Gold prices rise, shrugging off jump in dollar on bets bullion demand to persist

Published 2025/02/18, 08:14
Updated 2025/02/18, 21:12
© Reuters

Investing.com-- Gold prices jumped Tuesday, shrugging off a jump in the dollar on bets that strong demand from central banks are likely to continue. 

Spot gold rose 1.2% to $2,932.94 an ounce, while gold futures expiring in April rose 1.8% to $2,952.04 an ounce by 00:45 ET (05:45 GMT). 

But broader metal prices came under pressure from a stronger dollar

Goldman Sachs sees gold at $3,100 by end-2025 

Goldman Sachs on Monday hiked its year-end price forecast for gold to $3,100 an ounce from $2,890 an ounce, citing increased central bank demand.

The investment bank said that higher central bank demand will add 9% to gold prices by end-2025. The gain will also include higher ETF holdings, as global interest rates fall.

This should help the yellow metal weather softer safe haven demand, especially if uncertainty over U.S. policies clears.

But if policy uncertainty, especially tariff fears, persist in the coming months, GS sees gold surging as high as $3,300 an ounce by end-2025. 

Several global central banks, specifically those in emerging markets, have increased their gold buying over the past year on rising uncertainty over U.S. policies and strength in the dollar.

Tariff jitters, rate uncertainty persists 

Safe haven demand remained underpinned by continued uncertainty over Trump’s plans for trade tariffs, even as the U.S. President signaled that his reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners will only be imposed by April.

But reports over the weekend showed the European Union was considering import controls on certain U.S. goods- a move that could mark an escalation in trade tensions with the U.S.

Trump had last week imposed 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum, ramping up concerns over retaliatory measures from other countries. 

Additionally, markets remained on edge over U.S. interest rates remaining high for longer. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Tuesday that while he did not see Trump’s tariffs causing a major spike in inflation, he still supported keeping interest rates steady for longer.

Waller’s comments come after data last week showed U.S. inflation grew more than expected in January. 

The dollar rebounded from recent losses on Tuesday, pressuring broader metal markets. 

Platinum futures fell 1% to $1,007.85 an ounce, while silver futures rose 1.7% to $33.417 an ounce.

Among industrial metals, benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.7% to $9,464.00 a ton, while March copper futures fell 1.7% to $4.5838 a pound. Copper prices were hit with some profit-taking in recent sessions after a strong run-up since late-January.

(Ambar Warrick contributed to this story)

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