Gold prices held steady on Monday at around $4,258 an ounce, up 0.19% from Friday’s close, as investors monitored U.S.-China trade negotiations and ongoing economic uncertainty.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are scheduled to meet this week in Malaysia to resume talks following last week’s flare-up in trade tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that negotiations could produce an agreement, describing his threatened high tariffs on Chinese goods as “unsustainable.”
The metal has surged more than 60% this year, driven by geopolitical tensions, expectations of further U.S. interest rate cuts, strong central bank buying, and inflows into gold-backed ETFs. Safe-haven demand has also increased amid a U.S. government shutdown, which has extended into another week without resolution.
Over the past month, gold has risen 13.63%, and it is up 56.47% compared to the same time last year, according to contract-for-difference (CFD) trading. The metal recently reached an all-time high of $4,379.60 in October 2025.
Analysts note that the combination of strong investor demand, macroeconomic uncertainty, and central bank support has underpinned prices, even as equities and risk assets show volatility.
Markets are currently pricing in a 25-basis-point cut at the Federal Reserve’s meeting later this month, with another expected in December, further bolstering gold’s appeal.
Monday’s stability comes after a sharp drop on Friday, as traders adjusted positions ahead of the U.S.-China talks and ahead of key economic data due later this week.
Gold continues to attract attention from investors seeking a hedge against inflation, currency volatility, and geopolitical risk, making it one of the standout performers in global commodity markets in 2025.
