Gold advances on US-Iran tensions as markets weigh Fed policy path

NEW YORK: Gold prices extended gains on Thursday after rising more than 2 percent in the previous session, as lingering tensions between the United States and Iran prompted a flight to safety, while investors evaluated the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path.

Spot gold rose 0.2 percent to USD4,989.09 per ounce by 1227 GMT. US gold futures for April delivery held steady at USD5,008.60. “Geopolitical concerns are front and centre with reports that, if the US were to take military action against Iran, it could go on for several weeks,” said Jamie Dutta, market analyst at Nemo.money.

Some progress was made during Iran talks this week in Geneva but distance remained on some issues, the White House said on Wednesday.

Top US national security advisers met in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss Iran and were told all US military forces deployed to the region should be in place by mid-March.

Meanwhile, the Fed’s January minutes showed it largely united on holding interest rates steady, but divided over what comes next, with “several” open to rate hikes if inflation remains elevated, while others were inclined to support further cuts if inflation recedes.

The weekly jobless claims data, due later in the day, and Friday’s Personal Consumption Expenditures report, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, will provide further clues on the central bank’s policy trajectory.

Markets currently expect this year’s first interest rate cut to be in June, according to CME’s FedWatch Tool. Non-yielding bullion tends to do well in low-interest-rate environments. Spot silver rose 0.9percent to USD77.87 per ounce after climbing more than 5percent on Wednesday.

Silver is “supported by tight supply and low COMEX stock levels ahead of the delivery period of the March contract. However, given the extent of the historic correction earlier this month, silver is not back on safer ground until it trades back above USD86,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. Spot platinum fell 0.6percent to USD2,059.55 per ounce, while palladium lost 1.7 percent to USD1,686.47.