A Historic Moment! Gold Breaks Above USD 4,600, Setting a New Global Record
1/13/2026
In the early hours of today, the international gold market witnessed a moment that will go down in history. London spot gold surged during the Asian trading session to USD 4,600.33 per ounce, breaking above the USD 4,600 level for the first time ever. At the same time, COMEX gold futures in New York also soared, with the most active contract hitting USD 4,640 per ounce. Both prices set new all-time highs, once again putting global risk sentiment and capital flows in the spotlight.
Why Did Gold Suddenly “Take Off”? Two Super Catalysts Exploded at the Same Time
Two major drivers of the surge: Political turmoil + a geopolitical powder keg
1. U.S. Political Shock: The Federal Reserve Chair Under Criminal Investigation
This was the core bomb that ignited the market. The U.S. Department of Justice suddenly launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, related to testimony over a headquarters renovation project.
Powell publicly said this was a tactic by the Trump administration to pressure him into cutting interest rates. The market immediately began to worry that the independence of the U.S. central bank is under unprecedented threat. Confidence in the U.S. dollar and U.S. assets was shaken, reviving the “sell America” trade, and money rushed into gold as a safe haven.
2. Geopolitical Powder Keg: Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
At the same time, the situation in the Middle East also heated up. President Trump warned that any country doing business with Iran could face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States.
Markets fear the risk of a U.S.–Iran conflict is approaching a critical threshold. This kind of global uncertainty has sharply increased the appeal of gold as the ultimate safe-haven asset.
