How the Middle East war has taken the shine off gold

11 Sept 00:01 Key points summarised by AI

The Middle East conflict, commencing February 28, abruptly reversed gold's upward trajectory, causing a significant price drop and catching many investors off guard.
Rising energy prices fueled inflation concerns, leading expectations of central banks maintaining or hiking interest rates, which bolstered the US dollar and diminished gold's non-yielding appeal.
Persistent uncertainty in US-Iran peace talks, combined with investor profit-taking and a shift of funds towards the energy sector, further accelerated gold's sell-off.
Experts confirm the US dollar's renewed strength stems from anticipated Federal Reserve policy adjustments and recommend holding cash as a safe haven amid extreme market volatility.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.