Gold Futures break $3500 for First Time... why? (Patreon)
Content
The U.S. put a 39% tariff (a tax) on certain gold bars (1 kg and 100 oz) that come from Switzerland. These specific bars are the exact ones used to settle gold futures contracts on the COMEX, the main U.S. gold exchange. Switzerland is the world’s biggest gold refiner, and a large portion of gold going to COMEX comes from there.
Why Does That Matter?
Because of the tariff, Swiss refiners stopped shipping those bars to the U.S. That means there’s less physical gold available to fulfill gold futures contracts in New York. So traders who need to deliver gold for futures contracts are scrambling to find eligible bars.
Market Impact?
The price of gold futures in New York suddenly jumped above the regular “spot” price (the global cash price). That price jump is a premium, meaning buyers are willing to pay more just to get access to gold in the right format and in the right place (New York).
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