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Amid escalating geopolitical conflicts and persistent inflationary pressures, gold continues to attract investors as a classic safe-haven asset. In 2024, international gold prices have broken new historical highs, with global central banks net purchasing 1,045 tons of gold, directly supporting the gold price to surpass the $2,700 mark. Many investors are beginning to ask—how can I buy gold in the most cost-effective way?
In addition to traditional physical gold, modern gold investment has evolved into various efficient methods. This article will compare the risks, costs, and returns of five major gold investment channels in depth, helping you find the most suitable trading plan.
Gold Price Fluctuations: Is Now Still a Good Time to Enter?
The gold price trends over the past three years provide ample reference for investors.
Between 2022 and 2023, gold prices experienced significant volatility—dropping from a high of $2,000 to below $1,700, mainly due to geopolitical conflicts and the dual pressure of US Federal Reserve rate hikes. By 2024, the situation

Snoop Dogg's NFT series launched on the Telegram Gifts platform sold out quickly, generating $12 million in sales and driving a 7.75% increase in global NFT trading volume. This event demonstrates his influence in the digital asset space, while the market performance of the Telegram Gifts platform has also been impressive, attracting numerous fans and collectors.

DOT token, as the mainnet token of the Polkadot blockchain network, demonstrates excellent cross-chain interoperability and low transaction costs. Its multi-chain architecture and NPoS consensus mechanism give it a technical edge over Ethereum. However, so far, Polkadot's ecosystem development still lags behind Ethereum. As the ecosystem expands and investors' risk appetite increases, the future potential of DOT token is worth paying attention to.

What is the US Dollar Index? Understand the international status of the US dollar with a single chart
When you read financial news, you often hear phrases like "US Dollar Index hits a new high" or "Dollar's strength impacts emerging markets." But what exactly does this frequently mentioned US Dollar Index (USDX or DXY) represent?
Simply put, the US Dollar Index measures the strength of the dollar relative to major international currencies. If you think of the dollar as a basket, then the US Dollar Index reflects the "relative purchasing power" of this basket containing six foreign currencies.
These six currencies make up the entire components of the US Dollar Index:
| Currency | Share | Region |
|------|------|--------|
| Euro (EUR) | 57.6% | Eurozone 19 countries |
| Japanese Yen (JPY) | 13.6% | Japan |
| British Pound (GBP) | 1

The precious metals market will surge significantly in 2025, with prices of commodities such as gold, silver, and copper reaching new highs. This wave of market movement is driven by factors such as Federal Reserve rate cuts, geopolitical risks, and supply shortages. Institutions predict that starting from 2026, the prices of gold and silver will continue to rise, with specific forecasts reaching $4900 and $75 respectively. Market sentiment remains highly optimistic.

Every quarter, there are about four days when investors' phones ring nonstop — these are called "Quadruple Witching Days." Many people watch the candlestick charts flickering on the screen, puzzled about why prices are so crazy during these days.
Three Market Phenomena Behind Quadruple Witching Days
On these days, the market exhibits a very noticeable feature:
Trading volume skyrockets. The trading volume far exceeds normal levels, and liquidity is so abundant that it doesn't look like usual. The fear index surges, turnover rate increases significantly, with both retail investors and institutions competing for shares. Prices become detached from fundamentals. The rise or fall of stocks or indices often has nothing to do with their actual value; it’s purely a product of market sentiment and capital battles.
These three phenomena together are the most prominent features of Quadruple Witching Days.
What is a Quadruple Witching Day? Why is it called that?
Quadruple Witching Day is the settlement date for the four major types of derivative financial products in the U.S., including single-stock futures, single-stock options, stock index futures, and stock index options.

