Gold dips as dollar gains on China Covid risks

Gold prices slipped on Monday, as the dollar strengthened on safe-haven demand triggered by protests in several Chinese cities over the country's strict Covid-19 restrictions.

Spot gold was down 0.4 per cent at $1,748.84 per ounce, as of 0555 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.3 per cent to $1,749.60.

The dollar index was up 0.4 per cent, making the greenback-priced bullion more expensive for buyers holding other currencies.

Also Read — China hit by protests as Covid-19 curbs spark anger

"Gold prices have been tracking the US dollar's moves closely, and increased uncertainty from the growing unrest in China seems to be underpinning the dollar this morning," said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong.

Hundreds of demonstrators and police clashed in Shanghai on Sunday night as protests over China's stringent Covid restrictions flared for a third day and spread to several cities in the wake of a deadly fire in the country's far west.

Meanwhile, China on Monday reported a fifth straight daily record of new local coronavirus cases.

Also Read — China Covid-19 cases hit fresh record high after weekend of protests

People may be shifting to defensive assets considering the Covid situation in China, but the dollar's gains are currently overshadowing gold's safe-haven status, Yeap said.

Next on investor radar is Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's Wednesday speech on the US economy and labour market for clues on the monetary policy outlook.

A majority of market participants are pricing in a 50 basis-point increase at the Fed's December meeting after minutes of the last policy meeting signalled a slower pace of hikes.

Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding metal.

The ADP National Employment report and the US Labor Department's nonfarm payrolls data due later this week will also be scanned for their likely influence on the Fed's rate-hike strategy.

Spot gold may revisit its November 23 low of $1,727.50 per ounce, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

Silver slipped 2.2% per cent to $21.12, platinum fell 0.5 per cent to $975.88 and palladium declined 0.2 per cent to $1,848.38.