With tensions running high between historic allies over U.S. tariffs, global trade, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, big powers look unlikely to pull together swiftly this time to resolve the issues driving interest in bullion as a haven from risk, analysts say.
The metal’s surge above $3,000 an ounce, driven most recently by U.S. President Donald Trump’s new round of tariffs on trading partners, has been the first time in a long time that geopolitics and economic uncertainty have served as the top factors moving the gold market, HSBC analyst James Steel said.
While the market has this year conquered a series of milestones, one more remains. StoneX analyst Rhona O’Connell noted that gold peaked at $850 in January of 1980, which in dollar terms would equate to $3,486 today.
Source – Reuters
Spot prices hit another record high of $3,357.40 per troy ounce on Wednesday before falling back after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said President Donald Trump’s tariffs were “significantly larger” than expected.
The Goldman analysts said that stresses in bond markets “increase our conviction that gold is uniquely positioned to hedge recession risk.”
The bank’s economists say there’s a 45% chance of a US recession in the next 12 months. If that happens, the analysts said gold could hit $3,880 by the end of the year — or even as much as $4,500 under certain scenarios.
Source – Markets Insider
Proposed designs for the obverses of the Proof 2027 and 2028 American Eagle platinum $100 coins — for the second and third years in the three-coin Charters of Freedom series — were recommended Feb. 18 by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Source – Coin World
Gold prices dipped for a second straight session on Monday as U.S.-China trade tensions eased, and the market awaited data due this week.
Spot gold was down 0.6% at $3,297.10 an ounce as of 09:27 a.m. ET (1327 GMT). U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $3,307.80.
“The broader gold forecast and price direction remains constructive, even with some of its haven appeal diminishing,” said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com.
“Until we witness clear patterns of lower highs, lower lows, and firm trade agreements rather than more political bluster from the Trump administration, the prospect of fresh highs for gold cannot be dismissed.”
Spot silver eased 0.1% to $33.04, platinum gained 1.8% to $988.90 and palladium added 0.8% to $956.35.
Source – Reuters
UBS and Commerzbank raised their gold price forecasts on Friday, joining other investment banks as investors drive the safe-haven metal to record highs amid the economic uncertainty sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
Trump’s tariffs have roiled financial markets, stoking fears of inflation and a global recession. While he has paused most duties, he has hiked those on China to 145%, prompting Beijing to lift its tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%.
“We expect gold’s rally to extend into next year and for prices to stabilise at higher levels further out,” UBS analysts said in a note
Source – Reuters
Gold prices are higher in midday trading Thursday despite another U.S. inflation report that came in warmer than expected. Silver prices are slightly down. April gold was up $16.20 at $2,944.00. March silver prices were last down $0.095 at $32.69.
Source – KITCO News
