Gold Prices Hold Steady as Iran Ceasefire Talks Remain in Focus
Gold prices showed limited movement during Asian trading on Friday, while still heading toward modest weekly gains. Market sentiment remained closely tied to ongoing ceasefire discussions between the United States and Iran.
Silver and Platinum Outperform Gold
While gold remained relatively stable, silver and platinum delivered stronger performance this week. Both metals benefited from their industrial use and increasing expectations of supply shortages, which supported prices.
Inflation Data and Dollar Movements Influence Gold
Weaker-than-expected U.S. inflation data provided support for gold earlier in the week, alongside a softer U.S. dollar. However, the dollar regained some strength on Friday, putting mild pressure on precious metal prices.
Spot gold held steady at $4,789.31 per ounce, while gold futures remained largely unchanged at $4,810.56 per ounce in early trading.
Gold Maintains Narrow Weekly Range
Gold prices were up περίπου 0.9% for the week, supported by optimism surrounding potential U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted improving relations and expressed confidence in further talks ahead of the upcoming ceasefire deadline.
Investor sentiment was also lifted by a U.S.-brokered 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, with Iran emphasizing the importance of including Lebanon in broader negotiations.
Despite this, gains in gold remained limited due to concerns over inflation driven by geopolitical tensions. Oil prices stayed elevated amid fears of continued shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, adding to inflationary pressures.
Gold continued to trade within a defined range of $4,700 to $4,900 per ounce, with no clear catalyst for a breakout in the near term.
Safe-Haven Demand Faces Headwinds
Although gold is traditionally viewed as a safe-haven asset, its appeal has been somewhat overshadowed by rising concerns over energy-driven inflation and the possibility of tighter monetary policy.
Silver Gains on Supply Deficit Outlook
Other precious metals outperformed gold during the week. Spot silver rose 0.4% to $78.6895 per ounce on Friday, while platinum edged down 0.4% to $2,082.76 per ounce.
On a weekly basis, silver gained περίπου 3.6%, while platinum increased around 1.6%.
Silver, in particular, received strong support from a recent industry report forecasting a widening supply deficit. According to a joint survey by the Silver Institute and Metals Focus, the global silver market is expected to face its sixth consecutive annual supply shortfall in 2026, with a projected deficit of 46.3 million ounces—about 15% larger than in 2025.
The report also highlighted declining global inventories and projected a sharp increase in demand, driven by both retail investors and growing usage in artificial intelligence technologies.
