Gold climbs on rate cut bets; firm equities cap gains

[BENGALURU] Gold rose on Wednesday on expectations of monetary policy easing by top central banks, while global growth risks continue to linger, although improved appetite for riskier assets capped bullion's gains and kept it near a four-week low.

Spot gold was up 0.6 per cent to US$1,494.90 per ounce at 1.39pm EDT (1739 GMT). Prices fell to their lowest since Aug 13 at US$1,483.90 in the previous session in four-day losing streak.

US gold futures settled 0.3 per cent higher at US$1,503.20 an ounce.

"If the European Central Bank (ECB) announces another cut or more liquidity, it should boost precious metals and that's what's given a positive tone for gold," said Chris Gaffney, president of world markets at TIAA Bank.

"Low interest rates and slowing global growth are helping gold stay well bid. It's just that to push it back to US$1,500, we need to see a rise in tensions and more expectations of lower rates."

Bond yields extended their steady climb and Wall Street gained, with investor focus turning to monetary policy decisions by the ECB on Thursday, when the bank is widely expected to cut interest rates.

The ECB decision is likely to set the tone for upcoming rate-setting decisions by the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan next week.

While recent economic indicators might prompt a 25-basis point interest rate reduction by the US Fed, "a major cut of 50 bps (basis points) is unnecessary," said TIAA Bank's Gaffney.

Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion and weigh on the US dollar, making gold cheaper for investors holding other currencies.

Also on investors' radar was the US-China trade ties, with China exempting certain US goods from retaliatory tariffs days ahead of the October talks in an attempt to de-escalate the protracted dispute.

Spot gold is still targeting US$1,453, as it has breached a support at US$1,497 per ounce, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

"Weakening global growth, high risk aversion and low interest rates should keep prices elevated, but they are unlikely to provide a further boost given that they are, for the most part, already accounted for," analysts at Capital Economics wrote in a note.

Among other precious metals, silver was up 0.4 per cent to US$18.09 per ounce, having hit a two-week low of US$17.75 in the previous session.

Palladium rose 0.3 per cent to US$1,565.87 an ounce, after hitting its highest since July 11 at US$1,590. Platinum rose 0.9 per cent to US$938.58.

REUTERS