Economy

Gold falls as fading Middle East peace hopes lift dollar, oil

Trump to visit China this week, ​to discuss Iran ⁠with Xi.

Gold fell from a three-week high ‌hit earlier on Tuesday, as slim hopes of a U.S.-Iran peace deal drove the dollar and oil prices ​higher, clouding U.S. interest rate outlook ahead of key inflation data.

Spot gold fell 0.8% to $4,698.22 per ​ounce by ​0913 GMT, after climbing to its highest since April 21 earlier. U.S. gold futures for June delivery lost 0.5% to $4,706.10.

U.S. President Donald Trump said a ceasefire ⁠with Iran was “on life support” as Tehran rejected a U.S. proposal to end the conflict and stuck to a list of demands the U.S. president described as “garbage”.

“The overall driver (for gold’s decline) is rising energy prices once again lifting U.S. bond yields ahead ​of today’s CPI (consumer ‌price index) print, ⁠as well as ⁠a stronger dollar,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. Oil climbed as ​the key Strait of Hormuz stayed largely closed.

The April inflation ‌data, expected later in the day, could provide clues ⁠on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy direction.

Elevated crude oil prices can stoke inflation, increasing the likelihood of higher interest rates. While gold is seen as a hedge against inflation, high rates tend to weigh on the non-yielding asset.

Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields hit a one-week high, while the dollar gained 0.4%, making dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies. Traders have largely priced out a Fed rate cut this year, with markets now seeing a 36% chance of a hike by March 2027, according ‌to CME Group’s FedWatch tool. Markets are also watching Trump’s two-day ⁠visit to China on Wednesday, during which he is set ​to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the Middle East expected to be a key part of the agenda.

“Overall, gold remains rangebound, with support established ahead of $4,500, while resistance is at ​the 50-day ‌moving average, near $4,757,” said Hansen.

Spot silver fell 2.4% at $84.05 per ounce, ⁠platinum slid 3.1% to $2,066.15, and palladium ​was down 1.6% at $1,484.23. 

© ZAWYA 

GLOBAL BUSINESS AND FINANCE MAGAZINE

Recent Posts

Global economic outlook hangs in balance between geopolitical headwinds and AI boost, WEF Chief Economists’ Outlook warns

Nearly nine in ten chief economists surveyed expect global growth to weaken over the next…

2 days ago

Availability, accessibility, affordability of quality food are vital for food security, says FAO

The Director-General emphasised that the “Four Levels of Food” provide a crucial roadmap for enhancing…

2 days ago

Global economic outlook hangs in balance between geopolitical headwinds and AI boost, WEF Chief Economists’ Outlook warns

Chief economists already rank the current closure duration of the Strait of Hormuz as significantly…

2 days ago

South Asia opens up: How trade reforms impact households and sectors

Over the next decade, about 280 million people will come of working age in South Asia.…

2 days ago

Can we even measure progress? The state of development data

Imagine you’ve just been appointed Minister of Finance. Tomorrow morning, you must decide where to…

2 days ago

Frontier market economies: Seven insights on global financial integration and rising debt

Over the next quarter-century, today's frontier markets are projected to add more individuals to the…

2 days ago