On Monday, October 20, 2025, spot gold is trading at $4,304.5 per ounce, an increase of $54.61 from Friday’s close of $4,250.00. Spot silver is trading at $52.01 per ounce, up $0.14 from $51.94 on Friday. Precious metals were buoyed by increased haven demand amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown and persistent geopolitical uncertainties. U.S. building permits for September unexpectedly rose 4.6% to an annualized 1.47 million units, beating forecasts and signaling resilience in housing, while housing starts increased 0.5% to 1.36 million, though slightly below consensus. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book depicted modest economic expansion with softening labor demand and persistent wage pressures, adding to bullion’s safe-haven appeal.
A recent Metals Daily summary explores Asian gold premiums as de-dollarization efforts intensify. The report highlights a 16% surge in physical gold coin premiums across key Asian markets, driven by local currency diversification and increased retail buying amid U.S. dollar uncertainty. Asian central banks have accelerated purchases of allocated gold bars, underscoring gold’s strategic importance beyond investment demand. Meanwhile, major Middle Eastern sovereign funds expanded allocated gold vault holdings by 12 tonnes in September, leveraging gold to hedge against regional risks. The article notes that North American silver vault inflows climbed 22% month-over-month, reflecting similar diversification trends in silver. These dynamics illustrate a broad shift toward gold and silver as tools for currency risk management and underscore the metals’ evolving role in global reserves.
