Gold (GC=F) April futures opened at $5,015 per troy ounce on Friday, 0.4% higher than Thursday’s closing price of $4,997.40. The gold price rose above $5,050 in early trading. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are fueling gold demand, even as short-term interest-rate reductions look less probable. The U.S. has sent two aircraft carriers and other combat equipment to the Middle East, while Iran recently ran annual military drills with Russia. On Thursday, President Trump warned that “bad things will hap ...

Core Insights - Wall Street analysts forecast Kinross Gold (KGC) will report quarterly earnings of $0.54 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 170% [1] - Anticipated revenues for the quarter are projected to be $1.87 billion, representing a 32.4% increase compared to the same quarter last year [1] Earnings Projections - Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 38.3%, indicating a collective reassessment by covering analysts [2] - Changes in earnings projections are crucial for predicting investor reactions to the stock, with empirical studies showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price movements [3] Key Metrics - Analysts estimate the 'Production cost of sales per equivalent ounce sold' to be $1,263, up from $1,098 reported in the same quarter last year [5] - The consensus for 'Gold equivalent ounces - Produced - Operations Total' is expected to be 464 million ounces, down from 514 million ounces in the previous year [5] - The estimated 'Attributable all-in sustaining cost per equivalent ounce sold' is projected at $1.79 billion, compared to $1.51 billion a year ago [6] Stock Performance - Kinross Gold shares have increased by 4.6% over the past month, contrasting with a -0.3% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [6] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it is expected to perform in line with the overall market in the near future [6]

Core Viewpoint - Allied Gold Corporation is highlighted as a strong investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a significant increase in earnings estimates for the current year [1]. Financial Metrics - Allied Gold Corporation has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 5.31, which is substantially lower than the S&P's P/E of 25.58, indicating strong value characteristics [2]. - The company has experienced a 26.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1].

Group 1 - As of February 10, the largest gold ETF, SPDR Gold Trust, held 1,079.32 tons, a decrease of 0.34 tons from the previous trading day [2] - On February 10, spot gold fluctuated around the $5,000 per ounce mark, with a daily low of $4,965.08 and a high of $5,085.50, closing at $5,025.12, up $63.97 or 1.29% [2] - Market sentiment improved due to the resolution of political uncertainty from Japan's early election results and signs of easing geopolitical tensions, which boosted risk appetite and pressured safe-haven gold [2] Group 2 - Despite the rebound in gold prices, the movement appears driven more by position adjustments rather than new fundamental changes, with volatility still limiting broader market participation [4] - Current market pricing indicates at least two rate cuts of 25 basis points each by 2026, with the first potentially in June, which could influence gold prices [4] - Technical analysis suggests that gold is nearing a confirmation of a phase bottom, having bottomed around $4,400 in early February and showing signs of regaining bullish momentum [4] Group 3 - The recent high of approximately $5,092 formed a resistance level for gold prices, while a rising trend line starting from $4,400 provides support, currently around $4,800 [5] - If gold can maintain this upward support, it may continue its rebound towards historical highs [5]

Market Performance - Major stock indices have rebounded from early session lows, with the Dow reaching a record intraday high [1] - The Nasdaq is up 137.73 points (0.6%) at 23,168.95, the S&P 500 is up 24.93 points (0.4%) at 6,957.23, and the Dow is up 42.42 points (0.1%) at 50,158.09 [2] Sector Performance - Oracle (ORCL) has surged by 9.3% following an upgrade from D.A. Davidson, contributing to the tech sector's strength [3] - Gold stocks have shown strong performance, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index increasing by 4.4% due to rising gold prices [6] - Networking and software stocks have also performed well, with the NYSE Arca Networking Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index rising by 2.9% and 2.5%, respectively [6] - Brokerage and semiconductor stocks are experiencing considerable strength, while healthcare and transportation stocks have declined [7] Economic Indicators - The upcoming U.S. jobs report is expected to show an increase of 70,000 jobs in January, up from 50,000 in December, with the unemployment rate projected to remain at 4.4% [4] - Reports on retail sales and consumer price inflation are anticipated to influence interest rate outlooks [4] - Market analysts emphasize the importance of employment and inflation data in shaping market expectations regarding interest rates [5]

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices have shown volatility, dipping below $5,000 per troy ounce before recovering slightly, reflecting broader market concerns, particularly related to AI and investor margin calls [1][2][3]. Gold Price Trends - The opening price of April gold futures on Friday was $4,950 per troy ounce, nearly unchanged from Thursday's close of $4,948.40 [1][4]. - Gold's one-year gain as of January 29 was 95.6%, with increases of 3.9% over the past week, 8.1% over the past month, and 70% over the past year [4][9]. Market Reactions - Stock prices fell on Thursday, with the S&P 500 down 1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 2%, influenced by concerns over AI and margin calls affecting diversified portfolios [2]. Investment Strategies - Experts recommend varying gold allocations based on individual investment goals, with suggestions ranging from 0% to 20% [6][10][14]. - Robert R. Johnson advises against gold investing for long-term growth, while others suggest allocations of 2% to 5% for resilience without excessive income drag [7][10]. - Blake McLaughlin supports a 5% to 8% allocation based on historical data, emphasizing gold's resilience amid economic uncertainty [11]. - Thomas Winmill advocates for a 5% to 15% allocation, particularly through gold mining companies [12]. - Vince Stanzione recommends a 20% allocation in physical gold or ETFs as a wealth protection strategy [14].

Group 1: Gold Price Trends - The opening price of gold futures on Thursday was $5,107.30 per troy ounce, reflecting a 0.2% increase from Wednesday's closing price of $5,098.50 [1] - Gold's one-year gain as of January 29 was 95.6%, with a weekly increase of 2% and a monthly increase of 11.5% [5][10] Group 2: Economic Indicators Impacting Gold - The gold price softened following stronger-than-expected January jobs data, with the U.S. economy adding 130,000 jobs, surpassing the expected growth of 55,000 [2] - The unemployment rate decreased to 4.3% in January from 4.4% in December, while inflation was reported at 2.7% in December [2][3] Group 3: Interest Rates and Gold Demand - A recovery in the labor market may delay interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, which could negatively impact gold's short-term outlook [3] - High interest rates increase the opportunity costs associated with holding gold, potentially limiting demand for the metal [3]

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 Insights - Gold stocks in the growth IBD 50 list are experiencing an upward trend following a significant decline in precious metals trading that occurred in late January [1] Group 1 - The recent performance of gold stocks indicates a recovery phase after the downturn in the precious metals market [1]

Core Insights - Tether has acquired a $150 million minority stake in Gold.com, representing a 12% ownership, as part of its strategy to enter the gold market amid rising investor interest in gold for stability [1][2]. Investment Details - The investment allows Tether to integrate its gold-backed token, XAUT, into Gold.com's platform, which facilitates access to both physical and tokenized gold [2]. - Tether and Gold.com are exploring the possibility of enabling purchases of physical gold using Tether's USDT and the newly launched USAT stablecoin [2]. Market Context - Gold prices have recently surged, exceeding $5,000 per ounce, contributing to a significant increase in the blockchain-based gold token market, which grew from $1.3 billion to over $5.5 billion [3]. - Tether's XAUT token currently dominates the tokenized gold market, accounting for over 60% and is fully backed by physical gold stored in Swiss vaults [3]. Strategic Perspective - Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, emphasized that gold serves as a long-term hedge against instability rather than a short-term trade, reflecting the company's commitment to protecting its user base [4]. - Tether also announced an investment in Anchorage Digital, a regulated crypto bank, further indicating its strategic expansion in the financial services sector [4].