Gold futures rise above $4,000 per ounce for the first time.

Gold futures soared above $4,000 per troy ounce for the first time Tuesday, as many investors seek a safe place to park their money during the continuing U.S. government shutdown.

The going price for New York spot gold had previously closed at $3,960.60 per troy ounce — the standard for measuring precious metals — on Monday.

Gold sales can rise sharply when anxious investors seek secure investments for their money. Even before the shutdown, the asset — and other metals, like silver — had seen wide gains over the last year, as President Donald Trump ’s barrage of tariffs cause uncertainty around the outlook for the global economy. More recently, the prospect of lower interest rates has also made gold a more attractive investment than interest-bearing investments.

How much have gold prices climbed this year?

Gold futures are up about 50% since the start of 2025 — trading at about $4,003 per troy ounce just after 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. That’s up from around $2,670 at the beginning of January.

Silver has seen an even bigger percentage jump year to date. Silver futures are up nearly 60%, trading at under $48 per troy ounce Tuesday afternoon.

Source: financeyahoo