Oil Prices Down 2%

Amid heightened uncertainty about trade and economies, gold prices have hit multiple record highs this year, while oil prices have slipped to four-year lows as concerns about global oil demand spiked with all the trade and tariff chaos.

Gold hit another record high on Monday as the U.S.-China trade war escalated and the U.S. dollar weakened amid persistent fears of a recession. Gold, the safe-haven asset, has benefited from the market chaos, while riskier commodity assets, such as crude oil, have suffered amid deteriorating oil demand outlooks.

Gold prices hit a record high at $3,384 per ounce early on Monday, and analysts believe the rally will continue into the next weeks and months.

Crude oil prices fell sharply on Monday, with Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures declining nearly 3% as markets reacted to perceived progress in U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations and mounting concerns over global demand.?

Brent crude was trading down 2.2% at $66.59, and the U.S. crude benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), was down 1.92% at $63.44, unsure of how to weigh the impact of a fast-evolving tariff war theater against what analysts are interpreting as a positive progress towards shifting away from military threats.