Gold futures (GC=F) settled at $4543.60 on May 15, 2026, marking a 2.88% decline. This move extends a multi-day pullback from the early May range of $4699.80 to $4720.40.
Broad U.S. equity markets signaled risk-off sentiment as major indices retreated. The S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average all fell between 0.8% and 1.3%.
Geopolitical friction drove market volatility following a high-stakes U.S.-China summit in Beijing. The meeting ended without breakthroughs on semiconductor export restrictions, weighing heavily on tech sentiment.
Macroeconomic pressures including elevated energy prices near the Strait of Hormuz and potential rate hikes continue to influence prices. While near-term profit-taking pressured the metal this week, gold maintains its role as an inflation and geopolitical hedge.