Gold dips as dollar holds onto gains; US-China spat in focus

[NEW YORK] Gold prices fell on Monday as the dollar held onto gains made after better-than-expected US payrolls data, while investors kept a close eye on Sino-US relations ahead of scheduled trade talks.

Spot gold was down 0.3 per cent to US$2,028.90 per ounce by 0336 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.6 per cent to US$2,039.20. Japanese and Singapore markets were closed for public holidays.

Gold hit a record high of US$2,072.50 on Friday before retreating nearly 2 per cent as the dollar bounced on data showing US nonfarm payrolls increased 1.763 million in July.

"The stronger dollar narrative is weighing on investors' decisions, along with the fact that people will be more (prone) to profit-taking after such a big run-up," said Stephen Innes, chief market strategist at financial services firm AxiCorp. "A correction is very possible here. It really depends on how market views the overall dollar, with US-China trade escalation sort of favourable to the dollar."

The US dollar has, on occasion, been the favoured safe haven amidst flare-ups in tensions between Washington and Beijing. Last week, US President Donald Trump took steps to ban two popular Chinese apps.

"There is room here for people to unwind some of their gold exposure," said DailyFx currency strategist Ilya Spivak, since it appears the US Federal Reserve might start "to take their foot off the gas" on aggressive stimulus after recent better economic data.

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Speculators reduced their bullish positions in Comex gold and silver contracts in the week to August 4. But gold's appeal as a safe haven has been underpinned by the uncertainty driven by the coronavirus pandemic, with resultant widespread global stimulus also fuelling concerns of inflation, helping bullion surge over 33 per cent so far this year.

In the United States, which has marked a grim milestone of 5 million cases, Trump signed executive orders on Saturday partly restoring enhanced unemployment payments to millions of Americans.

Elsewhere, silver fell 1.2 per cent to US$27.96 per ounce, while platinum rose 0.7 per cent to US$968.56 and palladium climbed 0.6 per cent to US$2,188.83.

REUTERS