[MARKET ANALYSIS] Spot XAU extends to USD 4850/oz following fiscal and trade tensions

• Crude futures grind higher, but remain far from Tuesday’s settlement price, amid a lack of geopolitical updates.
• Precious Metals continues to reach new heights, with spot XAU extending to an ATH of USD 4850/oz as geopolitics and fiscal worries support the yellow metal.
• Base Metals rise in the early hours of the APAC session, with 3M LME Copper rebounding from Tuesday’s trough of USD 12.69k/t.

The extension of spot XAU to a record high of USD 4850/oz reflects significant geopolitical and fiscal tensions that are driving demand for gold as a safe haven. The current environment suggests that uncertainty in global trade and economic conditions may continue to bolster precious metals, potentially impacting other asset classes as investors seek to hedge against instability.