Investor "fear of missing out" (FOMO) on gold’s surge has driven global gold demand to a record USD100 billion in Q3 2023, marking a 5% rise to 1,313 tonnes. As geopolitical tensions rise and central banks diversify away from the dollar, gold has reached new highs, peaking at USD2,788 per troy ounce. Investor demand more than doubled, especially in gold-backed ETFs, reversing nine quarters of outflows. While central banks scaled back purchases due to high prices, wealthy individuals increasingly view gold as a hedge against U.S. debt concerns, signalling continued support for prices amid Western rate cuts.