Gold prices fell on Friday as the specter of aggressive interest rate hikes boosted U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar, denting zero-yielding bullion’s appeal and setting prices on track for their first weekly decline in three.
Spot gold was down 0.9% to $1,933.59 U.S. per ounce, while U.S. gold futures declined 0.6% to $1,936.30.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Thursday a half-point interest rate increase “will be on the table” when the central bank meets in May and that it would be appropriate to “be moving a little more quickly.”
U.S. 10-year Treasury yields extended gains on the Federal Reserve’s hawkish tone on tightening policy in its effort to tame soaring inflation. Meanwhile the dollar index achieved a fresh peak since March 2020.
Gold is highly sensitive to rising U.S. interest rates and higher yields, which increase the opportunity cost of holding bullion, while boosting the dollar, in which it is priced.
The shiny yellow metal is down about 1.3% so far this week. Prices rose to near the key mark of $2,000 per ounce on Monday on safe-haven demand and mounting worries over inflation, only to pull back and hit a two-week low on Thursday.
Spot silver fell 1.2% to $24.34 per ounce and platinum slipped 2.3% to $947.10 per ounce. Palladium was 0.8% lower at $2,402.65.
