Gold prices hit a six-month high as investors sought safe-haven assets due to concerns over slowing global economic growth and US political uncertainty caused by the partial government shutdown. Spot gold prices climbed to $1,272 per ounce, the highest since June, driven by worries over the US shutdown, President Trump's criticism of the Federal Reserve chairman, and uncertainty around Brexit and US-China trade relations. Some analysts predicted that geopolitical concerns could push gold prices up to $1,280-1,300 per ounce in the coming year.

1. 12/26/2018 Gold hits 6-month peak on waning risk appetite - The Hindu BusinessLine
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Gold rose to its highest in six months on Wednesday as worries over
US political uncertainty, aggravated by a partial government
shutdown, and slowing global economic growth drove investors
towards the safe-haven metal.
Spot gold climbed 0.3 percent to $1,272 per ounce as at 1212 GMT. It
touched $1,274.68 in early trade, its highest since June 20. US gold
futures, meanwhile, were up 0.3 percent at $1,275.20 per ounce.
“There is some safe haven buying at this point in time because of the
partial (US government) shutdown. The dollar against the Japanese
yen and Swiss franc has lost quite a bit of value,” said Afshin Nabavi,
Senior Vice President, MKS SA.
Investors were unnerved by the partial US federal government
shutdown and President Donald Trump's hostile stance towards the
Federal Reserve chairman. The US Senate has been unable to break a

2. 12/26/2018 Gold hits 6-month peak on waning risk appetite - The Hindu BusinessLine
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deadlock over Trump's demand for more funds for a wall on the border
with Mexico, and a senior of cial said the shutdown could continue
until January 3.
With geopolitical uncertainty, investor interest in gold could push
prices up to as much as $1,280-$1,300 in the coming year, Nabavi said.
Spot gold is up about 4.1 percent for the month thus far, putting it on
track to register its best December in about 10 years.
Interest in gold, which is seen as a hedge against political and
economic worries, has re ected in holdings of SPDR Gold, the largest
gold exchange-traded fund. SPDR holdings are at their highest point
since August and have risen about 6 percent since touching more than
2-1/2-year lows in October.
Gold prices are testing the key resistance at $1,274.60, and breaching
this level will push the price towards $1,286.70 on the near term basis,
Mumbai-based Kedia Commodities said in a research note.
Markets in Britain, Germany and France remained closed on
Wednesday for the Boxing Day holiday.
Among other metals, silver gained 0.6 percent to $14.82 per ounce,
while platinum was up 1.6 percent at $795.20. Palladium was up 0.7
percent to $1,255.24 per ounce.
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4. 12/26/2018 Gold hits 6-month peak on waning risk appetite - The Hindu BusinessLine
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