Gold steadies near US$1,800/oz on lower dollar, yields

GOLD prices held steady near the key psychological level of US$1,800 per ounce on Monday (Aug 15), supported by a pullback in the dollar and US Treasury yields.

Spot gold was little changed at US$1,800.09 per ounce, as of 12.33 am GMT, after rising 1.6 per cent last week.

US gold futures were flat at US$1,815.10.

Benchmark US 10-year Treasury yields edged lower to 2.8421 per cent after hitting a 3-week peak on Friday, decreasing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest-bearing gold.

The dollar slipped 0.1 per cent against its rivals, making gold less expensive for other currency holders.

Richmond Federal Reserve Bank president Thomas Barkin said on Friday he wants to raise interest rates further to bring inflation under control.

Data showed US import prices fell for the first time in 7 months in July, helped by a strong dollar and lower fuel and nonfuel costs, while consumers' 1-year inflation outlook ebbed in August, the latest signs that price pressures may have peaked.

Although gold is seen as a hedge against inflation, rising US interest rates dull non-yielding bullion's appeal.

Asian shares inched higher with investors anxious to see if Wall Street can sustain its rally as hopes US inflation has peaked will be tested by likely hawkish commentary from the Fed this week.

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Japan's economy expanded for the third straight quarter on solid private consumption, data for April-June showed.

High domestic prices restrained physical gold demand in India last week, while uncertainty surrounding Taiwan-related developments prompted bullion importers in China to hold off on big purchases.

SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.15 per cent to 995.97 tonnes on Friday.

Spot silver eased 0.2 per cent to US$20.78 per ounce, platinum fell 0.3 per cent to US$959.69, and palladium was steady at US$2,223.83. REUTERS