Gold inches higher as hopes of swift Brexit agreement strengthen euro

NEW YORK/LONDON — Gold prices inched higher as hopes of a swift Brexit deal boosted the sterling and the euro against the dollar, making bullion cheaper for buyers in Britain and the euro zone.

Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator, said an agreement on Britain’s exit from the bloc was “realistic in six to eight weeks.”

Spot gold gained 0.1% at $1,195.91 per ounce by 1:41 p.m. EDT (1741 GMT), while US gold futures December delivery settled down 60 cents, or 0.1%, at $1,199.80 per ounce.

Gold has tumbled more than 12% from a high of $1,365.23 in April as trade disputes, weak emerging market currencies and rising US interest rates have driven a dollar rally.

Gold prices briefly dipped on Monday as investors sought safety in the dollar on trade tensions, said Walter Pehowich, executive vice-president of investment services at Dillon Gage Metals.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday last week that he was ready to impose tariffs on virtually all Chinese imports, prompting a threat by China to retaliate.

China’s yuan fell again on Monday as investors assumed that the United States had less to lose from a trade war than China, the world’s biggest gold consumer.

Also supporting the dollar was strong US jobs data on Friday, which suggested that the Federal Reserve would continue to raise interest rates. Higher rates increase bond yields, making nonyielding bullion less attractive, and tend to boost the dollar. A rate increase is expected this month.

Speculators have ramped up bets on lower prices, with their net short position in Comex gold the biggest since the data were first compiled in 2006.

Until spot gold prices hold above the $1,220-$1,235 range, they would not rise, said Tyler Richey, co-editor of the Sevens Report.

Holdings of gold-backed exchange-traded funds are down almost 5 million ounces, or 8.6%, from a May high.

Among other precious metals, spot silver was up 0.5% at $14.17 per ounce, while platinum rose 0.6% at $783.49, and palladium lost 0.3% at $977.50. —