(Kitco News) - The gold market continues to regain lost ground, and although the precious metal isn’t out of danger just yet, current prices still represent an attractive entry point for investors looking to build a position, according to Wells Fargo. In the bank’s mid-year outlook webinar, Sameer Samana, Head of Global Equities and Real Assets Strategy, said there is still a risk that gold prices could fall below $4,000 per ounce, but he is maintaining a long-term bullish outlook. On Tuesday, the bank raised its year-end gold target to $5,300-$5,500 an ounce and expects prices to climb further to $5,800-$6,000 by the end of 2027. The bank's strategists argue that the forces driving gold's rally are structural rather than cyclical, suggesting the current bull market still has room to run. Gold remains one of Wells Fargo's highest-conviction investment ideas, as the bank sees persistent inflation pressures, rising government debt, and elevated geopolitical uncertainty continuing to support the precious metal through 2027. "We firmly believe that gold is that additional diversifier," said Samana. "More and more in this highly uncertain world, central banks are looking around for something in addition to U.S. Treasuries and cash with respect to where to park their reserves." The outlook comes as gold continues to recover from a sharp correction after posting strong gains over the past two years, culminating in a record high in January. Spot gold last traded at $4,357.10 an ounce, up 0.61% on the day. However, gold prices are still down more than 20% from their highs at the start of the year. During the webinar, Chief Investment Officer Darrell Cronk described 2026 as being driven by "geopolitics, geography and geology," highlighting ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe alongside intensifying competition for critical resources. He said these trends are helping to reshape global investment flows and support demand for real assets. While Wells Fargo expects inflation to moderate somewhat in the second half of the year, the bank does not see a return to the low-inflation environment that characterized the decade before the pandemic. Inflation has been supported by tariffs, higher energy costs, and growing artificial intelligence-related demand, according to Cronk. That inflation outlook is one reason Wells Fargo remains skeptical that long-term Treasury yields will fall significantly from current levels. During the briefing, Cronk argued that markets continue to underestimate the impact of persistent inflation and rising fiscal deficits on bond yields. "I think the market has gotten interest rates wrong for some time now," he said, noting that Wells Fargo entered the year expecting Treasury yields to remain higher than Wall Street consensus forecasts. He added that inflation premiums, term premiums, and growth expectations all point to long-term yields remaining elevated. Those dynamics could prove particularly supportive for gold . Responding to a question about whether inflation could outpace bond yields and potentially push real yields lower, Cronk said the Federal Reserve remains constrained by its dual mandate and is unlikely to aggressively tighten policy unless inflation accelerates materially. While Wells Fargo expects inflation to cool somewhat as energy markets stabilize, the bank sees continued pressure from fiscal spending and structural investment trends. Samana said that this environment creates a compelling asymmetric opportunity for gold investors. "To me, it's one of the highest-convexity ideas that we have," he said. "For gold to not do well, you would need countries around the world to rein in their deficits and defend price stability. The fact that policymakers will always take the easy way out, to me, is the case for gold ." He added that while gold could experience periodic pullbacks, the long-term risk-reward profile remains attractive. "I think eventually you're seeing something with a six handle out in 2027," Samana said, referring to Wells Fargo's expectation that gold prices could surpass $6,000 an ounce over the next 18 months. Beyond gold , Wells Fargo is also constructive on industrial metals, arguing that artificial intelligence infrastructure spending, data center construction, and global electrification trends should continue to support demand for copper and other key materials. The bank expects both precious and industrial metals to benefit from the global race to secure strategic resources and build next-generation technologies. Source： https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-17/golds-bull-market-has-room-run-inflation-risks-fiscal-deficits-support

