Gold hits two-week high as Fed outlook, Middle East conflict stay in focus

Among other metals, spot silver XAG= was up 1.9% at $59.87 per ounce after reaching its highest point since July 10 earlier in the day.

Platinum XPT= climbed 2.4% to $1,667.22 and palladium XPD= rose 3% to $1,320.75.

July 22 (Reuters) - Gold rose to a two-week high on Wednesday on technical buying as investors assessed the widening Middle East conflict and awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting next week for clues on the interest rate outlook.

Spot gold XAU= climbed 1.6% to $4,139.64 per ounce by 0307 GMT, having hit its highest level since July 7 earlier in the day. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 for August delivery jumped 1.7% to $4,144.20.

Escalating tensions in the Middle East have lifted oil prices and inflation concerns, strengthening expectations of interest rate hikes that led gold to its steepest weekly drop since early June last week.

"Buyers have been stepping in seeking a value play after the recent pullback, while hopes for diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran are also assisting price moves," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

Three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to Asia reversed course in the Red Sea on Tuesday after threats from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, as the widening Middle East conflict disrupted shipping through two of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Tehran had received a proposal from mediators for a 10-day ceasefire in efforts to salvage the interim ceasefire agreement signed in June. Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited mediator Pakistan and asked Islamabad to continue its efforts.

The Fed will keep its key interest rate steady for the rest of 2026, according to a Reuters poll, although a majority of those who answered a separate question about the chance of a hike this year now described the likelihood as "high", a reversal from last month when most saw it as "low".