U.S. Government Shutdown + Rising Rate Cut Expectations, Gold Prices Rise for Five Consecutive Days, Setting New Historical Highs

With the U.S. government shutdown and weak private employment data, traders have increased their bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut. Gold prices have stabilized after rising for five consecutive days, currently close to $3,860 per ounce. The government shutdown may prevent the Federal Reserve from obtaining key economic data, leading economists and traders to rely more on non-government data. Gold prices have risen 47% this year, poised to record the largest annual increase since 1979. Concerns over the independence of the Federal Reserve have intensified, increasing safe-haven demand and driving inflows into gold ETFs