Gold hits five-week low as US dollar, yields stay elevated

GOLD prices fell to their lowest level in more than five weeks on Monday (Aug 14), as the US dollar and bond yields strengthened ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s July meeting minutes this week that could guide expectations for future interest rates.

Spot gold was down 0.2 per cent at US$1,910.29 per ounce, as of 0119 GMT, hitting its lowest level since Jul 7. US gold futures also slipped 0.2 per cent to US$1,942.60.

US bond yields gained, lifting the US dollar to its highest since Jul 7, after data on Friday showed producer prices increased slightly more than expected in July as the cost of services rebounded at the fastest pace in nearly a year.

Higher interest rates and Treasury bond yields raise the opportunity cost of holding non-interest bearing gold, which is priced in US dollars.

US consumer sentiment dipped in August, but Americans expected inflation to edge lower over the next year and beyond, a survey showed on Friday.

Asian shares struggled on Monday ahead of China data that is likely to amplify the case for serious stimulus even as Beijing seems deaf to the calls.

China’s data on retail sales and industrial output are due Tuesday. Markets are also on the lookout for US retail sales figures on Tuesday, followed by Fed’s July meeting minutes on Wednesday.

SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.4 per cent to 899.63 tonnes on Friday.

Comex gold speculators cut net long position by 23,755 contracts to 75,582 in the week to Aug 8, data showed on Friday.

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Physical gold demand picked up in India last week, helped by a retreat in prices, while strong central bank buying kept premiums stable near five-month highs in top buyer China.

Among other precious metals, spot silver fell 0.4 per cent to US$22.57 an ounce, platinum dropped 0.5 per cent to US$907.76, while palladium rose 0.1 per cent to US$1,294.73. REUTERS