Gold, precious metals begin 2026 with gains after historic performances in 2025

SANAA, Jan. 02 (YPA) – Precious metals prices began the new year on a high note this Friday. Gold edged up slightly after hitting a nearly two-week low in the previous session, while other metals recovered some of their weekly losses following a year of unprecedented, historic gains in 2025.

Gold Performance       

Spot Gold: Rose by 0.8% to reach $4,346.69 per ounce. This follows a recent record high of $4,549.71 before a brief dip on Wednesday.

U.S. Gold Futures (February): Increased by 0.5% to settle at $4,360.60 per ounce, according to CNBC.

Annual Growth: The yellow metal delivered an exceptional performance in 2025, ending the year with a 64% annual gain—the highest since 1979. This surge was fueled by interest rate cuts, expectations of further U.S. Federal Reserve easing, geopolitical tensions, and robust central bank demand.

Silver and PGMs (Platinum Group Metals)

The broader precious metals sector also showed strong momentum after a record-breaking year:

Silver: Spot silver climbed 2.1% to $72.75 per ounce. Silver was the standout performer of 2025, ending the year with a massive 147% gain—outperforming gold and marking the best year in its history.

Platinum: Rose 0.2% to $2,057.74 per ounce. In 2025, platinum achieved its largest annual gain ever, rising 127%.

Palladium: Increased by 2.4% to reach $1,642.90 per ounce. It concluded 2025 with a 76% gain, its best annual performance in fifteen years, driven by improved demand and supply shortages.

YPA