Gold eases on global recovery hopes; weak dollar limits losses

Gold prices edged lower on Tuesday as hopes of quick economic recovery lifted demand for riskier assets, although a weaker dollar and lower US Treasury yields limited losses for the safe-haven metal.

FUNDAMENTALS

• Spot gold was down 0.2% at $1,877.26 per ounce by 0106 GMT.

• US gold futures fell 0.3% to $1,879 per ounce.

• The dollar languished near four-month lows against major currencies, making gold cheaper for other currency holders.

• US Treasury long-dated yields fell to two-week lows after a few Federal Reserve officials affirmed their support to keep monetary policy accommodative for some time.

• St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said he expects the inflation rate to be above 2% both this year and the next but several Fed officials, including Bullard, continued to support the central bank's policy in separate remarks.

• Some investors view gold as a hedge against higher inflation.

• Sentiment in wider financial markets remained upbeat.

  • Global real gross domestic product is projected to surge 5.7% in 2021, its strongest advance since 1973, while the US economy will likely expand 6.7% this year, according to the latest economic forecasts for IHS Markit.

  • Singapore's economy expanded more than initially estimated in the first quarter, helped by stronger-than-expected manufacturing, official data showed on Tuesday.

  • SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.3% to 1046.12 tonnes on Monday from 1042.92 tonnes on Reuters

• Palladium rose 0.5% to $2,741.24 per ounce, silver fell 0.6% at $27.64 and platinum slipped 0.2% to $1,171.54.