Market Overview - Precious metals experienced a significant sell-off, with Spot Silver declining over 5% to $68.97/oz and Spot Gold dropping 2% to $4,556.90/oz [2][11] - The broader equity markets faced downward pressure, with the Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX) declining by 1% as investors rotated out of growth stocks and commodities amid rising yields and a strengthening U.S. Dollar [3] Geopolitical Developments - The Pentagon is deploying thousands of additional Marines and three warships to the Middle East, following claims by Iran that recent military strikes have not disrupted its weapons manufacturing capabilities [4][11] - President Trump criticized NATO allies as "cowards" for not joining the U.S. military stance against Iran, while China urged all parties to prevent further escalation of the conflict [5] Interest Rate and Yield Movements - Fixed income markets are under pressure as the UK 10-year yield rose 16 basis points to 5%, a level not seen in eighteen years, reflecting a shift in U.S. interest rate expectations with a 50% chance of a Federal Reserve rate hike by October [6][11] - The U.S. Dollar strengthened against the Japanese Yen, rising 0.91% to 159.125 Yen, while the Euro struggled against the Dollar despite a slight increase [7] Legal and Diplomatic Issues - In South America, investigations are underway into Colombian President Gustavo Petro over alleged ties to drug traffickers, focusing on the influence of drug money on political operations [8] - In Eastern Europe, President Zelenskiy announced expectations of receiving the first financial tranche from the European Union in April and urged European leaders to maintain sanctions against Russia and Belarus [9]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the extreme volatility in the precious metals market at the beginning of 2026, characterized by a historic sell-off followed by a record rebound, which is seen as a natural attribute of commodities in a strong bull market [1][3] - The article emphasizes the fundamental difference in asset pricing logic between commodities and the stock market, noting that commodities exhibit a "positive skew," where price increases are accompanied by rising volatility, providing opportunities for traders to construct asymmetric risk-reward profiles [4][1] - Current technical observations indicate that silver is stabilizing around $81.21 per ounce and gold above $5038, with the recent sharp corrections viewed as a healthy market adjustment that helps to digest early leverage positions [4][2] Group 2 - Despite rumors of institutional fund withdrawals, data shows that related gold mining fund products, such as those under YieldMax, maintained positive net subscriptions during price declines, indicating that institutional investors view short-term volatility as a buying opportunity [5][2] - Long-term, gold's status as a store of value remains irreplaceable, with current gold requirements for purchasing median housing being lower than in the 1960s, underscoring gold's inflation-hedging superiority [5][3] - The article argues that in the context of global debt monetization and ongoing currency devaluation, the "safe haven" logic of precious metals remains robust, and short-term noise should not overshadow the strategic significance of long-term allocations [5][3]

Group 1 - The Nikkei 225 index opened up by 1.5% [1] - The Seoul Composite Index opened up by 4.1% [1] - Spot gold rose to approximately $5040, increasing by 1.6% during the day [1] - Spot silver surpassed the $80 mark, with a daily increase of over 3% [1] Group 2 - The yield on Japan's 30-year government bonds increased by 6.5 basis points, reaching 3.615% [1]

Group 1 - The current spot gold price is 1074.45 CNY per gram, reflecting an increase of 8.9 CNY or 0.83% from the previous trading day, indicating a rebound after a dip [1] - The opening price for the day was 1065.96 CNY per gram, with a daily high of 1081.17 CNY and a low of 1038.55 CNY [1] Group 2 - The latest research report suggests that the change in leadership at the Federal Reserve should not be seen as a significant turning point for market trends; rather, the new chairman's policies will be crucial for the U.S. economic fundamentals [2] - If the new chairman, Waller, leads the Fed, it may signify a shift back to a more traditional role focused on rules and discipline, moving away from the post-financial crisis interventionist approach [2] - In this context, the U.S. dollar is expected to strengthen in the short term, but may enter a "slow bear" trend in the long term, with short-term U.S. Treasury yields likely to rise and prices under pressure [2] Group 3 - The core logic for a long-term bull market in gold remains strong, driven by ongoing global central bank gold purchases and any weakening of the U.S. dollar credit potentially accelerating the formation of a multipolar international reserve system [2] - Observations from the daily time frame indicate that today marks the sixth trading day since the last daily time window, showing signs of a rebound [3] - The gold price is expected to break above the February 4 high of 5090 USD, entering a confirmation phase for a new upward trend if the breakout is validated [3]

Group 1 - The precious metals market is experiencing a significant correction after a period of exuberance, with gold trading around $5180, silver at $110, and platinum down over 5% at approximately $2480 [1] - Analysts attribute this correction to short-term profit-taking and increased risk controls by exchanges, while long-term support factors such as geopolitical risks, central bank gold purchases, and expectations of Federal Reserve easing remain intact, indicating a continuation of the bull market for precious metals [1] Group 2 - Trump plans to announce a successor to Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, expressing confidence in the nominee's ability to promote rate cuts amid signs of strong economic growth [2] - The Federal Reserve maintains interest rates, noting resilient economic activity and initial stabilization in the labor market, but emphasizes persistent high inflation and uncertain outlook, with expectations for a rate cut in June [2] - Geopolitical tensions are escalating, with Iran warning of unprecedented self-defense measures and the EU designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, while the U.S. increases military presence near Iran [2] Group 3 - Technical analysis indicates that gold prices are supported by the 21-day moving average, with a bullish trend reinforced by the relative strength index (RSI) at 72.07, suggesting potential for price consolidation rather than reversal [3] - Key support for silver is identified at $105.39, which is crucial for maintaining the recent upward trend; failure to hold this level may lead to further corrections [3] - Platinum is currently in a consolidation phase, with critical support at $2500; if this level holds, it may maintain its range, but a drop could lead to a test of the $2400 level [4]

