FOMC Meeting Minutes to be Released Tonight, Multi-Asset Classes Face Volatility Test

Tonight at 3:00 AM, the Federal Reserve will release the minutes of the December monetary policy meeting. This important document will become the focus of the market today. The market generally expects the FOMC minutes to further confirm the “deep disagreements” among Federal Reserve officials regarding the short-term interest rate path.

FOMC Minutes Trigger Chain Reactions, Asset Classes Ready to Move

The tone of the FOMC minutes will directly impact multiple asset markets. If the minutes signal a hawkish stance, the US dollar will receive buying support, while safe-haven assets like gold will lose appeal. Conversely, if the tone is more dovish, the dollar will face pressure, benefiting traditional safe-haven assets such as gold and silver.

Yesterday, precious metals experienced a collective plunge, with gold dropping over 4% and silver falling as much as 9%. Today, the market shows signs of a clear rebound. As of press time, gold has risen 0.94% to $4,373 per ounce, and silver has increased more significantly by 3.44% to $74.61 per ounce. Industry analysts believe that factors such as CME adjusting margin requirements, investor profit-taking, and tightening liquidity at year-end have jointly driven this decline. From a long-term perspective, gold and silver still have room to rise.

US Stock Futures Slightly Up, Tech Stocks Diverge

Before the opening of the US stock market on December 30, the three major stock index futures showed a slight upward trend. As of 4:40 AM Eastern Time, Dow futures rose 0.01%, S&P 500 futures increased 0.04%, and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.05%.

In individual stocks, gains and losses were mixed. Chip giant NVIDIA (NVDA) slightly declined by 0.03%, while electric vehicle leader Tesla (TSLA) performed well, with intraday gains surpassing 1% to 1.02%. Notably, Baidu (BIDU) showed strong pre-market gains, approaching 5%, mainly driven by positive news about its autonomous vehicle business entering the UK market.

Geopolitical Tensions Rise, Boosting Energy Prices, Crude Oil Rises Again

Geopolitical tensions remain high, with the US conducting drone strikes on Venezuelan ports, and new escalation signs in the Russia-Ukraine conflict—Russia accused Ukraine of attacking Putin’s residence. These geopolitical risks continue to support energy prices.

Crude oil prices have risen for the second consecutive day. As of press time, WTI crude oil increased 0.81% to $58.27 per barrel; Brent crude oil rose 0.72% to $61.69 per barrel.

Bitcoin Fluctuates Near $90,000, Bulls Face Key Test

Bitcoin (BTC) has recently repeatedly tested the psychological level of $90,000, currently trading around $93.94K with narrow fluctuations, up approximately 0.80% in 24 hours. The $90,000 mark has become an important short-term reference point; whether it is broken or not significantly affects market sentiment.

Bitcoin Magazine analysts note that the overall market trend remains trapped within an expanding wedge pattern. Bitcoin has repeatedly rejected downward breaks, indicating that bearish momentum is waning. To regain control, bulls need to first break through the resistance at $91,400 and then stabilize above $94,000 to open a new upward space.