Gold and silver prices rose Monday, with gold futures gaining 1-2% in a single day. This marked the third consecutive week of gains for gold. Trading volumes in global derivatives also increased sharply.
Investors rebalanced portfolios amid escalating trade tensions and a weakening U.S. dollar. The U.S. recently raised import tariffs to 15%. This move could add 0.3-0.5% to inflation over a year, prompting new hedging bets.
Central banks provided significant support to gold prices. The World Gold Council reported central banks bought over 1,000 metric tonnes of gold in 2025. This is one of the strongest multi-year buying runs on record, as emerging market reserve managers shift away from dollar-heavy portfolios.
Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw inflows at the start of 2026, after experiencing outflows late last year. Silver prices moved with gold, also finding support from industrial demand. The Silver Institute forecasts global silver demand will exceed 1.2 billion ounces this year, driven by renewable energy and electronics.
New silver mine supply is expected to be tightly constrained. Low market yields and uncertainty also make precious metals attractive to strategists. Gold currently trades near $5,155, while silver is around $86.87.