Gold surged past $3,700 an ounce for the first time in history on Tuesday, as investors doubled down on expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week and possibly keep easing into 2026.
The rally reflects a powerful mix of falling Treasury yields, political pressure on the Fed, and growing concerns that government debt is no longer a safe haven. The U.S. dollar dropped to its weakest level in more than 10 weeks, further boosting gold’s appeal.
Markets have already priced in a rate cut at this week’s Fed meeting, but the real focus is on the central bank’s quarterly economic projections and Chair Jerome Powell’s comments in the post-decision press conference. A series of weak labor market reports and stable inflation readings have strengthened the case for further cuts this year. Since gold does not pay interest, lower rates typically increase its attractiveness compared to bonds.
The political backdrop is also fueling the rally. President Donald Trump has openly pressured the Fed to move faster on monetary easing and has pushed to remove Governor Lisa Cook. Meanwhile, Stephen Miran, a senior economic advisor in the administration, is expected to join the central bank as soon as Tuesday. These developments have reinforced market expectations that monetary policy will stay accommodative in the months ahead.
So far this year, gold has climbed more than 40%, outperforming major assets like the S&P 500. The metal recently surpassed its inflation-adjusted peak from 1980, cementing its status as the safe-haven asset of choice during a time of uncertainty. Central bank buying and strong inflows into exchange-traded funds have added fuel to the rally.
Analysts warn that the move may only be the beginning. Goldman Sachs has suggested that if just 1% of privately held U.S. Treasuries were reallocated into gold, prices could surge toward $5,000 an ounce. For investors wary of ballooning government debt in the U.S., Europe, and beyond, gold has become the natural alternative.
Other precious metals have also seen movement: silver rose to its highest price in 14 years, while platinum and palladium slipped.
With gold setting fresh records and momentum accelerating, markets are now watching whether the Fed’s tone confirms what traders already believe: that a new era of monetary easing has begun. If so, the path toward even higher levels of gold could already be set.
For more context on why investors are shifting away from government debt and piling into gold, read our in-depth analysis from last week here.
