Gold slumps below $4,800 on renewed Strait of Hormuz tensions

Gold price tumbles to near $4,775 in Monday’s early Asian session.
The Strait of Hormuz was closed again, with Iranian authorities warning vessels not to approach it.
Traders brace for the US March Retail Sales data later on Tuesday.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

Gold price (XAU/USD) slumps to around $4,775 during the early Asian session on Monday. Traders digest renewed tensions between the United States (US) and Iran over the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Bloomberg reported on Sunday that Iran denied it would participate in new peace talks with the US, hours after US President Donald Trump said its negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for a second round of peace talks with Iran.

The Iranian military declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all commercial vessels, adding that it will target any ship approaching the strait until the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Expectations for US interest rate cuts this year have shifted significantly toward a "higher-for-longer" stance due to persistent inflation and geopolitical instability in the Middle East. Gold is often used amid geopolitical uncertainty, but it does not yield interest, making it less attractive when interest rates are high.

Traders will take more cues from the US Retail Sales report later on Tuesday. Retail Sales is projected to show a rise of 1.3% MoM in March, compared to 0.6% in February. However, if the report shows softer-than-expected inflation in the US, this could weigh on the US Dollar (USD) and support the USD-denominated commodity price.

Gold FAQs

Why do people invest in Gold?

Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.

Who buys the most Gold?

Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.

How is Gold correlated with other assets?

Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.

What does the price of Gold depend on?

The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

GBP/USD clings to small gains near 1.3450 after UK jobs data

GBP/USD trades in positive territory at around 1.3450 in the European session on Tuesday. The UK ILO Unemployment Rate remained at 4.9% in the three months to May, compared with expectations of 5%, but failed to provide any impetus to the British Pound's renewed uptick. Traders stay cautious amid US-Iran uncertainty and the UK political transition.

EUR/USD keeps range above 1.1400 after German ZEW

EUR/USD is keeping its range above 1.1400 in Tuesday's European session, as the US Dollar (USD) retreats following Monday's rebound. Nevertheless, the uncertainty around the US-Iran conflict limits the pair's upside. Meanwhile, the Euro (EUR) pays little heed to the strong German sentiment data, as traders await Thursday's European Central Bank policy announcements, which could drive the Euro's near-term valuation.

Gold extends recovery toward $4,100

Gold gains traction following Monday's choppy action and advances toward $4,100 on Tuesday. However, the uncertainty surrounding the conflict in the Middle East and growing expectations for a hawkish Federal Reserve policy outlook could make it difficult for the precious metal to gather bullish momentum in the near term.

Bitcoin extends advance as ETF inflows, Iran war mediators' proposal lift risk mood

Bitcoin extends its gains, trading above $65,800 after closing above the key technical hurdle the previous day. The bullish price action is further supported by the return of institutional demand, with spot Exchange Traded Funds continuing their inflows on Monday. In addition, the renewed hopes for peace between the US and Iran have lifted risk sentiment, providing an additional tailwind for the Crypto King.

Buy the dip on the Dow Jones and S&P? Forex Trading Gold descending triangle

Trading during a war, a pandemic, during trade disputes, and other geopolitical events, especially when some major players are sociopathic, can be quite challenging. The Iran war is no exception. The Iran war is no exception.

US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?

The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.