Gold prices fall: What’s hampering its safe-haven appeal?

Gold slipped on Monday as positive US-China trade talks alleviated market fears, leading investors to shift from safe-haven assets towards riskier investments.

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Spot gold fell 1.4 per cent to $3,277.34 an ounce, as of 0432 GMT. US gold futures lost 1.9 per cent to $3,281.70.

Dollar index advances

“The dollar index has advanced as the Trump administration touted progress in trade negotiations, with China following negotiations over the weekend in Switzerland which weighed on gold prices,” said Jigar Trivedi, senior commodity analyst at Reliance Securities.

The US and China ended high-stakes trade talks on a positive note on Sunday, with US officials touting a “deal” to reduce the US trade deficit, while Chinese officials said they had reached “important consensus”.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said a joint statement would be released in Geneva on Monday.

US-China tariffs

The US and China imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on each other last month, triggering a trade war that fuelled fears of global recession.

The US will be left with higher tariffs once the dust settles from President Donald Trump’s trade negotiations, a majority of the current and former Trump advisers Reuters spoke to said.

Gold: Hedge against economic, political uncertainties

Gold, traditionally seen as a hedge against economic and political uncertainties, thrives in a low-interest rate environment.

On Friday, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said the Fed needs more time to see how the economy responds to Trump’s tariffs and other policies before figuring out the right response.

Traders are also eyeing release of US Consumer Price Index on Tuesday for fresh signals on the Fed’s monetary policy trajectory.

“In the near term, gold possibly continue to decline as the dollar could appreciate and amid reducing geopolitical risk the haven demand too may drop hence, the yellow metal may decline to $3,200/oz in the near term,” Trivedi added.