What's Driven Gold Prices Up in 2025?

Core Viewpoint - Gold has experienced a remarkable year, with prices up approximately 63%, marking its best performance since 1979 [1] Group 1: Price Drivers - Various developments from the White House have acted as bullish drivers for gold, contributing to its prominence in financial market discussions [2] - Central banks have significantly increased their gold purchases, buying around 1,000 tons annually since 2022, up from about 500 tons, which has supported prices due to their price inelastic purchasing habits [5] - The return of ETF investments has been notable, with over 500 tons purchased this year, aligning with the price rally, which is a shift from previous trends of outflows during price increases [4][3] Group 2: Future Outlook - Analysts have set bullish targets for gold prices, with projections reaching as high as $4,900 by the end of next year and $5,000 by the end of 2026 [7][8] - A small percentage of U.S. investor portfolios currently holds gold, less than 0.2%, suggesting that even a minor increase in this allocation could significantly impact gold prices, potentially increasing them by 1.4% for each basis point increase [9] - Concerns about the debasement trade and the purchasing power of investments may drive retail investors to allocate more to gold, which could further support price increases [10]