27 December 2023
Gold prices maintained stability in Asian trade, following a surge in December driven by expectations of early Federal Reserve rate cuts. Spot gold was steady at $2,064.84 an ounce, while February futures rose slightly. The optimism was fueled by the Fed’s signals of pausing rate hikes and potential cuts in 2024, with markets anticipating a possible cut as early as March 2024 due to cooling U.S. inflation. Despite lagging behind risk-driven assets like stocks, gold is poised for strong gains in 2023, with further benefits expected in 2024 as U.S. interest rates decrease and global economic conditions worsen. Copper prices also rose, with moderate gains expected in 2023 and a stronger rebound anticipated in 2024 due to increased demand and supply constraints.