Gold prices today, Monday, July 20, 2026: Gold holds above $4,000 despite continued violence in the Middle East

Gold (GC=F) August futures opened astatine $4,005.60 per troy ounce connected Monday, July 20, 2026, down 0.3% from Friday's closing price. As of 8:15 a.m. ET, the terms of golden was up to $4,016.10.

Gold rebounded somewhat from a sub-$4,000 opening terms connected Friday, contempt a play of unit successful the Middle East. Three U.S. work members were killed, 2 successful an Iranian onslaught successful Jordan and different successful bluish Iran during a controlled detonation of a drone. Sunday marked the ninth consecutive nighttime of U.S. strikes targeting a scope of Iranian subject targets. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday the U.S. is "always unfastened to diplomacy," but reiterated that Iran indispensable reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait's closure has been a captious operator of higher state prices successful the U.S. and globally.

Continued precocious state prices summation the broader ostentation hazard — which could unit the Fed to rise involvement rates. Higher involvement rates promote little golden prices, since precious metals bash not wage interest.

Current terms of golden

The opening terms of golden futures connected Monday, July 20, 2026, was down 0.3% from Friday's closing price. Here's a look astatine however the opening golden terms has changed versus past week, month, and year:  

• One week ago: -1.8%

• One period ago: -6.4%

• One twelvemonth ago: +20%

For context, the one-year summation for golden was 95.6% connected Jan. 29.

24/7 golden terms tracking: Don't hide you tin show the existent terms of golden connected Yahoo Finance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Want to larn much astir the existent top-performing companies successful the golden industry? Explore a database of the top-performing companies successful the golden manufacture utilizing the Yahoo Finance Screener. You tin make your ain screeners with implicit 150 antithetic screening criteria.

Gold prices explained

The terms of golden tin beryllium quoted successful aggregate forms due to the fact that the precious metallic is traded successful antithetic ways. The 2 main golden prices investors should cognize astir are spot prices and golden futures prices.

Learn more: How to put successful golden successful 4 steps

The spot terms

The spot terms of golden is the existent marketplace terms per ounce for carnal golden arsenic a earthy material, sometimes called spot gold. Gold ETFs that are backed by carnal golden assets mostly way the golden spot price. 

The spot terms is little than what you'd wage to bargain golden coins, bullion, oregon jewelry, since your full terms volition see a markup called the golden premium that covers refining, marketing, trader overhead, and profits. The spot terms is much similar a wholesale price, and the spot terms positive the golden premium is the retail price.   

Learn more: Thinking of buying gold? Here's what investors should ticker for.

Gold futures

Gold futures are contracts that mandate a golden transaction astatine a circumstantial terms connected a aboriginal date. These contracts are exchange-traded and much liquid than carnal gold. They settee connected the declaration expiration day oregon earlier, either financially oregon via delivery. A fiscal currency colony involves paying the contract's nett oregon nonaccomplishment successful cash. Delivery means the seller sends carnal golden to the purchaser for the contracted price.

Factors that impact golden prices

Supply and request find golden spot prices and golden futures prices. Factors that power golden proviso and request include:

1. Geopolitical events

2. Central slope buying trends

3. Inflation 

4. Interest rates

5. Mining accumulation

Learn more: Who decides what golden is worth? How prices are determined.

Price of golden illustration

Whether you're tracking the terms since past period oregon past year, the terms of golden illustration beneath shows the precious metal's alteration successful value.