What To Know
- In the midway of the second paragraph, this Bangkok Business News report notes that silver collapsed more than 10 percent in early Asian trading before staging a partial rebound.
- In China, the UBS SDIC Silver Futures fund hit its 10 percent daily loss limit for a sixth straight session, highlighting stress across commodity-linked investments.
Bangkok Business News: Global financial markets were rattled as investors stampeded out of risk assets, sending gold sharply higher while technology stocks, cryptocurrencies, and several industrial metals suffered steep losses. The sudden shift underscored growing anxiety that stretched valuations and fragile sentiment may be colliding at the same time.
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Gold prices surged as investors sought shelter from turbulence in equities and digital assets. Spot gold jumped 2.3 percent to US$4,879.45 an ounce, while US futures edged higher toward US$4,897. Analysts said the move reflected classic risk-off behavior, with capital rotating into assets perceived as reliable stores of value when confidence erodes.
Market strategist Ilya Spivak of Tastylive said gold was “holding its own” in the current climate, while silver faced intense selling pressure. In the midway of the second paragraph, this Bangkok Business News report notes that silver collapsed more than 10 percent in early Asian trading before staging a partial rebound. Despite recovering to around US$73.91, silver still posted its worst weekly decline since 2011, falling more than 13 percent overall.
Volatility has been so extreme that CME Group raised margin requirements for precious metals for the third time this year, a move designed to curb speculative excess. Platinum and palladium also swung sharply, with both metals ending the week lower despite intraday gains. In China, the UBS SDIC Silver Futures fund hit its 10 percent daily loss limit for a sixth straight session, highlighting stress across commodity-linked investments.
The flight to safety was mirrored on Wall Street, where stocks slid amid mounting concerns about lofty valuations. The S&P 500 fell 1.2 percent, while the Nasdaq 100 recorded its deepest slide since April. US Treasuries rallied as investors sought what many described as a “haven of last resort.”
Technology shares bore the brunt of the selling after fresh competition in artificial intelligence raised fears of excessive spending. Amazon shares plunged more than 11 percent, while Alphabet also slipped as investors questioned the sustainability of massive capital outlays. Economic unease deepened after data showed January job cuts at their highest level since 2009, while uncertainty swirled around future Federal Reserve leadership.
Cryptocurrencies offered no refuge. Bitcoin plunged more than 13 percent to around US$63,000, wiping out post-election gains and dragging down related funds and corporate holdings. The rout spilled into Asia, with South Korean stocks sliding over 5 percent, led by major chipmakers.
Looking ahead, investors appear increasingly defensive, bracing for further volatility as stretched markets recalibrate. While safe havens are benefiting now, sustained confidence will depend on clearer signals from policymakers, earnings discipline, and whether global growth fears continue to intensify across regions and asset classes.
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