Gold rises as safe-haven demand increases on Iran war

• Gold climbs on safe-haven demand amid the ongoing Iran war.

• The Iran conflict enters day six, with US-Israeli strikes and broad Iranian retaliation across the Middle East.

• Dollar-denominated Gold gains as the USD declines on fragile hopes of a shorter Middle East conflict.

Gold price (XAU/USD) extends its gains for the second successive session on Thursday as traders seek safety amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. The Iran conflict has entered its sixth day with US and Israeli strikes across Iranian territory and widespread Iranian missile and drone retaliation across the Middle East, including attacks on regional targets and military sites, prolonging the crisis and its impact.

A US submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, escalating hostilities. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it the “first such attack on an enemy since World War II.” The broader campaign has entered its sixth day, heightening fears of a prolonged conflict.

The dollar-denominated Gold attracts investors as the US Dollar (USD) weakens on tentative hopes that the Middle East conflict may be shorter than feared. It is worth noting that a weaker US Dollar makes the precious metal cheaper for buyers with foreign currencies, boosting demand.

Reuters cited The New York Times reporting that Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence signalled to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) a willingness to explore talks to end the war. However, Tehran later denied the report, leaving the conflict’s duration and economic fallout uncertain.

Meanwhile, the US is set to introduce a temporary 15% global tariff this week, replacing the 10% rate enacted after the Supreme Court invalidated most of President Donald Trump’s earlier levies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the rate could return to previous levels within five months as fresh trade probes advance.

The upside in non-yielding Gold may be capped as surging oil and gas prices rekindle inflation fears, prompting traders to push back expectations for Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts. Meanwhile, the US 10-year Treasury yield rose for a fourth straight session, climbing to 4.11% as markets assessed developments in the Iran conflict, tariff updates, and incoming economic data.

Gold rises to near $5,200 as bullish bias prevails

Gold price (XAU/USD) is trading around $5,190 at the time of writing. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests bullish bias as the metal price remains within the ascending channel pattern.

Additionally, the near-term bias is mildly bullish as the Gold price holds above the rising 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and consolidates after reclaiming the short-term nine-day EMA, which now tracks just below the market. Momentum remains positive but not overstretched, with the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering in the mid-50s, indicating steady buying pressure rather than exuberant strength and keeping scope for further upside while this structure persists.

The XAU/USD pair may explore the region around the upper boundary of the ascending channel at $5,470, followed by the all-time high of $5,598, reached on January 29. On the downside, the immediate support lies at the nine-day EMA of $5,163, followed by the lower boundary of the channel at $5,070. A break below the channel would expose the 50-day EMA at $4,874.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)