Gold inches up

London. — Gold inched up yesterday after a three-day losing streak, as the dollar’s ascent paused and uncertainty persisted over the timing of the first Federal Reserve rate increase in a decade. Buying interest was kept in check by a rally in global equities, due to an increase in risk appetite after a new round of monetary easing from China on Friday. Spot gold was up 0.3 percent at $1 167,17 an ounce by 1035 GMT. The metal had dropped to $1 158,77 on Friday, its lowest since October 13, when the dollar soared to its highest level in more than two months.

Gold had risen 1 percent soon after China’s surprise interest rate cut on Friday, as investors bet the US central bank would be compelled to delay a rate rise given the fragility of the global economy. But buying evaporated after upbeat US data increased expectations of a Fed hike this year.

“Concerns about the continuing rally of the dollar created some nervousness and triggered selling on Friday, but sentiment has turned more favourable towards gold, as the timing of the Fed rate hike remains uncertain,” Saxo Bank senior manager Ole Hansen said. — Reuters.