Gold Nears All-Time High; Fed Rate Cut Fuels Surge

• Gold prices are inching towards an all-time high, with the spot market price above $4,271 an ounce on December 12.
• Domestic gold futures for 24K purity opened at Rs 1,32,486 per 10 grams on MCX.
• Gold sales dropped 35% year-over-year in November 2025, attributed by analysts to higher prices.
• The US Federal Reserve cut its lending rate by 25 basis points, a move that typically encourages investment in assets like gold.
• Upcoming US job, inflation, and economic growth data are expected to determine gold's future price trajectory.

Why It Matters: Gold's near record high impacts investments and consumer spending amid Fed rate cuts.