📰 #AscendEX Daily Updates🔷Spot gold has broken above $5,200 for the first time🔷Bitcoin’s network hash rate has seen the largest drop in history🔷Ethereum's active wallet count hits a record high, with 5.16 million new wallets added in 2026#AscendEX #Crypto #CryptoNews https://t.co/NZkCby9gtz ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent surge in international precious metals markets, particularly silver and gold, is driven by a significant shift towards risk aversion among global investors due to multiple uncertainties in the market [1][3]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Silver prices soared by 14% to $117.75 per ounce, reaching a historical high, while gold prices climbed to $5111.17 per ounce, marking a new record [1]. - The collective rally in precious metals is attributed to a large-scale influx of capital seeking safe-haven assets amid rising concerns over geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties [1][3]. Group 2: Geopolitical Factors - Ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and EU over Greenland's sovereignty and trade, have heightened market anxiety, contributing to the demand for safe-haven assets [3]. - The potential risks from global conflicts and the uncertain geopolitical landscape have kept market sentiment tense, further driving the demand for silver, which has a smaller market size and concentrated liquidity [3]. Group 3: Economic and Monetary Uncertainties - The weakening credit of the US dollar, which has dropped to 56% of global foreign exchange reserves by Q3 2025, alongside the growing US debt exceeding $38.5 trillion, has raised concerns about the dollar's long-term purchasing power [3]. - The acceleration of "de-dollarization" is evident, with 95% of surveyed central banks planning to increase gold holdings in the next 12 months, reinforcing the price support for precious metals [3]. Group 4: Supply and Demand Imbalance - The global silver market has faced a structural supply-demand imbalance for six consecutive years, with a projected supply gap of 203 million ounces by 2026, the highest in nearly a decade [4]. - Industrial demand for silver, particularly from sectors like photovoltaics, AI servers, and electric vehicles, accounts for over 60% of total demand and continues to grow, while supply is constrained due to the long production cycles of silver mining [4]. Group 5: Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - There is a notable divergence in market sentiment regarding the future of precious metals; optimistic views suggest that ongoing geopolitical risks and the expanding silver supply gap will sustain the bullish trend [5]. - Conversely, cautious perspectives highlight the potential for short-term corrections due to overbought conditions in silver and the possibility of industrial alternatives reducing silver demand [5]. - Key variables influencing future trends include the actual developments in geopolitical conflicts, the pace of Federal Reserve monetary policy, changes in silver supply-demand dynamics, and the flow of capital in response to dollar credit shifts [5].

Core Viewpoint - International precious metal prices experienced significant volatility, with both spot gold and silver reaching historical highs before retreating, driven by increased demand for safe-haven assets amid escalating geopolitical tensions [1] Group 1: Precious Metal Price Movements - Spot silver surged by 14.33% to $117.7285 per ounce before slightly declining to $102.9675, closing at $103.8625, a modest increase of 0.86% [1] - Spot gold broke the $5000 mark, peaking at $5111.11 per ounce with a rise of 2.57%, later settling around $5000, closing at $5008.35, reflecting a slight increase of 0.51% [1] Group 2: Market Influences - The escalation of geopolitical tensions has heightened market demand for safe-haven assets, contributing to the recent surge in international precious metal prices [1] - Goldman Sachs raised its gold price forecast for the end of 2026 from $4900 per ounce to $5400, indicating a shift in private sector asset allocation towards gold [1]

Group 1: Precious Metals Futures - Spot gold has historically broken the $5000 per ounce mark for the first time, just over 100 days after surpassing the $4000 mark on October 8, 2025 [1][4] - Spot gold continued to rise, breaking through $5010 per ounce (up 0.48%), $5020 per ounce (up 0.68%), and $5030 per ounce (up 0.89%) [1][4] - New York futures gold also increased, surpassing $5040 per ounce (up 0.46%), $5050 per ounce (up 0.66%), and $5060 per ounce (up 0.86%), ultimately breaking $5070 per ounce with a daily increase of 1.07% [1][4] - Market analysis indicates that increased gold purchases by central banks, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainty are key macro factors driving gold prices higher [1][4] - Spot silver also showed strong performance, breaking $105 per ounce (up 1.80%) and further surpassing $106 per ounce with a daily increase of 2.80% [1][4] Group 2: Energy and Shipping Futures - U.S. natural gas futures surged significantly due to winter storm impacts, with daily increases expanding beyond 10.00% (currently at $5.832 per million British thermal units) [3][7] - The price continued to rise, reaching over 19.00% increase, with the final reported price at $6.288 per million British thermal units [3][7]

Market Overview - Asia-Pacific markets exhibited mixed trading patterns, with a notable increase in gold prices as investors sought safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainties [1] - Spot gold prices reached a record high of over $5,000 per ounce, specifically trading at $5,033.99 per ounce as of 7:52 a.m. Singapore time [1] Trade Relations - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will not pursue free trade agreements with China without prior notification, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning of a 100% tariff if Canada engages in a trade deal with China [2][3] - Carney emphasized Canada's commitment under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) to notify before pursuing free trade agreements with non-market economies [3] Regional Market Performance - Japan's Nikkei 225 index decreased by 1.52%, while the Topix index fell by 1.76% [3] - In contrast, South Korea's Kospi index increased by 0.64%, and the small-cap Kosdaq index rose by 2.28% [3]