Gold holds near 4-month peak on dollar

bengaluru — Gold prices edged higher on Tuesday to hold just below a four-month high touched in the previous session, supported by a weaker US dollar languishing near three-year lows.

Spot gold was up 0.1 per cent at $1,341.28 an ounce by 0310 GMT, after touching its strongest since September 8 at $1,344.44 on Monday.

US gold futures rose 0.5 per cent to $1,341 an ounce.

“Gold seems to be moving higher on account of rising inflationary expectations and a steep drop in the dollar,” said INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir.

“We are not sure if gold could withstand the higher yield environment going into 2018, especially if the dollar eventually reverses course. In addition, we don’t see the recent spike in US inflation lasting.”

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, fell on Monday to its lowest since December, 2014 at 90.279. It was last down 0.5 per cent at 90.488.

The euro stood near a 3-year peak on rising expectations that the European Central Bank could pare its monetary stimulus.

ECB rate-setter Ardo Hansson on Monday said the central bank could end its bond purchase scheme in one go after September if the economy and inflation develop as expected.

The dollar has weakened as markets grow increasingly confident that a global recovery would outpace US growth and prompt other major central banks, led by the ECB, to unwind their easy money strategy faster than has been expected.

US markets were closed for a holiday on Monday. —