Gold has updated the record amid the shutdown in the USA

On Wednesday morning, gold prices continued to rise and reached new historical highs amid the suspension of the US government. December futures on the Comex exchange gained 1.05%% and reached $3922 per ounce. In September, the metal rose in price by about 10%, and since the beginning of the year – by 47%, which was the best dynamics since 1979.

The reason for the increase was the shutdown: the US Senate was unable to pass bills to extend funding, and the White House ordered agencies to begin implementing plans for temporary closure. This is the first such case since 2019.

The political crisis has increased pressure on the dollar, as the publication of key employment data on Friday, which traditionally serve as a benchmark for assessing the state of the economy, was under threat. The decline in confidence in the US currency has increased interest in gold as a defensive asset.

An additional support factor was expectations of further easing of the Fed's monetary policy. The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Susan Collins, admitted the possibility of new rate cuts due to the weakening of the labor market, but Dallas Fed representative Lori Logan warned that continued high inflation requires caution in the actions of the regulator.