Finance
Gold rushes past $5,000 to record high on safe-haven rush
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Quick Summary
Gold prices hit a record high above $5,000/oz due to rising geopolitical tensions and investor demand for safe-haven assets. Analysts predict further increases.
Gold rushes past $5,000 to record high on safe-haven rush
Gold Market Dynamics
By Kavya Balaraman and Anjana Anil
Jan 26 (Reuters) - Gold surged to a record high above $5,000 an ounce on Monday, extending a historic rally as investors piled into the safe-haven asset amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Spot gold rose 0.85% to $5,024.95 per ounce by 2341 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for February delivery gained 0.91% to $5,024.60 per ounce.
Geopolitical Influences
Gold soared 64% in 2025, underpinned by sustained safe-haven demand, U.S. monetary policy easing, robust central bank purchases - with China extending its gold-buying spree for a fourteenth month in December - and record inflows into exchange-traded funds. Prices have gained more than 16% this year.
Market Predictions
"We expect further upside. Our current forecast suggests that prices will peak at around $5,500 later this year," said Philip Newman, director at Metals Focus.
"Periodic pullbacks are likely as investors take profits, but we expect each correction to be short‑lived and met with strong buying interest," Newman added.
Escalating friction between the United States and NATO over Greenland has added fresh momentum to gold's advance this year on expectations of more financial and geopolitical uncertainty.
On the geopolitical front, Ukraine and Russia ended a second day of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Saturday without a deal, with more discussions expected next weekend, even as overnight Russian airstrikes knocked out power for over a million Ukrainians amid subzero cold.
Adding to the uncertainty, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it follows through on a trade deal with China, warning Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that a deal would endanger his country.
"Our forecast for the year is that gold will see a high of $6,400 an ounce with an average of $5,375," independent analyst Ross Norman said.
Other Precious Metals
Spot silver rose 1.72% to $104.72 per ounce. Spot platinum was steady at $2,767 per ounce, while spot palladium rose 0.17% to $2,013.50 per ounce.
Silver climbed above the $100 mark for the first time on Friday, building on its 147% rise last year as retail-investor flows and momentum-driven buying compounded a prolonged spell of tightness in physical markets for the metal.
(Reporting by Anjana Anil and Kavya Balaraman in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Pablo Sinha; Himani Sarkar and Subhranshu Sahu)
Key Takeaways
- •Gold prices reach a record high above $5,000 per ounce.
- •Geopolitical tensions drive investors to safe-haven assets.
- •U.S. and NATO tensions over Greenland fuel gold's rise.
- •Analysts predict gold could reach $6,400 per ounce this year.
- •Central bank demand and monetary policy easing support gold.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gold rushes past $5,000 to record high on safe-haven rush
1What is gold?
Gold is a precious metal that is highly valued for its rarity and used in various applications, including jewelry, electronics, and as an investment asset.
2What are commodities?
Commodities are basic goods used in commerce that are interchangeable with other goods of the same type, such as gold, silver, oil, and agricultural products.
3What is an investment?
An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. Common forms include stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities.
4What are financial markets?
Financial markets are platforms where buyers and sellers engage in the trade of assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities.
5What is trading?
Trading refers to the act of buying and selling financial instruments like stocks, bonds, and commodities in financial markets.
