Stocks rise, banks and Walmart hit records. Bitcoin hits $98K, set for $100K test, then $175K. Gold approaches record. Newmont shares lift. Block shares surge on Bitcoin boom

As for stocks that put on a table-thumping performance on Thursday; most sectors in the S&P 500 rose, with investors buying into stocks tied to broad economic growth, as traders are starting to realize the US central bank might not cut interest rates next month. So, US bank stocks scaled to a new all-time high. Coca-Cola $Coca-Cola (KO.US)$ moved up off its lows, and Walmart $Walmart (WMT.US)$ hit a record high.

As for what else traders and investors are considering, gold is back in vogue. It scaled higher for the fourth day, hitting US$2,670—a one-week high. As geopolitical and wartime tensions pick up left, right, and center, it appears gold will soon be back at its record high; it’s just 4% away from that. This narrative has also fueled buying into Newmont, the world’s biggest gold company, with its shares breaking out off their low. But the question is, with safe havens such as the US dollar seeing buying too, will Newmont shares recover from their 25% fall in October and get back to US$58? Well, Citi and BNP Paribas both reckon NEM $Newmont (NEM.US)$ will be close to $70 in a year.

As for Australia’s broad share market, the futures indicate the market lifting 0.9% to a brand-new record high, thanks to oil and metal prices moving up, and Bitcoin rising toward $100,000. Hip, hip, hooray! So, keep an eye on tech stocks, gold names such as the Aussie listed Newmont $Newmont Corp (NEM.AU)$ , and the Bitcoin proxy Block, which will be exploring higher levels.