Gold firms as oil prices slump after Trump holds off on Iran attack
GLD•Other precious metals
Spot silver XAG= gained 0.9% to $58.17, platinum XPT= climbed 0.2% to $1,645.89, and palladium XPD= firmed 1.1% to $1,287.19.
Market outlook remains guarded
Gold has made a relatively cheery start to the week but gains remain limited given the uncertainty around the oil markets and the Middle East, so it's an upbeat but guarded start for the metal, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
Trump said talks with Iran will happen on Monday but declined to set a deadline for an agreement. Brent crude fell nearly 6%.
Jobs data and Fed comments in focus
Gold has come under pressure since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict, as a war-driven rise in inflation could prompt central banks to raise interest rates. Although bullion is traditionally viewed as a hedge against inflation, its appeal tends to diminish in a high-interest-rate environment because it does not yield interest.
Market participants will also focus on a slew of U.S. jobs reports due this week, including job openings data, the ADP employment report, weekly jobless claims and the nonfarm payrolls report.
"Any renewed escalation in the Middle East that pushes oil higher, or a strong NFP print that reinforces September rate-hike odds, could cap the upside," Waterer said.
Three U.S. Federal Reserve officials who dissented at the policy meeting last week in favour of a rate hike expressed concerns on Friday that without an immediate increase in short-term borrowing costs, inflation will stay stuck above the Fed's 2% target.
Analysts at Standard Chartered said in a note that they continue to expect gold to find near-term support before recovering on seasonal buying.
