Gold prices fall

Gold prices experienced a slight decline on Friday as inflation concerns heated up and interest rate expectations remained high, according to Reuters. The price of a gold bar fell by 1.05% to VND141 million per tael, while a gold ring saw a 1.27% drop to VND140.5 million per tael. A tael, equivalent to 37.5 grams, saw gold prices ease globally, but investors are still holding onto the precious metal, anticipating key US payrolls data later in the week.

The fall in gold prices was attributed to a rebound in oil prices, which has led to worries about inflation. Energy costs, particularly crude oil, have been pushing up inflationary pressures, contributing to the downward trend in gold. Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive, stated that markets are still assessing the outcome of the US midterm elections, causing gold prices to remain rangebound in a consolidation phase.

Despite the drop in gold prices, the asset is still on track for a weekly gain as investors wait for the US payrolls data. US gold futures for December delivery also dropped by 1%, reaching $4,072.90. Analysts believe that higher energy costs can reinforce the expectation that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher interest rates for an extended period, increasing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.