Safe-haven gold gained on Thursday as persistent tensions in the Middle East added to the metal's appeal despite robust economic data from the US that raised prospects of fewer interest rate cuts.

Spot gold firmed 0.8% at US$2,378.53 per ounce at 9.44am ET (1344 GMT). Prices touched an all-time high of US$2,431.29 last Friday.

Gold surges as escalating Middle East tensions bolster demand

Gold prices may correct amid potential delay in the anticipated rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, Philip Capital warned on Thursday and advised investors to stop buying Malaysia’s sole gold exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Stop buying gold ETF as prices may correct — Philip Capital

Gold prices firmed on Wednesday as geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East spurred safe-haven demand, but fading US rate cut hopes capped further upside.

Spot gold rose 0.4% to US$2,391.10 per ounce, as of 9.40am ET (1340 GMT). Prices hit an all-time high of US$2,431.29 on Friday.

Gold drifts higher as Middle East turmoil lifts appeal

After a strong start to the year, silver should remain supported by record industrial usage and a supply deficit, according to the Silver Institute.

Industrial consumption hit an all-time high in 2023, and is expected to expand another 9% this year, driven by green-related applications such as solar panels, the institute said in its World Silver Survey report on Wednesday. That will help the metal record a fourth straight annual supply shortage.

Silver’s record industrial demand and deficit to underpin prices — report

Vietnam's parliament has asked the government to investigate gold trading firms for possible market manipulation amid soaring domestic prices, state media reported on Tuesday.

Vietnam to probe gold traders for possible manipulation as prices soar

Gold is set to reach US$3,000 (RM14,381.71) an ounce over the next six to 18 months on increasing investor inflows amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will eventually cut interest rates, Citigroup Inc said, adding to a roll call of Wall Street banks that have raised forecasts.

Gold seen hitting US$3,000 at Citi as investor inflows juice rally

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will restart gold bar auctions after an 11-year suspension, amid efforts to increase supply of the precious metal to market, Thoi Bao Ngan Hang, its newspaper reported on Monday.

Vietnam to restart gold bar auctioning to increase market supply 

Gold prices rose above US$2,400 per ounce to an all-time high on Friday, heading for their fourth week of gains, as growing tensions in the Middle East prompted investors to seek refuge in the safe-haven assets.

Spot gold climbed 2.2% to US$2,424.32 per ounce as of 10.56am ET (1456 GMT) after hitting a record high of US$2,419.79. Prices were up 4% for the week.

Gold races past US$2,400/oz as Middle East tensions spur safe-haven rush

Gold prices climbed on Thursday, recouping losses from the previous session, as geopolitical tensions bolstered demand for the safe-haven metal.

Spot gold was up 0.6% at US$2,345.56 per ounce, as of 0317 GMT.

Gold drifts higher as geopolitical tensions lift safe-haven appeal

Gold prices slipped from record-high levels on Wednesday as the US dollar and Treasury yields firmed after a stronger-than-expected inflation print softened expectations of an early US rate cut.

Gold slips from record levels after hot US inflation data

Gold extended its record run on Tuesday fuelled by buying momentum and geopolitical risks, while the spotlight shifted to the Federal Reserve's (Fed) policy meeting minutes and US inflation data for insights into the US rate cut timeline.

Gold extends record run, with possibility of US$2,400 an ounce seen

Gold prices hit a record high for a seventh straight session on Monday, fuelled by central bank purchases and geopolitical tensions, while strong economic data failed to dull bullion's allure.

Spot gold was steady at US$2,330.83 per ounce, as of 9.45am ET (1345 GMT), after hitting a record high of US$2,353.79 earlier in the session. US gold futures GCcv1 gained 0.3% to US$2,350.80.

Central bank demand propels safe-haven gold to record peak

(April 7): China’s central bank purchased gold for its reserves for a 17th straight month in March, extending a long buying spree that has helped the precious metal’s surge to a record.

China PBOC buys gold for 17th month as prices hit record

Gold prices hit a new record high on Thursday, breaking above the US$2,300 per ounce ceiling, as recent comments from Federal Reserve officials cemented market expectations around US interest rate cuts.

Gold powers to new high above US$2,300 per ounce on rate cut optimism

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Meta Bright Group Bhd is forming a joint venture company (JVco) with a Bumiputera firm to bid for renewable energy (RE) projects with a Bumiputera equity requirement.

Meta Bright forms JVco with Bumiputera firm for RE projects

(April 19): Moody’s Ratings this week gave private credit investors greater reason for concern about credit quality in the flourishing $1.7 trillion industry.

The ratings company on Monday reduced its outlook for direct lending funds managed respectively by BlackRock Inc., KKR & Co....

Private credit funds get Moody’s warning on problem loans

MKH Oil Palm (East Kalimantan) Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 8.43 times, ahead of its listing on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market on April 30.

Main Market-bound MKH Oil Palm’s IPO oversubscribed by 8.43 times

WASHINGTON (April 18): The International Monetary Fund urged Asian central banks on Thursday to focus on domestic inflation and avoid tying their policy decisions too closely to anticipated moves by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Receding expectations for a near-term interest cut by the U.S....

IMF tells Asian central banks not to follow Fed too closely

Batik Air will suspend its operations to Istanbul, Turkiye, effective May 1, 2024, and affected passengers will be notified via email and text, said the airline operator, Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd.

