Gold gains as Israel-Iran crisis lifts safe-haven appeal
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Gold prices rose on Tuesday as the conflict between Israel and Iran prompted investors to seek refuge in safe-haven assets, as they also await the upcoming US Federal Reserve policy meeting.
Spot gold was up 0.1 per cent to $3,386.29 an ounce, as of 1203 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.4 per cent to $3,404.90.
Israel's attacks on Iran have broadened its conflicts in the region to a level that poses a global threat, Jordan's King Abdullah said in a speech in the European Parliament on Tuesday.
US President
'Gold still retains its bias for lurching upwards on signs of a worsening Middle East crisis, given the precious metal's stature as the preferred safe haven of late,' said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Exinity Group.
Gold: A hedge against economic uncertainty
Zero-yield bullion is considered a hedge against geopolitical and economic uncertainty and tends to thrive in a low-interest environment.
'Barring knee-jerk spikes on a worsening geopolitical conflict, bullion bulls' quest for pushing spot prices sustainably above $,3500 may only be fulfilled once the Fed signals a sooner-than-later rate cut,' Tan said.
The US central bank's rate decision and Chair Jerome Powell's remarks are due on Wednesday. Traders are currently pricing in two cuts by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Citi lowered its short-term and long-term price targets for gold, projecting prices could drop below $3,000 per ounce by late 2025 or early 2026, driven by declining investment demand and an improving global growth outlook, it said in a note on Monday.
Elsewhere, spot silver was up 1.9 per cenr at $37.01 per ounce, its highest level since February 2012, platinum rose 1.3 per cent to $1,262.43, while palladium gained 1.5 per cent to $1,044.94.
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