination of Warsh shifted the narrative by alleviating fears of increased political control over the Federal Reserve [6]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment - Thomas Kaplan, a billionaire with significant investments in precious metals and leadership roles in the gold industry, believes there are compelling reasons to buy gold now, viewing the sell-off as routine market volatility rather than a fundamental issue [2][3]. - Despite Kaplan's confidence, it is important for investors to consider the broader context and not solely rely on the opinions of prominent figures in the gold market [4].

Core Viewpoint - The recent sell-off in gold and silver prices is viewed as a tactical move rather than a fundamental shift, with major banks maintaining bullish forecasts for gold prices by year-end [1][2][4]. Group 1: Market Analysis - Gold and silver experienced their worst sell-offs since 1980, but major banks like JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank have raised their year-end gold price forecasts to $6,300 and $6,000 respectively [1]. - Spot gold was trading at $4,700 late Monday afternoon, despite the recent downturn [1]. - The structural forces driving gold prices, such as central bank demand, remain intact, with expectations for continued accumulation of gold by central banks amid geopolitical tensions [5]. Group 2: Speculative Dynamics - The recent price movements in gold and silver are influenced by speculative trading, particularly in silver, which saw a meteoric rise followed by a significant fall [4][6]. - Analysts suggest that silver prices could drop significantly from current levels, with predictions of a potential 50% decline from recent highs [8]. Group 3: Economic Context - Gold is traditionally seen as a safe haven asset, and its value is expected to be supported by ongoing inflation concerns and market volatility [3]. - The geopolitical landscape, particularly following the U.S. response to Russia's actions, has heightened demand for gold as a hedge [5].

Group 1 - Gold reached a new all-time high while Bitcoin fell to its lowest level since November, highlighting a significant divergence between the two assets [1] - Bitcoin was trading at $83,926 after a 7% drop in 24 hours, and it has decreased by 20% over the past year [1] - Bitcoin has been described as digital gold due to its finite supply and has risen over 150% relative to the US dollar in the past five years [3] Group 2 - Bitcoin is generally more volatile than gold, with multiple double-digit drawdowns, and has rarely acted as a safe haven asset [2] - The correlation between Bitcoin and gold is infrequent, with Bitcoin often behaving like other volatile assets, particularly tech stocks [4] - The divergence in performance between gold and Bitcoin is attributed to different investor focuses, with gold traders concerned about long-term macro imbalances and Bitcoin buyers being more liquidity-sensitive [5][6] Group 3 - Bitcoin experienced a significant crash in October, following a peak of $126,080, leading to a $19 billion wave of liquidations that severely impacted its price [7] - Since the crash, Bitcoin has struggled to regain its value, trading mostly below the $100,000 mark [7]

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Quick Summary Mark Cuban says Bitcoin would be more useful than gold in a true economic crisis, but markets continue to act differently. Gold has attracted steady demand from central banks and long-term investors as a hedge against currency risk and geopolitical instability. For investors thinking about protection rather than speculation, how gold is owned matters. Preserve Gold helps investors hold phys ...

Political chaos is driving investors to bet on gold as a safe haven asset, while Bitcoin fails to spark confidence, analysts say. Worries about a US federal government shutdown and fiscal volatility have “weighed on Bitcoin,” Gabe Selby, head of research at CF Benchmarks, told DL News. “Near-term bullish catalysts for Bitcoin remain intact but are increasingly political rather than monetary,” he said. Selby’s analysis comes as the top cryptocurrency is significantly trailing behind other asset classes ...

