Understanding the value of gold: Prices, global reserves, and market trends

Al JazeeraEN 4 min read 100% complete by Mohammed Haddad,Marium AliFebruary 8, 2026 at 03:27 PM

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Amidst economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, interest in gold has surged, with prices quadrupling in the last decade and briefly hitting a record high of $5,600 per ounce in late January 2026. Al Jazeera published an explainer in February 2026, detailing how gold's value is determined by its weight in troy ounces and purity in karats. Troy ounces, different from standard ounces, are used to measure gold weight, while karats indicate purity, with 24K being pure gold. The explainer also notes that jewelers stamp gold items to indicate purity, and different karat values are common in various markets. The price of gold jewellery depends on the spot price of gold and the craftsmanship involved.

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Zinc 30% Copper 40% Silver ×250% Al Jazeera ×280% Gold ×1095%

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gold prices 100% gold value 90% karat 80% troy ounce 80% investment 70% gold purity 70% geopolitical tensions 60% economic uncertainty 60% gold reserves 50% market trends 40%

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Al Jazeera

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gold prices gold value karat troy ounce investment gold purity geopolitical tensions economic uncertainty gold reserves market trends

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