Gold and silver have seen a rollercoaster end to a year in which their prices are on track to record their biggest annual gains since 1979. The price of gold soared by more than 60% this year to hit a record high of more than $4,549 (£3,378) an ounce before slipping after Christmas to stand at about $4,350 on New Year's Eve.

The outlook for gold in 2026 remains constructive. Analysts expect prices to extend gains amid continued central bank buying, a dovish bias from the US Federal Reserve and lingering global uncertainty.

Gold is currently trading at $4,361.38 per ounce as of December 30, 2025, up dramatically from where it stood just a year or two ago. Based on today's spot price, a 100-ounce gold bar carries a raw metal value of approximately $436,138. However, what you'll actually pocket when selling depends on several factors beyond just the spot price.

Silver and gold futures are falling sharply after the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, one of the world’s largest trading floors for commodities, required traders to put up more cash to invest in precious metals.

Spot gold prices hit an all-time high of around $4,560 per troy ounce last Friday before sliding more than 4% on Monday, as exchange operator CME Group raised its margin requirements for precious metals contracts and investors booked profits. Gold rebounded on Tuesday, trading recently at around $4,400.

Gold traded at a premium in top hubs India and China for the first time in about two months this week as a correction from all-time highs helped lift retail demand, which had been hit by an unprecedented rally in prices.

At the end of the day, the decision of whether to pick Bitcoin or gold comes down to whether you are a short-term or a long-term investor. If your focus is just the next 12 months, then buy gold. It's the safer asset, and much more likely to retain its value amid a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty.

Is the future of US Immigration having access to $1 million? The Trump administation says its new “Trump Gold Card” has more than $1.3 billion in sales since Dec 10th.