Gold hits record high over trade war fears  

• Trump’s tariffs driving gold rush
• Price nears $3100 per ounce
• More US tariffs due next week

Gold prices scaled a record peak on Friday as concerns over US President Donald Trump’s fresh tariff plans ignited fears of a global trade war, driving a rush towards the safe-haven allure of the precious metal.

Spot gold climbed 0.6 percent to $3,073.79 an ounce, as of 02:30 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $3,077.44 earlier in the session. Bullion is up 1.7 percent so far this week.

US gold futures gained 0.8 percent to $3,083.60.

“Gold has the wind at its back at the moment. US trade policy, US fiscal policy, geopolitics and a growth slowdown – everything is blowing in gold’s direction,” Capital.com’s financial market analyst Kyle Rodda said, adding that $3,100 per ounce is the next big milestone for prices.

Uncertainty surrounding tariffs, potential for interest rate cuts, geopolitical conflicts and central bank buying have all played a role in fuelling gold’s surge in 2025.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said on Thursday he would respond with unspecified trade actions if Trump imposes new auto tariffs that have expanded a global trade war and hammered stocks.

All eyes are also on the reciprocal tariffs that Trump is set to implement on April 2, which could stoke inflation, dampen economic growth and escalate trade disputes.

“We continue to hold a bullish outlook towards gold prices, with gold continuing to benefit from US policy uncertainty, trade tensions, military conflicts around the world, inflation worries and macro uncertainty,” BMI analysts said in a note.

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Gold is traditionally seen as a hedge against economic and political uncertainty and often thrives in a low-interest rate environment.

Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin asserted that the Fed’s current “moderately restrictive” monetary policy is appropriate, given high levels of uncertainty and rapid policy changes in the US government.

The market awaits the US personal consumption expenditures data due later in the day, which could influence expectations for rate cuts this year, following the Fed’s recent decision to hold its benchmark rate steady.

Spot silver fell 0.3 percent to $34.31 an ounce, platinum rose 0.3 percent to $988.45, and palladium firmed 0.1 percent to $976.5.