Gold dropped to a six-week low on Wednesday as the dollar held onto its recent rally, while a lack of additional stimulus to aid the recovery of the coronavirus-battered global economy further weighed on sentiment.
Spot gold fell 0.8% to $1,884.51 per ounce by 1157 GMT, after earlier dropping 1.4% to touch its lowest since Aug. 12 at $1,873.01. U.S. gold futures were down 0.9% to $1,891.30 per ounce.
“As long as we see strength in the dollar, undoubtedly we are also going to see gold struggle,” said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen, adding that the break below $1,900 sparked some nervousness and short-selling in the market.
The dollar index hit an eight-week high, dimming the appeal of bullion to holders of other currencies.
“I think gold has entered a corrective phase…A break-back above $1,900 should be difficult given how long its taken to break and hold below here,” said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam.
But even if it does, the near-term outlook isn’t good for gold with a stronger dollar weighing on the outlook and a lot of the bullish factors already priced in, he added.
Comments from Chicago U.S. Federal Reserve President Charles Evans, who said interest rates could be raised before inflation averages 2%, also weighed on sentiment by weakening inflation expectations and lifting U.S. real yields.
Gold has turned “passive”, having priced all of the favourable factors already and now needs inflation to emerge and a weaker dollar to attract renewed demand, said Saxo Bank’s Hansen.
Non-yielding gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation and currency weakening.
Silver fell 4.1% to $23.41 per ounce, having hit a nearly two-month low of $23.04 earlier in the session.
Platinum shed 0.7% to $861.08 per ounce, earlier touching its lowest since July 21 at $845.50, and palladium was little changed at $2,220.57.
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