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Gold falls for fourth day as dollar stays firm ahead of Fed meeting

Comments (0) Actualites, Economy, US

(Reuters) – Gold prices extended losses into a fourth session on Monday and hit a more than two-week low, with the dollar remaining supported as investors expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this week.

Spot gold was down 0.2 percent at $1,310.03 per ounce at 0735 GMT. Prices fell to $1,307.51 earlier in the session, their lowest since March 1.

U.S. gold futures for April delivery dropped 0.2 percent to $1,309.40 per ounce.

“I think the overall economic recovery is good enough for the (U.S.) central bank to consider a faster pace of normalization of monetary policies,” said Mark To, head of research at Hong Kong’s Wing Fung Financial Group.

A two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting begins on Tuesday, with the U.S. central bank expected to hike interest rates for the first time this year.

“It is somehow expected and is already priced in the market so I stick to my prediction that precious metals, with gold included, are going to have range-bound trading, unless something really surprising happens,” said To.

With a 25 basis point rate hike seen as a done deal, one key focus is on whether Fed policy makers forecast four rate hikes this year instead of the three they had projected at December meeting.

Gold is highly sensitive to rising U.S. interest rates, becoming less attractive to investors as it does not bear interest.

The dollar inched higher against a basket of major peers on Monday as traders braced for the Fed meeting and as the increased threat of trade protectionism kept markets on edge. [USD/]

The dollar index was up 0.1 percent at 90.302. On Friday, it hit a two-week high near 90.38, following strong U.S. economic data.

“Potential market headwinds from the underlying (susceptibility) to risk-appetite, heightened (geo) political tensions, inflation concerns, Russia tensions, to name a few, could help keep the floor on gold prices in check,” Stephen Innes, APAC trading head at OANDA, said in a note.

Gold speculators cut their net long position by 16,153 contracts to 145,659 contracts, according to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data. This was the smallest net long position since early January.

Among other precious metals, silver was down 0.3 percent at $16.26 per ounce and palladium inched 0.1 percent lower to $993.90 per ounce.

Platinum was 0.5 percent lower at $938.49 per ounce after falling to its lowest since Jan. 3 at $936.50.

 

(Reporting by Eileen Soreng in Bengaluru; editing by Joseph Radford and Subhranshu Sahu)

 

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South Africa’s rand retreats as lower gold price dampens risk-on rush

Comments (0) Africa, Business, Latest Updates from Reuters

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand backtracked a touch on Tuesday, reversing the previous session’s strong gains with demand dampened by lower gold prices as investors held bets ahead of a local interest rate decision later in the week.

* Rand at 14.2725 at 0700 GMT, 0.3 percent weaker than New York close. Gained nearly 2 percent in previous session, testing 14.2000 resistance before retreating slightly.

* Global demand for risk assets moderating after Monday’s rush, but traders see emerging assets remaining on front foot as investors continue search for yield.

* Gold flat on Tuesday, holding on to its losses from the previous session as appetite for risk assets caps safe haven demand.

* All 31 economists surveyed by Reuters last week expect central bank to keep repo rate on hold at 7.0 percent on July 21.

* Government bonds firmer, yield on benchmark 2026 paper cuts 1 basis point to 8.83 percent.

* Stocks open weaker, blue chip index down 0.74 percent at 46,099 points, All Share slips 0.7 percent to 52,670 points.

 

(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Ed Cropley)

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