Gold price today, Wednesday, February 4: Gold rises back over $5,000 in early trading

Group 1: Gold Price Trends - Gold futures opened at $4,966.10 per troy ounce, up 0.6% from the previous closing price of $4,935, and rose above $5,000 in early trading [1] - The gold price has been volatile in 2026, following a nearly 65% increase in 2025, with a peak above $5,500 on January 29 and a drop to $4,400 on February 2 [1][2] - As of January 29, gold's one-year gain was 95.6%, with a decrease of 6.3% over the past week, an increase of 14.1% over the past month, and a gain of 75.6% over the past year [4][9] Group 2: Factors Influencing Gold Prices - Key factors driving gold's historical rally include demand from central banks and ETFs, falling interest rates, and geopolitical tensions [2] - Investors are closely monitoring gold prices for opportunities, with profit-taking observed after the January high and opportunistic buying following the February low [2] Group 3: Investment Options in Gold - Common investment options in gold include physical gold, gold mining stocks, gold ETFs, and gold futures [10] - Physical gold is tangible and easy to purchase, while gold mining stocks can be volatile due to their profits being tied to gold prices and exposure to geopolitical risks [12] - Gold ETFs track the price of gold and can invest in physical gold, mining stocks, or futures, with SPDR Gold Shares being the largest ETF backed by physical gold [16] Group 4: Pros and Cons of Investment Options - Advantages of physical gold include easy accessibility and no ongoing fees, while disadvantages include risks of theft and lower liquidity [17] - Gold mining stocks offer greater liquidity and no storage requirements, but they are more volatile and lack utility as a medium of exchange [18] - Gold ETFs provide ease of storage and greater liquidity, but they come with fund fees that can dilute returns [22]