Gold prices moved up slightly in Asian trading on Friday after a difficult and bumpy week. Many traders saw the lower prices as a chance to buy, much like shoppers waiting for a sale after prices suddenly drop.
Even with this rebound, gold was still about $800 per ounce below its recent record high, showing how quickly markets can change. For the week, spot gold was down about 0.9%, and it struggled to stay above the important $5,000 per ounce level that many investors watch closely.
Analysts from ANZ said gold did not fall as hard as other metals because it is easier to trade and fewer investors were betting aggressively against it. In simple terms, gold had more “steady hands” holding it.
Another reason for softer demand was easing tension between the United States and Iran. Since the two countries planned talks in Oman, some investors felt less need to buy gold as a “safe haven” during fear or conflict.
Silver suffers sharp slide
Silver had a much tougher time than gold. On Thursday, spot silver fell as much as 16% in one day, one of its worst drops in years, though it recovered a bit by evening. Even with that bounce, silver was still down around 14% for the week after nearly an 18% crash from last week’s highs.
On Friday, spot silver jumped 2.8% to $72.97 per ounce, but futures slipped 5.1% to $72.76, showing confusion in the market.
OCBC analysts warned that the $70–$90 range is now a critical “safety zone” for silver.
Key levels to watch:
- If silver breaks below $70, prices could fall toward $58–$60.
- If silver holds above $70, a new rally could form later.
- Big one-day swings show silver is far more volatile than gold.
Why metals fell this week
Precious metals fell partly because the U.S. dollar became stronger. This happened after President Donald Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as a possible future Federal Reserve chair. Investors saw him as less likely to cut interest rates, which usually helps gold.
A stronger dollar makes gold and silver more expensive for buyers using other currencies, so demand fell. The dollar was heading for its best week since early October despite weak U.S. jobs data.
Other metals also struggled: platinum dropped 1.8% to $1,953.17 per ounce and was down nearly 10% for the week, after a brutal 22% fall the week before.
What this means for everyday readers
Think of gold like a steady giant ship in a storm — it moves, but not wildly. Silver is more like a speedboat — fast up, fast down. When world politics feel calmer and the dollar rises, both metals usually cool off. When fear returns, they often shine again.
For now, investors are watching three things closely: U.S.–Iran talks, the strength of the dollar, and whether silver can stay above $70.
