Gold prices ease, surrender early gains as the greenback strengthens

BENGALURU — Gold prices dipped on Monday, giving up early gains as the US dollar rose on expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its policy-making meeting next week.

The losses, however, remained modest amid jitters over the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after he lost a referendum on constitutional reform.

Spot gold slipped 0.10% to $1,175.81 an ounce by 0458 GMT. US gold futures were steady at $1,177.80 per ounce.

“Looks like people are buying the US dollar and that is in turn prompting selling in gold,” said Yuichi Ikemizu, head of commodity trading at Standard Bank in Tokyo.

“People bought gold after the Italian referendum and it looks like they are selling back.”

FEARS REKINDLED

Investors and Europe’s politicians fear victory for Italy’s opposition ‘No’ camp could cause political instability and renewed turmoil for Italy’s banks, pushing the euro zone towards a fresh crisis.

The referendum outcome could be taken as another sign of rising anti- establishment sentiment in the core of Europe, potentially eroding investor confidence in the euro ahead of elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany scheduled to be held next year.

“Some safe-haven buying also emerged as investors are becoming concerned about the impact of elections in Europe,” ANZ said in a note.

The euro fell to a 20- month low on Monday and investors fled riskier assets after Italy’s vote.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, was up 0.70% at 101.43.

“Movement in dollar is going to determine the gold price for some time,” Mr. Ikemizu added.

The US unemployment rate fell to a nine-year low of 4.60% in November, as employers added another 178,000 jobs, making it almost certain that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in a policy meeting later this month.

Positive data usually puts pressure on gold prices, because investors raise bets on a US interest rate hike that would increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

Speculators reduced their net long position in gold futures and options by 17,843 lots to 103,392 lots, the lowest since February, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed.

Among other precious metals, silver edged 0.20% lower to $16.67 an ounce after it touched a more than two-week high earlier in the session.

Platinum was down 0.20% at $ 925 and palladium slid 0.50% to $737.

“We expect palladium to continue outperforming and recommend buying palladium on dips against platinum,” Mark Keenan, cross commodity strategist at Societe Generale wrote in a note.

“Platinum is also facing headwinds from a weaker South African rand, which makes it more profitable to produce platinum.” —