Gold advances above $4,600 amid safe-haven flows
Finance Gold advances above $4,600 amid safe-haven flows Gold price (XAU/USD) edges higher to near $4,630 during the early Asian session on Friday. The precious metal extends the rally as renewed tensions in the Middle East have prompted traders to return to a safe-haven asset. US President Donald Trump said he was sticking with a naval blockade of Iranian ports amid concerns the vital Strait of Hormuz would not reopen anytime soon, per Bloomberg. “Their economy is crashing, the blockade is incredible,” said Trump. “Their economy is a disaster. So well see how long they hold out.” Earlier on Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that he considered the US naval blockade an “extension of military operations” and that it was “intolerable.” However, ongoing US–Iran tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could have fueled inflation fears and raised the bar for cutting rates. This, in turn, could weigh on the yellow metal. Gold is often used amid geopolitical uncertainty but does not yield interest, making it less attractive when interest rates are high. The US Federal Reserve (Fed) on Wednesday held its key policy rate steady, as widely expected. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the economic outlook remained highly uncertain and that the