Gold prices rise by most in a month as US dollar eases

[BENGALURU] Gold prices rose on Thursday, as the US dollar slipped against a basket of currencies, but gains were limited on expectations of more rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve next year.

Spot gold was up 0.6 per cent at US$1,148.28 an ounce by 0350 GMT, on track for its biggest one-day rise since Nov 28.

US gold futures were up 0.7 per cent at US$1,149.10 per ounce.

"I think it's because of the dollar, which has weakened a little bit," said Helen Lau, an analyst at Argonaut Securities in Hong Kong.

The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, eased 0.3 per cent at 103.03.

The US dollar sagged against the yen on Thursday, weighed down by US yields slipping to two-week lows and an ebb in risk appetite that favoured the safe-haven Japanese currency.

Gold has risen about 8 per cent so far this year despite an 8 per cent drop in November.

"With interest rates rising in the US, gold will be a less attractive investment, and this explains some of the weakness the commodity has been facing in the recent months," said Mihir Kapadia, CEO of London-based Sun Global Investments Ltd.

The Federal Reserve raised US interest rates earlier this month for the first time in a year and signalled three more increases next year from the previous projection of two.

Gold is highly sensitive to rising rates, which lift the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as bullion, while boosting the US dollar, in which it is priced.

"Trading conditions should remain fairly uneventful for the balance of the week but heading into next week, we think the Italian bank rescue and the direction of the Chinese yuan will likely dictate near-term pricing in gold, especially if equity markets start to get nervous about either of these two developments," INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir said in a note.

The Italian government is likely to put in around 6.5 billion euros (S$9.86 billion) to rescue the country's third biggest lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena, more than initially expected, sources close to the matter said on Tuesday.

Shanghai Gold Exchange, the world's biggest physical bullion exchange, said on Wednesday it will curb the amount of gold investors can trade at one time, a move analysts said would limit institutional investors' influence on prices.

Among other precious metals, silver rose for the third straight session, up 0.8 per cent at US$16.13 an ounce. Platinum gained 0.6 per cent to US$901.90, while palladium rose 0.7 per cent to US$670.10 an ounce.

REUTERS