September began with investors weighing softer data, cautious central banks, and persistent geopolitical risks.
In the US, the August jobs report set the tone. Payrolls rose by 165,000, below expectations, while unemployment edged up to 4.3%, the highest since 2023.
Gold has had plenty of big moments over the years, but crossing the $3,500 mark this week feels different. On 2 September, prices briefly touched $3,530 an ounce, making headlines everywhere. That’s a 34% jump since January. For something that usually moves at a snail’s pace, this is more like a sprint. So, what’s pushing it higher?
Global markets rode a volatile week shaped by shifting monetary policy expectations and geopolitical surprises. In the US, Powell’s Jackson Hole remarks landed on the dovish side, signalling risks have tilted toward labour softness and nudging the door open for a September rate cut. At the same time, the Commerce Department revised Q2 GDP up to 3.3% annualised, a firmer base than first thought. Core PCE eased to 2.9% YoY, keeping the disinflation trend intact even as consumer confidence slipped and hiring cooled. Put together, traders leaned into nearly 90% odds of a cut next month.
Markets spent the week waiting for Jackson Hole, and Powell didn’t disappoint. His message was softer than many feared: the Fed now sees the balance of risks shifting, and he even opened the door to a September cut. That was enough to steady nerves after five straight down sessions for Wall Street. By Friday, the Dow was at record highs, the S&P 500 rose, and only the Nasdaq lagged as tech finally cooled.
Every trading community, from the smallest retail account to the largest institutional desk, confronts a universal scarcity: finite capital set against infinite market uncertainty.
Gold has long been a go-to for those looking to hedge against inflation or simply sleep better when markets get shaky. But here’s the question: what happens when interest rates, especially real, inflation-adjusted ones start heading north?
Rate cuts usually get investors excited. Lower interest rates, easier credit, and more breathing room for consumers and businesses alike. But what if inflation’s still hanging around, not falling, not rising dramatically either, just... maybe stubborn?
Gold doesn’t pay you anything to hold it. No interest, no dividends, just a shiny metal sitting in a vault. And yet, in today’s uncertain world, it’s becoming increasingly valuable. Why? Because when returns on cash and bonds can’t keep up with inflation, investors start to care less about yield and more about safety and security.
The financial landscape in Thailand is growing rapidly, with a number of young and experienced traders looking beyond their local options to access gold trading and forex trading markets.
This week felt like a tug of war between optimism and caution.
In the US, retail sales surprised to the upside and consumer sentiment held up, giving bulls something to cheer about. But June’s inflation numbers told a different story. Core CPI ticked up to 2.9% YoY, keeping the Fed firmly in wait-and-see mode.
When markets start acting up or the headlines go full “crisis mode,” you’ll often hear investors shifting into so-called safe-haven assets. Gold, yen, and the dollar. But what exactly makes them “safe,” and why do people run to them when everything else feels like it’s falling apart?
