Gold rallied to fresh record highs in Europe on Thursday as
the dollar slid to its lowest this year versus a basket of major
currencies, boosting interest in the metal as a haven from
currency market volatility.
Spot gold hit a high of $1,387.10 an ounce and was bid at
$1,382.75 an ounce at 0930 GMT, against $1,370.90 late on
Wednesday. U.S. gold futures for December delivery were up
$13.90 at $1,384.40, having peaked at $1,388.10 an ounce.
Gold prices have risen more than 25 percent this year as the
dollar has been battered by expectations that U.S. policymakers
will pursue an increasingly loose monetary policy involving
quantitative easing to stimulate economic growth.
"If there is further dollar weakness surrounding quantitative
easing and the like, it is almost certainly going to be highly
supportive for gold," said RBS Global Banking & Markets analyst
Daniel Major.
"We are very close to the $1,400 level, so if we get some more
dollar weakness, I would not be surprised to see that in the
near future," he added.
Silver prices also rode higher on gold's coat-tails, reaching a
fresh 30-year high at $24.90 an ounce before easing back to
$24.58 an ounce against $23.89.
The dollar index, which measures the dollar's performance
against a basket of six major currencies, hit the year's low on
Thursday after Singapore widened its currency's trading band,
piling more pressure on to the struggling greenback.
Investors are continuing to dump the U.S. currency on
expectations the Federal Reserve will start further
money-printing next month, and as tensions rise over the
increasing volatility of the foreign exchange markets.
"Although QE expectations are an important element of the rally,
currency disputes are also a prime driver of gold prices," said
HSBC's Jim Steel in a note. "The recent IMF meeting saw the
public airing of sharp disagreements between China and the
United States on currency policy."
"The EU has seconded U.S. calls for China to liberalize its
exchange rate polices," he added. "Additionally, emerging market
nations including Brazil, India, and Thailand have imposed taxes
on capital inflows or sought to limit inflows, in an effort to
stem currency appreciation."
While these tensions persist, gold is likely to be well
supported, he said.
SPDR GOLD ETF SEES OUTFLOW
Swiss bank UBS raised its one-month forecast for gold to $1,425
an ounce from $1,300, saying it sees limited downside potential
for gold ahead of the Fed's November meeting, and its
three-month price view to $1,400 an ounce from $1,300.
"Gold's climb is not showing any signs of slowing," it said.
"$1,400 is now being eyed as a short-term target, which seems
easily achievable as long as the dollar continues to fall across
the board."
Gold's rally towards $1,400 an ounce has outpaced most
expectations.
A poll conducted at the London Bullion Market Association's
annual conference in September gave an average forecast for gold
to be trading at $1,450 by Sept. 2011.
A poll of 55 analysts conducted by Reuters in July returned an
average price forecast of $1,197 an ounce for 2010.
Interest in gold-backed exchange-traded funds remained soft,
however, with holdings of the world's largest, New York's SPDR
Gold Trust, declining further on Wednesday. They have fallen
some 19.5 tons since the end of September.
Among other precious metals, palladium rallied to a fresh 9-year
high at $603 an ounce, lifted by strength in gold, dollar
weakness and an improving supply and demand picture.
Palladium was at $601 against $590.45, while platinum was at
$1,713.55 an ounce against $1,702.25.
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