Gold topped $4,000 an ounce for the first time Wednesday as investors flocked to the safe investment on worries over the US government shutdown, France's political crisis and global economic uncertainty.

US and European stock markets mostly rose while Asian equities fell as investors also kept tabs on the AI investment boom and the prospect of further US interest rate cuts this year.

Gold, considered a safe investment in times of uncertainty, reached an all-time high above $4,040 an ounce Wednesday. Silver was also close to a record high.

"Gold is continuing to glitter, and it is a gift that keeps on giving," said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and Forex.com .

"Markets hate uncertainty, and right now, it's in no short supply –- although stocks haven't exactly sold off,

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