Summary

• Gold prices have seen a significant increase, with the COMEX Feb contract crossing $5,000 an ounce for the first time.
• Gold is up over 80% in the last 12 months and up 16% year-to-date.
• The rise in gold prices is attributed to several factors, including government spending and a shift in geopolitical stability.
• The war in Ukraine and Russia's removal from the SWIFT system initially spurred gold's rise.
• A new catalyst for gold's strength is the perception that fiat currency is becoming riskier, leading some to seek safer havens.
• China and other countries are reportedly reducing their holdings of US Treasuries, contributing to a growing demand for gold.
• The younger generation, previously drawn to cryptocurrencies, is now increasingly investing in gold, seeing it as a stable and real asset.
• Gold's performance is noted as its best weekly performance since March 2020.