WASHINGTON — Gold fell as the dollar held near the highest level in five years and investors reduced holdings in the largest exchange-traded product backed by the metal, curbing demand for a store of value. Silver rose.
Bullion for immediate delivery lost as much as 0,3% to $1 192, 55 an ounce from the close on December 26, and traded at $1 195,61 at 3:10 pm in Singapore, according to Bloomberg generic pricing.
The metal advanced as much as 2,2% on December 26 amid speculation that China, the biggest bullion consumer, will take more measures to bolster the economy.
Gold is headed for a second quarterly loss as prospects for higher borrowing costs from the Federal Reserve bolster the dollar. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the greenback against 10 currencies, traded near a five-year high today after rising for nine of the past ten weeks.
Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust dropped to the lowest level in six years on December 26, and are set for a fifth consecutive monthly contraction.
“The recent strength in the dollar is exerting downward pressure on gold prices,” Sun Yonggang, a Shanghai-based macroeconomic strategist at Everbright Futures, said by phone. “The Fed is moving closer to raising rates. This doesn’t bode well for gold.”
Gold for February delivery retreated as much as 0,2% to $1 192,40 an ounce on the Comex in New York, and traded at $1 195,40.
The trading volume for futures was 31% below the 100-day average for this time of day.
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Silver for immediate delivery rose 0,8% to $16,195 an ounce, extending a 2,2% climb on December 26. Spot platinum added 0,1% to $1 218, 95 an ounce, while palladium fell 0,3% to $815,50 an ounce.
—Online