Batik Air to suspend operations to Istanbul from May 1

Indonesia said fiscal and monetary policies are in sync to cushion the economy from the rising dollar, demonstrating an all-hands-on-deck approach, with the central bank signalling they’re intervening more actively to aid the rupiah.

Indonesia takes steps to shield economy from strong dollar

Some lenders to Thames Water could face losses of as much as 40% in the event that it ends up being nationalised by the UK government, according to contingency plans drawn up by officials.

Thames Water lenders face 40% losses if it’s nationalised

(April 19): Hedge funds and other international investors are sounding alarms after a profitable education company from China defaulted on its convertible bonds in March.

Hedge funds cry foul over Chinese education firm’s default

Mah Sing Group Bhd's M Oscar development in Sri Petaling has achieved an 85% Quality Assessment System in Construction (Qlassic) from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). The certification was presented by CIDB Malaysia CEO Datuk Mohd Zaid Zakaria at an appreciation night for the completion of M Oscar recently.

Mah Sing's M Oscar awarded 85% Qlassic score

Cities are facing a growing number of crises that cannot be resolved by traditional means. These include the challenges of coexisting with significant cultural differences and diversity, developing the sustainability agenda and discovering the city’s role and purpose on an economic, cultural and ...

Shaping Kuala Lumpur into a creative city

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week. 

Most read this week

Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil on Friday, sources said, in the latest tit-for-tat exchange between the two arch foes, whose decades of shadow war has broken out into the open and threatened to drag the region deeper into conflict.

Israel attacks Iran, Reuters reports, as drones shot down over Isfahan 

Shares of Sapura Energy Bhd will be suspended from trading pending an announcement, the company said on Friday.

Trading in Sapura Energy suspended pending announcement 

Shares of Awanbiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) fell as much as 53% on Friday, prompting Bursa Malaysia to suspend the counter’s intraday short selling (IDSS).&nbsp;

Awantec shares plunge 53%, intraday short selling suspended 

PIE Industrial Bhd, whose share price extended its rally to a new all-time high on Thursday on reports that it has secured a new customer, confirmed the matter and said it is expecting the new customer to contribute an additional RM2.5 billion revenue to the group, of which RM1 billion will be recognised as early as next year.

PIE Industrial confirms bagging new client, expects additional RM2.5 bil revenue

RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB IB) on Friday upgraded Public Bank Bhd to “buy” from “neutral”, with a higher target price (TP) of RM4.80 (from RM4.70).

RHB upgrades Public Bank to ‘buy’, raises target price to RM4.80

The oil-rich Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo is aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy, betting that its ability to harness an abundance of hydropower can help it defy challenges that are clouding the fuel’s prospects elsewhere.

 Sarawak aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy

Malaysia's economy grew by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024), as compared to 3.0% in the previous quarter, according to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) advance gross domestic product (GDP) estimates.

Malaysia's economy grew 3.9% in 1Q2024, advance estimate shows

Asian shares and bond yields sank on Friday while safe-haven currencies, gold and crude oil jumped after reports Israel attacked Iran in a continuing series of assaults that have increased concerns of a wider Middle East conflict.

Stocks sink, oil jumps after Israeli attack on Iran

Apple said on Friday it had removed Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China after being ordered to do so by the Chinese government, which cited national security concerns.

Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads from China app store after Beijing order

The Malaysian rubber glove industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability amidst challenging global dynamics, with optimism for a rebound in 2024, with an anticipated surge to approximately 450 billion pieces by 2027 despite a downturn in 2023, according to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma).

Margma optimistic of rebound in 2024, expects surge to 450 billion pieces by 2027

MKH Oil Palm (East Kalimantan) Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 8.43 times, ahead of its listing on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market on April 30.&nbsp;

The escalating tensions in the Middle East have influenced market sentiment and shifted investors' emphasis to the energy, finance and plantation sectors, which helped boost the FBM KLCI higher by midday on Friday.

KLCI up 0.43% with focus on energy, plantation, financial stocks

Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s core net profit may have risen 34% in the first quarter, from a year earlier, on higher securities and derivatives trading activity when the exchange operator reports its results, Hong Leong Investment Bank said.

Bursa Malaysia 1Q earnings likely up 34% y-o-y, HLIB projects

Malaysia’s exports contracted at a slower than expected pace in March mainly due to lower foreign demand for electronics while shipments to China fell, official data Friday showed.

Malaysia’s March exports down 0.8%, imports surge 12.5%

The planned merger of Axiata Group Bhd, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue, with India’s Bharti Airtel Ltd raises concerns as the latter's subsidiary Airtel Lanka is currently a loss-making company, analysts said.

Malaysia’s Axiata merger with Bharti Airtel of India raises earnings concern — analysts

RHB Retail Research said Inari Amertron Bhd is poised to challenge the RM3.27 resistance level once again, which would make this its fourth attempt this year.

Inari poised to challenge RM3.27 resistance, says RHB Retail Research 

The US on Thursday effectively stopped the United Nations from recognising a Palestinian state by casting a veto in the Security Council to deny the Palestinian Authority full membershipof the world body.

US stops UN from recognising a Palestinian state through membership

The amount of reserves in banking system — a key determinant for the Federal Reserve to continue shrinking its balance sheet — dropped by the most in two years as Americans paid income tax bills out of their bank accounts.

US bank reserve balances see largest drop since 2022 tax season

Melaka State Secretary Datuk Zaidi Johari died of a heart attack this morning. He was 54.

According to a statement from the Melaka Chief Minister’s Office, Zaidi breathed his last at about 8.15am at Hospital Melaka here.

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