Entering the first week of 2026, the crypto market continues its downward trend. According to the latest data, Bitcoin's price fluctuates around $91,370, rebounding from the historical high of $126,080, but short-term bullish momentum still appears insufficient. The market is overshadowed by a sharp decline in virtual currencies, with mainstream coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum collectively under pressure.
Market observers have noticed an interesting phenomenon behind this wave of cryptocurrency declines: while traditional precious metals (gold and silver) hit new all-time highs, digital assets instead fall into a trough. What forces are driving this opposite trend?
Precious Metals Attract Capital Effect Continues, Bitcoin Faces "Capital Rotation" Impact
According to the latest research from ICAP's technical analysis team, the answer points to a key phenomenon: funds are flowing from the virtual currency decline camp into precious metals.
Since peaking in October last year, Bitcoin has fallen more than one-third, while during the same period, gold has increased by approximately

As a vital component of the global investment portfolio, commodities are classified alongside stocks, bonds, and foreign exchange as core asset classes. Due to their close connection with macroeconomics and daily consumption, commodity price fluctuations often serve as a sensitive indicator of economic cycle changes. This article systematically reviews the investment mechanisms of commodities to help investors find the most suitable trading instruments for themselves.
Core Definitions and Characteristics of Commodities
Commodities refer to goods that enter circulation but are not traded at the retail level, possessing industrial application attributes primarily used for industrial production and end consumption. Unlike daily consumer goods, their notable feature is "large volume"—with substantial supply scales, enormous market demand, frequent circulation, and abundant inventories—placing them typically at the upstream of the industrial chain.
According to trading characteristics, commodities are mainly divided into six categories: energy products, industrial metals, precious metals, agricultural

Why do we need to understand inflation?
In the past two years, rising prices have become a key theme in the global economy. Taiwan's central bank has raised interest rates five times, the Federal Reserve has increased rates seven times within a year, and governments around the world are fighting inflation. But few people truly understand: What is inflation? Where does it come from? And how can one profit from it?
Instead of passively accepting the decline in purchasing power caused by inflation, it’s better to actively understand its mechanisms and find ways to respond. This article will help you clarify the essence of inflation, the central bank’s response measures, and most importantly—how to build a resilient investment portfolio during inflationary times.
The essence of inflation: the imbalance between money and goods
Inflation, simply put, is a phenomenon where prices continuously rise over a period of time, leading to a decrease in the purchasing power of money. In simple terms, the money in your pocket becomes less and less valuable.
Economists measure the degree of inflation using the CPI (Consumer Price Index). When the CPI continues to rise,

Important Notice: The United States officially switches to Standard Time at 2:00 AM on November 2, 2025. The regular trading hours are adjusted to 22:30 to 5:00 Taiwan time the next day.
I. Detailed Rules for U.S. Stock Market Opening and Closing
The U.S. stock market consists of several independently operated securities exchanges, with the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and the American Stock Exchange being the three major markets. Although each exchange operates independently, their opening and closing times are generally synchronized.
Complete Schedule for U.S. Stock Market Opening Hours
In Eastern Time, the opening and closing periods for U.S. stocks are as follows:
| Trading Type | Monday to Friday | U.S. Eastern Time |
|--------------|------------------|-------------------|
| Pre-market Trading | 4:00 - 9:30 | Early setup |
| Regular Trading (Main U.S. Market Hours) | 9

Market participants' expectations of price movements often determine the short-term volatility direction of stocks. The Bias (BIAS) indicator is a tool that quantifies these expectations—it clearly reflects the deviation of the stock price from the trend line, helping investors capture overbought and oversold turning points.
The essence of Bias: the distance between price and trend
What is Bias? In simple terms, it expresses the deviation of the stock price from the moving average line in percentage form. When the stock price is significantly above or below the moving average line, the market usually faces adjustment pressure.
Bias is divided into two categories based on the direction:
- Positive Bias: The stock price is above the moving average line, indicating a premium in an upward trend
- Negative Bias: The stock price is below the moving average line, indicating a discount in a downward trend
The core logic of Bias is similar to the supply and demand relationship in agricultural markets—when rice prices soar to a record high, farmers are eager to sell (worried about being trapped at high levels),

Mastering currency symbols is crucial for foreign exchange trading. They provide a quick identification system for different national currencies, preventing misjudgments in pricing. This article introduces the main global currency symbols and their quick input methods, while also warning traders about potential confusions, such as the $ symbol for US dollars and New Taiwan dollars, or the ￥ symbol for Chinese Renminbi and Japanese Yen, helping to improve trading efficiency.

