Gold slides over 2% as dollar firms after Powell's renomination

  • 11/22/2021
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Nov 22 (Reuters) - Gold prices fell more than 2% on Monday as the dollar jumped after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was nominated for a second term, driving expectations that the central bank may stay the course on tapering economic support. Spot gold slipped 2.1% to $1,805.30 per ounce by 02:00 p.m. ET (1900 GMT), its lowest since Nov. 5. U.S. gold futures settled 2.4% lower at $1,806.30. "Gold sold off on notions that maybe the Fed would keep on its present monetary policy path as opposed to a Lael Brainard nomination," said Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco Metals, adding that Brainard would have been perceived as paving the way for more dovish policy. "It"s just a knee-jerk reaction by the gold market," Wyckoff said, with the dollar rallying to its highest since July last year. Powell"s renomination also led to a jump in U.S. Treasury yields. read more A stronger dollar (.DXY) makes bullion expensive for overseas buyers, while higher interest rates translate into increased opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold. Money markets now expect the Fed to raise interest rates by 25 basis points by next June versus July previously. "The move higher with real yields has accelerated some of gold"s weakness, but it is way too early for investors thinking this is the beginning of a sustained trend," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at brokerage OANDA. Fed policymakers are debating whether to withdraw support more quickly to deal with inflation, after one of its most influential officials signalled that the idea will be on the table at the December meeting. read more Gold has support around the $1,800 an ounce level and with a shortened trading week, it could consolidate between $1,800-$1,850 leading up to the Dec. 15 FOMC policy meeting, Moya said. Silver fell 1.9% to $24.13 per ounce, platinum dipped 1.9% to $1,012.10, and palladium dropped 5% to $1,958.76.

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