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What is the price of gold today?

The price of gold traded at $2,021.51 per troy ounce, as of 9 a.m. ET. That’s up 0.50% since yesterday’s gold price per ounce and up 9.92% from the beginning of the year.

The lowest trading price within the last 24 hours: $2,008.79 per ounce. The highest gold spot price in the last 24 hours: $2,041.63 per ounce.

Spot prices denote costs for transactions settled “on the spot,” or immediately, as opposed to futures contracts that denote a future delivery.

Gold is traded around the clock, and its price can shift as the trading day migrates from Asia to North America.

XAU/USD is the label for finding the spot gold price traded in U.S. dollars. In this case, gold (XAU) is traded against the dollar, and the price represents the cost of one (troy) ounce of gold in USD. But there are other foreign exchange markets, such as XAU/EUR for trading in euros and XAU/GBP for trading in British pounds.

Based on real-time trading activity, the price adjusts every few seconds during market hours.

It’s influenced by myriad factors, such as global supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, shifts in currency strength, interest rates, and macroeconomic indicators.

Gold spot prices

The spot gold price represents the price at which gold can be exchanged and delivered, and prices are typically quoted in gold price per troy ounce in U.S. dollars. But prices can also be quoted per gram and kilo. It’s worth noting that a troy ounce is slightly heavier than a standard ounce.

You can check out the live gold price and how it compares to past prices in the table below.

Gold price chart

The chart below shows how the spot price of gold is trending over the year. XAU/USD is the symbol for the spot price of gold in U.S. dollars. It represents how many U.S. dollars are needed to purchase one troy ounce of gold.

Year to date, gold is up 9.92% from the beginning of the year, as of 9 a.m. The 52-week high reached $2,080.72 on May 4, 2023, and the 52-week low dropped to $1,739.71 on Nov. 28, 2022.

Remember that the spot price of gold is quoted in real time and represents the current price at which gold can be bought or sold for immediate delivery. For most investors, the spot price usually differs from the price they'll pay or receive when they decide to purchase or sell their gold.

For example, buying physical gold involves overheads like storage costs and insurance.

When trading physical gold, the difference between the buying and selling price, known as the spread, can eat into returns. Dealers often incorporate their markups and transaction fees within these spreads, which means the actual price an investor pays might be higher than the current market rate, while the selling price they receive might be lower.

While gold certificates, gold exchange-traded funds and gold trusts offer more liquidity and are easier to manage than physical gold, they come with their own risks. These investment vehicles might only sometimes match the performance of the spot price of gold due to management fees and potential discrepancies in tracking.

In essence, while the spot price provides a general benchmark for the value of gold, the actual returns and costs an investor encounters differ based on the medium of purchase and the specifics of the investment.

Precious metals spot prices

Precious metals have long served as investment vehicles and industrial commodities. Like gold, the spot prices of silver, platinum and palladium fluctuate based on various market, economic and geopolitical factors.

Silver spot prices

Silver possesses both monetary and industrial value. While it's used as a hedge against economic volatility, it's also crucial in the electronics, automotive and medical industries. Its dual-use nature can lead to different market dynamics compared to gold.

The price of silver opened at $24.75 per ounce, as of 9 a.m. That’s down 0.20% since the previous day's silver price per ounce and up 1.58% since the beginning of the year.

The lowest trading price within the last day: $24.54 per ounce. The highest silver spot price in the last 24 hours: $25.00 per ounce.

Platinum spot prices

Platinum is another precious metal that commands attention. Rarer than gold and silver, its primary use is in automotive catalytic converters, which help reduce harmful emissions. Given the push for cleaner automotive technologies, the demand dynamics for platinum can vary, influencing its spot price.

The price of platinum opened at $931.35 per ounce, as of 9 a.m. That’s up 0.58% since yesterday’s platinum price per ounce and down 13.96% year to date.

The lowest trading price within the last 24 hours: $918.15 per ounce. The highest platinum spot price in the last 24 hours: $943.50 per ounce.

Palladium spot prices

Palladium, like platinum, is pivotal in the automotive industry for catalytic converters. In recent times, there has been a surge in palladium demand due to stricter emission standards worldwide. Its scarcity and rising industrial demand have led to significant price volatility.

The price of palladium is $1,065.40 per ounce, as of 9 a.m. That’s down 0.01% since yesterday’s palladium price per ounce and down 40.71% year to date.

The lowest trading price within the last 24 hours: $1,040.90 per ounce. The highest palladium spot price in the last 24 hours: $1,081.11 per ounce.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Gold’s value tends to fluctuate based on economic, geopolitical and market factors, so the answer to this question depends on the measured period. It’s also difficult to pinpoint the direction of future price trends ahead of time.

From the beginning of the year to Nov. 28, 2023, the price of gold rose from $1,839.01 per troy ounce to $2,021.51, representing a 9.92% increase.

Gold can be highly volatile and subject to strong short-term price fluctuations.

Whether it’s a good time to buy gold depends on various factors, including your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon, the broader economic outlook, and forecasts about the gold market.

Historically, many people view gold as a hedge against inflation and currency fluctuations. Others see it as a store of value during economic downturns. At the same time, some may find diversifying a portfolio of stocks and bonds useful, given its low correlation to both assets.

“If you look at gold’s performance historically, it’s the kind of asset that should perform well through uncertainty, as it has done in five out of the last seven recessions,” said Joseph Cavatoni, chief market strategist for North America at the World Gold Council. “For people looking for a store of value and a portfolio diversifier, gold has a strong track record of delivering those qualities.”

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Tony Dong

BLUEPRINT

Tony Dong is a freelance financial writer with bylines in U.S. News and World Report, the NYSE, the Nasdaq, The Motley Fool and Benzinga. He lives in Vancouver, Canada and is an avid watch collector.

Farran Powell

BLUEPRINT

Farran Powell is the lead editor of investing at USA TODAY Blueprint. She was previously the assistant managing editor of investing at U.S. News and World Report. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including TheStreet, Mansion Global, CNN, CNN Money, DNAInfo, Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money and the New York Daily News. She holds a BSc from the London School of Economics and an MA from the University of Texas at Austin. You can follow her on Twitter at @farranpowell.