Geopolitical tensions greet the New Year

Global markets surged in 2025, fuelled by economic growth, AI optimism, and central bank rate cuts, though there were sharp swings in volatility at times. Commodities diverged: oil ended lower while precious metals soared, led by gold’s biggest annual gain in 46 years. 2026 started on a strong footing, driven by semiconductor stocks. Over the weekend, geopolitical tensions spiked with the arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, lifting gold as Brent held near USD 60 amid oil supply concerns. Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical Analysis Research, expects the USD and related assets to remain in a bear market, while precious metals are likely to continue to shine.

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