Gold sheds gains on hopes of swift recovery after China data

[BENGALURU] Gold prices erased early gains on Monday as hopes of a faster economic recovery got a boost from better-than-expected Chinese industrial output data, while a surge in US Treasury yields kept bullion under pressure.

Spot gold was little changed at US$1,724.68 per ounce by 6.44am GMT, after rising as much as 0.4 per cent earlier in the session. US gold futures were up 0.2 per cent to US$1,722.50.

"There's the general dynamic where yields are keeping the trend for gold to the downside," said IG Market analyst Kyle Rodda, adding the gold market is technically bearish.

"(Gold) bounced off really oversold levels, so we got some people just trying to buy the dip a little bit and take advantage of that. But, the short-term fluctuations tend to be aligned with the US dollar. No one knows where the US dollar is really heading at this point in time."

The US dollar held firm, supported by a spike in benchmark Treasury yields to more than one-year highs on continued US economic optimism after a US$1.9 trillion recovery package was signed into law last week.

Encouraging growth data has also dampened the appeal of the safe-haven metal. Data earlier showed China's industrial output growth quickened in January-February, beating expectations.

Gold prices fell to a nine-month low of US$1,676.10 last week, pressured by accelerating bond yields, which increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

Investors are now awaiting the US Federal Reserve meeting this week for direction on monetary policy.

"FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting this week will be a key driver for the gold market. A strong show of dovish intent by (Fed Chair) Powell and team could send Treasury yields lower and lift gold prices higher," Howie Lee, an economist at OCBC Bank wrote in a note.

In other metals, silver shed 0.1 per cent to US$25.89 an ounce.

Palladium fell 0.9 per cent to US$2,351.28 and platinum was down 0.2 per cent to US$1,202.62.

REUTERS