Gold steadies as US dollar softens on Trump interest rate comments

BENGALURU — Gold prices were steady on Monday near their highest since July 17 as the dollar eased to its lowest in nearly two weeks after US President Donald Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s interest rate tightening policy.

Spot gold was at $1,231.87 an ounce, up 0.03%, at 0417 GMT. The yellow metal gained 0.70% in the previous session.

US gold futures for August delivery were 0.10% higher at $1,232.10 an ounce.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was down 0.20% at 94.305. It fell to its weakest since July 11 earlier in the session.

Mr. Trump on Friday reinforced his criticism of the Federal Reserve’s policy on raising

interest rates, saying it takes away from the United States’ “big competitive edge” and could hurt the US economy.

“Comments over the weekend from Trump changed the environment somewhat, with the apparent push now to really weaken the US dollar,” said ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes.

The dollar has been a significant headwind for gold over the

past month or so, so it opens up the possibility that we will not see that continued strength in the US dollar, Mr. Hynes added.

A weaker greenback makes dollar- priced gold cheaper for buyers using other currencies.

Elsewhere, global finance leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies ended a two-day weekend meeting in Buenos Aires with little consensus on how to

resolve multiple disputes over US tariff actions.

Mr. Trump on Friday said he was ready to impose tariffs on all $ 500 billion of imported goods from China, threatening to escalate a clash over trade policy that has unnerved financial markets.

Gold is usually seen as an alternative investment in times of political and economic uncertainty. Spot gold may break a resistance at $1,237 per ounce and rise more towards the next resistance at $1,246, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said.

Among other precious metals, silver was up 0.20% at $15.51 an ounce.

Palladium fell 0.40% at $890.72 an ounce and platinum was 0.30% lower at $ 823.80 an ounce.