The absence of legislation in Washington, along with weaker inflation figures, has been a significant influence on the dollar for most of the year, causing it to hit new multi-year lows against the euro. This uncertainty is proving too much for investors' imagination, and it's the perfect pretext for some investors to embrace the safety that gold offers. Despite the Fed raising its federal funds target rate by 1% since December 2015, interest-bearing assets haven't increased significantly.