Gold Holds Heavy Loss as Markets Latch Onto US-China Optimism
Gold steadied after a sharp selloff as a major de-escalation in US-China trade tensions hurt demand for havens.
Bullion traded near $3,237 an ounce — after losing 2.7% on Monday — with investors betting on a recovery in stocks and riskier assets. The world’s biggest economies agreed to temporarily lower tariffs, with the US slashing duties on Chinese products to 30% from 145% for a 90-day period, while Beijing dropped its levy on most goods to 10%.
The US dollar rose the most since a post-election rally in November, while Treasury yields climbed — both acting as headwinds for gold. Traders now see just two rate cuts from the Federal Reserve in 2025 in a reset of inflation expectations. That reduces bullion’s appeal as the metal pays no interest.
Gold remains almost a quarter higher this year, although the easing of US-China tensions has given traders a clear indication President Donald Trump’s administration is taking a softer approach to the clashes. Still, some investors remain wary about the lack of detail in their announcement, and another flare-up could propel bullion back toward the record set last month.
Spot gold was steady at $3,237.86 an ounce at 7:38 a.m. in Singapore. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was flat, after rising 1% on Monday. Silver, palladium and platinum were little changed.
Source: Bloomberg
