Gold prices steadied near $4,080 per ounce on Monday, after two days of declines, as investors paused to assess a wave of upcoming U.S. economic reports that could shape the Federal Reserve’s next moves.
The spotlight is on Thursday’s September non-farm payrolls report, which will give insight into the health of the U.S. labor market. On Wednesday, traders will also examine the Fed’s latest meeting minutes for clues about the central bank’s policy direction.
Recent comments from Federal Reserve officials have been relatively hawkish, reducing expectations for a December rate cut. The market now sees a 46% chance of a reduction, down from more than 60% earlier this month.
Despite these short-term swings, gold has had a remarkable year, climbing 55% and positioning itself for its strongest annual gain since 1979.
The rally has been fueled by continued central bank purchases and strong demand from investors seeking a safe haven amid rising fiscal pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
On November 17, 2025, gold rose slightly to $4,086.41 per ounce, marking a 0.07% increase from the previous day.
Over the past month, prices have eased by 6.23%, but they remain 56.43% higher than a year ago, according to contract-for-difference (CFD) trading that mirrors the benchmark gold market.
