What Could Possibly Stop This Gold Rally? Drivers and Headwinds Behind 2025’s Record Surge

Gold (XAU) has been on an unstoppable rally, breaking record after record in 2025. The price has surged to $4,380 as investors rush toward safe-haven assets. Central banks, sovereign funds, and institutional buyers are accumulating physical gold at a pace not seen in decades.

Moreover, the rate cuts, rising inflation, and mounting geopolitical tensions have created the perfect storm for gold.

But can anything stop this rally?

This article presents a balanced outlook, exploring the powerful forces behind gold’s historic surge and the key economic, political, and technical risks that could challenge its momentum.

The Key Drivers of the Gold Surge

Physical Delivery Pressure Sparks Supply Shock

The gold market has seen a sharp increase in buyers demanding physical delivery. The price has surged above $4,200 as physical supply in London struggles to keep pace with futures market claims.

Moreover, Basel III rules reclassified physical gold as a Tier 1 high-quality liquid asset for U.S. banks on 1 July 2025. Gold now sits with Treasuries and cash, accounting for 100% of capital reserves. Previously, it was treated as a Tier 3 asset, valued at only 50% of its market price. This change has made gold far more attractive to commercial banks and institutional investors as a core reserve asset.

This shift helps explain the rising demand for physical bullion and the growing reluctance of central banks to lease gold into the market. Moreover, as the exchange-traded products (ETPs) like SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) grow, their fully allocated holdings reduce the amount of gold available in the market.

This is more than just a temporary supply issue. The scale of purchases and delivery requests suggests that sovereign buyers like China and global institutions are seeking physical gold rather than paper claims.

Moreover, Western central banks have become increasingly cautious, cutting back on gold leasing and restricting supply to bullion dealers. As a result, physical shortages now pose a serious risk to the solvency of short positions in the futures market.

This structural shift reflects a broader loss of trust in fiat currencies. Sovereign debt has surged, and inflation is now viewed as a tool to manage debt by inflating nominal GDP. The chart below shows that the US public debt has surged over $37 trillion, with an increase of over $400 billion this month alone, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio to 124%. This ratio is near the pandemic-era highs.

This relentless debt expansion fuels expectations of continued dollar debasement, making gold more attractive as a store of value. As fiscal risks grow, investors increasingly seek protection in hard assets, reinforcing gold’s long-term bullish outlook.

Inflation Revival and the Collapse in Fiat Trust

The chart below shows that the September ISM Services PMI dropped to 50.0, signalling stagnation. The New Orders index fell to 50.4%, pointing to a weakening outlook.

On the other hand, the Employment sub-index also contracted. However, the main concern is inflation, as the Producer Price Index surged, reflecting rising input costs and mounting pressure on profit margins.

The long-term data confirms the structural weakness of the U.S. dollar. The chart below shows that the CPI purchasing power index has fallen from 796 in April 1933 to just 30.9 in August 2025, which is a significant decline in purchasing power. This decline is even more when measured against gold.

Developed economies are trapped between slow growth and high debt. The policy response is clear: fiscal stimulus and suppressed interest rates. Inflation has become a feature, not a flaw.

This environment supports hard assets. With rising inflation expectations and waning confidence in fiat currencies, gold remains the preferred store of value.

What Could Stop the Gold Rally?

A Stronger U.S. Dollar Could Derail the Rally

A rebound in the U.S. dollar index would pose a serious headwind for the gold rally. The U.S. dollar index has recovered from its long-term support near the 96 level and regained ground as global yields and risk aversion have increased.

When the U.S. dollar appreciates, gold becomes more expensive for foreign currency holders, reducing demand and increasing the cost of dollar-denominated gold.

Moreover, a surprise decision to maintain higher U.S. interest rates or signs of a stronger U.S. economy could reverse expectations of rate cuts. This may potentially halt the gold’s current bullish momentum. In fact, the recent drop in gold prices on Friday from a record high of $4,380 was partly triggered by a rebound in the U.S. dollar index.

Furthermore, gold’s attractiveness is inversely related to real yields and expected interest rate paths. If U.S. jobs, inflation, or growth data surprise to the upside, the Federal Reserve may keep rates higher for longer. This could trigger a sharper decline in gold prices from current levels. Easing inflation or strong employment figures may also weaken gold’s appeal as an inflation hedge.

The chart below shows the long-term picture for the U.S. Dollar Index, which is rebounding from a key support zone. If the index fails to break below the 96 level, it could trigger a correction in gold prices. However, a break below the 96 level will trigger a strong drop to the 90 level.

Geopolitical De-Escalation May Remove Safe-Haven Demand

The recent surge in gold prices rests heavily on its safe-haven appeal amid escalating geopolitical tensions. If these tensions ease, it could lead to a swift correction in gold. De-escalation in U.S.–China trade friction or resolution of conflicts in the Middle East may reduce the uncertainty premium currently priced into gold.

