Gold prices soared above $5,000 an ounce for the first time on Monday morning, driven by investors' flight to safety amid the chaos caused by President Donald Trump's erratic policies. The price of gold surged to a record high of $5,100 (Β£3,723) before easing back to settle at $5,091, up 2.2% from Friday.
Trump's recent threats against Canada and his showdown with Europe over Greenland have heightened concerns about the stability of global markets. His administration's policies on trade and immigration have also raised fears of a potential US shutdown, which has fueled anxiety among investors.
The rising uncertainty and volatility in the markets are driving investors to seek safe-haven assets such as gold. "There has been a vaporising of trust," said Ross Norman, an independent analyst. "And it takes a while to win back that trust, which is why we're seeing a movement away from the dollar and dollar assets."
Gold prices have jumped by almost 90% since Trump's second inauguration last year, making it one of the most spectacular increases in recent history. Analysts predict that gold will continue to rise, with some forecasters predicting a high of $6,400 an ounce.
The latest surge in gold prices is also linked to concerns about the US dollar. Trump's administration has long suggested they would like to see a weaker dollar to boost domestic manufacturing, which could undermine the value of US Treasury bonds. This, in turn, makes gold an attractive investment option as a store of value.
The Federal Reserve is set to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to consider its next move on interest rates, amid pressure from the White House to reduce borrowing costs faster than expected by financial markets. Analysts say the Fed may use some of its vast resources to buy Japanese yen to support the currency and weaken the dollar, which could continue to fall in value this year.
The rising gold prices have been driven by a combination of factors, including Trump's chaotic policies, concerns about a potential US shutdown, and the anxiety on international money markets. As one analyst put it, "The only certainty at the moment seems to be uncertainty, and that's playing very much into gold's hands."
Trump's recent threats against Canada and his showdown with Europe over Greenland have heightened concerns about the stability of global markets. His administration's policies on trade and immigration have also raised fears of a potential US shutdown, which has fueled anxiety among investors.
The rising uncertainty and volatility in the markets are driving investors to seek safe-haven assets such as gold. "There has been a vaporising of trust," said Ross Norman, an independent analyst. "And it takes a while to win back that trust, which is why we're seeing a movement away from the dollar and dollar assets."
Gold prices have jumped by almost 90% since Trump's second inauguration last year, making it one of the most spectacular increases in recent history. Analysts predict that gold will continue to rise, with some forecasters predicting a high of $6,400 an ounce.
The latest surge in gold prices is also linked to concerns about the US dollar. Trump's administration has long suggested they would like to see a weaker dollar to boost domestic manufacturing, which could undermine the value of US Treasury bonds. This, in turn, makes gold an attractive investment option as a store of value.
The Federal Reserve is set to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to consider its next move on interest rates, amid pressure from the White House to reduce borrowing costs faster than expected by financial markets. Analysts say the Fed may use some of its vast resources to buy Japanese yen to support the currency and weaken the dollar, which could continue to fall in value this year.
The rising gold prices have been driven by a combination of factors, including Trump's chaotic policies, concerns about a potential US shutdown, and the anxiety on international money markets. As one analyst put it, "The only certainty at the moment seems to be uncertainty, and that's playing very much into gold's hands."