user-avatar
Arnne Carragie

Why Is Gold Defying War Headlines Today? $4,850 Resistance and the Vance-Islamabad Signal Spark Market Volatility

International benchmark Gold (XAU/USD) traded near $4,807 on April 21, 2026, as the market entered a high-stakes waiting room phase. Despite a weekend of naval escalations, including the U.S. seizure of an Iranian cargo ship and the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the yellow metal has failed to go vertical. The market is now grappling with a strategic paradox: while the two-week ceasefire expires this Wednesday, reports that U.S. Vice President JD Vance is leading a negotiating team to Pakistan has triggered a defensive retreat in the US Dollar, capping bullion’s safe-haven bid.