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Dow Jones NewsJan 2, 8:22 PM UTC
DJ Gold Prices Suffer Their Biggest-Ever Weekly Decline -- WSJ
By Ryan Dezember
Gold prices, which shot up 65% last year, are starting off 2026 the same way they ended 2025: falling.
Gold futures declined Friday, adding to the sharpest weekly drop on record in dollar terms for the precious metal. Front-month futures shed $220.40 a troy ounce this week to end at $4,314.40. That breaks a three-week winning streak and shows how much of a high-stakes gambit precious-metals trading has become lately at such lofty prices-especially for the individual investors who have piled in.
It was only two years ago that gold prices would have had to tumble more than 10% to amount to a $220 weekly loss. This week's drop was 4.9%, the worst since June 2021 in percentage terms.
Wall Street forecasters are generally mixed as to what's ahead for gold.
Bulls argue that central banks moving away from dollar-based assets are likely to continue to hoard gold and won't be particularly concerned what price they're paying, and that investors will move more money into gold as interest rates decline.
Bears see gold prices declining, as concerns about inflation and tariffs subside and lower interest rates drive gains in the economy and stocks. They also expect high prices to encourage selling from vaults and jewelry boxes as well as miners, lifting supply.
This item is part of a Wall Street Journal live coverage event. The full stream can be found by searching P/WSJL (WSJ Live Coverage).
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 02, 2026 15:22 ET (20:22 GMT)
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