Gold surges to fresh highs above $3,950 amid persistent safe-haven demand

NEW YORK (October 6) Gold (XAU/USD) extends its historic run beyond $3,900 on Monday, notching one record high after another as the prolonged United States (US) government shutdown, dovish Federal Reserve (Fed) bets, and renewed political jitters in Europe keep safe-haven demand elevated.

At the time of writing, XAU/USD is trading near $3,956 during the American session. The precious metal is up about 1.80% on the day, pushing deeper into uncharted territory and extending its winning streak to an eighth consecutive week.

Adding to the momentum, a broadly weaker Japanese Yen (JPY), traditionally seen as a safe haven, is lending additional support to Bullion as investors react to Japan’s shifting political landscape. Overall, the broader outlook for Gold remains tilted to the upside, as persistent geopolitical tensions, steady central bank buying, and rising ETF inflows continue to lend strong support to Bullion’s remarkable rally, with prices already up about 50% so far this year.

Market movers: US shutdown and France-Japan political shifts steer markets

• The US government shutdown has entered its sixth day after weekend negotiations failed to reach a funding deal, keeping large parts of the federal government closed. The White House has warned of mass layoffs if the stalemate drags on, while the Senate struggles to muster the 60 votes required to advance competing short-term funding measures with no clear breakthrough in sight.
• French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, less than 24 hours after presenting his new cabinet and under four weeks into office, failing to secure parliamentary backing for his government.
• In Japan, Sanae Takaichi was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4, positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister once parliament confirms her on October 15. The change in leadership was perceived as favoring a softer monetary policy stance with more fiscal spending and less urgency to raise interest rates.
• Renewed demand for the US Dollar (USD) and Treasuries emerges as political tensions in France and Japan weigh on the Euro and Yen. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback's value against a basket of six major currencies, climbed to its highest level in nearly two weeks. The index is hovering around 98.35 at the time of writing, limiting Gold’s advance.
• Expectations of further interest rate cuts by the Fed are also fueling demand for non-yielding Gold. Investors are anticipating two more reductions this year. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are pricing in a 95% probability of a 25-basis-point (bps) cut at this month’s FOMC meeting and an 83.7% chance of another cut in December.
• Looking ahead, the prolonged US government shutdown has delayed the release of several key economic indicators, prompting investors to rely more on private-sector data and Fed commentary for guidance. Attention now turns to the Fed’s Meeting Minutes due on Wednesday, which may offer fresh clues on the monetary policy outlook.