Gold prices fell fast after record highs. Forced selling, higher yields, and crowded trades keep the possibility of a further dive alive.
Gold surged to a record high of $5,626.80 per ounce in late January, then reversed sharply.
Prices recently traded around $4,650 per ounce, a drop of roughly 13%, with some sessions showing losses closer to 15%.
The speed of the decline surprised many traders and exposed how fragile positioning had become.
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Forced Selling Is Adding Pressure
One of the main drivers of the sell-off was forced selling. CME increased margin requirements on gold futures, which raised the cost of holding leveraged positions.
Some traders had no choice but to sell.
At the same time, options activity accelerated the downtrend. Earlier call buying led dealers to hedge, and when prices turned lower, those hedges became additional selling.
This created a feedback loop that accelerated losses.
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Higher Yields Are Weighing On Gold
Rising U.S. Treasury yields have also played a key role. The 10-year yield traded around 4.2% to 4.3% during the sell-off, which increased the opportunity cost of holding gold.
A firmer U.S. dollar added more pressure, since gold is priced in dollars and becomes more expensive for global buyers when the dollar strengthens.
Crowded Trades Raise $4,000 Risk
Gold ETFs saw strong inflows earlier in January, showing that many investors were positioned for higher prices.
When sentiment flipped, that crowded positioning made the decline sharper.
If deleveraging continues and yields stay elevated, prices could slide further toward the psychological $4,000 level.
Still, some support exists. Central banks continue to buy gold, and several large institutions expect higher prices over the longer term.
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Conclusion
Gold’s sharp decline shows signs of forced selling, higher yields, and stretched positioning.
A move to $4,000 remains possible if these pressures persist, but ongoing central bank demand could slow the fall.
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