Gold Hits Record High Above $5,000 an Ounce Amid Trump Turmoil and Global Economic Uncertainty
The price of gold has surged above $5,000 an ounce for the first time, driven by increasing uncertainty and volatility in global markets. The record high was set on Monday morning, with prices easing back to $5,091 after a 2.2% gain. The jump is the latest in a remarkable run of gains for gold, which has skyrocketed nearly 90% since President Trump's second inauguration.
Analysts point to Mr. Trump's erratic policy shifts and proclamations as a major driver of investor anxiety, leading them to seek safe-haven assets like gold. "There's been a vaporizing of trust," said Ross Norman, an independent analyst. "And it takes a while to win back that trust, which is why investors are moving away from the dollar and dollar assets."
The rise in gold prices has been fueled by concerns over another US shutdown, with Democrats threatening funding for the Department of Homeland Security after federal immigration agents killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday. Additionally, the recent threat of 100% tariffs on Canada if it makes a deal with China, combined with Mr. Trump's showdown with Europe over Greenland, have added to investor jitters.
Meanwhile, Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has sparked anxiety among international investors by pledging an unfunded spending spree and tax cuts to win over voters in a snap election on February 8. The prospect of such policies has raised fears about the country's already-strained economy, which is heavily indebted.
The US Federal Reserve is also under pressure to respond to the White House's demands to reduce interest rates faster than expected, amid mounting concerns that a weaker dollar could undermine the value of US assets like Treasury bonds.
Analysts predict that gold will continue to rise in 2026, with some forecasting prices to reach as high as $6,400 an ounce. The only certainty at present seems to be uncertainty itself, and it's this very unpredictability that's driving investors towards gold.
The price of gold has surged above $5,000 an ounce for the first time, driven by increasing uncertainty and volatility in global markets. The record high was set on Monday morning, with prices easing back to $5,091 after a 2.2% gain. The jump is the latest in a remarkable run of gains for gold, which has skyrocketed nearly 90% since President Trump's second inauguration.
Analysts point to Mr. Trump's erratic policy shifts and proclamations as a major driver of investor anxiety, leading them to seek safe-haven assets like gold. "There's been a vaporizing of trust," said Ross Norman, an independent analyst. "And it takes a while to win back that trust, which is why investors are moving away from the dollar and dollar assets."
The rise in gold prices has been fueled by concerns over another US shutdown, with Democrats threatening funding for the Department of Homeland Security after federal immigration agents killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday. Additionally, the recent threat of 100% tariffs on Canada if it makes a deal with China, combined with Mr. Trump's showdown with Europe over Greenland, have added to investor jitters.
Meanwhile, Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has sparked anxiety among international investors by pledging an unfunded spending spree and tax cuts to win over voters in a snap election on February 8. The prospect of such policies has raised fears about the country's already-strained economy, which is heavily indebted.
The US Federal Reserve is also under pressure to respond to the White House's demands to reduce interest rates faster than expected, amid mounting concerns that a weaker dollar could undermine the value of US assets like Treasury bonds.
Analysts predict that gold will continue to rise in 2026, with some forecasting prices to reach as high as $6,400 an ounce. The only certainty at present seems to be uncertainty itself, and it's this very unpredictability that's driving investors towards gold.