Gold hits record $4,100 as investors flee to safety

Gold prices soared to an all-time high above $4,100 per ounce Friday as investors sought refuge amid escalating U.S.–China tensions and a prolonged government shutdown. Silver also hit a multi-year peak, while Treasury yields fell. Analysts said safe-haven flows intensified following the crypto market crash and stock market volatility, marking the strongest gold rally since 2020. Institutional demand from ETFs and central banks fueled the surge, signaling a global risk-off rotation.