Gold turns positive as oil eases on hopes for Iran talks

Kitco Media
By Reuters
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Reuters
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May 1 (Reuters) - Gold rose on ​Friday, reversing earlier losses of more than 1%, on hopes for a ‌breakthrough to end the Iran war after Tehran reportedly submitted a new proposal for negotiations, easing some inflation concerns.

Spot gold was up 0.3% to $4,636.72 per ounce at 10:36 a.m. ET (1436 GMT) after falling ​to as low as $4,559.48 earlier in the session. It was still on ​track for a weekly loss of 1.6%.

U.S. gold futures for June ⁠delivery were up 0.4% to $4,649.60.

"The potential peace breakthrough, with Iran signalling that it wants ​to talk again, probably boosted investor risk appetite, pressured the U.S. dollar index and ​pushed the gold market higher," said Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco Metals.

The dollar (.DXY), was down 0.3% against its peers, making greenback-priced bullion cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.

Iran sent its latest proposal ​for negotiations with the U.S. to Pakistani mediators on Thursday, Iranian state news agency ​IRNA reported.

Oil prices dropped on the news, though they remained on track for weekly gains, continuing ‌to ⁠fuel concerns about a global economic slowdown and surging inflation as fuel prices climb.

Rising costs could prompt central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer, weighing on non-yielding assets such as gold as investors turn to alternatives like Treasury yields.

The U.S. ​Federal Reserve kept interest ​rates unchanged this ⁠week and struck a hawkish tone that saw markets abandon expectations for a rate cut this year.

Bullion prices have fallen since ​the start of the Iran conflict in late February, despite the ​metal's traditional ⁠role as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainty.

Among other precious metals, spot silver prices rose 3.4% to $76.26 per ounce.

"Long-term outlook (for silver) remains supported by a sixth consecutive annual market deficit, ⁠shrinking ​above-ground inventories and firm demand from solar and private ​investors," wrote Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

Platinum was up 0.8% at $2,002, and palladium added ​0.9% to $1,537.12.

Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru. Editing by Nia Williams and Mark Potter

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