Gold Steady as Investors Await Details of US-Iran Deal, Fed Verdict

People walk past a gold business shop at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Türkiye, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP)
People walk past a gold business shop at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Türkiye, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP)
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Gold Steady as Investors Await Details of US-Iran Deal, Fed Verdict

People walk past a gold business shop at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Türkiye, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP)
People walk past a gold business shop at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Türkiye, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP)

Gold prices were steady on Wednesday, near a one-week high, as investors awaited further details on the US-Iran agreement and the Federal Reserve's policy decision from Kevin Warsh's debut meeting as Chair.

Spot gold was flat at $4,331.29 per ounce, as of 0420 GMT. U.S. gold futures for August delivery was down 0.1% at $4,351.40.

Bullion touched an ‌over one-week ‌high of $4,370.82 on Monday.

Details of a US-Iran interim deal ‌to ⁠end the conflict ⁠are emerging, with President Donald Trump saying it would rule out a nuclear weapon for Tehran and a US official saying it would allow Iran to sell oil once signed.

Oil prices hovered near a three-month low on expectations of Iranian supply, easing inflation concerns.

"The rally (in gold) is losing some steam as all eyes turn to the ⁠monetary policy announcement from the Fed," said Ilya Spivak, ‌head of global macro at ‌Tastylive.

"This marks the first FOMC meeting to be chaired by Kevin Warsh and ‌traders still seem unsure about how he will reconcile a ‌hawkish record, rising inflation, and pressure from a White House demanding a dovish pivot," Spivak said.

Most Fed policymakers now feel they will need to keep US short-term borrowing costs on hold all year, projections due out later ‌in the day are expected to show, with a small number seen penciling in a rate ⁠hike to ⁠stop a spike in inflation from getting entrenched in the economy.

Traders see a 59% chance of a US rate hike in December, down from about 70% last week before the US-Iran peace deal announcement, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Gold tends to lose appeal when rates are high, as it does not yield interest.

"Over the longer term, structural support (for gold) is expected to persist, driven by ongoing Asian demand and continued central bank purchases as a hedge against geopolitical and policy risks," Westpac analysts wrote in a research note.

Spot silver fell 0.2% to $70.05 per ounce, platinum lost 0.7% to $1,792.05, and palladium was down 0.8% at $1,341.23.



South African Rand Hits Strongest Level since Start of Iran War

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration
South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration
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South African Rand Hits Strongest Level since Start of Iran War

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration
South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration

The South African rand strengthened on Friday to its strongest level since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, as rising gold prices and a weaker dollar boosted the commodity-linked currency.

At 1229 GMT, the rand traded at 15.9925 against the dollar , about 0.8% stronger from its previous close.

Gold, one of South Africa's main exports, rose to a more than three-month high on Friday and was on track for a third straight weekly gain.

The precious metal was supported by a weaker dollar and the US Treasury's announcement that it would increase buybacks of longer-dated securities, Reuters reported.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he may further increase the government's repurchases of Treasuries. That came after the Treasury said it would double the size of buybacks on longer-dated securities over the next quarter.

The US dollar was set to end a bumpy week lower, making greenback-priced bullion more affordable for buyers overseas.

Like other emerging market currencies, the rand has been at the mercy of global market sentiment, particularly since the start of the Iran war.

On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Top-40 index was last up 2.2%.

South Africa's benchmark 2035 government bond was also firmer in early deals, as the yield fell 0.5 basis points to 8.56%.


Bitcoin Jumps Further on US Crypto Policy Hopes

FILE PHOTO: Representation of Bitcoin cryptocurrency in this illustration taken September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Representation of Bitcoin cryptocurrency in this illustration taken September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Bitcoin Jumps Further on US Crypto Policy Hopes

FILE PHOTO: Representation of Bitcoin cryptocurrency in this illustration taken September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Representation of Bitcoin cryptocurrency in this illustration taken September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Bitcoin surged Friday on optimism over US cryptocurrency legislation and the US Treasury's surprise move to buy back more of its own bonds, which fueled a shift to riskier assets.

The world's biggest cryptocurrency by market value climbed 6.9 percent to $77,675.94, after reaching its highest level since May, and is up more than 20 percent since Wednesday.

Friday was the third consecutive day in which bitcoin jumped more than five percent.

The sharp rise came after US President Donald Trump urged lawmakers on Wednesday to pass the Clarity Act, a bill to spur cryptocurrency use that has stalled in the Senate.

Bitcoin was also boosted by the US Treasury's bid to lower long-term borrowing costs by doubling its sovereign bond buybacks, a move that lifted investors' risk appetite, AFP reported.

The intervention came after the 30-year Treasury yield surged to levels last seen in 2007, just before the global financial crisis.

The prospect of lower yields makes safer investments less attractive, helping to drive demand for riskier assets such as cyptocurrencies.

"Renewed optimism around crypto progress in Washington helped light a fire under Bitcoin," said Bret Kenwell, US investment analyst at eToro.

"Falling Treasury yields and short liquidations added fuel to the rally," he said.


Gold Climbs to Near Three-month Peak after US Treasury Move

FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
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Gold Climbs to Near Three-month Peak after US Treasury Move

FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo

Gold prices hit a near three-month high on Friday, poised for a third straight weekly gain, supported by a softer dollar and the US Treasury's bond buyback move.

Spot gold climbed 1% to $4,562.86 per ounce by 0752 GMT, hitting its highest since May 29 earlier in the session. Prices have climbed 4.2% so far this week. US gold futures rose ‌1.1% to $4,620.00.

"We've seen ‌the dollar weakening and that has supported ‌not just ⁠gold but all ⁠precious metals, along with a big change in yields," said Brian Lan, managing director of GoldSilver Central.

The dollar headed for a weekly loss, making greenback-priced bullion more affordable for buyers overseas. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he may further increase the government's repurchases of Treasuries. This comes after the Treasury on Wednesday announced that ⁠it would double the size of buybacks on ‌longer-dated securities over the next quarter ‌to at least $4 billion per operation.

"Attention now turns to whether the ‌move can extend, with upcoming US data and Jackson Hole ‌Symposium (27-29 Aug) likely to shape the next leg in yields and the dollar," said Christopher Wong, precious metals strategist at OCBC. Meanwhile, two Federal Reserve officials expressed caution when asked how the Treasury Department's debt management ‌changes could affect the US central bank's monetary policy stance.

Traders are now pricing in a 67% ⁠chance that ⁠the Fed will keep rates unchanged next month and a 33% chance of a hike, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. Despite gold typically being seen as an inflation hedge, higher interest rates tend to diminish bullion's appeal due to its non-yielding characteristic. The recent rally in prices deterred retail buyers in India, while demand in top consumer China held steady. On the geopolitical front, Bessent said the United States will impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran.

Spot silver gained 1.8% to $69.31 per ounce, platinum climbed 2.6% to $1,875.75, while palladium rose 1.7% to $1,356.59. All three metals were headed for weekly gains.