Gold Trims Losses After Trump’s Iran Strike Delay

Gold climbed to over $4,600 an ounce on Friday, its highest level since mid-May, and extended weekly gains to around 5%. The rally was supported by renewed concerns over US fiscal sustainability after the Treasury unexpectedly increased its planned purchases of longer-dated government debt, pushing bond yields and the dollar lower. The intervention has raised questions about Washington’s ability to manage rising borrowing costs and reinforced demand for gold as an alternative store of value. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that further buybacks could follow, while the administration is preparing additional measures to address elevated financing costs. Meanwhile, rising oil prices could limit further gains by keeping inflation pressures elevated and reducing expectations for interest-rate cuts. The US campaign to intensify economic pressure on Iran has also weakened hopes for a quick reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, supporting energy prices.

Gold traded above $4,500 an ounce on Friday and was on course for a third consecutive weekly gain, as investors turned to safe-haven metals amid heightened volatility across currency and bond markets, while rising oil prices continued to underscore inflationary risks. The precious metal jumped more than 4% on Wednesday after the US Treasury Department announced plans to at least double its long-term debt buybacks in an effort to contain borrowing costs, driving Treasury yields and the dollar sharply lower. Gold held on to those gains even after Treasury yields reversed Wednesday’s decline amid concerns that the government’s efforts to rein in long-term borrowing costs may provide only a temporary solution. Meanwhile, oil prices extended their advance as the US prepares sweeping new economic sanctions against Iran. Elsewhere, gold remained supported by robust investment demand and continued central bank purchases, particularly from China.

Gold prices rose to $4,530 per ounce on Thursday, holding yesterday's rally at the highest since June as the US Treasury's intervention on bond markets lowered the dollar and reignited the debasement trade. The Treasury Department at least doubled the buyback of notes and bonds in the upcoming financial quarter. It marked another effort by Washington to contain soaring yields in the longer portion of the curve, following Secretary Bessent's call for higher limits on the Federal Reserve's FIMA facility. Lower borrowing costs reduce the opportunity cost for markets to hold precious metals, which carry no coupons. The looming increase in deficit spending combined with expectations that the US government is actively suppressing borrowing costs strengthened calls that precious metals are the ideal protection to downside risks to the dollar's purchasing power.