Gold price breaks out, experts predict new record
Gold prices are trading at a record high and approaching $3,000/ounce. While many are waiting for this milestone, Macquarie Bank believes that gold's rally will not stop even if it breaks this level.
Macquarie's commodity analysis team, led by Marcus Garvey, updated its 2025 gold price forecast on Thursday. They predict gold could reach $3,500/ounce by the third quarter of 2025, approaching an all-time high set by January 1980 inflationary adjustments.
The new forecast comes as gold prices have reached the bank's target for the second quarter. According to experts, gold is still an important safe haven asset as the bank's economists predict that global economic growth could decrease to only 0.3% in the third quarter of this year.
We see the strength of gold prices up to this point, as well as the prospect of continuing to increase, mainly because investors and institutions are willing to officially bid higher for the characteristics of no credit risks or partners of gold.
This was clearly demonstrated when gold prices hit a nominative record high of $2,956/ounce on February 24, although the opportunity cost of holding gold (not-yielding) remained high, the report wrote. See more...
Coffee prices continue to increase
On March 15, the domestic coffee market recorded a slight increase of VND 500/kg. The purchase price in the areas is as follows:
Dak Lak, Dak Nong: 133,500 VND/kg (+500 VND)
Lam Dong: 131,500 VND/kg (+500 VND)
Gia Lai: 133,500 VND/kg (+500 VND)
This increase has helped coffee prices recover after a period of fluctuations, standing more firmly at 133,000 VND/kg.
On the London Stock Exchange, Robusta prices increased slightly:
January term: 5,528 USD/ton (+20 USD, equivalent to +0.36%)
7: 5,506 USD/ton (+22 USD, equivalent to +0.40%). See more...
Confidence returns to investors if virtual currency is managed
Risk of sellers leaving when Shopee, TikTok Shop increase fees
Recently, e-commerce platforms Shopee and TikTok Shop announced the application of increased floor fees for sellers from April 1.
The fee increase from both platforms puts many sellers in a difficult position, especially small stores or businesses with low profit margins.
Shopee e-commerce platform adjusts fees for regular shops, accordingly the maximum floor fee - called a fixed fee - from 4% to the highest of 10%. Most industries currently subject to a fee of 3 - 4% will be 7 - 9%.
Meanwhile, TikTok Shop also raised the commission for regular stalls from 1 - 3% to 1 - 4%, while genuine stalls from 1.5 - 5.78% to 1.21 - 7.7%.
Mr. Tran Trung - a household retailer (Hanoi) - said that items sold on Shopee are charged a fee of 1 - 4% depending on the type, now they are about to increase to 1.5 - 9.5%. For TikTok Shop, the maximum payable rate is 4%.
'We are forced to adjust selling prices to cover costs, which will affect customers' purchasing power. If costs continue to increase without a reasonable support policy, I may have to switch to another business direction, said Mr. Trung. See more...
