News about Gold
The rise in gold prices has led to a sharp increase in smuggling, which is often used to finance armed conflicts, circumvent sanctions, and launder money. The Financial Times reports this, citing representatives of the gold mining industry.
Gold prices declined on Monday, June 1, amid the escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran. Investors preferred to focus not on geopolitical risks, but on the consequences of rising oil prices, which may push the U.S. Federal Reserve to maintain high interest rates.
Rising gold prices have forced the authorities in Ghana, the largest producer of this precious metal in Africa, to change the role of the state in the gold trade.
Analysts of JPMorgan recorded a shift in investors’ priorities after the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
According to market analysts, published in an interview with CNBC, the growth of gold and silver prices may resume if a peace agreement is reached between the U.S. and Iran. During the conflict, gold price fluctuations have been subdued, moving in opposite directions to fluctuations in oil prices and the U.S. dollar. However, gold and silver market growth will resume this year as momentum forces resume.
World central banks in March 2026 reduced total gold reserves by 30 tons. This is stated in the report of the World Gold Council (WGC).
Market participants and trading companies previously working with cryptocurrencies are switching to trading traditional assets en masse.
The central bank of France, (Banque de France) completed a major transaction with state gold reserves, selling about 129 tons of gold, which were previously stored in the vault of the U.S. Federal Reserve System. The transaction brought the bank a capital gain of 12.8 billion euros, taking advantage of the rise in global prices for the precious metal.
More than 45 kg of gold worth almost $7 million were purchased by residents of Ukraine in January-February 2026.
Norwegian treasure hunter Kjetil Serheim has discovered a unique gold artifact believed to have been made long before the Vikings, according to Logos Press.
In 2025, the world’s largest banks received record revenue from trading precious metals. According to the analytical company Crisil Coalition Greenwich, this figure reached $3.9 billion – the maximum for all ten years of observations.
It is not only oil and gas markets that are feverish amid the deepening crisis in the Middle East due to the US-Israeli war against Iran. The Russian Central Bank’s gold reserves last month fell to a four-year low of 74.3 million troy ounces, the lowest since April 2022, when 74.1 million remained in reserve.
By the end of the current week gold in bullion was sold at about $4685 per ounce. That is, the price fell by about 7% during the week. The sharp rise in oil, natural gas and fuel prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East increases inflationary concerns and makes it less likely that central banks will reduce the cost of borrowing. This has a negative impact on gold as it does not earn interest income.
Financial markets in the UAE have temporarily suspended operations amid a sharp aggravation of the situation in the region. The decision was taken to protect investors and stabilize the financial system.
Moldovan customs officers of the Leuseni customs point stopped an attempt to smuggle seven gold bars from Romania into Moldova, Logos Press reports.
In 2020-25, the 15 largest buyers of gold increased their official reserves of this asset by almost 2 thousand tons. During this period, the price of gold increased by more than 230%, according to Logos Press.
