International News
Gold declines and investors opt for dollar, prioritize liquidity
Gold, often considered the quintessential safe-haven asset, witnessed a notable retreat on Monday, slipping over 2% from last week’s record highs. This downturn came as investors, rattled by escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, shifted their focus towards the U.S. dollar and other safe-haven currencies like the Swiss Franc and Japanese Yen. The move reflects a broader market recalibration in the face of renewed economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
Spot gold prices fell by 2.4%, settling at $2,963.19 an ounce by early afternoon ET. During the session, the precious metal touched a near four-week low of $2,955.89. Meanwhile, U.S. gold futures also closed 2% lower at $2,973.60. This decline follows an all-time high of $3,167.57 reached just last Thursday, underscoring the volatility gripping the commodities market.
Investor sentiment shifted in favor of the U.S. dollar, which rebounded from a six-month low. A stronger dollar makes gold more expensive for holders of other currencies, putting downward pressure on its price. This change in preference indicates that, during times of acute uncertainty, investors may prioritize liquidity and ease of access — qualities traditionally associated with the dollar — over long-term value storage like gold.
The gold market is currently experiencing significant stress, largely driven by liquidity concerns and speculative activity. According to Bart Melek, head of commodity strategies at TD Securities, margin covering by traders — the need to cover losses on leveraged positions — has added to gold’s downward pressure. This phenomenon typically accelerates declines as investors sell assets to raise cash.
The primary catalyst for the market turmoil is the intensification of the U.S.-China trade conflict. President Donald Trump has floated the possibility of imposing a 50% tariff on Chinese imports if Beijing fails to roll back its own retaliatory tariffs. Meanwhile, speculation that the U.S. administration might pause tariffs for 90 days on all nations except China was dismissed by the White House as “fake news,” adding to the confusion and uncertainty.
Despite the short-term dip in gold, the broader macroeconomic backdrop continues to support a bullish outlook for the precious metal. Futures markets are now pricing in approximately 120 basis points of rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve by the end of the year. The probability of a rate cut as early as May has also risen to 37%. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, thereby boosting their attractiveness.
Analysts remain optimistic about gold’s long-term potential. The metal continues to benefit from robust central bank demand and remains a favored hedge during periods of financial instability and geopolitical strain. The recent correction may be seen more as a pause or consolidation phase rather than a reversal of trend, particularly given the fragile state of the global economy.
International News
Mutual Engagement Ring-Wearing On The Rise, Insurance Lagging: Jewelers Mutual Group 2026 Engagement Ring Study
Jewelers Mutual Group 2026 Engagement Ring Study Finds Mutual Ring-Wearing Has Overtaken Tradition, But Insurance Hasn’t Kept Pace With How Couples Live With Their Rings.
Jewelers Mutual Group 2026 Engagement Ring Study finds mutual ring-wearing has overtaken tradition, but insurance hasn’t kept pace with how couples live with their rings.
Jewelers Mutual® Group, the jewelry insurer backed by more than 100 years of expertise, released new findings from its 2026 Engagement Ring Study, examining how couples shop for, wear and protect one of the most meaningful purchases of their lives, and where coverage often falls short. Results indicated that as ring-wearing norms shift, protection habits haven’t caught up, leaving a growing gap between what couples own and what they cover.
The generational split is wide. More than 80% of couples ages 55 to 64 both wear a ring, compared with just 43% of couples ages 18 to 24, suggesting mutual ring-wearing, while now the norm overall, is still catching on among the couples getting engaged today.
The risk window opens well before anyone gets down on one knee. Forty-one percent of proposers hold onto the ring for more than a month before proposing, and nearly half (45%) store it somewhere unsecured, like a drawer or closet, in the meantime.
Once the ring goes on, it tends to stay on. Ninety percent of wearers travel with their engagement ring, and most don’t take it off for everyday activities that put it at risk, including cooking (60%), sleeping (60%) and hiking (65%).
The financial exposure is real: 62% of respondents count their engagement ring among the three most expensive things they own. Yet among uninsured wearers whose ring was damaged, 55% never had it repaired.
Couples should take a few key steps to protect an engagement ring:
- Purchase insurance before or at the time of the proposal, not after
- Document the ring with photographs and a professional appraisal
- Store the ring in a safe or safety deposit box before the proposal
- Consider specialized jewelry insurance, which covers loss, theft and damage that standard homeowners or renters’ policies may not adequately address
Design or uniqueness remains the top factor in choosing a ring, cited by 52% of respondents, far ahead of price, stone size and brand. Solitaire settings have become the most popular choice since 2024, now making up 37% of rings versus 22% two years ago, and white gold remains the most common metal, though preference in platinum has grown considerably.
Budget confidence tracks with intention, not price point: respondents who set a ring budget based on personal comfort, rather than an external benchmark, report the highest confidence in their purchase and the lowest financial stress about it. That deliberateness carries past the purchase, too.
Among wearers who don’t yet own their final ring, 84% say they’re still actively researching options, a sign that even once a ring is on, the decision-making isn’t necessarily over. When couples do seek guidance on insuring what they’ve chosen, they turn to people they trust: jewelers rank as the second most trusted source for jewelry care recommendations, behind only family.
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