Gold prices saw a slight decrease of 0.28% on January 1, 2026, influenced by a strong dollar and reduced trading activity during the holiday season. Despite this dip, gold has gained approximately 66% over the past year, driven by geopolitical tensions, US tariff rollouts, and anticipated US rate cuts. Analysts predict gold prices will remain elevated long-term, supported by central bank buying and ETF inflows, though ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and supply constraints for silver also impact the market.