Gold prices were higher on Monday as investors rushed into safe-haven assets after the U.S. and Israel launched major strikes on Iran, prompting fears of a wider regional conflict.
At 15:46 ET (20:46 GMT), Spot gold rose 1.2% to $5,339.78 an ounce, after reaching as high as $5,419.32/oz earlier in the session, the highest since late January. U.S. Gold Futures climbed 2% to $5,353.86.
Middle East conflict boosts gold’s demand
Investors have rushed into safe-haven gold on Monday, with the sustaining bombing of Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, raising fears of a broader regional conflict and potential disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy artery.
The geopolitical shock triggered a classic risk-off move across markets, with equities sliding at the opening bell and crude oil surging, reinforcing demand for bullion as a store of value.
"A regional spillover or disruption to energy supplies would materially boost gold through higher oil prices, increased inflation expectations and contained real yields," analysts at ING said in a note.
"Importantly, it is not only the risk of escalation, or broader conflict, that markets must now discount, but also the considerably wider range of potential outcomes that now exist, given kinetic action is underway," Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone, said. "This wider range, unsurprisingly, makes accurately pricing risk incredibly difficult, if not impossible, hence leading to a ‘de-risk now, ask questions later’ approach for most."
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday said military operations against Iran would not lead to an "endless war" and that the aim was to destroy Tehran’s missiles, Navy and other security infrastructure.
President Donald Trump later told reporters that his administration had projected the conflict to last four to five weeks, but has the "capability to go far longer than that."
"If tensions remain contained and energy flows are unaffected, the initial risk-off move should fade as the oil risk premium unwinds," ING said.
"This reinforces, rather than changes, the broader gold narrative. Central bank buying remains strong and expectations of policy easing later this year, continue to underpin the market. Even if tensions stabilise, these structural drivers suggest downside should be limited, with any pullbacks likely to be shallow rather than trend-reversing," ING added.
Gold could hit $6,000/oz by year-end
The $5,400/oz level, followed by the late-January record high of $5,595/oz, as the key levels to watch to the upside, said Pepperstone’s Brown.
"This weekend’s developments do reinforce the strong fundamental bull case for gold, which will remain the beneficiary of haven inflows in an increasingly uncertain world, with hefty retail and reserve demand both providing tailwinds too," he said.
Brown also sees a potential move towards the $6,000/oz mark by the end of the year.
Gold has risen nearly 25% this year, buoyed by geopolitical risks, central bank purchases, and Federal Reserve easing bets.
Silver slides
Among other precious metals, silver prices shed 6.7% to $87.5795 per ounce, while platinum slipped 2.1% to $2,324.65/oz.
Benchmark Copper Futures on the London Metal Exchange settled 0.3% higher at $13,343.50 a ton and U.S.Copper Futures slipped 1.5% to $5.9690 a pound.
Comments