Beginner's Guide · Read the direction behind the numbers

What Moves Gold

Gold pays no yield; its rivals are interest rates and the dollar. At the same time it is the haven of choice in a crisis. Its logic often runs opposite to stocks.

Next release: Oct 28 2:00 PM ET · Fed Rate Decision · Today Calendar →

We don’t republish gold prices (the benchmark requires a license). See the latest benchmark price at LBMA →

Bullish · Current level is supportiveBearish · Current level is a headwindTwo-way · Neutral range, or depends on contextNo live data · Rules on the back

Card color shows whether the current level helps or hurts this asset; the arrow is the change from the previous reading · ↻ Tap a card for its definition, color rule & impact · ⓘ Hover for a quick noteHow are colors decided? →

Remember gold’s three traits: ① a non-yielding asset → the higher rates go, the less appealing it is; ② priced in dollars → a stronger dollar means weaker gold; ③ the ultimate safe haven → the more chaos, the more buyers.
— Rates & the Dollar (most critical)

Real Interest Rate

Current
2.66%
Nominal yield minus expected inflation
Prev. 2.66% · → unchanged
As of Oct 26
Bearish↻
↻ Back

Real Interest Rate

The higher the real rate, the greater the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold. Long seen as gold's most important driver, though the link has loosened since 2022.
How the color is set · < 0% Bullish · 0–1.5% Two-way · ≥ 1.5% Bearish
▲Real rate up → bearish for gold
▼Down / turns negative → strongly bullish
Read the full explanation →

Broad Dollar Index

Current
121.32
Vs. a broad currency basket
Prev. 121.35 · ↓ −0.03
As of Oct 23
Color from the 3-month change, +0.3%
Two-way↻
↻ Back

Broad Dollar Index

Gold is priced in dollars. A stronger dollar makes gold pricier in other currencies, dampening demand.
How the color is set · 3-month change: < −2.0% Bullish · −2.0–+2.0% Two-way · ≥ +2.0% Bearish
▲Dollar strengthens → bearish for gold
▼Dollar weakens → bullish
Read the full explanation →

Fed Rate Expectations

Current
+0.80pp
2-year Treasury yield minus the fed funds rate
Prev. +0.81 · ↓ −0.01pp
As of Oct 26
2-year yield − fed funds rate: 4.68% − 3.88%
Bearish↻
↻ Back

Fed Rate Expectations

2-year above the fed funds rate = markets betting on hikes or no cuts, raising the expected cost of holding gold; below = betting on cuts, usually supportive for gold.
How the color is set · 2-year minus fed funds: < −0.25 Bullish · −0.25–+0.50 Two-way · ≥ +0.50 Bearish
▲2-year well above the policy rate (hikes priced) → often bearish
▼2-year below the policy rate (cuts priced) → often bullish
Read the full explanation →

Inflation Expectations

Current
2.35%
10-year breakeven inflation rate
Prev. 2.34% · ↑ +0.01pp
As of Oct 27
Two-way↻
↻ Back

Inflation Expectations

Rising inflation usually helps gold (an inflation hedge). But if it triggers more aggressive hikes, that pushes back via the rates channel.
How the color is set · Always two-way: a move in either direction can help or hurt — see the explanation above.
▲Mild inflation → bullish (a hedge)
▲Triggers aggressive hikes → turns bearish
Read the full explanation →
— Safe-Haven Demand & Supply

War · Systemic Risk

Current
No live data
Safe-haven buying
↻
↻ Back

War · Systemic Risk

This is gold’s biggest divergence from stocks. The more chaos, the more haven buying.
▲Risk / fear up → bullish for gold
▼Calm → haven flows recede · bearish

Central Bank Buying

Current
No live data
Official-sector gold purchases
↻
↻ Back

Central Bank Buying

Sustained central-bank accumulation as reserves has been a key long-term support for gold in recent years.
▲Faster accumulation → bullish
▼Turns to net selling → bearish

ETF · Physical Demand

Current
No live data
Investment + physical demand
↻
↻ Back

ETF · Physical Demand

ETF holdings reflect investment demand; festival and wedding seasons in India and China drive physical demand.
▲Holdings / demand up → bullish
▼Sustained outflows → bearish

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