Gold slips as US closer election race lifts the dollar

Bengaluru — Gold fell on Wednesday as the dollar strengthened after US President Donald Trump grabbed an early lead in the key state of Florida, muddying the path for his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Spot gold fell 0.6% to $1,896.44/oz by 3.58am GMT, having earlier shed as much as 1%.

US gold futures fell 0.7% to $1,897.10.

“The market is losing confidence in a clear run to a Biden victory at the moment…. We have seen the Biden trade unwind and a big effect of that is that we have seen the dollar strengthen,” said IG Markets analyst Kyle Rodda.

Trump was leading Biden in the vital battleground state of Florida on Tuesday, while other competitive swing states that will help decide the election, including North Carolina, remained up in the air.

Investors were initially limbering up for a win for Biden, who was expected to inject the market with potentially large stimulus measures to help weather the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I think the odds of a clean sweep are diminishing, almost by the minute. That reduces the possibility, or the likelihood at least, of a large stimulus programme being agreed to in the first days of a Biden administration,” said Matt Sherwood, head of investment strategy at Perpetual in Sydney.

Gold has gained about 25% so far this year due to unprecedented global stimulus amid the Covid-19 pandemic since bullion is considered an inflation hedge.

The dollar was up 0.7% against a basket of major currencies.

“Gold has faded ahead of resistance at $1,912 and is suffering as it appears Trump will hold the key swing state of Florida,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at Oanda, predicting a “choppy $1,890-$1,920 range” in the morning session.

Silver fell 1.6% to $23.77. Platinum dropped 0.9% to $858.77 and palladium was down 0.4% at $2,274.83.

Reuters