Gold prices have skyrocketed to record highs as fears over potential U.S. tariffs on all imports, including precious metals, drive a liquidity shift from London to New York. Since the U.S. presidential election in November, gold reserves on COMEX have jumped by 88%, while demand for bars stored at the Bank of England has surged. At the same time, a weakening U.S. dollar is adding fuel to gold's rally.The imbalance in gold supply between the U.S. and the UK has led to disruptions in the market, pushing up borrowing costs for the metal. One-month gold lease rates have surged to approximately 4.7%, significantly higher than their near-zero levels over the past four years.

The gold rush has become a new bullish driver for XAU/USD, although the World Gold Council (WGC) acknowledges that the old drivers remain intact. In 2024, central banks purchased 1,045 tons of gold worth $96 billion. While they have been net buyers for 15 years, their buying activity doubled after the start of the Ukraine conflict, fueled by de-dollarization and reserve diversification efforts.

According to the WGC, central bank demand will remain strong in 2025, joined by investors in specialized exchange-traded funds (ETFs), further supporting price growth. Global gold demand increased by 1% to 4,974 tons last year.

The weakening U.S. dollar is also boosting XAU/USD, a phenomenon that has been dubbed the "help rally" for other currencies in the Forex market. The key reason is Donald Trump's decision to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada until March 1. The USD index initially surged when the tariffs were announced but later retreated following negotiations between Washington, Ottawa, and Mexico City. Since gold is priced in U.S. dollars, a weaker USD often acts as a catalyst for gold price surges.

Rising geopolitical tensions are playing a crucial role in gold's upward movement. Donald Trump's plans to deploy U.S. troops to Gaza, relocate Palestinians, and clear unexploded ordnance have triggered concern among Middle Eastern nations, increasing safe-haven demand for gold. Notably, Trump has previously floated controversial geopolitical ideas, such as annexing Greenland and making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

On the daily chart, gold is showing signs of an inside bar formation, indicating market uncertainty. The previous inside bar breakout provided an opportunity for long positions at $2,677 per ounce. Given the current momentum, holding these positions and adding on pullbacks remains a viable strategy.

Key Price Targets:

• $2,910
• $2,960

With strong fundamentals and technical signals aligned, gold's rally remains well-supported, increasing the likelihood of new all-time highs in the near future.