Gold Holds Firm as Dollar Weakens
2026-04-30 23:49
By
Jam Kaimo Samonte
1 min. read
Gold steadied above $4,600 an ounce on Friday after rising nearly 2% in the prior session, supported by a sharp depreciation in the US dollar following reports that Japan intervened in currency markets.
A softer greenback typically lends support to gold, which is priced in US dollars.
Despite this, bullion remains on track for a second weekly decline amid dimming prospects for a US-Iran peace deal and expectations that the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen anytime soon.
Trump said that the US would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Tehran pledged not to abandon its nuclear program and signaled it would retain control of the strait.
The resulting energy supply disruption has heightened inflation concerns, reinforcing expectations that major central banks may keep interest rates elevated for longer or potentially tighten further.
Meanwhile, data from the World Gold Council showed that central banks increased their gold reserves in the first quarter.