01.05.2026 14:11

Gold slipped below$4,570 an ounce, its lowest level in a month, as the metal fell more than 1 % on Friday. The decline extends a pattern that began after the United States and Iran renewed hostilities in late February, a period during which gold has lost roughly 13 % of its value. Rising oil prices driven by the conflict have heightened inflation worries in major economies, pulling investors toward the U.S. dollar—a traditional safe‑haven—as the primary refuge from geopolitical risk.

Central banks are responding to the inflationary pressure with a more hawkish tone; the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan have all signaled the possibility of future interest‑rate increases. Higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non‑yielding assets such as gold, making bonds and cash comparatively more attractive. Citigroup analysts warn that these downward pressures are likely to persist in the near term, even as long‑term market participants remain upbeat about gold’s medium‑term prospects.