Gold hovers close to eight-month highs

Bengaluru — Gold prices on Thursday held near eight-month highs hit in the previous session, as the dollar weakened after the US Federal Reserve paused its monetary tightening cycle, putting bullion on course for its fourth consecutive monthly gain.

Spot gold was steady at $1,319.72/oz by 3.08am GMT. Prices rose to their highest since May 11 at $1,323.34 on Wednesday. US gold futures were up 0.6 percent at $1,317.70/oz.

Spot gold has risen 2.8% so far in January.

The Fed held US interest rates steady on Wednesday but said it would be patient in lifting borrowing costs further this year as it pointed to rising uncertainty about the economic outlook.

“Gold is getting a double whammy from a dovish Fed and US-China trade talks. The US dollar has been sold off across the board, supporting gold,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst, Oanda.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, fell after the Fed’s cautious statement.

Gold tends to rise on expectations of lower interest rates, which reduce the opportunity cost of holding nonyielding bullion.

Meanwhile, attention turned towards the US and China high-level trade talks that began on Wednesday, aimed at digging out from their months-long trade war.

Investors are worried that Washington’s criminal charges against Chinese company Huawei and its CFO could hurt the talks.

If the two sides cannot reach a deal soon, Washington has threatened to more than double tariffs on Chinese goods on March 2.

“I expect gold to stay reasonably firm particularly through the trade talks and consolidate above $1,300 in the near term. But, $1,350 is going to be tough to crack and one needs more risks in the market to push gold higher,” Halley said.

Asia stocks rose to a four-month high on Thursday, tracking Wall Street after the Fed decision.

Spot gold has gained nearly 14% since hitting more than one-and-a-half-year lows in August, mostly due to tumultuous stock markets and on the expectation that the Fed could pause its multi-year-rate hike cycle.

Underscoring investor interest in gold, holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, were at their highest since June.

SPDR gold holdings have climbed 4.6% so far in January, the biggest monthly gain since September 2017.

Silver fell 0.3% to $16.02/oz, after touching $16.10 in prior session, its highest since July 2018.

Palladium fell 0.1% to $1,359.50, after touching a record high at $1,434.50 on January 17.

“Speculative positioning is now likely extremely elevated on the long side, suggesting periodic sell-offs on profit-taking are more likely,” Robin Bhar, head of metals research at Société Générale said in a note.

Platinum was up 0.4% at $811.50.

Reuters