Gold prices steady amid Gulf tension, trade talk uncertainties
Gold was unchanged on Monday, as investors remained on the sidelines awaiting clarity on U.S.-China trade talks, while escalating tensions in the Middle East provided some support.
Spot gold was steady at $1,516.33 per ounce at 0406 GMT. Prices had climbed to a more than one-week high of $1,516.81 in the previous session.
U.S. gold futures for December delivery rose 0.59 percent to $1,523.80 per ounce.
“Gold is currently in a mixed zone.” said Howie Lee, economist at OCBC Bank.
“The pickup in geopolitical risk from Saudi Arabia and President Trump rejecting the possibility of a partial trade deal with China certainly adds that little more shine to gold.”
A U.S.-China trade breakthrough seemed unlikely after President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday he was “not looking” for a partial deal, and Chinese officials cancelled goodwill visits to U.S. farmers.
But both sides later published positive statements, with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office describing the last week’s talks as productive and China’s Commerce Ministry calling them constructive. October’s high-level talks remain on track.
Meanwhile in the Middle East, tensions remained elevated with the Pentagon ordering additional troops to be deployed in the Gulf region to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s air and missile defenses, following an attack on the kingdom’s oil facilities. U.S. has slapped more sanctions on Iran, penalizing the Iranian Central Bank.
Saudi Arabia will also seek to make a case at a global gathering in New York this week for concerted action to punish and deter Iran after the strikes.
“The safe heaven status is still supporting gold. But the prices are stuck between $1,480 and $1,580,” said OANDA analyst Jeffrey Halley.
Indicative of investor interest in gold, holdings at SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 1.19 percent to 894.15 tonnes on Friday.
Meanwhile, COMEX gold speculators raise net long position by 14,150 contracts to 261,878 in week to Sept. 17, according to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data.
Spot palladium hit a fresh high at $1,659.27 per ounce.
Silver rose 1.5 percent to $18.26 per ounce and platinum rose nearly 1 percent to $955.03 per ounce.
Source: Reuters
