News
Officials said Hamas does not have 40 hostages who meet the conditions for a potential swap with Israel
In the midst of negotiations between Hamas and Israel regarding a proposed cease-fire agreement, a senior Hamas official made a surprising declaration on Wednesday. The official stated that Hamas did not have 40 living hostages in Gaza who met the criteria for an exchange under the potential agreement. This revelation has added a new layer of complexity to the already delicate discussions.
Both Israeli and Hamas officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, confirmed this information. The assertion by Hamas has raised concerns that there may be more hostages who are deceased than previously believed, casting a shadow over the progress of the talks.
The proposed cease-fire agreement put forth by international negotiators includes the release of a first group of 40 hostages by Hamas, which would consist of women, older individuals, ill hostages, and five female Israeli soldiers. In return, hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons would be freed, along with meeting other demands set forth in the agreement.
Israeli officials estimate that there are approximately 130 hostages still held in Gaza, with Israeli intelligence indicating that at least 30 of them have tragically died while in captivity. This new information has prompted questions regarding the composition of the 40 hostages initially slated for release by Hamas.
Following the recent recovery of the body of an Israeli hostage, who was among those abducted during an attack led by Hamas on October 7, the dynamics of the negotiations have shifted once again. The delicate balance between security concerns and the humanitarian aspect of hostage exchanges is being tested in real-time.
Previous cease-fire agreements between Israel and Hamas have provided temporary relief from escalating tensions, allowing for the exchange of hostages and prisoners. However, the current situation underscores the fragility of such arrangements and the challenges involved in reaching a lasting peace.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
-
News2 weeks ago
Juno discovers massive lava lake on Io
-
News2 weeks ago
Kevin McCarthy, former House Speaker, seeks revenge
-
News2 weeks ago
Possible Future Colleague of Trump: David Lammy, a Close Associate of Obama
-
News3 weeks ago
Knowing the Magnetic Field of an Exoplanet’s Star is Essential to Determining the True Size of the Exoplanet
-
News3 weeks ago
Additional Perspectives on the 2024 Eclipse: Views from the Moon and Earth’s Orbit
-
Entertainment2 weeks ago
Bethenny Frankel reveals that her mother Bernadette Birk passed away from lung cancer
-
News2 weeks ago
House speaker receives additional request from GOP member to resign or be ousted
-
News1 week ago
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?