As of December 10, 2025, the TWD to JPY exchange rate has reached 4.85. This rate has attracted many to revisit travel to Japan and asset allocation in yen. But did you know? Using the same JPY exchange, choosing the wrong channel could cost you over 1,500 NT dollars more. We tested the four most common exchange methods in Taiwan, revealing differences in costs, operation time, and fees, helping you find the most suitable solution.
Why is it worth exchanging for yen? Beyond travel, there is also investment value.
When it comes to currency exchange, many people instinctively think of the Japanese yen, but the reasons go far beyond that.
Daily life needs: travel, purchasing, studying abroad
If you plan to travel to Japan, you'll find that many places still primarily use cash (credit card penetration rate about 60%). From shopping in Tokyo to skiing in Hokkaido and vacations in Okinawa, yen cash is needed. Additionally, Japan purchasing agents and online shopping often require direct yen payments. For working holidaymakers or students studying abroad,

In December 2025, the Taiwanese dollar against the Japanese yen reached 4.85, appreciating nearly 9% since the beginning of the year. But don’t just think about traveling abroad; the yen has long shifted from a travel "allowance" to a safe-haven asset. This article will guide you to the most cost-effective currency exchange routes and teach you how to make your money work for you after exchanging.
Why exchange yen now? Three reasons to tell you
Reason 1: Stable safe-haven currency status
The yen, along with the US dollar and Swiss franc, ranks as one of the world's three major safe-haven currencies. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the yen appreciated by 8% in one week, effectively buffering stock market declines. For Taiwanese investors, exchanging for yen is like buying insurance for the Taiwan stock market.
Reason 2: Arbitrage opportunities due to interest rate differentials
The Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo recently made hawkish comments, pushing up expectations of rate hikes to 80%, with a projected rate increase to 0.75% on December 19, reaching a 30-year high. Japanese government bond yields have already reached 1.93%, and the arbitrage space compared to the US and emerging markets is gradually expanding.
Reason 3: When exchanging currency

Golden cross and death cross are common signals in forex technical analysis, representing bullish and bearish trends respectively. The article discusses the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of these two indicators, as well as their performance in different market environments, emphasizing their reliability in trending markets and false signals in ranging markets. Successful trading requires combining other indicators and effective risk management strategies.

Small Nikkei futures are futures contracts based on the Nikkei 225 index, offering high liquidity and low barriers to entry. The contract value is 100 yen × the index, with an initial margin of 138,000 yen, suitable for small and medium-sized traders. Trading hours span from Asia to the Americas, with an average daily volatility of about 2%. Compared to other Japanese futures, Small Nikkei has lower margins and entry thresholds, making it the best choice. Traders should pay attention to central bank policies and economic data to develop trading strategies.

The performance of shipping stocks over the past few years has been quite tumultuous. From the glory of 2022 to now when stock prices have been halved, many are asking whether this sector still has investment value. Instead of obsessing over whether to buy or not, it's better to first understand what kind of shipping stocks are worth investing in.
Core Logic for Selecting Shipping Stocks: Scale and Route Distribution Determine Life or Death
In recent years, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon— not all shipping stocks are equally miserable. Take Maersk, the world's largest shipping company, as an example. After reaching a peak in early 2022, it has fallen about 60% to date, but during the same period, Germany’s second-largest global company, Hapag-Lloyd, has fallen nearly 70%. What’s the problem? Larger companies tend to have stronger resilience during economic downturns.
Why? Looking at their performance makes it clear. Maersk’s quarterly profit in mid-2022 once reached as high as $8.879 billion, but by the second quarter of 2023, it was only 14

Do you want to increase your assets with foreign currencies? During Taiwan's low-interest-rate era, foreign currency investments have become a popular choice for many. But to truly make money, it's not just about buying coins randomly; you need to understand the market and strategies first.
First, clarify: what's the difference between foreign currencies and foreign exchange?
Many people confuse foreign currencies with foreign exchange, but these two concepts are entirely different. Foreign currencies refer to currencies from countries other than Taiwan, such as USD, JPY, AUD. Foreign exchange has a broader scope, including foreign currencies, government bonds, bank deposit certificates, and other assets denominated in foreign currencies. Simply put: foreign exchange includes foreign currencies, but foreign currencies are just one part of foreign exchange.
Investors in the foreign exchange market mainly look at the exchange rate fluctuations of various foreign currencies to identify the most valuable investment opportunities.
How to make money with foreign currencies? The core is exchange rate differences and interest rate spreads
What do you earn by buying foreign currencies? In summary, there are two ways: exchange rate differences and interest rate spreads.
Exchange rate difference: the price difference between buying and selling. For example, if you buy at 33