Gold remains supported near record highs amid Fed and geopolitical uncertainty

LONDON (January 15) Gold (XAU/USD) holds firm above the $4,600 psychological mark on Thursday after coming under modest pressure earlier in the day, as traders book mild profits following Wednesday’s surge to a fresh record peak near $4,643. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades around $4,615, rebounding from an intraday low near $4,581.

The modest retreat in Gold also reflects slightly reduced safe-haven flows, following reports that anti-government protests across Tehran have eased somewhat and US President Donald Trump has signaled he will hold off on any immediate military action for now.

However, the broader geopolitical backdrop remains fragile, and ongoing unease over the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) independence continues to support the metal, keeping it anchored near record territory.

Beyond geopolitical and political risks, sustained expectations of lower US interest rates are adding another layer of support to the non-yielding metal. While recent hawkish remarks from Fed officials suggest policymakers are in no rush to cut rates, markets continue to price in two rate cuts later this year.

Looking ahead, attention turns to a light US data docket, with weekly Initial Jobless Claims, the Empire State Manufacturing Index and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey due later in the day. Markets will also digest remarks from Fed officials for fresh clues on the monetary policy outlook.

Market movers: Geopolitical risks and Fed outlook in focus

• US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has been told “on good authority” that the killing in Iran is “stopping” and that there are “no plans for executions.” Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump added that he would “watch it and see” when asked whether threatened US military action was now off the table.
• In an interview with Reuters, US President Donald Trump said he has no plans to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell despite a Justice Department criminal investigation. Asked whether the probe gave him grounds to do so, Trump said the administration is “in a little bit of a holding pattern” and will determine what to do, adding that it is “too soon” to make any decision.
• Fed Chair Jerome Powell is under criminal investigation by US prosecutors over his June 2025 testimony on the Fed’s headquarters renovation, drawing sharp criticism from global central bankers and other Fed officials. Powell has described the move as politically motivated.
• Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said on Wednesday that it is “entirely plausible” inflation could remain well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target for another two to three years, according to an interview with The New York Times. He added, “Then we’re looking at seven or eight years of elevated inflation. That’s very concerning to me.”
• Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said that she sees further rate cuts later this year if the forecast is met. Paulson added that inflation is expected to moderate in 2026 and the labor market to stabilize, noting that the job market is “bending but not breaking.”
• St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said on Tuesday there is “little reason for further easing of policy in the near term” and that policy is “well positioned to balance risks on both sides.” He added that the latest inflation reading was encouraging and supports the view that inflation could converge toward 2% this year.

FXStreet