- Gold hits new 2025 highs amid rising investor anxiety from Trump’s trade rhetoric.
- Despite a rise in the US Dollar Index, Gold’s ascent signals strong safe-haven demand.
- Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalate, alongside potential US economic measures against Russia.
Gold price advances over 0.39% late in the North American session, with the precious metal climbing decisively above the psychological $2,650 figure with buyers setting their sights at the record high of $2,790. At the time of writing, the XAU/SD trades at $2,755 after bouncing off daily lows of $2,741.
The non-yielding metal extended its gains as United States (US) President Donald Trump trade rhetoric broadened from Mexico, Canada and China to the Eurozone. Consequently, as traders grow uncertain about the “trade war” outcome, bought Bullion which has climbed to its highest level during 2025, at $2,763.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the performance of the Greenback against a basket of six peers and usually correlates inversely to Gold, rises 0.08%, up at 108.16.
A scarce economic docket in the United States keeps traders adrift to geopolitical developments, with Trump grabbing the headlines.
In his Truth account, President Trump said that he’s not looking to hurt Russia, invited President Vladimir Putin to end the war soon and warned that if he doesn’t, he would have to impose taxes, tariffs and sanctions on Russian goods imported to the US.
The US 10-year Treasury bond yield was marginally up during the day, capping Bullion prices advance.
In the Middle East, the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was set aside as Israel launched a drone attack in the Hasbaya area in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese press cited by an Israeli journalist Kai.
This week, the US economic docket will feature Initial Jobless Claims data, S&P Global Flash PMIs and housing data.
Daily digest market movers: Gold price soars amid high US yields
- Gold price rises as real yields ascends one basis points. Measured by the 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) yield sits at 2.18%.
- President Trump confirmed that universal tariffs on all imports to the US are under consideration as well and will come at a later stage, Reuters reports.
- “(Trump) has been perhaps just a shade less hawkish on tariffs as feared, which helps — less/lower tariffs is taken to indicate lower inflation hence potential for more rate cuts,” said Tai Wong, an independent metals trader quoted by Reuters.
- Market participants are pricing in near-even odds that the Fed will cut rates twice by the end of 2025, with the first reduction occurring in June.
XAU/USD technical outlook: Gold price clears $2,750, bulls eye record high
Gold prices are set to challenge record high of $2,790 amid ongoing US trade policies uncertainty. The daily chart suggests that XAU/USD could touch the $2,800 level sooner rather than later. A decisive breach of the latter would expose the psychological $2,850 and $2,900 price levels.
On the downside, if bears drag Bullion prices below the $2,750 figure, the 50 and 100-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs) emerge as support levels, each at $2,648 and $2,647. If surpassed, up next lies the 200-day SMA at $2,515.
Risk sentiment FAQs
In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms “risk-on” and “risk off” refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a “risk-on” market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a “risk-off” market investors start to ‘play it safe’ because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest.
Typically, during periods of “risk-on”, stock markets will rise, most commodities – except Gold – will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a “risk-off” market, Bonds go up – especially major government Bonds – Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit.
The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are “risk-on”. This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on periods. This is because investors foresee greater demand for raw materials in the future due to heightened economic activity.
The major currencies that tend to rise during periods of “risk-off” are the US Dollar (USD), the Japanese Yen (JPY) and the Swiss Franc (CHF). The US Dollar, because it is the world’s reserve currency, and because in times of crisis investors buy US government debt, which is seen as safe because the largest economy in the world is unlikely to default. The Yen, from increased demand for Japanese government bonds, because a high proportion are held by domestic investors who are unlikely to dump them – even in a crisis. The Swiss Franc, because strict Swiss banking laws offer investors enhanced capital protection.
Source: https://www.fxstreet.com/news/gold-price-surges-amid-escalating-us-trade-policies-202501222120