Gold Drifts Higher ahead of US Inflation Data

An employee takes granules of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
An employee takes granules of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Drifts Higher ahead of US Inflation Data

An employee takes granules of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
An employee takes granules of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices rose on Tuesday, supported by safe-haven flows as trade war concerns sapped risk sentiment across wider markets, while attention was on US inflation data.

Spot gold climbed 0.8% to $2,912.88 an ounce as of 1031 GMT after hitting its lowest since March 3 in the previous session. US gold futures rose 0.6% to $2,917.90.

The dollar index hit a four-month low, making bullion less expensive for overseas buyers.

US President Donald Trump's fluctuating trade policies - imposing and delaying tariffs on Canada and Mexico, while raising duties on Chinese goods - have roiled the global financial markets. China and Canada have responded with tariffs of their own, according to Reuters.

Over the weekend, Trump declined to predict whether the US could face a recession.

"In the short-term we expect investor focus to remain on the effect policy changes, in particular tariffs, will have on US growth and inflation expectations and how this could not only affect real rates but also further incentivize global central bank purchases," said Trevor Yates, analyst at Global X.

"All eyes will be on Wednesday's US February CPI print, with us expecting the pace of inflation to slow during the month."

Federal Reserve Bank of New York's latest Survey of Consumer Expectations showed inflation a year from now is seen at 3.1%, up a hair from January's 3% reading. Markets currently expect Fed to cut in rates in June.

However, gold's role as a hedge could weaken if high inflation leads to sustained higher interest rates, as it yields no interest.

Spot silver added 1.4% to $32.54 an ounce.

Platinum was up 1.2% at $970.20 and palladium gained 0.6% to $948.96.

Bank of America

expects a platinum deficit and palladium surplus for 2025, it said in a note. The bank also said that platinum fundamentals are stronger than those of palladium.



Türkiye's Stock Market Hit Hard after Arrest of Istanbul Mayor

Police officers intervene as flames rise from a fire in a dustbin during a protest by students against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 21, 2025. (Reuters)
Police officers intervene as flames rise from a fire in a dustbin during a protest by students against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Türkiye's Stock Market Hit Hard after Arrest of Istanbul Mayor

Police officers intervene as flames rise from a fire in a dustbin during a protest by students against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 21, 2025. (Reuters)
Police officers intervene as flames rise from a fire in a dustbin during a protest by students against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 21, 2025. (Reuters)

The Istanbul stock exchange's main index was hit hard on Friday, closing 7.8 percent down on the third day of protests over the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

The 53-year-old mayor -- Erdogan's main political rival -- was arrested on Wednesday, days before he was due to be named the CHP party's candidate for the 2028 presidential race.

The BIST 100 had already slipped by 8.7 percent on Wednesday following Imamoglu's arrest over allegations of "corruption" and links to a "terrorist organization".

The damage was limited to a fall of 0.5 percent on Thursday, but faced with a sharp fall on Friday, trading was suspended twice in the morning.

The index fell below 9,000 points during Friday trading for the first time since early November, a fall of more than 16.5 percent over five days.

Imamoglu's party has denounced his arrest as a "coup" and international organizations including the European Union have expressed concern.

It has also sparked street protests, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday denounced as "street terror".