Silver Rises Over 120% YTD 
Gold prices rose over 1% on Friday as the dollar weakened by 0.3%, bringing spot gold to $3,332.88 per ounce and contributing to a nearly 3% weekly gain. The precious metal, which has increased more than 27% since the beginning of the year, found support from ongoing geopolitical tensions—including escalating military conflicts between India and Pakistan and uncertainty surrounding U.S.-China trade relations. President Trump’s comment that 80% tariffs on Chinese goods “seems right” ahead of weekend trade talks added to market concerns. Despite the current rise, some analysts suggest gold might be entering a period of consolidation after its strong performance.
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Oil Crashed 11%. Gold Went Up. That Tells You Everything.
Oil crashed 11% on Friday when Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Gold went up. That rare divergence — oil down, gold up, same catalyst — signals that gold’s rally is driven by monetary forces, not geopolitical ones. The war premium left oil. The monetary premium stayed in gold. Here is what that means for precious metals investors watching the Fed’s next move.
April 17, 2026
