International News
US jewellery, watches sales up by 4.4 per cent year-on-year
Sales of watches and jewelry in the US showed further signs of growth in December 2024, up 4.4 per cent year-on-year, according the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce. But there’s been a marked slowdown since the 10 per cent increases of last September and October.
November saw sales up by just 3.0 per cent, revised down from 5.8 per cent based on actual through-the-till transactions rather than estimates. October has been revised up from 9.7 per cent to 10.0 per cent.
The average monthly year-on-year growth for the full year is 5.4 per cent, so December was little below par. Having said that, it was the 15th consecutive month of growth after a long period (the end of 2022 and much of 2023) of falling sales.
Gold prices in the U.S. have moved back above $4,700 per ounce, with spot gold trading near $4,750 on Thursday, May 7, 2026. This marks a gain of over 1% in a single day, following its strongest rise in more than five weeks on Wednesday.
Although gold is still around 15% below its record high of nearly $5,595 per ounce, reached in January 2026, prices remain much higher than the $4,300–$4,400 support range seen during the market decline in late March.
Gold has been trading in a narrow range since the Iran conflict began in late February. During that period, prices dropped by more than 10% as rising oil prices increased inflation concerns, forcing the U.S. Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged and pushing Treasury yields higher.
Now, market conditions are changing. Oil prices are easing, bond yields are falling, and investors are returning to gold, making it more attractive again.
Three main factors are supporting the recent rise in gold prices:
1. Falling U.S. Treasury yields:
The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond has dropped from around 4.4%, reducing the cost of holding gold. Since gold does not pay interest, lower bond yields make it a more attractive investment.
2. A weaker U.S. dollar:
A softer dollar generally helps gold prices, as it makes gold cheaper for buyers using other currencies.
3. Optimism over U.S.–Iran talks:
Renewed hopes of diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran have improved market sentiment, adding support to gold prices.
With Treasury yields easing and inflation fears cooling, one of the biggest pressures on gold since March is beginning to fade.
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