Metal inches higher amid worry over rising Delta variant infections, while investors focus on the Federal open market committee meeting
26 July 2021 - 07:41
byEileen Soreng
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Bengaluru — Gold prices inched higher on Monday, supported by easing US bond yields and concerns over rising Delta variant infections, while investors focused on the Federal open market committee’s meeting this week.
Spot gold rose 0.3% to $1,806.32/oz by 3.43am GMT. US gold futures climbed 0.3% to $1,806.30.
“There is no guarantee we have gotten rid of this scourge (Covid-19) and this is continuing to keep safe-haven bid under gold simply because that could possibly keep central banks on the dovish side,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
Investors are unlikely to move back into gold in a big way unless the Covid-19 situation deteriorates quite significantly, Innes said.
Coronavirus cases continued to rise at the weekend with a number of countries in Asia and Europe battling to control the outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Benchmark 10-year treasury yields dipped, reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest bearing gold.
Meanwhile, the dollar index held close to a three-and-a-half-month peak hit last week, weighing on the metal’s appeal. A stronger dollar makes gold more expensive for other currency holders.
“Gold is likely to continue taking its cue from movements in treasury yields and the dollar. We expect gold to consolidate sideways for the time being,” OCBC said in a note.
Market participants now await the US central bank’s meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. While no policy change is expected, investors will look out for clues on when the Fed might start reining in its easy monetary policies.
Silver rose 0.3% to $25.24/oz, palladium fell 0.1% to $2,668.48, and platinum was 0.2% higher at $1,063.23.
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Easing US bond yield support gold
Metal inches higher amid worry over rising Delta variant infections, while investors focus on the Federal open market committee meeting
Bengaluru — Gold prices inched higher on Monday, supported by easing US bond yields and concerns over rising Delta variant infections, while investors focused on the Federal open market committee’s meeting this week.
Spot gold rose 0.3% to $1,806.32/oz by 3.43am GMT. US gold futures climbed 0.3% to $1,806.30.
“There is no guarantee we have gotten rid of this scourge (Covid-19) and this is continuing to keep safe-haven bid under gold simply because that could possibly keep central banks on the dovish side,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
Investors are unlikely to move back into gold in a big way unless the Covid-19 situation deteriorates quite significantly, Innes said.
Coronavirus cases continued to rise at the weekend with a number of countries in Asia and Europe battling to control the outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Benchmark 10-year treasury yields dipped, reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest bearing gold.
Meanwhile, the dollar index held close to a three-and-a-half-month peak hit last week, weighing on the metal’s appeal. A stronger dollar makes gold more expensive for other currency holders.
“Gold is likely to continue taking its cue from movements in treasury yields and the dollar. We expect gold to consolidate sideways for the time being,” OCBC said in a note.
Market participants now await the US central bank’s meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. While no policy change is expected, investors will look out for clues on when the Fed might start reining in its easy monetary policies.
Silver rose 0.3% to $25.24/oz, palladium fell 0.1% to $2,668.48, and platinum was 0.2% higher at $1,063.23.
Reuters
JSE faces slumping Asian markets as Chinese regulators take aim at Tencent
Market data — July 25 2021
MARKET WRAP: JSE ends a volatile week up more than 2%
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