If geopolitical tensions ease, investors may rotate out of gold and back into risk assets such as equities and corporate bonds, removing one of the key drivers of the recent rally. When safe-haven demand fades, gold may give back some of its gains after a strong rally. While many of gold’s long-term drivers are structural, a reduction in external shocks could act as a short-term brake on its momentum.

Profit-Taking Threatens Short-Term Stability

The gold market has posted remarkable gains, including record highs, sharp short-term rallies, and extended overbought technical readings. These rapid run-ups leave the market vulnerable to profit-taking. Hedge funds, traders, and long-term investors may lock in gains due to the overheated market conditions.

A wave of profit-taking can trigger a cascade:

• Falling momentum
• Reduced speculative buying
• Increased defensive selling
• Steeper retracement

Since gold is trading within a parabolic trend, the market can self-correct even if the underlying fundamentals remain supportive, as a healthy reset before resuming the uptrend.

The chart below shows that gold has been trading within a parabolic trend, resulting in extraordinary surges during each cycle. The first major surge occurred between the August 1976 low of $100 and the January 1980 peak of $873, resulting in an approximate 773% increase.

A similar parabolic move took place from the September 1999 low of $253.60 to the September 2011 high of $1,921, marking a 657% increase.

The current rally began from the December 2015 low of $1,046.45 and is showing the same parabolic characteristics. If the pattern continues, projections based on historical moves suggest this parabolic advance could extend toward the $8,000 to $10,000 range over the next few years.

However, the parabolic moves come with a strong correction on the way. If the fundamentals improve, then the price correction might be steeper than expected within the same bullish overview.

Overbought Signals Suggest a Technical Pullback Ahead

From a technical analysis viewpoint, gold is facing a clear risk of a pullback. The chart below shows that the RSI has reached levels not seen since the 1980s, indicating that gold has entered extremely overbought territory.

While the current parabolic move may not yet be complete and could still extend toward the $10,000 zone, the RSI suggests overheating. This indicates the market may be due for a pullback. A correction from current levels would be healthy and could attract new buyers, reinforcing the longer-term target near $10,000.

The gold price cannot rise without corrections. Pullbacks are a healthy sign and necessary to sustain bullish momentum. If gold continues to surge without pausing, it often leads to a top followed by a prolonged consolidation to absorb the gains.

One example can be seen in the chart above, where the RSI reached around the 85 level in February 2008, resulting in a sharp drop in gold during the financial crisis of 2008. The price then rebounded and surged to a major peak in 2011.

Based on the above discussion, it is clear that the gold market may face a correction from current levels, and such pullbacks should be viewed as buying opportunities for long-term investors.

How Seasonality Shapes Gold’s Year-End Moves?

Gold follows seasonal patterns that often repeat over decades. These patterns help identify likely inflecion points and guide strategies based on historical behaviour. The current rally aligns with seasonal strength and long-term bullish cycles.

Historically, gold performs well from late Q3 through Q1 of the following year. This seasonal trend aligns with rising physical demand from India and China during their festival and wedding seasons. In addition, central banks often accumulate reserves before year-end to strengthen their balance sheets.

Over the past 20 years, gold has often posted strong gains between September and February. However, events like the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 shock in 2019 temporarily disrupted this seasonal pattern.

The chart below shows the seasonal trend over the last 10 years, highlighting that January, April, and December have consistently been positive months, where gold prices closed higher than their opening levels. October also shows a moderately bullish tendency, with a 60% probability of a positive close.

When gold prices peak in October, a correction in November leads to strong positive price action in December, helping the metal close the year higher.

The chart below also shows that 2025 has been extremely bullish due to ongoing geopolitical crises, but the price action remains similar to 2024. The escalation of conflicts in the Middle East in 2024 and renewed trade tensions from the 2025 Trump tariffs have intensified volatility. Since prices are attempting a surge in October within the extended zone, a short-term correction may now emerge, creating potential buying opportunities in November.

Conclusion – The Bigger Picture

Gold has surged to record highs, driven by strong demand, inflation fears, and global instability. Physical shortages, central bank buying, and the collapse of trust in fiat currencies continue to fuel this rally.

However, the market is not without risk. A rebound in the U.S. dollar, falling geopolitical tensions, or stronger economic data could trigger a strong correction. Profit-taking and technical overbought signals also increase the chance of short-term pullbacks. Since the price is trading in a parabolic trend, the correction might be steeper than expected.

However, the long-term trend remains strongly bullish. The chart below confirms a major structural breakout in the gold market in 2024, indicating that prices could advance toward the $9,000–$10,000 range. This range is a measured move projected from this breakout pattern.

If history repeats, temporary setbacks will not end the rally. These pullbacks will only recharge the next leg higher. The gold market may pause, but the bigger picture still points to a strong uptrend.

Any correction within this parabolic move could offer a strategic entry point for long-term investors. The key support levels within this trend remain near the $4,000 and $3,500 zones, where rising debt, persistent inflation, and strong demand for hard assets are likely to drive gold to new highs.