The prices of gold and silver have reached record highs following the threat by US President Donald Trump to impose fresh tariffs on eight European countries opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland. The price of gold touched $4,689.39 (£3,499) an ounce on Monday, while silver rose to a peak of $94.08 an ounce.
Precious metals are seen as safer assets to hold in times of uncertainty, and the prices of both gold and silver have soared over the past year. The row over the future of Greenland has escalated following the threat of extra tariffs by the US, and there are reports that the EU is preparing to retaliate.
While gold and silver prices rose, stock markets in Asia saw modest falls, with Japan’s Nikkei index closing down 0.6%. In Europe, London’s FTSE 100 index was down just 0.1%, and shares in gold miners Fresnillo and Endeavour were up on the back of the latest increase in precious metal prices.
However, there were bigger falls elsewhere, with companies deemed vulnerable to the latest threatened tariffs taking the biggest hits. In Germany, the Dax index fell 1% with carmakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW among the top losers. In France, the Cac 40 was down 1.2%, with luxury goods firms taking a hit. Shares in LVMH fell 3.8% and Hermès was down 2.5%.
European defence stocks, on the other hand, rose, with Germany’s Rheinmetall and France’s Thales both trading higher.
The market in the US is closed on Monday for a public holiday. On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland would come into force on 1 February, but could later rise to 25% – and would last until a deal on Greenland was reached.
Reports have suggested the EU is considering responding with a €93bn (£80bn) package of tariffs on US imports. Last year, the price of gold soared by more than 60%, partly due to concerns about global tensions and economic uncertainty.
“Gold has hit fresh record highs on its glittering run upwards,” said Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club. “The precious metal is holding even more allure as a safe haven as worries spread about the repercussions of the US aggressive trade and geopolitical policies.”