Gold rises to two-week high as US dollar stumbles

Bengaluru

GOLD prices rose on Tuesday to their highest level in nearly two weeks, as the US dollar slipped to multi-year lows on bets that US interest rates would stay lower for longer under the Federal Reserve's new policy framework.

Spot gold was up 0.8 per cent at US$1,985.64 per ounce by 2.44pm Tuesday, Singapore time, after hitting its highest since Aug 19 at US$1,989.42 earlier in the session. US gold futures rose 0.8 per cent to US$1,994.40.

"With the greenback expected to remain weak, we expect gold to grind higher and revisit the US$2,000 an ounce level initially," said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at Oanda.

The dollar index dropped to a more than two-year low against its rivals, making gold cheaper for holders of other currencies.

The Fed's new monetary policy strategy, which could result in inflation moving slightly higher and interest rates staying lower for longer, has triggered a sell-off in the US dollar, driving inflows into safe-haven bullion.

The US central bank's new approach to monetary policy means a low unemployment rate on its own does not warrant higher interest rates, Fed vice-chair Richard Clarida said on Monday.

"Expectations of lower for longer when it comes to US interest rates and continued weakness in the USD index are setting a favourable environment for precious metals, especially gold," ING analyst Warren Patterson said in a note.

Low interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion, which is also used as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation.

Elsewhere, silver was up 1.5 per cent at US$28.64 per ounce, after hitting its highest since Aug 11.

Platinum rose 1.4 per cent to US$942.69 and palladium climbed 1.7 per cent to US$2,280.82. REUTERS