Brexit worries push gold prices to highest in over 7 weeks
Gold prices hit their highest in more than seven weeks on Tuesday, boosted by safe-haven buying ahead of a speech in which British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to discuss plans for a "hard Brexit".
Spot gold had risen 0.8% to $1,212.40 per ounce by 0605 GMT, its highest since November 23.
US gold futures were up 1.3% at $1,211.80 per ounce.
"Gold is going to do very well in the first half of the year due to Brexit concerns, Chinese currency pressure and uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump`s policies," said Richard Xu, fund manager at China`s biggest gold exchange-traded fund, HuaAn Gold.
"Stock valuations are pretty high and bonds are not going to perform much better than what they are doing now. There are very few alternatives for liquidity to go to and gold prices will find some support," Xu added.
ALSO READ: Gold hits highest in over a month on Brexit, Trump concerns
Britain will not seek a Brexit deal that leaves it "half in, half out" of the European Union (EU), Prime Minister May will say on Tuesday, according to her office, in a speech setting out her 12 priorities for upcoming divorce talks with the bloc.
"With more currency uncertainty lying ahead after Prime-Minister`s May speech on Tuesday and with the European Central Bank (ECB) also meeting on Thursday and likely staying dovish despite pressure on it to tighten, we think gold still has more room to move higher," said INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir.
Markets will also look to President-elect Trump and his plans for the US economy after his inauguration on Friday.
A trade war between the United States (US) and China, as well as a strengthening dollar are among the biggest threats to a brightening global economic outlook, according to leading economists at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Trump`s campaign calls for tax cuts and more infrastructure spending have boosted US shares and the dollar, as well as driving a selloff in Treasuries, but his protectionist statements and a flurry of off-the-cuff Tweets have kept many investors from adding to risky positions, instead opting for gold.
"We see that $1,250 is not far away, but it is not going to rise above $1,300 as monetary policies are not going to be accommodative for gold prices to appreciate in a much bigger way," said Xu of HuaAn Gold.
Investor interest in gold was indicated as holdings of the largest physically-backed ETF, New York`s SPDR Trust, on Friday rose for the first time since November 9, the day after Trump`s election victory.
Spot silver was up 1% at $16.94 an ounce on Tuesday.
Platinum climbed 0.8% to $988.35, while palladium was firm at $744.65.
ALSO READ: India to suffer damage due to US-China trade war: Assocham
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
SBI 444-day FD vs Union Bank of India 333-day FD: Know maturity amount on Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8 lakh investments for general and senior citizens
Power of Compounding: Salary Rs 25,000 per month; is it possible to create over Rs 2.60 crore corpus; understand it through calculations
New Year Pick by Anil Singhvi: This smallcap stock can offer up to 75% return in long term - Check targets
PSU Oil Stocks: Here's what brokerage suggests on these 2 largecap, 1 midcap scrips - Buy, Sell or Hold?
Power of Compounding: How many years it will take to reach Rs 2 crore corpus if your monthly SIP is Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000, or Rs 5,000
Retirement Calculator: 40 years of age, Rs 50,000 monthly expenses; what should be retirement corpus and monthly investment
12:30 PM IST