Gold hit a one-week low on Thursday as upbeat sentiment on equities and positive US growth data dented the appeal of the safe-haven asset, though the metal was still stuck in its narrowest monthly range in 12 years. The dollar held firm after US jobless and consumer spending data, having taken support from Wednesday's uplift on third-quarter US economic growth.
Global equities were on course to finish November with a 13th consecutive monthly gain, though a dive in US technology stocks left investors wondering whether the longest global equity bull run in living memory might be starting to splutter. Also denting investor optimism and signalling underlying support for gold going forward, investors were growing wary about the staggered progress of US tax reform legislation.
"Optimism (in equities) is at record highs, so it should come off a bit, which would be reasonably positive for gold. But the stronger dollar will cap any gains that come on the back of (that)," said Martin Arnold, strategist at ETF Securities. Spot gold was down 0.3 percent at $1,280.10 an ounce by 1500 GMT, having earlier hit its lowest since Nov. 21 at $1,276.15.
The price is up 0.7 percent this month, though it has been stuck between $1,265 and $1,300 throughout November. US gold futures were down 0.2 percent at $1,279.70. Early in the session a stronger dollar weighed on gold, but the dollar reversed as investors added bets that the US central bank will continue to unwind its stimulus plan, helping gold to move off its lows.
The US economy has gathered steam this year and will warrant continued interest rate increases amid a strengthened global recovery, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Wednesday. Bullion is highly sensitive to rising US interest rates, which increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.
"While we remain cautious on it (gold) over three months, we regard setbacks as opportunities to add exposure," UBS analysts said in a note, while raising their 12-month forecast from $1,250 an ounce to $1,325. "In the past, early stages of monetary policy normalisation hurt gold; but this time such adjustments resemble baby steps and likely will only be undertaken in sync with rising inflation." Silver touched an eight-week low of $16.36 an ounce and was last down 0.8 percent at $16.40. Palladium fell 0.4 percent to $1,009.47, while platinum was up 0.9 percent at $945.20.
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