Safe-Haven Gold Firms as Biden Move Sparks Market Uncertainty

A jeweler shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
A jeweler shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Safe-Haven Gold Firms as Biden Move Sparks Market Uncertainty

A jeweler shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
A jeweler shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Gold prices firmed on Monday as the dollar eased following US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, with investors turning to bullion as a hedge against an uncertain political and market outlook.
Spot gold rose 0.2% at $2,405.40 per ounce, as of 0510 GMT, while US gold futures gained 0.3% to $2,407.20, Reuters reported.
The prospect of rate cuts and political uncertainty in the United States are supporting gold prices, and conditions are in place for gold to see another record high before the end of 2024, said Kyle Rodda, a financial market analyst at Capital.com.
Making bullion more attractive to buyers holding other currencies, the dollar eased in the initial reaction to US President Joe Biden abandoning his reelection bid, clearing the way for another Democrat to challenge Donald Trump.
When accepting the Republican nomination on Thursday, Trump reiterated his promise to cut corporate taxes and interest rates. Analysts also expect a Trump presidency would make for tougher trade relations, which could result in inflationary tariffs.
"I think there is an almost unstoppable process of decoupling between the US and China, it will only become more severe or accelerate if it is a Trump presidency. Gold will certainly benefit from greater geopolitical tensions," Rodda said.
Prices scaled an all-time high of $2,483.60 last week on increased chances of US interest rate cuts this year, with markets pricing in a 97% chance of a cut in September, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
On the data front, the main focus this week will be on Friday's US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) figure and other data including July S&P Global flash PMIs, advance second-quarter GDP, and weekly jobless claims.
Among other metals, spot silver fell 0.5% to $29.11 per ounce, platinum slipped 0.3% to $959.99, while palladium rose 1.1% to $916.18.



Saudi Market Authority: Kingdom Unaffected by Global Technical Disruptions

Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)
Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)
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Saudi Market Authority: Kingdom Unaffected by Global Technical Disruptions

Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)
Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)

The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has assured the integrity and full operational readiness of its systems following global technical disruptions affecting various sectors.
The CMA confirmed that it has been coordinating with relevant authorities from the outset to ensure uninterrupted service for all investors during Sunday’s trading sessions.
In a statement released on Saturday, the CMA emphasized that listed companies in the financial market have been instructed to disclose any significant developments related to the issue.
The Saudi Stock Exchange, Tadawul, also confirmed the reliability and readiness of its systems to ensure uninterrupted service for all investors.
The CMA highlighted that technical teams are monitoring the systems round-the-clock to ensure the continuous functioning of services and the technical infrastructure, ensuring business continuity and system efficiency in the market.
Limited Impact
Since the onset of the global technical crisis, the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) reported that the impact on the Kingdom has been limited.
In a statement, the NCA referenced media reports of widespread technical failures in critical sectors worldwide and clarified that the impact on national entities in Saudi Arabia has been minimal, based on current assessments.
The NCA attributed these global disruptions to a technical error in a product update released by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike early Friday morning.
Cyber Incidents
The NCA credited the robust support and significant backing from Saudi leadership for the cybersecurity sector, enabling proactive measures to detect and address cyber threats and risks.
The NCA has also been committed to fostering local cybersecurity capabilities and enhancing technological sovereignty.
The NCA affirmed that its cybersecurity regulations and standards have bolstered the security and reliability of the Kingdom’s cyberspace, positively impacting the protection of national entities and critical infrastructure.
The authority continues to oversee compliance with these regulations through its National Cybersecurity Services Portal (Haseen), working in partnership with all national entities to enhance national cybersecurity.
This initiative is fundamental to safeguarding the Kingdom’s vital interests, critical infrastructure, government services, and key sectors in both the public and private domains.