Gold steadies as traders weigh Mideast tensions, US dollar moves
Investors bet the metal will gain as it rediscovers its traditional value as a portfolio hedge
Gold steadied near US$4,400 an ounce on Monday as traders grappled with competing factors like Middle East tensions and the US dollar's decline against the yen. Bullion had dropped 1.5% over the previous two sessions. Escalating clashes between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz had driven oil prices higher and fuelled concerns about inflation, with analysts estimating a 60% chance the US Federal Reserve would raise interest rates next week.
This typical headwind for non-yielding gold could weigh on the metal. The US dollar slipped to its weakest point versus the Japanese yen since February, aiding gold's traditionally inverse relationship with the currency. Since July's low of US$4,000, gold has fluctuated around the US$4,400 mark as investors weigh the Fed's monetary policy.
Despite short-term challenges, many investors remain optimistic that gold will climb as a secure portfolio hedge, buoyed by potential central bank purchases and the "debasement trade." Spot gold climbed 0.1% to US$4,409.68 at 7:18 am Singapore time, while silver also rose 0.1% to US$66.22 an ounce. Platinum remained flat, while palladium increased.
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the US currency, edged lower following a 0.2% decline on Monday.
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