Jun 05, 2026 - 12:31 AM Rising inflation pressures due to the ongoing war in Iran mean investors will have to wait a little longer for gold to break out of its current consolidation phase, according to Carsten Fritsch, commodity analyst at Commerzbank. Fritsch noted that gold’s price action since the war started has been counterintuitive to fundamental market beliefs. The precious metal, traditionally seen as an inflation hedge, has fallen even as the global energy crisis pushes consumer prices higher. At the same time, despite the chaos in the Middle East, gold has been unable to attract a safe-haven bid. However, Fritsch explained that the gold market is currently struggling as market expectations around U.S. monetary policy have shifted dramatically since the Iran conflict began. “Before the start of the Iran war, market participants had expected the Fed to cut interest rates by around 50 basis points this year. Since the start of the war and the resulting rise in oil prices, there has been a noticeable shift in interest rate expectations. Fed Funds futures currently imply a US key interest rate of around 3.8% at the end of the year. With an effective Fed rate of just over 3.6%, the market therefore expects the Fed to raise interest rates later this year. A 25-basis-point rate hike is fully priced in by spring 2027,” he said. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets see more than a 50% chance of a rate hike in December. The threat of rising interest rates is increasing the opportunity cost of holding gold, a non-yielding asset. In this environment, Commerzbank has adjusted its year-end price target. The German bank sees gold prices ending the year at around $4,800 an ounce, down from its initial target of $5,000. “This implies some upside potential for the coming months, as our new base-case scenario envisages a two-month transition period, followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a decline in Brent oil prices, which should reverse the current expectations of interest rate hikes,” Fritsch said. The updated outlook comes as gold prices continue to struggle below $4,500 an ounce. Spot gold was last trading at $4,483.95 an ounce, up 1.11% on the day. However, Commerzbank’s updated target suggests the market could see an 8% rally from current prices by year-end. Fritsch said there is still potential for gold, as Commerzbank does not expect the Federal Reserve to raise rates this year. The bank’s economists forecast that rates will remain unchanged and that the next move is still likely to be a cut. However, Fritsch said the next rate cut is not expected until at least the second quarter of 2027. “We therefore maintain our price forecast of USD 5,200 per troy ounce for the end of 2027,” he said. “The structural factors supporting gold remain entirely intact. These include eroding confidence in the US dollar as a reserve currency, which is likely to lead to further gold purchases by central banks. Investor interest in gold is also likely to remain high. This is supported by the already high and rapidly rising levels of government debt, which are leading to monetary policy that is too loose when measured against inflation.” Along with its revised gold forecast, Fritsch has also downgraded his silver outlook. Commerzbank expects silver prices to end the year at around $80 an ounce. “In addition to the lowered gold price forecast, weaker industrial demand for silver also points to a slightly lower silver price. According to the latest assessment by the Silver Institute, industrial demand is set to decline for the second consecutive year, falling to a four-year low. Nevertheless, the silver market remains tight, which is why we expect the silver price to rise in the coming year,” he said. Commerzbank projects silver prices to end 2027 at around $90 an ounce, down from its previous target of $95 an ounce. Source： https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-04/commerzbank-not-giving-metals-sees-4800oz-gold-80oz-silver-year-end

June 2, 2026 The magic number is wavering, but it’s holding: The price of gold is currently struggling to break through the technically and psychologically crucial barrier of $4,500 per ounce. While the precious metal remains in positive territory, a surprisingly robust U.S. labor market is creating significant economic headwinds. For commodity investors, the key question now is: Is gold merely gathering strength at these high levels for the next breakout, or is the U.S. economy providing the Federal Reserve with the perfect excuse for a more restrictive interest rate policy? JOLTS data blows past forecasts The latest JOLTS report (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) from the U.S. Department of Labor sent an unmistakable signal to the markets: Demand for labor in the U.S. is booming. Instead of the stagnation at 6.87 million job openings for April that economists had consensus-wise expected, the figure shot up to a whopping 7.62 million. That is not only a massive jump from the March figure (6.89 million), but also a substantial increase of around half a million available jobs compared to April 2025. A closer look at the sectors reveals a two-pronged economic