Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.

Gold price today, Wednesday, August 26, 2026: Gold pulls back from morning's high over $4,700

Gold (GC=F) December futures opened at $4,715.70 per troy ounce on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, up 0.5% from Tuesday's closing price. Gold later pulled back from the morning's highs and was trading at $4,674.60 per troy ounce as of 7:51 a.m. ET.

Gold opened above $4,700 for a second straight day, reaching an early high of $4,730.90 before slipping back below that level. As of 7:51 a.m. ET, the price of gold stood at $4,674.60.

Gold has rallied after the U.S. Treasury Department decided to double its purchase of long-term debt and as tensions in the Middle East have remained relatively quiet. Talks between Iran and Oman to open a shipping channel in the Strait of Hormuz also pushed Brent Crude (BZ=F) below $86 a barrel, leaving the benchmark down more than 6% over the last five days. The move comes as investors continue to watch whether the recent stretch of elevated gold prices is being reinforced by broader market uncertainty or by shifts in rates expectations and other macro drivers.

Investors are also watching this week's U.S. macroeconomic calendar. The Fed's preferred inflation gauge is due out shortly, and Fed Chair Warsh is scheduled to deliver a key speech on Friday. Those events could provide more clues about how the Federal Reserve may approach interest rates after its meeting next month, making this a closely watched week for traders following gold alongside Treasury yields, inflation data, and energy prices.

Current price of gold

The opening price of gold futures on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, was up 0.5% from Tuesday's close. Here is how the opening price compares with one week, one month, and one year ago:

• One week ago: +8.7%
• One month ago: +15.9%
• One year ago: +39.6%

For context, the one-year gain for gold was 95.6% on Jan. 29.

You can monitor the current price of gold on Yahoo Finance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To explore the current top-performing companies in the gold industry, use the Yahoo Finance Screener. You can create your own screeners with more than 150 different screening criteria.

Considering a gold alternative?

Yahoo Finance also tracks the daily price of silver (SI=F), bitcoin (BTC-USD), and ethereum (ETH-USD) for readers comparing gold with other assets.

Ways to invest in gold

There are several ways to invest in gold, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Four common options are physical gold, gold mining stocks, gold ETFs, and gold futures.

Physical gold

Physical gold includes jewelry, gold bars, and gold coins. Some investors prefer it because it is tangible and easy to buy. For example, a gold necklace can be purchased at a mall, and gold bars are also available at Costco (COST).

Physical gold advantages include:

• Readily accessible for use: If kept at home, physical gold can be used as a medium of exchange in an economic emergency.
• No added volatility or ongoing fees: Holding gold yourself eliminates counterparty risk and avoids storage fees or expense ratios, according to Brett Elliott, director of content and SEO at American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX). It also avoids the additional business volatility associated with gold mining stocks.

Physical gold disadvantages include:

• Risk of theft or loss: Physical gold must be secured properly. It can be stored at home at no cost, or placed in third-party storage with insurance, though those fees reduce returns.
• Lower liquidity: Physical gold is less liquid than stocks or ETFs and can be harder to sell quickly. If it is not being used as a medium of exchange, a seller must find a dealer and accept a markup on the sale.

Gold mining stocks

Gold mining stocks are equity positions in companies that mine gold. They can be volatile because profits are tied to gold prices, and the companies are also exposed to "geopolitical risks and management risks," according to Vince Stanzione, CEO and founder of financial publisher First Information. Many investors use diversified gold mining funds rather than individual mining stocks to help manage that volatility.

Gold mining stocks advantages include:

• Greater liquidity: Large-cap miners such as Barrick Gold Corporation (B) and Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV) generally have narrow bid-ask spreads, which indicate liquidity. The bid-ask spread is the difference between what buyers will pay and what sellers will accept.
• No storage requirements: Shares remain in a brokerage account and do not require physical storage.

Gold mining stocks disadvantages include:

• Greater volatility: "Gold investing through gold mining companies adds another layer of risk," said Thomas Winmill, portfolio manager at mutual fund company Midas Funds. From 2000 to 2020, gold mining stocks rose and fell faster than gold spot prices. In recent years, gold mining stocks have trended down even as gold spot prices have increased.
• No utility as a medium of exchange: Gold mining stocks may appreciate, but they cannot be used directly as a medium of exchange.

Gold ETFs

Gold ETFs are funds that track the price of gold. They may invest in physical gold stores, gold mining stocks, gold futures, or a combination of those assets. The largest gold ETF by total assets is SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), which is backed by physical gold stored in vaults.

Gold ETFs advantages include:

• Easy to store: Like gold mining stocks, ETF shares are digital assets and do not require physical storage.
• Greater liquidity: Popular gold ETFs such as SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU) are heavily traded, and steady demand makes them easier to sell.
• Tied directly to gold prices: ETFs backed by physical gold track the spot price of gold, which is usually less volatile than gold mining stocks or gold mining ETFs.

Gold ETFs disadvantages include:

• Fund fees: ETFs charge fees that reduce returns over time. For example, SPDR Gold Shares has an expense ratio of 0.40%, or $4 a year for every $1,000 invested.
• No utility as a medium of exchange: As with gold mining stocks, ETF shares probably cannot be used to trade for food in an economic emergency.

Gold futures

Gold futures are standardized contracts to buy gold on a future date at a specific price. The contracts often represent 100 troy ounces. According to Stanzione, gold futures carry "the highest risk and are best left to professional traders."

Gold futures advantages include:

• Leverage: Investors can control a large amount of gold with a relatively small amount of capital.
• Convenience: There is no need to store physical gold to profit from price changes.

Gold futures disadvantages include:

• Risk: Leverage magnifies both gains and losses, making futures especially risky for an unpredictable asset like gold.
• Complexity: The structure of futures contracts can be difficult for many retail investors to navigate.

Price of gold chart

Whether you are tracking gold over the past month or the past year, the price-of-gold chart below shows the metal's value so far this year.

(GC=F)

Gold forecast and tracker: Where will prices land in 2026?

How high will gold go in 2026? See live gold prices, expert predictions about gold performance, and learn whether gold will reach $6,000.

6 ways to invest in gold from simple buys to more complex bets

There are several ways to invest in gold. The best option depends on your upfront investment and financial goals. Here are the top six ways to invest in gold.

Who decides what gold is worth? How gold prices are determined.

The two primary gold prices investors should know are spot prices and gold futures prices. Learn the difference, the historical price of gold, and the current dynamics.

Gold price outlook: Could prices hit $6,000 in 2026?

Gold prices have risen sharply in recent years, but how high can they go next? Here are the boldest predictions for gold's performance.

How to invest in gold in 7 steps

Learn how to invest in gold by weighing its strengths, historical behavior, and the pros and cons of physical gold, gold mining stocks, and ETFs.

Should I invest in gold in 2026?

Investing in gold can serve as a hedge against inflation and a store of value, but there are risks to consider before buying.