Gold climbs as lower oil eases inflation, rate-hike fears

Kitco Media
By Reuters
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Reuters
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June 2 (Reuters) - Gold rose 1% on Tuesday, buoyed by lower U.S. Treasury yields, ‌while weaker oil prices eased fears of higher inflation and elevated interest rates.

Spot gold rose 1% to $4,528.67 per ounce by 1136 GMT. U.S. gold futures for August delivery gained 1.2% to $4,558.60.

Oil prices fell ​after U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were ongoing. Lower fuel prices ​ease inflation worries and reduce bets for higher interest rates.

While gold is ⁠traditionally seen as a hedge against inflation, it loses its appeal in a ​high-interest-rate environment as a non-yielding asset.

"Gold continues to take its cues from the oil market ​given crude's influence on inflation expectations and, by extension, interest rates, bond yields and the dollar," Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen said.

"The metal remains in a short-term downtrend, with a break above $4,630 needed to ​signal a more constructive outlook and potentially attract fresh momentum buying."

The yield on the ​benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 1.1%, reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

Further supporting gold ‌prices, ⁠Lebanon announced a partial ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel on Monday in what would amount to a limited de-escalation of a conflict that has killed thousands of people and inflamed the broader U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Investors now await the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for ​May, which is due ​on Friday, to assess ⁠resilience in the labour market amid mounting concerns about inflation due to the Middle East conflict.

A host of Federal Reserve board ​members are also set to speak this week, including Cleveland Fed ​President Beth ⁠Hammack, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and Fed Governor Michael Barr.

"We remain positive over the long-term as economic growth risks, worsening geopolitical relations, currency volatility and downside risks to equity ⁠markets ​will continue to support gold's role as a portfolio ​diversifier," ANZ said in a note.

Among other metals, spot silver rose 2.1% to $76.39 per ounce, platinum gained 1.4% ​to $1,950.95 and palladium rose 1.3% to $1,379.77.

Reporting by Noel John in Bengaluru; Editing by Kate Mayberry

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