Gold prices rose slightly as traders focused on geopolitical analysis.
2026-04-25 00:16:55
On Friday (April 24), international gold prices rose slightly in early US trading, with gains exceeding 0.6%. As the week's trading nears its end, traders are assessing geopolitical developments and anticipating future price movements.
Latest developments in the Middle East situation: Multi-party competition continues
The US push for Iran to return to peace talks has failed, and Iran has not yet made a clear statement on its participation.
The United States has made it clear that it will sink any ships that lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the safety of navigation.
US President Trump will send his special envoy Witkov and son-in-law Kushner to Pakistan this weekend for a new round of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on Friday to discuss a proposal to restart peace talks with the United States, but did not plan to meet with U.S. negotiators.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the conflict in Iran will keep the global natural gas market tense for two years.
Goldman Sachs analysis shows that Persian Gulf oil supply has fallen by 57% compared to pre-war levels, providing support for gold prices and keeping their gains above 0.6%.
The US is pressuring Iran through a naval blockade to force it to participate in peace talks; meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon are considering extending their ceasefire agreement for three weeks to ease border tensions. Previously, after the US military intercepted two oil tankers circumventing Iranian port restrictions, Trump ordered the Navy to fire on mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that this move was aimed at cutting off Iranian oil exports and forcing concessions. Trump posted on social media: "I have plenty of time, but Iran can't afford to—time is ticking away!" His allies predict that Iran will shut down oil production within two weeks, while JPMorgan Chase believes it will take nearly a month.
China raises export prices, warning of rising global inflation.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese exporters have raised commodity prices as the conflict in Iran has driven up the cost of oil-related raw materials, signaling an impending acceleration of global consumer inflation.
In March, prices for more than ten categories of household goods in China rose sharply year-on-year, with those relying heavily on rubber, plastics, and petrochemical products showing the most significant increases. This reflects the energy shock triggered by the US-Iran conflict, which is being transmitted to global retailers through Chinese exports, impacting consumers' cost of living.
Bloomberg analysts predict that the likelihood of inflation exceeding 3% in major global economies by 2026 is rising due to energy shocks and supply chain fluctuations, which will impact various financial markets.
Giant pandas travel to the US on the eve of the China-US summit.
The Atlanta Zoo announced that China will send male giant panda "Ping Ping" and female giant panda "Fu Shuang" to the United States, a significant signal of stabilizing Sino-US relations. This cooperation agreement replaces the old agreement expiring in 2024, marking a deepening of Sino-US cooperation in endangered species conservation and cultural exchange.
Foreign exchange carry trades are heating up as investors’ risk appetite recovers.
According to Bloomberg, the Middle East ceasefire has helped stabilize markets, boosted investor risk appetite, and made carry trades popular again, with institutions such as DoubleLine Capital and Van Eck Associates already starting to position themselves.
Carry trade involves borrowing low-interest currencies and investing in high-interest currency assets to profit from the interest rate differential. The surge in oil prices at the beginning of the Middle East conflict boosted commodity currencies, demonstrating the vitality of carry trade. The current easing of international tensions and reduced market volatility are further fueling its recovery (carry trade collapsed in 2024 due to exchange rate fluctuations).
Overview of peripheral markets
As of early US trading, WTI crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange was trading at around $93.65 per barrel, influenced by news of negotiations; the US dollar index weakened slightly, falling 0.28% to 98.56, further supporting gold prices and helping them maintain a gain of over 0.6%; the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note fell 0.42% to 4.307%.
Latest developments in the Middle East situation: Multi-party competition continues
The US push for Iran to return to peace talks has failed, and Iran has not yet made a clear statement on its participation.
The United States has made it clear that it will sink any ships that lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the safety of navigation.
US President Trump will send his special envoy Witkov and son-in-law Kushner to Pakistan this weekend for a new round of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on Friday to discuss a proposal to restart peace talks with the United States, but did not plan to meet with U.S. negotiators.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the conflict in Iran will keep the global natural gas market tense for two years.
Goldman Sachs analysis shows that Persian Gulf oil supply has fallen by 57% compared to pre-war levels, providing support for gold prices and keeping their gains above 0.6%.
The US is pressuring Iran through a naval blockade to force it to participate in peace talks; meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon are considering extending their ceasefire agreement for three weeks to ease border tensions. Previously, after the US military intercepted two oil tankers circumventing Iranian port restrictions, Trump ordered the Navy to fire on mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that this move was aimed at cutting off Iranian oil exports and forcing concessions. Trump posted on social media: "I have plenty of time, but Iran can't afford to—time is ticking away!" His allies predict that Iran will shut down oil production within two weeks, while JPMorgan Chase believes it will take nearly a month.
China raises export prices, warning of rising global inflation.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese exporters have raised commodity prices as the conflict in Iran has driven up the cost of oil-related raw materials, signaling an impending acceleration of global consumer inflation.
In March, prices for more than ten categories of household goods in China rose sharply year-on-year, with those relying heavily on rubber, plastics, and petrochemical products showing the most significant increases. This reflects the energy shock triggered by the US-Iran conflict, which is being transmitted to global retailers through Chinese exports, impacting consumers' cost of living.
Bloomberg analysts predict that the likelihood of inflation exceeding 3% in major global economies by 2026 is rising due to energy shocks and supply chain fluctuations, which will impact various financial markets.
Giant pandas travel to the US on the eve of the China-US summit.
The Atlanta Zoo announced that China will send male giant panda "Ping Ping" and female giant panda "Fu Shuang" to the United States, a significant signal of stabilizing Sino-US relations. This cooperation agreement replaces the old agreement expiring in 2024, marking a deepening of Sino-US cooperation in endangered species conservation and cultural exchange.
Foreign exchange carry trades are heating up as investors’ risk appetite recovers.
According to Bloomberg, the Middle East ceasefire has helped stabilize markets, boosted investor risk appetite, and made carry trades popular again, with institutions such as DoubleLine Capital and Van Eck Associates already starting to position themselves.
Carry trade involves borrowing low-interest currencies and investing in high-interest currency assets to profit from the interest rate differential. The surge in oil prices at the beginning of the Middle East conflict boosted commodity currencies, demonstrating the vitality of carry trade. The current easing of international tensions and reduced market volatility are further fueling its recovery (carry trade collapsed in 2024 due to exchange rate fluctuations).
Overview of peripheral markets
As of early US trading, WTI crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange was trading at around $93.65 per barrel, influenced by news of negotiations; the US dollar index weakened slightly, falling 0.28% to 98.56, further supporting gold prices and helping them maintain a gain of over 0.6%; the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note fell 0.42% to 4.307%.
- Risk Warning and Disclaimer
- The market involves risk, and trading may not be suitable for all investors. This article is for reference only and does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account certain users’ specific investment objectives, financial situation, or other needs. Any investment decisions made based on this information are at your own risk.
