[Reuters Survey: Analysts Lower Gold Price Forecast for the First Time Since Late 2023, but Central Bank Buying Expected to Cushion Decline] Odaily Planet Daily News - A Reuters survey shows that after gold prices sharply retreated from record highs in January, analysts have lowered their gold price forecasts for the first time since late 2023. However, most still expect central bank purchases and concerns over fiscal sustainability to provide support. In a survey conducted over the past three weeks involving 29 analysts and traders, the median forecast for gold prices in 2026 is $4,509 per ounce. This figure is down from $4,916 three months ago and marks the first downward revision in 11 quarters. The average forecast for 2027 is $4,610 per ounce, compared to $5,100 in the previous survey. Gold prices hit a record high of $5,595 per ounce in January but saw a sharp decline in the second quarter as the Iran war exacerbated energy inflation and heightened expectations of interest rate hikes, resulting in the worst quarterly performance since 2013. Since the outbreak of the war, spot gold has fallen by approximately 22%. (Jin10)