MOSCOW: Gold soared to all-time highs in 2024, hitting a record US$2,790 per ounce in October, with strong demand for the precious metal expected to continue next year as one of the main safe-haven assets, led by geopolitical risks, central bank purchases and the US Federal Reserve's rate cut cycle, reported AA.

Gold ended last year around US$2,062 and was trading at US$2,620 as of Wednesday, an increase of 27 per cent, while the performance of these prices marked the best return on gold since 2010.

Gold broke records 40 times on an annual basis as total gold demand exceeded US$100 billion for the first time in the third quarter of 2024.

Having risen to an all-time high in October, the ounce price ended the month at US$2,743, up 4.15 per cent.

The ongoing wars in Ukraine and Palestine as well as tensions with Iran caused an upward trend in gold demand. Political uncertainties before and after the US presidential election in November also pushed gold prices upwards, while strong demand in Asia contributed to the price hikes.

Geopolitical and political uncertainties and turmoil give rise to gold prices, experts say.

A recent report by the World Gold Council said that demand for gold rose on risks and volatility.

Ewa Manthey, commodities strategist at ING, told Anadolu that the general bull market outlook and safe-haven feature of gold and central bank purchases will carry gold to even higher records in 2025.

"The inflationary impact of (US President-elect Donald) Trump's policies could lead to fewer (interest) rate cuts than previously expected," she noted.

Manthey said that central banks continued to increase their gold reserves despite a slowdown in the third quarter.

"It is now looking likely that the full-year total will fall short of that seen over the previous two years. Looking ahead into next year, we expect central banks to remain buyers due to geopolitical tensions and the economic climate," she said.

Manthey highlighted that she expects the positive momentum of gold to continue in the short and medium term.

"The macro backdrop will likely remain favorable for the precious metal as interest rates decline and foreign-reserve diversification continues amid geopolitical tensions, creating a perfect storm for gold," she said.

She emphasised that Trump's protectionist policies, tariffs and immigration control could create further inflationary pressure, limiting the Federal Reserve's rate cuts, while a stronger dollar and tighter monetary policy could provide some resistance to gold, estimating an average price of US$2,760 per ounce next year.

Juan Carlos Artigas, global head of research at the World Gold Council, told Anadolu that global geopolitical uncertainties could provide the environment for gold to rise further next year.

"For gold, 2025 will be a tale of two halves. First, we may experience more risk-on appetite as we wait for strategic and tactical drivers to unravel, leading to more clarity and direction for gold's performance later in the year," he said.

"This could really ring true if there is a significant drop in interest rates or a marked increase in market volatility to further fuel investor interest. We also expect global central bank demand and Asian markets to continue playing a pivotal role," he added.