By Laurenz Van de Sande — CryptoNewsHub
Brussels / New York — December 26, 2025 | 17:28 CET

Gold prices climbed to a fresh record on Friday, rising more than 1 percent to cross $4,533 an ounce for the first time, as investors continued to favor safe-haven assets during thin holiday trading marked by heightened geopolitical unease.

The rally extended momentum from earlier in the week, when gold pushed past the $4,500 mark for the first time before markets paused for the Christmas holiday. Traders said demand for the metal remained firm as uncertainty mounted on the global stage and risk appetite waned.

At 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, gold was up 1.20 percent, trading at $4,533.34 an ounce. Silver, which has posted outsized gains in recent sessions, continued its advance, jumping 4.46 percent to $75.11 an ounce.

Other precious metals also moved sharply higher. Platinum rose 3.60 percent to $2,337.72 an ounce, while palladium gained 3.41 percent to $1,843.73 an ounce shortly thereafter.

Market participants pointed to escalating geopolitical tensions as a key driver of the shift toward safe-haven assets. The move followed remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who pledged further military operations against ISIS after a recent American strike in Nigeria, adding to broader concerns about regional instability.

With investors weighing geopolitical risks alongside expectations of looser monetary policy in the year ahead, analysts said precious metals could remain volatile, with gold continuing to benefit from its traditional role as a store of value in uncertain times.

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