The price of gold (XAUUSD) skyrocketed more than $92 or 920 pips during trading on Monday, climbing further to $4,131 per troy ounce on Tuesday morning (October 14, 2025). This marks a new all-time high.
The sharp increase was driven by escalating trade tensions between the United States and China. As reported last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% increase in import tariffs on all products from China, effective November 1.
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This move by Trump came in response to China implementing export controls on rare earth metals, which are essential components for electronics, electric vehicles, and defense systems. Currently, China supplies approximately 90% of rare earth metals, so the export controls will significantly hinder access for countries in need, including the United States.
China has already stated that it will retaliate if the tariff hikes are not rescinded. An escalation in the U.S.-China trade war could have detrimental effects not only for both nations but also on a global scale. The global economy risks slowing down if these two economic giants continue to retaliate with increased tariffs. Consequently, gold is becoming increasingly attractive as a safe-haven asset.
The demand for gold has risen further amid fears of a potential escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. President Trump has threatened Russia, stating he would provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine to bring an end to the ongoing war. This response reflects the concern over the protracted nature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that continues to this day.
On the other hand, Russia has warned that supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would lead to “serious war escalation.” The ongoing U.S.-China trade war, combined with the potential for a heightened U.S.-Russia conflict, continues to present a favorable environment for gold prices to rise in today’s trading.
