Gold tumbles in biggest daily drop in more than five years as stunning precious metals rally comes to a halt

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices experienced a significant decline, marking the largest daily drop in years, as a rally in precious metals came to an abrupt halt [1][2]. Price Movements - Futures for gold dropped as much as 5%, nearing $4,141 per troy ounce, while spot gold fell over 6%, representing its largest one-day decline in 12 years [1]. - Silver futures also saw a decline of up to 7%, marking the largest drop in more than four years [1]. Market Conditions - The decline in gold prices coincided with easing trade tensions between the US and China, a strengthening US dollar, and technical indicators suggesting overbought conditions [2]. - Analysts noted that gold faced resistance when attempting to surpass $4,400, raising questions about whether the current slide indicates a necessary correction after a strong year-to-date performance [2]. Investor Sentiment - The first significant support level for gold is around $4,000, with potential buying interest around $4,200 [3]. - Investors previously bought the dip when gold briefly fell more than 1.5%, indicating ongoing interest despite recent price drops [3]. Economic Factors - Elevated inflation, low real interest rates, geopolitical concerns, and US government dysfunction are seen as supportive factors for gold prices [4]. - Gold has risen 28% since mid-August, driven by central bank purchases and inflows into gold-backed ETFs, as investors seek to hedge against trade tensions and currency fluctuations [4][6]. Future Projections - Analysts from Bank of America maintain a "long gold" recommendation, predicting a peak of $6,000 per ounce by mid-2026 [7]. - Goldman Sachs has raised its gold price target to $4,900 per troy ounce by the end of next year, up from a previous forecast of $4,300 [7]. - JPMorgan analysts project that gold could reach $6,000 per ounce by 2029 [8].