Gold hits one-week low on dollar strength and US-EU trade talks

London — Gold hit a one-week low on Friday as the dollar strengthened ahead of US growth data and as an agreement between the US and Europe eased fears of a trade war and dented appetite for safe-haven assets.

The dollar rose to its highest in five days ahead of data expected to show the US economy grew at a 4.1% annualised rate in the second quarter, after 2% growth in the first quarter. Global shares were set for a sixth consecutive session of gains, meanwhile, on easing transatlantic trade tensions.

Chinese shares, however, were feeling the effects of the lingering trade stand-off between the US and China, while the yuan was on course for its seventh straight week of losses.

“[Gold] is tracking the dollar, but the closest correlation right now is between gold and the yuan. Apart from that, gold may also be [tracking] the potential impact a strong [US GDP] read could have for interest rates and the dollar,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. A strong dollar makes dollar-priced gold costlier for non-US investors.

Hansen added that while gold is holding above key support at $1,200 an ounce, talk of recovery before the dollar stabilises and the yuan recovers is meaningless because the metal is hostage to trade war developments and currency threats.

Spot gold was down 0.3% at $1,218.92 an ounce at 10.09am GMT, having hit a one-week low of $1,217.86, and was on track for its third weekly decline running. US gold futures for August delivery were 0.6% down at $1,218.

The US signaled on Thursday that it will push ahead on trade talks with Canada and Mexico after agreeing to suspend hostilities over tariffs with Europe in a fragile deal that could clear the way for renewed pressure on China.

Spot gold is expected to fall into a range of $1,206-$1,214 an ounce, said Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao. In the physical markets, gold demand in India improved this week as domestic prices traded near a six-month low, while weaker rates in Singapore prompted a pick-up in demand there. Demand remained weak, however, in top consumer China as the yuan fell.

Among other precious metals, silver slipped by 0.1% to $15.35, heading for its seventh weekly decline. Palladium was down 0.1% at $926.40 but was heading for its biggest weekly gain since the week of April 20. Platinum dropped 0.3% to $818.

Reuters