Gold climbs above $5,250 as Middle East tensions fuel safe-haven demand
By lauraharris // 2026-03-03
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  • Gold climbed above $5,250 an ounce on Feb. 27, while silver jumped to $94, as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions boosted demand for safe-haven assets.
  • The rally comes amid stalled nuclear talks and a U.S. military buildup ordered by Donald Trump, heightening geopolitical uncertainty.
  • Despite a sharp selloff in January, gold remains up about 20% this year, supported by strong inflows into gold-backed ETFs and sustained buying interest.
  • Analysts from TD Securities, JPMorgan Private Bank, Bank of America and JPMorgan say tariff uncertainty and Middle East risks could trigger another breakout, with some projecting prices as high as $6,000 per ounce within a year.
  • Markets are also watching U.S. monetary policy, as Austan Goolsbee signaled that multiple interest rate cuts could be possible if inflation eases, a move that could further support non-yielding assets like gold.
Gold extended its rally on Friday, Feb. 27, as escalating tensions in the Middle East unsettled global markets and pushed investors toward traditional safe-haven assets. Spot gold rose as much as 1.2% to trade above $5,250 an ounce, putting the metal on track for another weekly advance. Silver also surged, climbing 6% to $94 an ounce, as precious metals broadly benefited from heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The gains come amid a tense standoff between the United States and Iran over a potential nuclear agreement. President Donald Trump has ordered a significant buildup of U.S. military assets in the region, adding to investor concerns. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a U.S.-Israel joint airstrike. The renewed tensions have helped bullion rebound from January's sharp selloff, when prices plunged more than 10% in their steepest single-day drop since 1980. Despite that volatility, gold remains up roughly 20% for the year, holding firm above the key $5,000-an-ounce level. Investor appetite has also strengthened in gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with inflows this week more than offsetting the late-January pullback. BrightU.AI's Enoch defines ETFs as investment vehicles that allow investors to buy or sell shares of an underlying basket of securities, such as stocks, bonds or commodities, on stock exchanges. Analysts say ETF buying signals growing demand for protection against geopolitical instability and broader economic risks. If Friday's gains are sustained, gold would notch its seventh consecutive monthly increase – its longest winning streak since 1973. Markets are also closely monitoring U.S. monetary policy. Austan Goolsbee, president of the Chicago Fed, said multiple interest rate cuts could be possible this year if inflation continues to ease, a scenario that could further support non-yielding assets like gold.

Gold poised for breakout as tariff fears and Iran tensions fuel $6,000 price calls

Some analysts believe gold may be poised for another breakout, fueled by tariff-related inflationary pressures and Middle East instability. "There's an inflationary impact from tariffs and high oil prices, especially if an attack is imminent, and I think there's also some hedging by investors, who may be turning to gold," said Bart Melek, global head of commodity strategy at TD Securities. Yuxuan Tang, head of macro strategy for Asia at JPMorgan Private Bank, echoed a similar stance. "It seems a breakout to the upside is in the making," said Tang, citing tariff uncertainty and Iran-related risks as potential catalysts for sustained gains. In a recent note, Bank of America said renewed tariff uncertainty could shorten the current consolidation period and projected gold could reach $6,000 an ounce over the next 12 months. Analysts at JPMorgan have raised their long-term forecast to $4,500 per ounce while maintaining a year-end target of $6,300. So far this year, gold has surged more than 18%, building on its strongest annual performance since 1979, underscoring continued investor appetite for assets seen as a hedge against economic and geopolitical turbulence. Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how China is quietly buying up the world's gold supply in preparation for the coming demise of the American dollar.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Mining.com 1 Mining.com 2 BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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