dynamic: While the number of job openings in professional and business services rose sharply, the finance and insurance sector saw noticeable declines. Focus on Fed Policy: Headwinds for the Interest-Free Precious Metal Despite this extremely strong data, there was no immediate shock reaction in the gold market. Spot gold recently held steady at $4,502.90 per ounce, representing a moderate daily gain. However, the precious metal was unable to break out decisively to the upside. For analysts, the danger is obvious: such a resilient labor market gives the Federal Reserve (Fed) the necessary leeway to avoid being pressured into premature monetary easing in the fight against inflation. In this environment, even another interest rate hike by year-end is back in the spotlight for traders. Since rising interest rates increase the opportunity cost of non-interest-bearing investments like gold, the price automatically comes under pressure. Conclusion: The stalemate continues In the short term, the zone around $4,500 remains the absolute key area. As long as there are no dynamic follow-up purchases here to confirm this level as solid support, caution is advised. The gold market is caught between simmering inflation concerns and the prospect of persistently high interest rates. The coming weeks will show whether the JOLTS report was merely a statistical outlier or marks the beginning of a reassessment of Fed policy. Source: https://goldinvest.de/en/the-battle-for-usd4-500-why-the-hot-u-s-job-market-is-becoming-a-stress-test-for-gold

Jun 01, 2026, 00:43 AM Gold slips as stronger dollar and oil rally blunt haven demand. Traders await Trump decision on Iran ceasefire as Fed risks grow anew. Silver, platinum and palladium rise even as bullion loses fresh momentum. Gold fell in early trading on Monday as a stronger dollar and a jump in oil prices dulled demand for bullion, with investors weighing the prospect of a longer Middle East conflict and its implications for inflation and US monetary policy. Spot gold declined 0.4% to $4,518.09 an ounce as of 0306 GMT, leaving it down 0.1% for the week. US gold futures for August delivery dropped 1% to $4,548.90 an ounce. The move came as the dollar firmed, making bullion more expensive for buyers using other currencies. Oil also climbed more than 2% , trading above $93 a barrel, adding to concerns that energy-driven inflation could remain sticky if geopolitical tensions persist. Gold, which pays no interest, often comes under pressure when the dollar rises or when markets price in a firmer interest-rate outlook. That dynamic was on display on Monday, even as the metal retained support from geopolitical uncertainty. Traders await Trump decision The market’s attention is centred on US President Donald Trump’s expected decision on a proposal to extend a ceasefire between Iran and its regional enemies for several months. Negotiations between Iran and the US remain difficult, with the two sides still far apart on key terms. A longer ceasefire could ease some of the pressure on energy markets and reduce demand for defensive assets. Failure to reach an agreement, however, could keep oil prices elevated and reinforce inflation concerns. Tim Waterer, market analyst at KCM Trade, said investors were waiting for clearer signals from Washington before taking stronger positions in gold. The uncertainty has left bullion caught between competing forces. On one side, geopolitical risk continues to support demand for safe-haven assets. On the other, a stronger dollar and higher oil prices are prompting traders to reassess the path for US interest rates. Fed inflation risk in focus Federal Reserve officials are also watching the conflict for signs that higher energy costs could feed into broader inflation. Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman has flagged the risk that a prolonged shock could make inflation more persistent, potentially affecting the central bank’s policy outlook. That matters for gold because expectations of tighter policy tend to raise bond yields and reduce the appeal of non-yielding assets. Any sign that the Fed may need to keep rates higher for longer, or even consider a more restrictive stance, could cap bullion’s gains. Still, analysts say the longer-term case for gold has not disappeared. They said that metal could still reach $5,500 by the end of 2026 if several supportive factors align, including lower oil prices, a weaker dollar, stronger central-bank buying and continued demand for gold as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risk. Other precious metals rise Elsewhere in precious metals, silver gained 0.4% to $75.58 an ounce and was up 0.6% for the week. Platinum rose 1.1% to $1,937.30 an ounce, taking its year-to-date gain to 13.3%. Palladium advanced 1.2% to $1,370.50 an ounce and was up 6.2% so far this year. For now, gold remains sensitive to shifts in the dollar, oil prices and developments around the Middle East ceasefire talks. Until investors have more clarity on the duration of the conflict and its inflationary impact, bullion is likely to trade less on safe-haven demand alone and more on how energy prices feed into the Fed’s rate debate. Source： https://invezz.com/news/2026/06/01/will-gold-hit-5500-as-oil-shock-and-fed-rate-risks-unsettle-markets/

