Gold, whose twin drivers are jewelry and investment buying, has now gained about 15 percent in value since the same stage last year.
Huge giveaways are not expected, however, as stubbornly-high inflation hikes repayments on state borrowing, undermining the ability to stimulate the recession-hit UK economy.
After a much-anticipated meeting, Fed policymakers acknowledged that inflation was going in the right direction and that they expected to begin lowering borrowing costs this year from their two-decade highs.
The European Central Bank is expected to stand pat Thursday and call for patience in the ongoing battle against inflation, pushing back against market hopes of rapid interest rate cuts.
European Central Bank policymakers are expected to keep interest rates steady on Thursday and signal they are in no hurry to start slashing borrowing costs despite progress against inflation.
Markets mostly rose Friday following a tech-led rally on Wall Street that helped soothe traders' concerns that the Federal Reserve will likely not cut interest rates, though China's economic woes dragged on Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Stock markets and oil prices slumped Wednesday as investors reacted to weak Chinese growth data and an unexpected rise in UK inflation.
The positive vibes across Asian and European trading floors followed gains Wednesday on Wall Street, where tech firms bounced after a relatively dour start to the year and dealers were gearing up for annual earnings from the world's biggest companies.
US Federal Reserve officials expect interest rates will need to remain high "for some time" to tackle stubborn inflation, according to minutes of the most recent rate decision published on Wednesday.
Asian and European stock markets mostly fell Wednesday as traders took cash off the table after a blockbuster end to 2023, with eyes now on the release this week of US Federal Reserve minutes and jobs data.
Asian markets were higher on Wednesday, tracking Christmas holiday gains on Wall Street, with investors betting on the US Federal Reserve cutting interest rates as early as March.
Major stock markets mostly fell Monday following last week's rally, with Federal Reserve officials looking to temper expectations the US central bank will cut interest rates several times next year.
Brazil's central bank cut its key interest rate by half a point for the fourth straight time Wednesday, continuing the easing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hopes will spur Latin America's biggest economy.
The OPEC+ cartel, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, has been restraining production to maintain prices but the latter have recently slumped due to the weakening of the global economy and increases in output outside the bloc.
On a bumper day for central banks in Europe, policymakers were holding their final meetings of 2023 -- a year marked by steep interest rate hikes to tame runaway consumer prices.
With a pause deemed extremely likely, attention is on the language of the Fed's decision, along with its accompanying economic forecasts, and the post-meeting press conference by Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
European stock markets rose Friday after Asian indices closed mixed, with a cooler inflation environment offset by recession risks.
Stock markets rose Thursday before publication of key US inflation data and as investors reacted to mixed economic news out of the eurozone.
Major European and Asian stock markets mostly fell for a second session running Tuesday as traders booked profits before updates on the US economy this week, notably a key inflation reading.
Asian and European stock markets traded mixed Monday with investors focused firmly on whether the US Federal Reserve and other central banks have reached a peak over interest-rate hikes as inflation cools.
Europe's main stock markets rallied and the dollar weakened Friday, closing out a volatile week for financial assets as investors assess the outlook for interest rates.
Asian and European stock markets climbed Monday as traders awaited this week's key US inflation data, with traders still concerned the Federal Reserve could lift interest rates again.
European stock markets rose Thursday as investors awaited fresh signals from the Federal Reserve about the direction of US interest rates, but Hong Kong dipped and Shanghai flatlined on renewed concerns over the Chinese economy.
Equity markets struggled Wednesday as investors tried to figure out the Federal Reserve's interest rate plans, while demand concerns saw oil prices struggling to recover from the previous day's plunge.
Major stock markets mostly retreated and the dollar advanced Tuesday as concerns about weak growth offset hopes of an end to global interest-rate hikes.
Markets rallied again Monday following another strong performance on Wall Street, as below-forecast US jobs data fanned optimism that the Federal Reserve had reached the end of its interest rate hiking cycle.
Equities extended a global rally Friday as investors were caught up in a wave of optimism that the Federal Reserve has finished its cycle of interest rate hikes, with eyes now on the release of US jobs data.
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to announce Wednesday that it will keep interest rates at a 22-year high in a bid to tackle inflation without harming the buoyant US economy.
Asian markets rose Friday after strong earnings from two tech titans provided hope for a bounce on Wall Street, while traders were also steeling themselves for key US inflation data.
Asian stocks sank Thursday, tracking a retreat on Wall Street fuelled by a surge in US Treasuries and worries over a possible escalation of the Middle East crisis, which also pushed oil prices higher.
