Gold Tumbles as Haven Demand Wanes Amid Easing War Risks

(Bloomberg) -- Gold took a tumble as haven demand waned after geopolitical tensions eased in the Middle East. 

Bullion dropped as much as 2.8% in its biggest intraday decline since June 2022 to trade as low as $2,324.96 an ounce. While Israel and Iran have traded attacks, raising concerns about an all-out-war in the region, Tehran has played down the impact and significance of Israel’s recent strike, saying on Monday that Israel has received the “necessary response at this stage.” 

The fact that the Iran regime downplayed Israel’s response — and signaled no retaliation — has taken some risk premium out of the gold market, according to Nicholas Frappell, global head of institutional markets at ABC Refinery in Sydney. Monday’s bearish sentiment on oil also supported the idea of easing tensions in the Middle East, he added. 

Beyond the Middle East, traders are focusing on US economic data, including the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, which will give more clues on the path for monetary policy.

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Gold remains nearly 13% higher this year after the recent surge to a record, with gains supported by central bank buying and demand from Asia, especially China. The commodity has risen despite advances in the US currency and 10-year Treasury yields, factors that would usually be a headwind. Against that backdrop, banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have been raising their price targets for the precious metal.

Spot gold slipped  to $ an ounce at  in New York, while the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed. Silver sank more than 5% after a four-week surge. Palladium and platinum also traded lower.

--With assistance from Jack Ryan and Sybilla Gross.

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