Gold's 2026 Plunge: From Record Peak to 17-Year Low Month

Spot gold peaked at $5,149/oz on March 6, 2026, as Middle East tensions drove safe-haven buying (Reuters). By March 31 it fell to $4,652 — its worst month in 17 years — after Fed rate-cut expectations faded. The metal has oscillated between geopolitical risk premiums and shifting rate expectations all year.