New York, Jan 05 (V7N)- Global prices of gold and silver surged to record highs following heightened geopolitical tensions after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured by the United States, according to a report by the British news agency Reuters published on Monday (January 5).

In early Asian trading on Monday, the price of gold jumped by around 1.8 percent to USD 4,408 per ounce, marking its highest level to date. At the same time, silver prices rose sharply by about 3.5 percent in the global market.

Market analysts said the rally in precious metals was driven by investor anxiety and a flight to safe-haven assets amid growing uncertainty surrounding the US intervention in Venezuela.

In contrast, crude oil prices remained largely stable. Although oil prices experienced some early volatility, they later eased slightly. Investors had initially feared that the US action in Venezuela—one of the world’s major oil-producing countries—could disrupt global oil supplies. However, such concerns did not materialize immediately, keeping prices relatively steady.

Meanwhile, Asian stock markets mostly advanced, reflecting cautious optimism among investors. In the Asia-Pacific region, major indices recorded gains. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed 2.6 percent on the first trading day of the year, while key stock indices in South Korea, Hong Kong, and China also closed higher.

Analysts noted that while equities showed resilience, continued geopolitical developments could influence global financial markets in the coming days.

END/SMA/AJ