May 29, 2026 A crumbling foundation for U.S. growth, coupled with stubborn inflation and renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, are exacerbating the Federal Reserve’s macroeconomic dilemma. For investors in real assets, this mix of data recently sent a clear signal: while stock markets are struggling to digest monetary policy uncertainty, precious metals have posted significant gains. Spot gold rebounded noticeably, and industrially driven silver rose even more dynamically. U.S. growth falters – inflation remains hot The U.S. economy is losing momentum faster than expected. Economic growth for the first quarter was revised down significantly from the previously reported 2.0% to an annualized 1.6%. This slowdown temporarily eased pressure on bond yields. In contrast, inflation remains stubbornly high, causing headaches for the Federal Reserve: The PCE price index for April rose 0.4% month-over-month and remains at a high 3.8% year-over-year. The core PCE index (excluding food and energy), which is crucial for monetary policy, rose by 0.2% month-over-month and 3.3% year-over-year. Both indicators thus remain well above the official stability target of 2%. For the gold price, it was primarily the interplay of these factors that tipped the scales on Thursday: The combination of weaker growth and a slightly cooler monthly core PCE figure eased concerns about further interest rate hikes, causing the dollar index (-0.1% to 99.16) and yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds to decline slightly. Since physical precious metals do not yield interest, their relative attractiveness increased as a result of this stabilization. Geopolitical powder keg in the Strait of Hormuz In addition to U.S. monetary policy, geopolitical risk in the Strait of Hormuz is driving up risk premiums in the markets. The critical waterway, through which a large portion of global crude oil exports passes, remains fiercely contested. Over the past 48 hours, ongoing skirmishes in the area have kept volatility high. Although a preliminary 60-day framework plan is currently being negotiated—which calls for an extension of the ceasefire, the reopening of shipping lanes without fees, and a resumption of nuclear talks—a final agreement has yet to be reached. For the real assets sector, this results in two opposing effects: A diplomatic solution would dampen oil prices and ease inflation concerns, which could weaken the dollar and support precious metals. Further military escalation, on the other hand, would further fuel energy prices (WTI currently at $88.90, Brent at $92.72) and thus global inflation, forcing the Fed to adopt a restrictive stance. Conclusion: In the short term, the gold price remains caught between weakening U.S. economic data and geopolitically driven inflation risks. However, the fundamentals for hard assets appear extremely robust in this stagflationary environment. Source： https://goldinvest.de/en/gold-price-caught-in-a-stagflation-dilemma-u-s-weakness-meets-the-hormuz-crisis

22 May, 2026 Highlights Gold import duty was raised sharply by 9%– from 6% to 15%, the steepest increase on record – alongside broader regulatory tightening Domestic gold prices have not yet fully reflected the duty hike amid weak demand and ample supply; local markets are currently in deep discount from the landed price 1 Past trends indicate that higher duty increases unofficial inflows, although official imports remain relatively resilient Gold demand is expected to moderate in 2026, with jewellery and bar and coin demand projected to decline by 50–60t (~10% y/y) on account of the import duty hike. Policy actions on gold imports Since early April the government has adopted a series of measures aimed at moderating gold imports. These have been part of a broader push to conserve foreign exchange reserves amid geopolitical uncertainty and mounting pressure on the INR, which has depreciated by more than 7% y-t-d. These measures include price-based actions, administrative and regulatory tightening, and consumer-directed messaging. While noteworthy, they are not unprecedented; gold is among the top five imports for India, accounting for 8% of the country’s merchandise imports in 2025, and similar measures have been utilised in the past. On the price front, the gold import duty was raised sharply from 6% to 15%, making it the single largest increase on record and fully reversing the duty cut of July 2024 ( Chart 1 ). Rules were also tightened for gold imports linked to exports (under the advance authorisation scheme) 2 and the Prime Minister has directly appealed to consumers, urging them to avoid buying gold for a year. 3 Chart 1: Import duty reverses course Customs duty on gold (%)* *As of 13 May 2026 Source: CBIC, World Gold Council. These measures followed a series of policy actions that were seen as efforts to slow the import of gold, including the delay in issuing annual licenses for bullion imports to banks, 4 restrictions on the import of all forms of gold, silver and platinum jewellery and platinum alloys; 5 and continued delay in issuance of notification exempting banks from the Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST), 6 which led to the banks pausing bullion imports for over a month. 