Gold firms above $1,800/oz on virus, subdued dollar

Gold prices firmed above the key $1,800 an ounce level on Monday, supported by uncertainty over the impact of surging coronavirus cases and a subdued dollar.

Spot gold rose 0.5% to $1,808.01 per ounce by 1128 GMT. US gold futures were up 0.7% at $1,814.70.

"The uncertainty related to the continued increase in the virus count is adding some underlying support to the market ... There's absolutely no reason not to hold on to long positions for at least as long as we stay above the $1,765 area," said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen.

The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Sunday, with the total rising by 230,370 in 24 hours. The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil, India and South Africa.

However, the emergence of a viable vaccine to treat the virus could prompt profit-taking in gold, Hansen added.

The dollar index eased 0.2%, after a third consecutive weekly decline.

Safe-haven gold's rise also came despite gains in European shares.

"Gold price is consolidating above $1,800 with bullion holding onto this significant threshold despite stocks in green. This confirms investors' huge appetite for the yellow metal in this uncertain phase on markets," ActivTrades chief analyst Carlo Alberto De Casa said in a note.

Adding to the global uncertainties driving inflows into safe haven assets, US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was not currently thinking about negotiating a "Phase 2" trade deal with China.

Indicative of investor sentiment, speculators increased their bullish positions in COMEX gold and silver contracts in the week to July 7, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Friday.

Elsewhere, silver climbed 2.5% to $19.14 per ounce, having hit a high since Sept. 5 at $19.16.

Platinum was 3.5% higher at $842.68 per ounce; palladium gained 0.7% to $1,983.71.