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Gold prices posted a slight decline on Monday, holding above $1,230 an ounce for a third straight session as traders eyed some weakness in the U.S. dollar a day ahead of the closely watched midterm elections.
“Stepping back from today’s price action, what is most interesting for gold is how well it has held its ground despite a significant rally in the U.S. Dollar Index in recent weeks,” Michael Armbruster, managing partner at Altavest, told MarketWatch. “When it comes to gold, it’s easy to be lulled into a sense of complacency when the U.S. dollar is trending higher along with interest rates.”
Gold for December delivery GCZ8, -0.37% edged down $1, or less than 0.1%, to settle at $1,232.30 an ounce, squarely between the day’s high of $1,236.60 and low of $1,228.40.
The contract ended last week slightly lower after a report showed a U.S. job market that was even stronger than expected—data seen keeping the next Federal Reserve interest-rate hike likely on track for December. Higher rates dull the appeal of nonyielding bullion, while boosting the dollar, making dollar-priced commodities less attractive to investors using other currencies.
Still, data Monday showed the nonmanufacturing index compiled by the Institute for Supply Management slipped to 60.3 last month from a 21-year high of 61.6 in September.
The dollar continued its decline after the ISM services survey, with the ICE U.S. Dollar index DXY, -0.06% down 0.3% at 96.286 in Monday dealings. Last Thursday, gold settled at its highest level in more than three months when the index weakened and as stock markets wrapped up a dismal October.
“Increased risk aversion with the equity markets’ selloff has certainly added a risk-averse boost to gold in recent weeks, but if the dollar starts to lose traction due to the reversal of the U.S.-China trade dispute, then this could be a driver of continued gold strength,” said Richard Perry, analyst at Hantec Markets.
Perry is watching $1,236 as a technical “line in the sand” for gold and says a consistently higher market at that price opens the way to a climb toward $1,266.
Armbruster pointed out that “investors should keep in mind that central banks around the world (China, Russia and others) are reportedly adding to their gold holdings. Such behavior by central banks may trump headwinds from the dollar and interest rates and result in a surprise rally.”
Read more via Gold prices post a modest decline as dollar weakens ahead of midterm vote – MarketWatch
Kitco – Gold prices have pushed into positive territory after inflation pressures have officially hit the Federal Reserve’s target.
In trading on Wednesday, precious metals shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 5.1%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration ( 
By Apeksha Nair
BENGALURU, July 13 (Reuters) - Gold prices were muted on
Friday, stuck in a tight trading range, as the dollar extended
rally from the previous session when strong U.S. inflation data
and trade war concerns boosted demand for the greenback.
Spot gold was down 0.1 percent at $1,245.54 an ounce,
as of 0652 GMT. For the week, the metal was down 0.7 percent.
U.S. gold futures for August delivery slipped 0.1
percent to $1,245.50 an ounce.
"The dollar has been a prime mover of gold prices...Market
sentiments have been largely positive on the greenback as
investors pivoted from the safe haven asset despite rising
geopolitical risks," said Benjamin Lu, a commodities analyst at
Singapore-based broker Phillip Futures, in a note.
The dollar was buoyant near a 10-day peak versus a basket of
currencies on Friday, supported by Treasury yields that edged
higher on expectations the U.S. inflation rate will rise.
U.S. consumer price data on Thursday showed a steady buildup
of inflation that could keep the Federal Reserve on a path of
gradual interest rate increases.
A stronger dollar and higher U.S. rates reduce demand for
non-interest bearing gold as the metal becomes more expensive
for holders of other currencies.
Elsewhere, the European Central Bank will keep rates at a
record low for as long as needed to raise inflation, minutes of
the bank's latest meeting showed.
Meanwhile, Most Asian share markets rose on Friday, but
China's markets wobbled as investors braced for the impact of
broadening, tit-for-tat Chinese-U.S tariffs.
The United States and China could reopen talks on trade but
only if Beijing is willing to make significant changes, U.S.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday.
"The trade war issue is still creating a lot of uncertainty.
If the situation continues and we're not seeing any real
movements in gold prices because of it, we might see prices
actually move lower," said Cameron Alexander, an analyst with
Thomson Reuters-owned metals consultancy GFMS.
In a recent interview with Kitco News, Ronald-Peter Stoeferle, fund manager at asset-management firm Incrementum AG and author of last month’s latest 