Gold’s sharp slide—down more than 9 percent in a single session—has rattled global markets and raised a pressing question among investors: will prices sink below the $4,403 mark or stage a recovery?
Spot gold fell to around $4,403 an ounce, marking its steepest one-day decline in decades. The selloff came amid broad weakness across commodities, equities and metals, following the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve. The move sparked a surge in the US dollar and triggered heavy profit-taking after gold’s recent record highs.
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A stronger dollar typically weighs on gold, making the metal more expensive for investors holding other currencies. At the same time, easing geopolitical tensions and tighter trading conditions combined to intensify the downturn.
What drove gold’s steep fall?
Markets reacted swiftly after US President Donald Trump named Warsh, who is widely seen as hawkish on inflation, to lead the Federal Reserve. Expectations of a tougher stance on interest rates lifted the dollar and dampened demand for non-yielding assets like gold.
Spot gold slid more than 9 percent to $4,403.29 per ounce, its sharpest daily fall since 1983. Silver fared even worse, dropping over 13 percent on Monday after plunging 27 percent on Friday. Both metals had hit record highs just days earlier.
Selling pressure accelerated after CME Group raised margin requirements for metal futures, increasing trading costs and forcing many investors to pare back leveraged positions. Analysts said the move led to a rapid unwinding of speculative bets built up during the recent rally, reports The Economic Times.
Gold and silver were sold alongside equities, pointing to a broader market shift as investors reassessed risk. The dollar’s continued strength after Warsh’s nomination added further pressure on precious metals.
Beyond gold: a wider commodities selloff
The downturn spread well beyond bullion markets. Oil prices fell nearly 5.5 percent as signs of easing US-Iran tensions reduced supply concerns. Trump said Iran was in talks with Washington, while Tehran signalled it would not conduct live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Industrial metals also came under heavy pressure. Copper prices slid sharply as demand softened ahead of China’s Lunar New Year holiday, with the most-active contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange falling 9 percent. Aluminium, nickel and tin also hit limit-down levels.
On the London Metal Exchange, copper dropped nearly 5 percent, while aluminium, zinc, lead, nickel and tin posted steep losses, weighed down by high inventories and subdued buying interest.
Will gold fall further or rebound?
The immediate focus is whether gold will break below the $4,403 level or find support. Analysts say the selloff appears driven more by position unwinding and profit-taking than by a deterioration in fundamentals, suggesting the move could be a correction after an unusually rapid rally.
Outlooks remain divided. Some analysts believe gold could regain strength later in the year if economic risks resurface or expectations around US interest rates shift. For now, however, volatility is likely to persist as markets digest signals on US monetary policy and global growth.
What should investors watch?
Market watchers advise caution in the near term. Movements in the US dollar and signals from the Federal Reserve will be key drivers for gold prices. While some see the recent fall as a healthy correction, others warn that price swings could remain sharp.
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Long-term investors may prefer to wait for clearer signs of stability before increasing exposure, while short-term traders are urged to limit leverage amid higher margins and heightened volatility. Diversification, analysts say, remains crucial as markets navigate an uncertain phase.