Gold steadied at $4,345.75 per ounce after a record $4,549.71 peak, on track for a 66% annual surge—its best since 1979. Silver dropped 4.5% to $73.06/oz from $83.62 high, up over 150% YTD for its strongest year ever. Platinum and palladium fell sharply but logged massive gains amid Fed easing signals.
Precious metals wrapped 2025 with historic gains despite Wednesday's profit-taking pullback. Gold, steady at $4,345.75/oz as of 0404 GMT, benefited from Fed rate cuts, central bank purchases, ETF inflows, and geopolitical risks. Analysts like Ilya Spivak from Tastylive see momentum carrying it to $5,000 by late Q1 2026, with catalysts now self-sustaining. Silver's 150%+ rally, outpacing gold, stemmed from its U.S. critical mineral designation, supply squeezes, depleted inventories, and surging demand in solar panels, EVs, and investments—hitting milestones like $83.62 all-time high Monday.
Platinum plunged 6.1% to $2,065.80/oz post-$2,478.50 lifetime peak but notched over 120% yearly gain, its best ever, amid tight supply and EU policy tailwinds. Palladium shed 7.1% to $1,496.75/oz, still up 65%—top in 15 years. Declines linked to thin holiday volumes, CME margin hikes on futures, and dollar's one-week high hiking costs for non-US buyers. Fed minutes highlighted nuanced December cut debate, with two more eyed in 2026, favoring non-yielding assets in low-rate world.
Key Highlights
-
Spot gold held firm at $4,345.75/oz, up 66% YTD on Fed easing bets, central banks, ETFs, geopolitics; $5,000 forecast by Q1 2026 end.
-
Silver at $73.06/oz post-$83.62 peak, 150%+ gain from critical status, shortages, industrial boom.
-
Platinum $2,065.80/oz after $2,478.50 high, 120% yearly best; palladium $1,496.75/oz, 65% in 15 years.
-
Pullbacks from profits, thin trade, margins, strong dollar; low rates supportive long-term.
Sources: Reuters, The Economic Times