Gold Rebounds from One-Week Low as Iran Cites Progress in Peace Talks

Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, June 16, 2026. (Reuters)
Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, June 16, 2026. (Reuters)
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Gold Rebounds from One-Week Low as Iran Cites Progress in Peace Talks

Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, June 16, 2026. (Reuters)
Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, June 16, 2026. (Reuters)

Gold rebounded from a more than one-week low on Monday, as oil prices fell after Iran cited progress in US-Iran peace talks, though bets of higher interest rates after hawkish US Federal Reserve signals weighed on the metal's outlook.

Spot gold was up 0.8% at $4,194.99 per ounce, as of 0608 GMT, after falling to its ‌lowest level ‌since June 11 on Friday. US gold futures ‌for ⁠August delivery fell ⁠0.8% to $4,213.10.

The first round of talks between high-ranking US and Iranian officials in Switzerland ended Monday, with an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson saying good progress has been made, according to Iran's Press TV.

A joint statement from mediating nations Qatar and Pakistan said the US and Iran agreed to a roadmap toward a final deal within ⁠60 days.

"The current situation in Switzerland is quite ‌different from a few hours ago ‌when the two sides were squabbling, but now it seems they're making ‌some progress," said Edward Meir, an analyst at Marex.

"We're going ‌to be trading on geopolitical guidelines for a little while longer, but the situation is fluid so perhaps best to watch the action from the sidelines for now."

Brent crude futures fell more than 1% after ‌the announcement. Elevated oil prices stoke inflation concerns and raise expectations of higher interest rates. Gold tends ⁠to lose appeal ⁠when rates are high, as it does not yield interest.

Meanwhile, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's emphasis on inflation in last week's press conference, without any more-nuanced commentary about what might clear the bar for a rate hike, led investors to conclude an increase was coming soon.

Nine of the Fed's 19 policymakers believe they will need to raise the policy rate this year.

Traders see an 89% chance of a rate hike in December, from 61% before the Fed's meeting, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Spot silver rose 2.4% to $66.48 per ounce, platinum gained 0.7% to $1,675.91, and palladium was up 1.8% at $1,280.45.



Oil Prices Slide on Hopes of Diplomacy in Iran War

Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)
Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)
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Oil Prices Slide on Hopes of Diplomacy in Iran War

Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)
Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)

Oil prices slid to their lowest in more than a week on Monday as investors hoped for diplomatic progress on the Iran war due to this week's UN meeting.

Brent crude futures and US West Texas Intermediate crude touched their lowest since September 10 earlier on Monday. The Brent contract for November was at $102.09 a barrel at 0655 GMT, down $1.78, or 1.71%, after settling 0.91% lower on Friday, Reuters said.

The WTI October contract that is expiring on Tuesday fell $1.97, or 1.96%, to $98.33 a barrel following a ‌1.58% drop in the ‌previous session.

"It seems that a degree of risk premium is ‌being ⁠removed from oil prices ⁠on hopes that a diplomatic path to de-escalate the US-Iran war may arrive this week," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

"Whether that hope proves to be warranted or not is another question. Time will tell."

WTI broke a key psychological support at $100 a barrel while some investors may have rolled over their positions in the October contract a day ahead of expiry to November, a Singapore-based broker said.

Iran and the US exchanged new threats on Sunday, although President Donald Trump said ⁠he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is ‌expected to be in New York this week for ‌the United Nations General Assembly.

Iran has conveyed its conditions to mediators for re-engaging in negotiations aimed at ‌ending the war with the US, Al Jazeera cited Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, as ‌saying in an interview on Saturday.

On Monday, a spokesman ‌for the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Mohebbi, said Iran would use new weapons and target locations not previously attacked if the US launched a ⁠new offensive against it, ⁠according to the Fars news agency.

China has asked Iran to help rein in the Houthis after an appeal to Beijing following the attacks, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter.


Gold Slips as Focus Remains on Middle East, Rate Outlook

Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
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Gold Slips as Focus Remains on Middle East, Rate Outlook

Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)

Gold prices slipped on Monday as market participants assessed developments in the Middle East and their implications for inflation and interest rates.

Spot gold fell 0.3% to $4,362.60 per ounce by 0417 GMT after hitting a one-week high on Friday. US gold futures were down 0.6% at $4,400.20, Reuters reported.

Iran and the United States exchanged new threats, with President ‌Donald Trump ‌warning Iran would fail economically or face its ‌leadership ⁠being wiped out ⁠if it didn't make a deal, and the Iranian military saying it would retaliate harshly to any fresh attack.

"The focus remains on geopolitics, oil and the reaction in bond yields. For gold to gain meaningful upside traction, a clear move lower in oil and/or bond yields is likely required," said Tim Waterer, chief market ⁠analyst at KCM Trade.

"Gold may trade in a ‌roughly $4,200 to $4,580 range in the near ‌term."

Oil prices fell on hopes diplomacy in the Iran war will ‌get a chance this week amid a UN meet.

The prospect of a new global rate-tightening cycle has come into focus as some of the world's top central banks ‌raise rates and signal more may be needed to tame inflation fueled by the Iran war.

The Bank ⁠of Japan ⁠became the latest big central bank to tighten on Friday, following rate increases by the Federal Reserve earlier that week and the European Central Bank the week before.

Though gold is often seen as an inflation hedge, rising rates tend to curb its demand by making interest-bearing assets more attractive.

Analysts at Standard Chartered said in a note that gold remains volatile but continues to find firm downside support from official-sector demand. They said structural drivers remain in place to lift prices, albeit at a slower pace.

Among other metals, spot silver rose 0.2% to $66.37, platinum fell 0.1% to $1,798.31 and palladium added 0.6% at $1,309.65.


Qatar Launches Wealth Fund Division for Domestic Investments

Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File
Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File
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Qatar Launches Wealth Fund Division for Domestic Investments

Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File
Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File

Qatar's prime minister announced on Sunday the creation of a new division of the Qatar Investment Authority dedicated to developing domestic investments.

"We aim to expand the role of the private sector in driving Qatar's economic growth," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said as he announced the new division, Doha Investment, at a special edition of the Qatar Economic Forum in New York.

The annual gathering was cancelled in May, following weeks of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, including Qatar, according to Reuters.

"It will support our strongest companies, help emerging businesses grow, deepen capital markets and attract international capital and expertise to contribute to this effort," he added.

The new division will operate as the dedicated manager of QIA's local portfolio, initially overseeing 45 state-owned enterprises that represent roughly one-third of the wealth fund's total assets, according to Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, Qatar's minister of commerce and industry. He will serve as managing director and vice-chairman of Doha Investment.

Sheikh Faisal described the division not as a new creation but a consolidation, adding that the step has been under consideration for more than a decade.