Gold futures started the week on Monday at $3,321.10 per ounce, showing a decline of 0.4% from Friday’s close of $3,334. Notably, prices have dropped 3.5% from last week’s high of $3,441.
A potential contributing factor to this drop could be the positive developments concerning trade deals. Reports suggest the US and EU have agreed on a 15% tariff for EU imports into the US. Meanwhile, news outlets in China indicate that the US and China might extend their tariff agreements for another 90 days. The Trump administration has stated that countries without agreed-upon trade contracts will face immediate tariffs. This kind of news tends to sway stock prices, often correlating with a dip in gold demand.
Gold’s price on Friday showed a 0.4% decrease compared to $3,334 per ounce from the previous close. The opening price on Monday marked a 0.9% decrease from the $3,350.30 opening on July 21. Over the last month, gold futures have seen a minor drop of 0.3% from $3,332.40 on June 26, 2025.
Investing in gold can be approached through a simple four-step process:
- Set goals
- Define the assignment
- Select the form of investment
- Consider your investment timeline
The first step is being clear about your objective for buying gold. Historically, three main investment goals align with the purpose of gold:
- Diversifying into assets that function independently from stock market fluctuations
- Guarding against inflation-related losses
- Providing a store of value and wealth amid potential economic downturns
Gold plays a role in maintaining the stability of a portfolio; it often retains or even appreciates in value when other assets falter. This is why many investors consider gold a stabilizing force, especially when market conditions are tough. It’s about limiting unrealized losses on stocks and cushioning the purchasing power of cash during inflationary periods—something we’ve observed recently.
Moreover, gold remains a widely accepted form of value storage. In scenarios where the dollar may fail, precious metals could serve as a medium of exchange.
“It’s wise to hold some amounts of gold as a safeguard against potential crises,” noted Scott Travers, who authored the Coin Collector’s Survival Manual.
When evaluating gold prices, whether from last month or previous years, one can observe a consistent upward trend in the value of these precious metals.
Gold has historically gone through extensive cycles, marked by both highs and lows. After a period of growth from 2009 to 2011, it fell and struggled to regain those heights for about nine years.
During those subdued years, having gold in your portfolio might negatively affect overall investment returns. If that’s a concern, then a smaller allocation might be more suitable. Conversely, some investors may choose to tolerate low returns in less favorable years in anticipation of better outcomes during boom times, favoring a higher allocation instead.
Recently, precious metals have gained traction in media discussions, with many analysts expressing optimism towards gold. A Goldman Sachs analysis in May estimated gold could hit $3,700 per troy ounce by 2025, suggesting a 40% annual increase from the opening price of $2,633 on January 2. This anticipated rise is linked to growing demand from central banks and uncertainties surrounding US tariffs.
For those interested in understanding the historical pricing of gold better, Yahoo Finance has been tracking gold prices since 2000.
