Gold breaches $4,600/oz as Powell-Trump rift stokes safe-haven demand
Gold leaps to record high, dollar drops as US prosecutors target Fed's Powell
📈 Gold Price Context Today
Gold has surged to all-time highs above ~$4,600/oz amid sustained safe-haven demand and macro uncertainty. �
Spot and futures markets show strong upward momentum as investors seek protection from geopolitical and policy risks. �
📊 Key Drivers Behind the Move
**1. Soft U.S. Jobs Data
The U.S. December payrolls report showed growth of only ~50,000 jobs, much lower than expectations, while the unemployment rate fell to ~4.4%. �
Weak payroll data dampens expectations for aggressive Fed tightening, reinforcing rate-cut speculation for later in 2026 — favorable for gold (a non-yielding asset). �
**2. Monetary Policy Expectations
Markets now price in potential Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year as the labor market cools without signs of acute stress. �
Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding gold versus yield-bearing assets, supporting bullion demand.
**3. Geopolitical Tensions & Safe-Haven Flows
Fresh geopolitical stress — including tensions tied to Iran, Venezuela, and global risk events — has driven investors into defensive assets like gold. �
Broader safe-haven interest is contributing to sustained price strength and volatility in precious metals.
**4. Central Bank and Structural Support
Continued central bank gold purchases, especially from Asia, tighten supply and structurally support prices. �
📉 Factors Limiting Upside
Despite upward pressure, a relatively firm U.S. dollar has capped some gains in gold, reducing the pace of rallies. �
If upcoming inflation or economic data surprises to the upside, rate-cut expectations may reset, potentially tempering near-term gold gains.
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