Gold closed at $3,976 per ounce on Thursday.
It was the lowest close of the year, erasing nearly all of the gains of the last three quarters.
The yellow metal has entered a drawdown of about 26% below its January peak near $5,600—only its fifth drawdown of more than 25% since 1960, according to Morgan Stanley analysts.
The catalyst is geopolitical.
Renewed U.S.–Iran hostilities in the Middle East have driven Brent crude above $85 a barrel, rekindling fears of sticky inflation.








