Gold sinks below $1,900 on stronger dollar

Loading player...
Bengaluru — Gold fell below the $1,900/oz level on Wednesday as a resurgent dollar prompted investors to reassess their positions after a record-breaking price rally.

Spot gold declined as much as 2% to an almost three-week low of $1,872.19, resuming its free fall after a brief hiatus in early trade. It was down 1.1% to $1,889.59 by 3.30am GMT, extending losses after a 6% plunge on Tuesday.

US gold futures slid 2.4% to $1,900. Silver too joined the slide, falling 2.8% to $24.11/oz after a 15% slump in the previous session.

“It looks like some of the euphoria is coming out of the gold market”, with a test of support around $1,800 now looking possible, IG Markets analyst Kyle Rodda said. “A lot hinges on US yields and the factors driving them at the moment. Also, dollar’s strength will be something very important to watch over the next few days and weeks.”

A jump in US treasury yields helped the dollar extend its winning streak, making gold more expensive for those holding other currencies. Higher yields also increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

Gold suffered its biggest one-day drop in more than seven years on Tuesday as equities surged and the dollar firmed. However, the growing uncertainty about a US stimulus deal weighed on Asian stocks on Wednesday.

Bullion’s gains for the year now stood at about 25%, as investors buy the metal as a hedge against a coronavirus-driven slowdown and the fear of currency debasement as central banks flood the economy with money to ease the blow.

With central bank policies likely to remain “loose for the foreseeable future”, gold could move back towards $2,000, said ING analyst Warren Patterson.

Platinum lost 1% to $920.86 and palladium eased 0.4% to $2,082.90.

Reuters
12 Aug 2020 1AM English South Africa Business News · News

Other recent episodes

Toyota Motors SA CEO Andrew Kirby

Business Day Senior Motoring correspondent Phuti Mpyane chats to Toyota Motors SA CEO Andrew Kirby about the threats to exports, tax and Chinese vehicles in SA.
24 Oct 2024 9AM 39 min

Ford injects R5bn into production of hybrid-electric bakkies

Business Day editor-in-chief Alexander Parker speaks to Ford Africa president Neale Hill about the company's decision to spend R5.2bn to turn its SA subsidiary into the only global manufacturer of plug-in, hybrid-electric Ranger bakkies.
8 Nov 2023 9AM 13 min

Digital innovation no longer up in the clouds

The Covid-19 pandemic is the ultimate catalyst for digital transformation and will greatly accelerate several trends already well under way before the pandemic. According to research by Vodafone, 71% of firms have made at least one new technology investment in direct response to the pandemic. This shows that businesses are…
13 Sep 2020 4PM 6 min