Gold Volatile Amid Middle East Uncertainty
2026-04-23 00:20
By
Jam Kaimo Samonte
1 min. read
Gold traded near $4,750 an ounce on Thursday, remaining volatile as markets continued to grapple with elevated uncertainty in the Middle East and the ongoing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, which has kept energy prices high and inflation risks elevated.
Tehran has maintained control over the waterway, restricting nearly all international traffic and reportedly firing on commercial vessels this week.
The US has also upheld its blockade of Iranian ports to intensify pressure on the Islamic Republic, a move Tehran has condemned as a breach of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the current truce would remain in place indefinitely as Washington awaits a new peace proposal from Iran.
Gold has faced sustained pressure since the conflict began, as surging energy prices have fueled inflation concerns and raised the prospect of central bank rate hikes.
The precious metal is currently down roughly 10% since the onset of the war.