By: Crowd wisdom

Gold is holding near its historic highs around $4220 per ounce, following the Federal Reserve’s third rate cut and signals that no hikes are expected in 2026. While the dovish tone supported risk assets, gold remained flat, consolidating within its recent range. Short-term predictors are currently neutral, balancing bullish factors like sustained central bank and ETF demand against bearish signals from weakening consumer demand in key markets like India and China.

Analyst forecasts for 2026 remain broadly bullish but divergent. VanEck, for instance, issued a long-term target of $5000 per ounce by 2030, citing structural support from central bank accumulation and geopolitical uncertainty. Conversely, the World Gold Council outlines scenarios ranging from a 30% rally to a 20% crash in 2026, with the most bearish case projecting a drop to $3,360–$3,990. Major banks, including J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, forecast prices around $4,900 to $5,000 for 2026.

The long-term outlook for gold through 2030 is supported by expectations of continued central bank buying, potential geopolitical tensions, and its traditional role as an inflation hedge and portfolio diversifier, with some projections reaching $5,900–$6,200.