Gold prices rallied sharply as hopes for a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz triggered a significant drop in oil prices. [5, 8] This decline in crude eased immediate inflation concerns, leading markets to reduce the probability of further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. [7] A weaker U.S. dollar and underlying geopolitical uncertainty also contributed to the buying pressure, enhancing the appeal of non-yielding gold in an environment of potentially lower interest rates. [1, 2, 3]