Gold jumps over 2% as coronavirus spread spurs safe-haven demand
Monday,
24-Feb-2020
11:26 AM (IST)
Gold prices climbed more than 2% on Monday to their highest since February 2013, as spikes in coronavirus cases in several countries outside China deepened worries about a hit to the global economic growth, prompting a flight to safe havens. Spot gold was up 1.2% at $1,663.06 per ounce by 0517 GMT, after climbing to $1,678.58 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures rose 1% to 1,665. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Global equities extended losses as concerns about the spread of the virus beyond China grew with sharp rises in infections in Italy and Iran, while South Korea raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level. The World Health Organization said it is worried about the growing number of cases without any clear link to China. Among other safe havens, the U.S. dollar edged higher, while the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield hovered close to its lowest since early September. The Japanese yen further backed away from its lowest since April 2019 against the U.S. currency. Apart from speculative positioning, financial uncertainty and low interest rates are also bolstering demand for gold, Phillip Futures analysts said in a note. Speculators raised their bullish positions on COMEX gold and silver contracts in the week to Feb. 18, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. Among other precious metals, palladium inched up 0.3% to $2,711.81 per ounce. Silver rose 1.1% to $18.67 an ounce, while platinum fell 0.3% to $970.36.
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