7 The pattern of gold import duty revisions To date, India’s gold import duty revisions have been infrequent, with long periods of stability between policy revisions. Gold imports were subject to a flat duty (a fixed rupee amount per 10g) prior to 2012, but this was subsequently replaced by a value-based duty structure. Between 2012 and 2013 duties were raised repeatedly through a series of 2% hikes, up to 10%. This was followed by a prolonged gap of nearly six years before a further 2.5% hike in July 2019. Since then, revisions have become larger and more frequent, including duty cuts in 2021 and 2024 and sharp hikes in 2022 and 2026, reflecting a more active use of import duties to manage trade dynamics. Table 1: India’s gold import duty cycle Source: CBIC, World Gold Council Price adjustment – the tariff lag effect As expected, the import duty hike led to an immediate increase in domestic gold prices. However, the rise in prices was lower than the 9% increase in duty. Physical market prices, proxied by the MCX spot gold price, have risen in the range of 4% to 6% since the change in duty. While the duty hike mechanically raises the official domestic or landed price, 8 physical market prices do not fully or immediately mirror the increase in duty – rather they adjust to it with a lag, particularly when the change is as steep as the current 9%. Moreover, the increase came at a time of seasonally weak demand – summer wedding purchases are largely over, and the period from mid-May to mid-June is considered inauspicious for buying gold – thus limiting the full pass-through of the duty hike. Market feedback indicates that there is ample supply from the exchange of old gold jewellery for new, and the likely front-loading of imports, further limiting the rise in price. Chart 2: Prices have risen less than the duty hike Landed price and MCX spot gold price in USD per ounce* *As of 18 May 2026. Landed price is the international prices (LBMA Gold Price AM) adjusted for import taxes. Source: Bloomberg, CBIC World Gold Council. Domestic gold prices trade at a deep discount post duty revision In the immediate aftermath of the import duty hike, domestic gold prices traded at a steep discount to official prices, 9 widening from an average of US$14/oz the week prior to the duty hike to nearly US$150/oz ( Chart 3 ). The rise in domestic prices post the duty hike triggered profit-taking by investors, boosting supply even as physical buying weakened, and bullion dealers likely offloaded inventory imported at lower duty rates, adding to market supply. Chart 3: Discounts widened sharply NCDEX gold premium/discount relative to the official domestic price* *As of 15 May 2026. Source: NCDEX, World Gold Council. Previous import duty hikes in 2019 and 2022 also resulted in discounts in the domestic market, but this episode has been significantly more pronounced due to the scale of the increase ( Table 2 ). Table 2: Post-duty hike movement in domestic gold price discounts (US$/oz) Source: NCDEX, World Gold Council Market and trade reaction and expectations Share prices of listed jewellers fell by ~2%–17% following the duty hike, reflecting expectations of weaker discretionary demand. Market feedback and trade interactions suggest a varied impact across segments, with many retailers indicating a likely pause in procurement. Large chain stores saw a brief period of panic buying after the announcement, driven by expectations of further measures, and while they expect a slowdown in sales, they remain relatively resilient given inventory buffers and continued support from bridal demand. Mid-sized and regional players continue to see buying from affluent customers but are expecting to rely more on exchange programmes and tighter inventory cycles going forward. Smaller retailers appear the most vulnerable: already stretched by persistently high prices, they now face added pressure from sales volumes and profit margins. Import duties and smuggling Import data points to a consistent relationship between higher import duties and the inflow of unofficial gold. Between 2013 and 2026 increases in import duty were mostly followed by higher levels of unofficial or smuggled gold, while duty reductions coincided with sharp declines in such