
Asian stocks reached six-week highs, driven by expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts next year. This outlook also fueled a rally in precious metals, with gold repeatedly breaching record highs and silver briefly surpassing $80 an ounce before volatile trading. Analysts suggest that while the recent surge in precious metals may increase short-term volatility, the long-term outlook remains supportive due to anticipated lower interest rates and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.