Gold gains as markets assess economic impact of virus

• The dollar hit a two-month high earlier in the session, making gold expensive for holders of other currencies.
• The World Health Organization on Wednesday played down reports of "breakthrough" drugs being discovered to treat people infected with the new coronavirus.
• Spot gold may rise into a range of $1,564 to $1,570 per ounce, as it has stabilised around a support at $1,549.

Gold inched higher on Thursday as investors evaluated the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak as the death toll jumped past 500, but the gains in bullion were capped by China's decision to halve tariffs on US imports.

Spot gold was up 0.2pc to $1,559.50 per ounce by 0835 GMT. Prices fell to $1,546.90 on Wednesday, the lowest since Jan. 21. US gold futures were flat at $1,563.30.

The death toll from the virus in mainland China jumped to 563, as experts stepped up efforts to combat a disease that has shut down Chinese cities and forced thousands more into quarantine around the world.

"Globally, people are looking at the coronavirus more than anything else and also how that would affect the global economy. That is supporting gold at this point of time," said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore.

"It (cutting of tariffs) is countered by how the virus is going to affect the economy, businesses and China's GDP."

China on Thursday said it would halve additional tariffs levied against 1,717 US goods last year, following the signing of a Phase 1 deal that brought a truce to a bruising trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Positive data from the United States including a rise in January private payrolls and services sector activity were also keeping gold prices in check.

Asian stocks gained after China's announcement to cut tariffs on US goods and US stocks hit a record peak on encouraging US data.

The dollar hit a two-month high earlier in the session, making gold expensive for holders of other currencies.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday played down reports of "breakthrough" drugs being discovered to treat people infected with the new coronavirus.

"The virus spreading into new areas and new countries at alarming rates could bring real support to gold prices," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.

Spot gold may rise into a range of $1,564 to $1,570 per ounce, as it has stabilised around a support at $1,549, said Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

Palladium fell 1.1pc to $2,405.80 an ounce and silver rose 0.6pc to $17.71. Platinum was down 0.3pc to $978.46, after touching a one-week high of $987.60 earlier in the session.