inflows. Excluding the COVID years of 2020–21, the correlation between import duty and unofficial imports is positive at 0.52, indicating a meaningful link between higher duties and smuggling activity. Following the 4% duty hike in 2013, unofficial imports increased sharply from around 10t in Q1 of that year to 70t by Q1 2014, a seven-fold increase in under a year. Even when duties were steady at 10% through the second half of 2013 until Q2 2019 unofficial inflows remained elevated, averaging 34t per quarter. This suggests that once smuggling networks are established they are difficult to unravel. A similar pattern was observed after duty was hiked from 10.75% to 15% in July 2022. Unofficial imports rose from 17t in Q2 2022 to nearly 50t by late that year and stayed elevated through much of 2023. In contrast, after duty was cut to 6% in July 2024, unofficial imports fell almost immediately to near zero. There was a temporary drop in unofficial imports during 2020–21, which can be attributed to COVID-related disruptions. The evidence suggests that higher import duties widen the domestic–international price gap and increase the incentive for smuggling, while lower duties reduce its attractiveness. Chart 4: Import duty driven shifts Source: Metal Focus, World Gold Council. Limited duty sensitivity of imports Our analysis suggests that import duty changes have had a limited influence on official import volumes over the past 13 years. 10 Across duty regimes ranging from 6% to 15% official imports remained relatively resilient, between 175t and 236t per quarter in most periods, excluding the COVID period in 2020. The highest quarterly imports were recorded under the 10.75% duty regime (236.2t), while imports also remained stable at the higher 15% duty rate (174.5t). Statistically, the overall correlation between duty rates and official imports is negative 0.17, indicating a weak relationship between the two. This suggests that duty changes are not a key driver of imports; rather, broader demand conditions play a greater role. Chart 5: Steady imports through duty cycles Average quarterly official imports at various import duty levels* *As of 18 May 2026. Source: DGCIS, CBIC, World Gold Council Recent data also highlights import resilience: April imports rose to US$5.6bn, up more than 80% on an annual as well as a sequential basis. This was despite banks pausing gold imports as they awaited the renewal notification that exempt them from the integrated goods and services tax (IGST). This suggests that the imports were likely driven by refiners, who increased their intake of gold doré around the key demand period of Akshaya Tritiya (19-20 April) further supported by gold price moderation. At the same time, some degree of front loading of imports – in anticipation of curbs amid the prolonged Iran-US conflict, elevated oil prices, and the INR vulnerability to a high import bill – cannot be ruled out based on anecdotal evidence. In volume terms, we estimate imports in April were in the range of 48-55t. Chart 6: Imports rise despite disruptions Monthly gold imports in tonnes and US$bn* *Includes World Gold Council estimates. Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, CMIE, World Gold Council Gold ETFs: flows slow Indian gold ETFs continued to attract inflows in April 2026, marking the 12th consecutive month of positive flows. Net inflows stood at INR30.4bn (US$325mn), broadly in line with our estimates . 11 While inflows were modestly higher sequentially (up 3% m/m), they remained well below January’s peak, at about 13% of the INR240bn (US$2.6bn) recorded at that time, signalling a moderation in demand after a very strong start to the year. Redemptions stayed elevated in April at INR20.5bn (US$220mn), reflecting ongoing profit-taking, a trend seen since February. Cumulative holdings rose by 1.1t to 116.7t, while AUM stood at INR1,781bn (US$19bn), a modest 3% decline from January, largely due to softer gold prices (down ~9% in INR terms). Investor participation remained healthy, with folios (or accounts) reaching 12.5mn, although growth slowed in April, with folio additions of 77,413 – the lowest since September 2024. Gold ETFs experienced outflows following the import duty hike, with redemptions from 13-18 May largely reversing earlier gains. On a month-to-day basis, however, demand remains marginally positive at around INR1bn (~US$12mn). Chart 7: Gold ETF momentum softens Gold ETF flows in INRbn, and total holdings in tonnes* *As of end April 2026. Source: AMFI, ICRA Analytics, CMIE, World Gold Council Demand moderation Gold demand trends across different duty regimes indicates that while import duties influence consumption, other key factors such as gold prices, income growth and inflation, simultaneously impact demand. Periods of high import duties have generally coincided with a moderation in demand, particularly for bars and coins. Average quarterly demand remained relatively