Gold Soars to Record $4,400: Geopolitical Tensions, Rate Cut Hopes Fuel Historic Rally

• Gold reached a record high of $4,403.60 per ounce, with February 2026 futures hitting $4,442.55, marking a nearly 70% increase this year.
• The surge is driven by gold's status as a safe-haven asset amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including US-Venezuela and Israel-Iran conflicts.
• Expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts next year and a weaker US dollar are also significant factors pushing prices up.
• Steady central bank buying has provided consistent support for the precious metal's upward trajectory.
• While platinum and palladium also saw significant gains, experts caution potential investors about profit-taking risks despite gold's traditional safe-haven appeal.

Why It Matters: Gold hits record $4,400/ounce, driven by global tensions, rate cut hopes, and a weaker dollar.