Gold inches higher on lacklustre dollar

Bengaluru — Gold prices edged higher on Thursday as the dollar hovered near a six-month low hit on New Year’s Eve amid bets US economic outperformance could be coming to an end.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $1,519.75/oz by 4.49am GMT, after having touched their highest since September 25 at $1,525.20 on Tuesday. Bullion ended 2019 with its biggest annual gain since 2010. US gold futures were down 0.1% at $1,522.40.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the phase 1 trade deal with China would be signed on January 15 at the White House, though investors still awaited details of the agreement.

“The first phase has been priced in for sometime [in the gold market], but it’s affecting the US dollar, which is weakening quite a bit, and that is supporting gold,” said Brian Lan, MD at dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore.

The dollar started the New Year under pressure as investors wagered US economic outperformance could be coming to an end as optimism on trade brightens the outlook for growth globally.

The dollar index against a basket of currencies fell 1.9% in December, having hit its lowest level since July. A weaker dollar makes gold cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Limiting bullion’s advance, Asian shares rose on China’s policy easing and news that the world’s two top economies would sign a trade pact soon.

“A key thing to lookout for is stock markets, which have been setting new highs and in case there is some correction, we can see some capital flows into gold,” Lan said. Brexit, Hong Kong protests and North Korea tensions will be the other key factors for the market in 2020, he said.

Investors also took stock of a private survey that showed China’s factory activity expanded at a slower clip in December, but production continued to grow at a solid pace and business confidence shot up.

“[Gold] has continued to demonstrate bullish inclinations as prices breached $1,500 last week despite new highs in the US stock market. Bullish technical posturing is likely to support prices as trading activities remain soft for the near term,” Benjamin Lu, analyst at Phillip Futures, said in a note. “A continuation of the positive trend scenario will see gold prices test the next main station of $1,540.”

Among other precious metals, silver rose 0.1% to$17.84/oz, while platinum gained 0.7% to $970.05 and palladium edged up 0.2% to $1,942.78/oz.

Reuters