Gold was swinging up and down Friday on caution ahead of the weekend, and prices were set to post their biggest weekly gain since 2008 as economic damage expected from the coronavirus boosted bullion’s safe-haven appeal.
Platinum and palladium were on track for their biggest weekly gains on record on supply concerns arising from a lockdown in major producer South Africa.
Spot gold was up slightly 0.2% to $1,627.80 per ounce as of 1:42 p.m. EDT. U.S. gold futures were 1.5% lower at $1,626.50 per ounce.
“A sell-off in U.S. equities has weighed in on all asset classes again leading to a series of margin call pressure on precious metals,” said Phil Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures in Chicago.
Wall Street shares fell more than 2%, as fears about the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic returned to the forefront.
“Gold has tied itself with the equity markets,” said Bob Haberkorn, senior market strategist at RJO Futures. “There are so many unknowns heading into the weekend, and though gold is a safety asset, there is just a reluctance to add risk-on.”
Gold has gained more than 8% so far this week, supported by the biggest-ever jump in U.S. weekly jobless claims, and the U.S. Federal Reserve‘s unprecedented economic stimulus measures.
Investors are awaiting passage of a $2.2 trillion stimulus package bill that will pump money into the world’s largest economy to stem the damage caused by the pandemic.
“The market is looking to assess the impact of numerous lockdowns and business closures on the economy,” Standard Chartered Bank analyst Suki Cooper said in a note.
“Gold prices have gained further ground in anticipation of further stimulus and weaker data to come. Price risks remain to the upside barring profit-taking and (we) expect prices to average $1,725 per ounce in Q2-2020.”
Gold market participants also kept a close eye on physical supply as virus-led lockdowns stalled supply chains.
Physical gold dealers struggled to meet surging safe-haven demand this week, especially in Singapore, as the pandemic choked global supply chains, while massive discounts were offered in India amid a lockdown.
Among other precious metals, palladium was down 3% at $2,188 per ounce, but has risen around 38% so far this week. Platinum was up to $744 per ounce and has gained about 21% this week.
Silver fell 0.4% to $14.35 per ounce, but was heading for its largest weekly gain since 2008.
© Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020.
