Gold prices fall as dollar, bond yields climb

Gold prices fell on Wednesday, as the US dollar and Treasury yields jumped after upbeat economic data bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue hiking interest rates aggressively.

Spot gold was down 0.5 per cent at $1,692.99 per ounce as of 0330 GMT, having earlier fallen to a one-week trough. US gold futures fell 0.6 per cent to $1,703.30.

"ISM services reading reminded investors that there is still some underlying momentum for this economy and it really kind of opens the door for the Fed to be even more aggressive with fighting inflation," said Edward Moya, senior analyst with OANDA.

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The US services industry picked up again in August for a second straight month amid stronger order growth and employment.

The data has boosted the greenback with the dollar index scaling a fresh 20-year peak, making gold more expensive for overseas buyers. Benchmark US 10-year Treasury yields rose to their highest level since June 16 on expectations the Fed will keep hiking interest rates to tame soaring prices.

Higher yields raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

The Fed is largely expected to deliver a 75 basis point rate increase on September 21.

The US central bank has raised its benchmark overnight interest rate by 225 basis points in total since March to fight soaring inflation. Indicative of sentiment, holdings of SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 0.21 per cent to 971.05 tonnes on Tuesday from 973.08 tonnes on Friday.

Spot gold might test a support at $1,685 per ounce, a break below which could open the way towards $1,666-$1,673 range, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao. Spot silver fell 1.1 per cent to $17.85 per ounce, platinum slipped 1 per cent to $844.43 and palladium shed 1 per cent to $1,985.25.