Gold Surges to Record High Amid Dollar Weakness and BRICS Reserve Shifts
Gold prices skyrocketed past $5,500 per ounce on January 29, 2026, peaking at an intraday record of $5,595.41 as futures rallied over 20% year-to-date. The surge reflects a historic monetary shift driven by a weakening U.S. dollar and BRICS nations' gold reserves overtaking U.S. Treasury holdings for the first time since 1996. Central banks now hold approximately $4 trillion in gold compared to $3.9 trillion in government bonds.
Federal Reserve rate stability and a sliding greenback accelerated the rally, with gold futures jumping sharply on Wednesday. Former President TRUMP dismissed concerns about the dollar's decline, stating, "No, I think it’s great." Analysts like Robin Brooks of the Brookings Institution attribute the metal's rise to dollar weakness "supercharging" demand, while Saxo Bank's Ole Hansen points to unchecked fiscal debt creation as a structural driver.