Core Insights - Gold has been recognized as a reliable asset during financial distress, serving as a store of value and a safe haven during inflation and currency debasement [1] - The price of gold reached a new all-time high of $5,110.50 per ounce on January 26, 2026, with an appreciation of over 50% in value over the last six months [2] - In contrast, Bitcoin has lost 25% of its value during the same period, with the total crypto market cap also declining by approximately 25% [3] Company Developments - Tether Limited, known for its USDT stablecoin, has shifted focus to Tether Gold (XAUT), a gold-backed stablecoin, with one XAUT backed by one fine troy ounce of physical gold [5] - As of the end of Q4 2025, Tether held 520,089.350 fine troy ounces of gold, valued at $2.2 billion, with 520,089.300000 XAUT tokens in circulation [5] - Tether Gold accounted for about 60% of the total gold-backed stablecoin supply, positioning Tether among the top 30 global gold holders, surpassing countries like Greece, Qatar, and Australia [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - The Swiss franc is solidifying its status as a preferred safe haven currency amid rising global risk aversion due to US President Donald Trump's recent tariff proposals [1][4]. Group 1: Currency Performance - The Swiss franc led gains among Group-of-10 currencies, advancing 0.7% against the US dollar and reaching a two-month high against the euro [2]. - The franc is trading close to a record high against the Japanese yen, highlighting its strength as a safe haven [2]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment - Investors are increasingly favoring the Swiss franc due to its modest debt burden, political neutrality, and predictable policy-making, contrasting with the US and Japan [3][6]. - The franc has historically matched or outperformed gold in purchasing power, making it a favored choice among traditional safe havens [5]. Group 3: Economic Stability - The Swiss economy benefits from political stability, a balanced budget, and a persistent current account surplus, which contribute to the franc's outperformance against its peers [6]. - On risk-off days, the franc tends to rally against the dollar, consistently outperforming the yen and providing a stronger buffer against market volatility [7].

Core Insights - MariBank, a digital bank subsidiary of Sea Limited, has launched Mari Invest Gold, enabling customers to invest in physical gold with a minimum entry of S$1, making it the first digital bank in Singapore to offer such low entry barriers [1] - The product aims to democratize access to gold, traditionally seen as a safe haven during economic uncertainty [1] Investment Structure and Security - The fund invests in physical gold bars with a purity of at least 99.5%, securely stored in vaults in Singapore, with Standard Chartered Bank Singapore acting as the custodian [2] - The investment tracks the performance of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Gold Price AM, simplifying the complexities of commodities trading for customers [3] Product Suite Expansion - Mari Invest Gold is part of an expanding suite of wealth management products, including Mari Invest SavePlus, which has grown to S$1.135 billion in assets under management as of November 30, 2025 [4] - Another product, Mari Invest Income, has seen its assets under administration grow tenfold since its launch in February 2025, with approximately 30% of the customer base adopting at least one investment product [5] Strategic Partnerships and Goals - The partnership with Lion Global Investors for Mari Invest Gold aims to extend the appeal of gold to a new generation of digital investors, contributing to Singapore's status as a leading financial and gold hub [6]

Core Insights - India's gold reserves decreased to $190 billion at the end of October 2025, down by $50.7 billion compared to the previous year [1] - The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) gold holdings increased to 880.18 metric tonnes from 866.8 metric tonnes year-on-year [1] - Forex reserves remained stable around $685 billion during the same period [2] Gold Reserves and Forex Composition - Gold constituted 13.6% of RBI's forex reserves as of September 26, up from 9.3% a year ago [6] - The total investments by central banks in US Treasury bills reached $9.24 trillion at the end of October 2025, with Japan being the largest holder at $1.2 trillion [8] Strategic Shifts in Reserve Management - RBI's holdings in US Treasuries fell below $200 billion, indicating a strategic shift towards diversifying reserves by increasing gold purchases [1] - Global central banks are adding gold to their reserves as a safe haven amid economic uncertainty, despite rising gold prices [7] - Rising fiscal pressures in advanced economies have led to increased global bond yields, prompting central banks, including RBI, to reduce exposure to US Treasuries [7]

Economic Crisis in Iran - Iran's rial has depreciated over 40% since the conflict with Israel began in June 2025, with a drop from 32,000 per dollar in 2015 to over 1.4 million, indicating a nearly 44-fold depreciation in ten years [2] - Inflation in Iran reached 42.2% in December, a rise from the previous year and an increase of 1.8% compared to November, severely impacting Iranian families [3] - Food prices surged by 72% in December 2025 compared to the previous year, while medical goods increased by 50% [3] Protests and Unrest - Protests erupted across major cities in Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, marking the largest demonstrations since 2022 [4] - Shops in Tehran's Grand Bazaar closed in protest against the economic situation [4] - The crisis is exacerbated by falling oil revenue due to US sanctions, issues in the banking sector, political chaos, and structural corruption, leading to the resignation of the Central Bank Governor [4] Government Response - The Iranian government has implemented measures such as food vouchers and subsidies to alleviate public frustration, but these efforts have provided limited relief amid ongoing inflation [5] - Traditional safe havens like gold have seen significant price increases, with gold coins reaching 1.7 billion rials each by December 28, more than double their value in June [5] Bitcoin as a Safe Haven - Bitcoin is being considered as a potential alternative safe haven asset alongside gold, with Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley suggesting its role in providing protection against financial turmoil [1][6]