Gold prices surged significantly on Wednesday as investors seek out safe-haven assets amid prospects of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
During the Asian trading session, London spot gold prices briefly approached 3,547 U.S. dollars per ounce during intraday trading, while gold futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange briefly surpassed 3,616 U.S. dollars per ounce, both marking historic new highs.
A recent report released by analysts at Morgan Stanley has projected that the Fed will announce a 25 basis point rate cut at its September meeting, followed by another cut before the end of the year. Historical data indicates that in the two months following the initiation of a rate cut cycle by the Fed, gold and silver typically experience significant increases, with gold prices on average rising by approximately 6 percent.
Meanwhile, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's recent dovish stance has considerably bolstered expectations of a rate cut in the market, leading to the recent increase in precious metal prices.
On Sept 5, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the non-farm payroll data for August. Previously, the BLS significantly revised down the non-farm payroll data for May and June by 258,000, far beyond market expectations, causing severe turmoil in the U.S. capital markets as the dollar and U.S. stocks plummeted, while U.S. bonds and gold rapidly strengthened.
Gold prices surge to record highs amid escalating safe-haven demand
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
