scorecardresearchGold rises on heightened U.S.-China tensions

Gold rises on heightened U.S.-China tensions

Updated: 03 Aug 2022, 04:27 PM IST
TL;DR.

Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,761.33 per ounce by 1029 GMT, having on Tuesday risen to its highest since July 5, hitting $1,787.79 before closing down 0.6% on the day to break a four-session winning streak.

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 5, 2020 shows gold bullion bars after being inspected and polished at the ABC Refinery in Sydney. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 5, 2020 shows gold bullion bars after being inspected and polished at the ABC Refinery in Sydney. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

(Reuters) - Gold prices rose on Wednesday, drawing support from escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington, although firmer U.S. Treasury yields capped gains in the non-yielding asset and held it below a one-month high hit in the last session.

Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,761.33 per ounce by 1029 GMT, having on Tuesday risen to its highest since July 5, hitting $1,787.79 before closing down 0.6% on the day to break a four-session winning streak.

U.S. gold futures fell 0.6% to $1,778.60.

"Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan hasn't triggered a substantial reaction from Beijing (but) the situation remains tense and is supportive of gold due to its safe-haven status," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades.

At the same time, the U.S. dollar started easing, pushing the price of gold higher, Evangelista added. [USD/]

A softer dollar makes gold attractive for overseas buyers.

China condemned House of Representatives Speaker Pelosi's trip, the highest-level U.S. visit to Taiwan in 25 years, and responded with a flurry of military exercises, summoning the U.S. ambassador in Beijing, and announcing the suspension of several agricultural imports from Taiwan.

Rupert Rowling, market analyst at Kinesis Money, however, expected the impact of the tensions to be short-lived. "Market focus will return to interest rates and the negative long-term impact that is likely to have on gold," he said.

A trio of Fed policymakers signalled on Tuesday that more rate hikes are coming in the near term, which lifted benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yields and took some of the shine off gold.

In an environment of rising interest rates, gold's appeal diminishes due to its lack of yield, Rowling said, noting the Bank of England was expected to raise its benchmark rate by 50 basis points on Thursday.

Among other precious metals, spot silver fell 0.5% to $19.86 per ounce, while platinum eased 0.1% to $893.36.

Palladium slipped 0.6% to $2,050.13.

First Published: 03 Aug 2022, 04:27 PM IST