COMEX Gold’s active month contract closed 7% higher at $3254, marking the highest weekly percentage increase since March 27, 2020. Prices are up $270, or 9%, during the last four sessions, and year-to-date they are up $593, or 22.5%.

Last week, the United States substantially boosted duties on Chinese imports, adding a new 125% penalty on top of an existing 20% duty, bringing the total to 145%. This strong approach eclipsed President Donald Trump’s 90-day postponement on heavier tariffs for other countries, raising concerns about broader economic consequences.

Investors seeking safety drove up gold prices, aided by a weakening US Dollar Index, which fell below 100 for the first time in over three years. The US dollar is falling across the board as markets react to China’s new reprisal against US imports. China stated early Friday that it will levy 125% tariffs on US imports starting Saturday, up from 84% previously declared.

The dollar has declined over 7% since Trump’s inauguration and over 2% since his comprehensive trade policy was announced last week, contrary to Wall Street’s expectations. The decrease in the dollar has coincided with sell-offs in US stocks and Treasuries. This could indicate that foreign investors are responding to Trump’s protectionist plans by selling US assets, putting downward pressure on the dollar.

The rationale for increasing gold allocations is stronger than ever in this climate of rising tariff uncertainty, poorer growth, increased inflation, and persisting geopolitical dangers. The evolving global trade, economic, and geopolitical landscape strengthens gold’s position as a safer investment haven.

In this environment of rising tariff uncertainty, poorer growth, greater inflation, and persisting geopolitical threats, the case for increasing gold allocations has never been stronger. The evolving global trade, economic, and geopolitical landscape reinforces gold’s significance as a safer investment refuge.

According to the minutes from the most recent Fed meeting, policymakers are nearly unified in acknowledging the combined problem of increasing inflation and slowing GDP, warning that the Federal Reserve will confront “difficult trade-offs” in the coming months.