subdued during the extended 10% duty period of 2013-19 ( Chart 8 ) as well as during the period of 12.5% duty (2019-20), although the latter was also affected by COVID. Chart 8: Tariffs temper demand Average jewellery and bar and coin demand at various import duty levels* Source: Source: Metal Focus, CBIC, World Gold Council Our econometric models 12 suggest that changes in import duties tend to impact gold demand in both the short and long term, although the impact differs across jewellery and investment products such as bars and coins. Investment demand appears more sensitive to duty changes, while jewellery demand has shown greater resilience. Jewellery consumption is influenced more by prices and inflation and import duties have less of an impact. This is likely because jewellery purchases often tend to be a requirement, particularly for weddings and social occasions. Investment demand on the other hand is linked to income levels and import duties, with higher duties and restrictions tending to weigh on demand. In the short term, factors such as inflation and rainfall also influence investment demand alongside taxes. Looking at 2026 as a whole, we estimate that combined jewellery and bar and coin demand could decline by around 50-60t, around 10% lower than the previous year due to the impact of the import duty hike. Other factors, such as the gold price, changes to income levels, inflation, or effects from the monsoon would further influence annual demand. Footnotes 1 Landed price is the international price (LBMA Gold Price AA) adjusted for import taxes. Prices as of 18 May 2026. 2 Centre further tightens gold import rules, caps advance authorization at 100 kg, The Tribune, 20 May 2026. 3 Why PM Modi asked Indian families not to buy gold for a year, India Today, 11 May 2026. 4 After delay, DGFT authorises 17 banks to import bullion for 3 years, Indian Express,17 April 2026 5 India imposes immediate restrictions on gold, silver and platinum jewellery imports to curb FTA misuse, NDTV Profit, 1 April 2026. 6 IGST is a tax on the supply of goods and services between states in India. 7 India's gold import crisis: Why banks halted shipments for a month and what it took to start again, Money Control, 12 May 2026. 8 Landed price is the international price (LBMA Gold Price AM) adjusted for import taxes. 9 Official domestic price is the landed prices which is the international price adjusted for import taxes. 10 Q3 2013 to Q1 2026. 11 Based on partial information 12 Reference page 128-132. Source： https://www.gold.org/goldhub/gold-focus/2026/05/india-gold-market-update-import-tightening

On May 25, international oil prices dropped sharply while precious metals rose sharply. Spot gold broke through $4,570/oz, up more than 1% intraday. Spot silver touched $78/oz, up more than 4%. Since 2026, the silver market has experienced a "roller coaster" trend: after surging to historic highs at the beginning of the year, it pulled back significantly and has since stayed high with wild swings. As the largest industrial demand sector for silver, PV has seen rising penetration rates of high-efficiency cells (TOPCon/HJT/BC) drive up per-unit silver consumption, and the surge in silver prices has become a core cost pressure for PV modules.

May 21, 2026 The gold price is stabilizing on Thursday morning. Following its recent setback to a multi-week low, the precious metal is trading firmer again on international markets. Spot gold currently changes hands at around $4,537 per troy ounce, equivalent to roughly €3,914 per ounce. With this move, the gold price extends the recovery that began after the multi-week low of May 19, when, according to CNBC, spot gold fell more than 2% to $4,474 per ounce, hitting its lowest price since March 30. The metal has thus given up substantial ground since its all-time high of $5,602.22 per troy ounce on January 28, 2026. The correction has been driven primarily by the Iran conflict that erupted in late February. Contrary to what many market participants expected, the geopolitical shock did not act as a classic safe-haven trigger. Instead, the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz produced an oil-price shock that, in turn, fueled inflation concerns. Gold has fallen about 12% since the Iran conflict began, weighed down by a stronger U.S. dollar, higher Treasury yields and reduced expectations for Fed rate cuts. ING's Manthey: $5,000 by Year-End Realistic Despite these headwinds, the medium-term outlook for the gold price remains constructive. Ewa Manthey, Commodities Strategist at ING, projects prices to reach $5,000/oz by year-end , supported by central bank demand and improving ETF flows. According to Manthey, the recent decline mainly reflects temporary macro headwinds — higher oil prices, a firmer U.S. dollar, and elevated real yields. Once the war comes to a conclusion, gold's underlying support should reassert itself, Manthey told deVere Insights . Over the coming months, the ING expert sees around six per cent upside as realistic. ING is not alone in its bullish stance: A recent Reuters poll of 31 metals analysts found a median forecast of $4,916 for 2026. Goldman Sachs is even more optimistic — the commodities team led by Daan Struyven expects gold to climb to $5,400 per troy ounce by the end of 2026. Central Banks and ETF Inflows as Key Drivers Two pillars underpin the bullish outlook. First, central banks worldwide are sticking with their buying strategy: The People's Bank of China added 8 tonnes to official gold reserves in April, the highest single-month acquisition in fifteen months. At a recent Goldman Sachs central bank conference, around 70 percent of polled central banks said they expect rising gold reserves globally over the next twelve months — and roughly the same share expect the gold price to settle above $5,000 within a year. Second, listed gold ETFs are seeing fresh inflows despite rising inflation concerns. Physical demand in Asia also remains robust: Premiums in Shanghai held positive against London spot throughout Tuesday's selloff, underscoring that the world's largest physical gold market absorbed supply at lower prices. In the days ahead, investors will focus on the U.S. flash PMI and weekly initial jobless claims, both expected on May 22, 2026 — weaker readings would typically feed into expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. Should the data disappoint, the gold price could accelerate its move higher. Source： https://goldinvest.de/en/gold-price-ing-sees-usd5-000-mark-within-reach-by-year-end

Steep price reversal: Silver plunged nearly 11% and gold turned volatile after India hiked import duties to 15%, reversing initial post-hike gains. Policy-driven impact: The government raised duties to curb imports, protect forex reserves, and support the rupee amid the West Asia crisis. Market outlook: Higher tariffs may hurt demand, slow industrial imports, and prompt smuggling, while global inflation and dollar strength keep pressure on bullion. Immediate market reaction to duty hike The import duty increase from 6% to 15% on gold and silver triggered a dramatic reversal in silver prices, with MCX silver plunging nearly 11% or ₹32,624 per kilogram in just two sessions. Gold prices also turned volatile, with spot gold trading around 4% below its recent peak as inflation data and a stronger US dollar sapped momentum. The initial rally from higher landed costs was quickly erased as traders booked profits and demand weakened at elevated prices. Economic and policy rationale behind the hike The Finance Ministry's move to restore the earlier higher duty structure aims to curb non-essential imports, safeguard foreign exchange reserves, and support macroeconomic stability amid the West Asia crisis. Officials highlighted the need to prioritise forex for essential imports like crude oil and fertilisers, noting the rupee’s record low this year. The hike follows Prime Minister Modi’s call for citizens to avoid non-essential gold purchases, reversing 2024’s duty cuts intended to curb smuggling and aid the jewellery sector. Live Mint + 4 "The increase in customs duty on imports of gold, and precious metals announced by the government is aimed at safeguarding macroeconomic stability and conserving foreign exchange reserves. The measures have been taken also to moderate non-essential imports during a period of heightened global uncertainty arising from the ongoing West Asia crisis." Fortune India Why volatility matters for India’s bullion market India, the world’s largest silver importer and second-largest gold consumer, faces potential demand destruction as higher tariffs lift local prices. Silver’s significant industrial demand—from solar panels to EVs—means it is trading more like an industrial commodity, making it sensitive to growth concerns from elevated oil prices. Analysts warn that reduced official imports could revive smuggling and dampen both jewellery and industrial demand, especially if geopolitical tensions keep inflation risks high. The Economic Times + 4 Short- and long-term outlook In the short term, bullion prices may remain range-bound as profit booking offsets structural support from central bank purchases and ETF inflows. Over the longer term, silver retains strong global demand drivers from AI infrastructure, green energy, and electronics, though a weaker economic outlook could limit gains. Policymakers face the challenge of balancing macroeconomic stability with potential social and market disruptions from sharp tax interventions. The Economic Times + 4 Source： https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/insight/gold-and-silver-prices-tumble-after-steep-import-duty-hike

The rally that propelled gold and silver to record-breaking highs in 2025 could pick up again if a U.S.-Iran peace deal is reached, market watchers told CNBC as prices ticked higher on Thursday.