Gold prices saw a significant dip on Monday, reflecting broader trends in both international and local markets. Falling demand from major players like China and Russia, combined with profit-taking among global investors, led to rate reductions. In the international bullion market, gold plummeted by $32 per ounce to reach a price of $5,010; this decline translated into Rs3,200 per tola in Pakistan’s local markets, bringing the price down to Rs523,762 per tola for gold. For silver, prices dipped even more sharply—by 55 cents per ounce—to settle at $76.80, impacting both tola and gram-level prices.
This market volatility came amid rising concerns about global economic stability. The latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan indicated that as of February 12, the country’s gold reserves had reached a total of 64.76 tonnes, worth approximately $1.0374 billion. Over the first seven months of the fiscal year, these reserves had grown by an additional $350 million, highlighting the growing importance placed on precious metals as a safe haven.
Recent market shifts were underscored by dramatic price changes. Spot gold dropped 0.7% to settle at $5,007.70 per ounce by GMT 08:58, after earlier losing more than 1%. In contrast, US gold futures for April delivery fell 0.4% to $5,027.90 per ounce.
Meanwhile, silver prices saw a minor recovery but remained under pressure; they shed 0.4% to close at $77.09 per ounce, having earlier fallen by as much as 3%. Platinum and palladium also experienced slight movements within their respective price ranges, with platinum down 0.9% at $2,043.60 per ounce and palladium dropping 0.3% to $1,681.34.
Commentator Peter David Schiff’s recent remarks on FoxNews added a layer of caution. He predicted that the dollar’s reign could soon be over as more central banks look towards gold for currency backing. “The dollar is going to collapse,” Schiff said emphatically. “Central banks are already diversifying away from dollars and treasuries, investing in precious metals.” His predictions align with recent price trends, where gold surged past $5,000 per ounce last year, marking its highest point since 2011.
Schiff’s forecast paints a stark picture of the dollar’s future. As major economic shifts unfold, the world may witness an unprecedented shift towards gold as investors seek refuge in what they perceive as a safer asset.