Gold Falls, Posts Nearly 5% Weekly Loss

Gold prices ended Friday’s volatile trading lower, recording a weekly loss following a wave of profit-taking in the final sessions of 2025, after several precious metals had reached record highs.

 

Gold futures for February delivery fell 0.26%, or $11.5, to $4,329.60 per ounce, extending weekly losses to 4.90%, after having ended the previous Friday’s session at a record level.

 

Earlier in the session, gold prices had risen by more than 1%, as precious metals markets rebounded from recent profit-taking, alongside the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s decision to raise margin requirements on metals futures contracts.

 

Optimism has also prevailed among precious metals traders regarding the outlook for monetary easing in the US in the new year, with investors expecting the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates twice in 2026.

 

Meanwhile, demand for safe-haven assets remains resilient as markets continue to monitor developments in the Russia–Ukraine peace talks, in addition to rising geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean and the Middle East.