Safe-haven demand dropped, USD fell sharply Tuesday; gold neared $2850.
On Tuesday, stimulated by weak US data, the US dollar index closed down 0.38%, narrowly holding the 108 mark. The yield of US Treasury bonds has been declining for consecutive days, with the benchmark 10-year yield closing at 4.51% and the two-year yield, which is more sensitive to monetary policy, closing at 4.21%. The gold price hit a new historical high of $2845.30 per ounce on Tuesday, setting a new all-time high for four consecutive trading days and closing at $2841.85 per ounce. This was driven by investors seeking safe haven assets, as China retaliated against US President Trump's tariff measures. In addition, the largest decline in job vacancies in 14 months in the United States in December also dragged down the US dollar and US Treasury yields, providing upward momentum for gold prices. Due to market expectations that Trump will take a heavy hand in Iranian oil exports, international oil prices have turned from a decline to an increase. WTI crude oil hit $73 per barrel in the middle of the day and ultimately closed up 0.58% at $72.43 per barrel; Brent crude oil closed up 0.73% at $76.71 per barrel.