State Street and QNB Group Form Strategic Alliance
State Street and QNB Group, at the World Economic Forum, or WEF, announced a strategic alliance to introduce a new custody servicing model in Qatar. Under this co-operation agreement, State Street and QNB Group have agreed to collaborate, with service agreements to be finalized and executed at a later date. With offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat and Riyadh, State Street has been servicing sovereign wealth funds, pension schemes, central banks, and asset managers in the Middle East for over three decades. State Street has a total of $12.92T in asset under custody / administration and $841 billion of asset under management in EMEA. QNB Group Custody received regulatory approval from the Qatar Financial Market Authority in 2012 to provide custody services both in Qatar and internationally, leveraging subsidiaries in Egypt and Turkey and an extensive global network of sub-custodians.
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SPDR Gold ETF Surges 25% Year-to-Date, Outperforming Major Stocks
- Gold ETF Performance: The SPDR Gold ETF has surged 25% year-to-date, outperforming Palantir Technologies (down 12%) and Nvidia (up 3%), and has exceeded these AI stocks by at least 50 percentage points over the last six months, highlighting gold's strong appeal as a safe-haven asset.
- Hedge Fund Accumulation: Billionaire hedge fund managers Israel Englander and Ken Griffin increased their holdings in the SPDR Gold ETF by 104,900 shares and 255,100 shares respectively in Q3 2025, with Griffin also purchasing call options, indicating their confidence in the gold market and strategic portfolio adjustments.
- Gold Price Dynamics: Gold's low correlation with stocks and bonds makes it an ideal choice for investors during periods of global tension and economic uncertainty, as historical data shows that gold can provide effective hedging during significant market drawdowns.
- Future Price Expectations: Several financial institutions project gold prices to reach between $5,300 and $6,000 per ounce by 2026, and despite mixed opinions on the geopolitical and economic turmoil caused by Trump's policies, the overall trend remains bullish, suggesting investors should consider increasing their exposure to gold ETFs to mitigate potential risks.

SPDR Gold ETF Surges 25% Year-to-Date, Outperforming Major Tech Stocks
- Strong ETF Performance: The SPDR Gold ETF has surged 25% year-to-date, significantly outperforming Palantir Technologies' 12% decline and Nvidia's 3% increase, highlighting gold's strong appeal as a safe-haven asset.
- Market Benchmark Outperformance: Over the past six months, the SPDR Gold ETF has outperformed the S&P 500 by 52 percentage points, indicating a sustained increase in investor demand for gold amid rising economic uncertainty.
- Inflation Hedge: Gold is considered a safe asset due to its low correlation with stocks and bonds during geopolitical tensions and economic crises, with historical data showing that gold provides effective hedging during major market drawdowns.
- Future Price Predictions: Several financial institutions forecast gold prices reaching between $5,300 and $6,000 per ounce by 2026, despite the current price being $5,400, reflecting strong market demand for gold, particularly in light of economic turmoil triggered by Trump administration policies.






