Gold loses ground as investors regain appetite for risk

Bengaluru — Gold prices fell on Monday as risk sentiment improved after the US drug regulator authorised the use of blood plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients as a treatment option, and the dollar held firm.

Spot gold was down 0.3% to $1,934.13 per ounce by 5.17am after hitting a one-week low of $1,910.99 on Friday. US gold futures eased 0.2% to $1,942.90.

“Weighing a little bit on immediate sentiment is virus positive news that has helped stocks and other risk assets go higher today,” said Stephen Innes, chief market strategist at financial services firm AxiCorp, adding that gold is in consolidation before US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole.

Asian stocks extended gains after the US Food & Drug Administration authorised the use of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from Covid-19 as a treatment for the disease.

Investors are now waiting for Powell’s speech for any hints about how aggressively the central bank will try to manage the long-term recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The US central bank should reiterate its pledge for ultralow rates, providing some support for gold,” Avtar Sandu, a senior commodities manager at Phillip Futures, said in a note. “The central bank may be expected to signal greater tolerance for above-target inflation keeping real interest rates low.”

Lower US interest rates put pressure on the dollar and bond yields, increasing the appeal of non-yielding bullion.

Central banks worldwide have rolled out huge stimulus measures to mitigate the economic damage caused by the virus outbreak, which has infected more than 23.31-million people worldwide so far.

The dollar index held steady against a basket of major currencies after climbing to a more than one-week high in the previous session.

Elsewhere, silver dropped 0.7% to $26.50 per ounce, platinum dipped 0.4% to $915.35, and palladium fell 1.3% to $2,154.28.

Reuters