Gold delivers its best performance in nine years

Bengalaru — Gold rose to its highest level in more than three months on Tuesday, capping its best year in nearly a decade, on weakening dollar and year-end buying in thin trading.

Spot gold hit its highest since September 25 at $1,524.20/oz and was up 0.5% to $1,522.89 by 0405 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.4% to $1,524.70.

Bullion is set to post its best year since 2010, having gained nearly 19%, mainly driven by a tariff war between the world’s two largest economies and quantitative easing by major central banks.

“One of the main drivers behind gold’s gain is the weakening in the dollar,” said Margaret Yang Yan, a market analyst at CMC Markets, adding that prices are also rising on year-end bargain hunting.

The dollar slipped against a basket of rivals, making gold cheaper for holders of other currencies. “However, the upside is kind of limited because quantitative easing or rate cutting cycle has come to an end for now and we don’t see a possibility of any rate cuts in 2020,” Yan said.

The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times in 2019 before agreeing to pause. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

On the trade front, a phase-1 deal is likely to be signed next week, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Monday.

“With liquidity much reduced in Asia, there is some potential for gold to spike higher on low volume with some risk hedging added into the mix,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst, Asia Pacific at Oanda in a note. “The next resistance is at $1,535/oz.”

Asian shares slipped as investors locked in gains. Speculators raised their bullish positions in Comex gold contracts in the week to December 24.

Elsewhere, palladium rose 0.2% to $1,910.31/oz. Plagued by a sustained supply deficit, it was the biggest precious metal gainer in 2019 with a gain of over 51%, its best since 2017. The price of the metal, used mainly in catalytic converters in vehicles, rose to a record of $1,998.43/oz on December 17.

Silver rose 1.1% to $18.12 and was poised to register its best year since 2010, rising about 17%. Platinum gained 1.4% to $971 and for the year was set to gain about 23%, its best since 2009.

Reuters