Gold, Silver Soar as US-Venezuela Tensions Ignite Safe-Haven Demand

• Gold and silver prices surged Monday due to escalating US-Venezuela geopolitical tensions, triggering strong safe-haven demand.
• Spot gold rose 1.9% to $4,411.14 per ounce, a one-week high, while spot silver jumped 4.4% to $75.82 per ounce.
• The market reacted to the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US, with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assuming interim leadership.
• Monetary policy expectations, including potential Fed rate cuts later in the year, also supported bullion prices.
• Precious metals closed 2025 with record gains: gold up 64% and silver up 147%, driven by central bank purchases and industrial demand.

Why It Matters: US-Venezuela tensions and safe-haven demand drive gold and silver prices sharply higher.