Gold and silver extended their recent decline on Thursday, with both precious metals falling to new lows for 2026 as investors continued to reduce safe-haven exposure amid improving risk sentiment and a stronger U.S. dollar.

Gold slipped further below key technical support levels, while silver followed suit, reflecting broad weakness across the precious metals sector. The latest sell-off comes after months of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and inflation concerns that had previously supported demand for bullion.

Market analysts point to a combination of factors weighing on prices, including expectations that major central banks may maintain a cautious approach toward interest-rate cuts, rising government bond yields, and renewed investor interest in equities and risk-sensitive assets.

Silver, which often exhibits greater volatility than gold due to its dual role as both a precious and industrial metal, has faced additional pressure from concerns over slowing industrial demand in key manufacturing regions.

From a technical perspective, the break to fresh yearly lows has shifted momentum firmly in favor of sellers. Traders are now watching whether further liquidation could accelerate if additional support levels fail to hold in the coming sessions.

Despite the current weakness, some long-term investors view the pullback as an opportunity to accumulate positions at lower prices, citing ongoing global debt concerns, persistent inflation risks, and central bank gold purchases as potential supportive factors later in the year.

For now, however, sentiment remains cautious as both gold and silver continue to cool off, with markets awaiting fresh economic data and policy signals that could determine the next major move for precious metals.