RTRS: Gold slides as firmer dollar undermines commods
By Amanda Cooper
LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - Gold broke a three-day rally to
fall on Wednesday, under pressure from a rebound in the dollar
and a broad decline in other commodities, although potential
demand growth from China was expected to stem any severe slides.
Data from China, a major consumer of silver and the
second-largest consumer of gold, showed inflation picked up more
than expected in April, while industrial output slowed.
The dollar pared earlier losses and rose against the euro,
which came under pressure from mounting worries about how
European officials will solve the debt problems of Greece and
Portugal. [FRX/]
Spot gold XAU= fell 0.4 percent to $1,508.54 an ounce by
1338 GMT, leaving the price on course for a 1 percent rise this
week, while COMEX gold futures for June delivery GCcv1 were
down 0.5 percent at $1,509.60.
"We had Chinese inflation numbers this morning ... which
helped alleviate some of the risk of further monetary policy
tightening in China, but as far as gold is concerned, it's still
trading with the broader market," said VTB Capital analyst
Andrey Kryuchenkov, adding that the rebound in the dollar
against a basket of currencies had exacerbated the decline.
Brent crude oil LCOc1 fell 1.2 percent to $116.20 a
barrel, off an intraday high of $118.43, while London Metal
Exchange copper CMCU3 fell 2.4 percent to $8,700 a tonne.
BOOST FROM CHINA
Earlier, gold benefitted after data showed high inflation
and slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy, which
could increase demand for bullion in its capacity as a hedge
against rising price pressures.
"Inflation remains above the government's desired target.
Although it's not accelerating, it's nevertheless above target,"
said Standard Chartered analyst Daniel Smith.
"The macro data is a little bit on the weaker side if you
look at industrial production and fixed-asset investment, which
came in broadly in line with expectations, but it's not roaring
away. So it's a picture of still slowing growth and high
inflation, so in that sense it's more favourable for precious
metals than say base metals," he said.
Real interest rates, with the rate of inflation factored
into a central bank's benchmark rate, are at about 1 percent in
China, compared with -2.45 percent in the United States, -1.55
percent in the euro zone and an average of -0.4 percent across
the G20.
An effective negative interest rate helps gold, which pays
no interest rate or dividend of its own, compete with
yield-bearing assets for investor cash.
China's inflation in April was stronger than expected at 5.3
percent on the year, while industrial output was considerably
weaker than forecast. [ID:nLDE74A01W]
"Gold is generally benefiting from the return of confidence
from investors," said Darren Heathcote, head of trading at
Investec Australia. "They are very happy buying on the dip, as
we see the same old problems hanging around."
Growing concern over Greece's fiscal status, dollar weakness
and high oil prices continue to fuel nervousness in the
financial markets, driving investors to seek safe haven in
bullion. [ID:nLDE7491FC]
But this has not translated into hefty inflows of metal into
exchange-traded funds, at least not yet. Global gold ETF
holdings are at their lowest for the year, around 64.322 million
ounces, having declined by nearly 10 percent in the past week
alone. [GOL/ETF]
Holdings of metal in the iShares Silver Trust (SLV), the
world's largest silver-backed ETF, rose to a one-week high of
10,585.99 tonnes by May 10, reflecting some of the
bargain-hunting that has taken place since the price hit its
lowest in over two months. [GOL/ETF]
Spot silver XAG= reversed course and fell 3.1 percent to
$37.26, having risen earlier by as much as 2.7 percent to
$39.48, falling after three straight days of gains. COMEX silver
SIcv1 fell 3.4 percent to $37.17.
The gold/silver ratio -- the number of ounces of silver
needed to buy one ounce of gold -- has risen for four
consecutive days, indicating gold's outperformance over silver.
Platinum group metals fell in line with the rest of the
commodities complex. Spot platinum XPT= fell 0.7 percent to
$1,780.49, while palladium XPD= fell 1.0 percent to $716.05.
(Additional reporting by Rujun Shen in Singapore; Editing by
Jane Baird)