Gold Falls From Four-Week High With Virus Drug Showing Promise
Dismal economic data and fears over new infections have driven recent gains in gold.
(Bloomberg) -- Gold futures fell from a four-week high as a promising study for an experimental coronavirus vaccine curbed demand for the metal as a haven.
Moderna Inc. said its vaccine tests yielded signs it can create an immune-system response in the body. The news boosted U.S. stocks to the highest since early March, while the dollar and Treasuries fell. Bullion had gained as much as 1.1% earlier after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned in comments aired Sunday that the U.S. economic recovery could stretch through until the end of next year and depend on the delivery of a vaccine.
“Gold prices shed some gains, reflecting some reversal of safe-haven flows amid hopes of a vaccine,” Daniel Ghali, a TD Securities analyst, said in an emailed message. “Inasmuch as a vaccine is the ultimate remedy for the economic problems that lie ahead, it would negate the need for a prolonged period in which the Fed and other central banks would provide unprecedented amounts of stimulus.”
Dismal economic data and fears over new infections have driven recent gains in gold, even as investors are encouraged by businesses reopening across major economies. That’s fueled bets that bullion could reach an all-time high as massive stimulus measures push holdings in bullion-backed exchange-traded funds to a record. Gains have also been driven by U.S.-China tensions and speculation over the possibility of negative U.S. interest rates. Still, JPMorgan Asset Management expects negative rates are serveral years down the line at least.
Gold futures for June delivery fell 1.2% to $1734.40 an ounce at 1:30 p.m. on the Comex in New York. The metal earlier touched $1,775.80, the highest since mid-April’s seven-year peak.
Other precious metals more widely used in industrial applications advanced on Monday. China’s house-price growth accelerated last month, adding to signs that the top metal-consuming economy is gradually building post-pandemic strength, and the nation announced guidelines to revive large infrastructure projects.
Palladium futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange jumped 9.1%, the largest gain since late March, amid renewed optimism about China’s economy reopening and planned stimulus for automakers, the biggest consumers of the metal. Worries over supplies from South Africa also added to support, with Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. shutting a mine over the weekend after several members of staff were tested positive for Covid-19.
Platinum advanced to the highest since March on the Nymex, while silver futures rallied to the highest since late February on the Comex.
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