Gold Hits Record High On US Election Jitters

On Tuesday, gold prices soared to an all-time high, driven by several key factors. Increased demand for gold as a safe-haven asset, geopolitical uncertainties surrounding the US election and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, along with expectations of further monetary easing, all contributed to this surge.

Key Price Movements

• Spot Gold: By 12:25 p.m. ET (1625 GMT), spot gold rose by 0.7%, reaching $2,739.81 per ounce. It peaked earlier in the session at a record $2,744.08.
• US Gold Futures: Gaining 0.6% to hit $2,754.30.

Year-to-Date Performance

Gold has experienced remarkable growth this year, up over 32%, breaking multiple records. The appeal of gold as a hedge against economic and political instability is heightened by lower interest rates, making it an attractive investment option.

Geopolitical Influences

Peter A. Grant, Vice President and Senior Metals Strategist at Zaner Metals, emphasised that geopolitical tensions are the main driver behind this surge. With the US election just two weeks away and a tight race between candidates, political uncertainty is boosting safe-haven demand for gold.

“Certainly if things heat up further in the Middle East, we could see $3,000 before the end of the year,” Grant noted, adding that he leans more toward Q1 for such a spike. He also pointed out that ongoing monetary easing by major central banks is fueling the rally.

Election Dynamics

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris holding a slight lead over former President Donald Trump (46% to 43%). Analysts at BNP Paribas highlighted that the narrowing odds between candidates have created uncertainty that supports gold prices.

Technical Analysis

From a technical standpoint, gold’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 74, indicating that prices are currently in “overbought” territory.

Silver and Other Precious Metals

• Spot Silver: Increased by 2.8%, reaching $34.72 per ounce, after hitting its highest price since late 2012 earlier in the session.
• Market Projections: Han Tan, Chief Market Analyst at Exinity Group, predicts silver could surpass $35 before the November 5 polling day if favourable conditions for precious metals persist.
• Platinum and Palladium: Both metals also showed positive growth:
  • Platinum rose by approximately 2.6% to $1,029.10 per ounce.
  • Palladium increased by 2.2% to $1,074.38.

In summary, the combination of geopolitical tensions and economic factors continues to drive significant interest in gold and other precious metals as investors seek stability amidst uncertainty.