Gold prices fell on Monday as a recovery in the US dollar and rising government bond yields prompted investors to cash in bullion after its sixth weekly price rise in seven weeks. "We're seeing gold under pressure because the global bond yields are up across the board," said Walter Pehowich, executive vice president of investment services at Dillon Gage Metals. "Germany, Italy, all up."
US Treasury yields hit multiyear highs on expectations that central banks around the world would reduce stimulus as economies improve. Higher yields on bonds make gold a less attractive investment because it pays no interest. Spot gold was down 0.5 percent at $1,342.56 an ounce by 2:05 p.m. EST (1905 GMT), while US gold futures for February delivery settled down $11.80, or 0.9 percent, at $1,340.30.
Gold has risen more than 3 percent this month, and after a strong end to December touched its highest since August 2016 last week at $1,366.07 an ounce. "Asset managers have been increasing their exposure to gold since the beginning of the year," said TD Securities commodities strategist Daniel Ghali. "With prices above $1,320 (an ounce), you could expect some want to take some profits as well."
Gold prices have benefited largely from a slide in the dollar index to three-year lows. Among other precious metals, silver dropped 1.2 percent to $17.19 an ounce. It rose 2.3 percent last week, the biggest gain for any of the major precious metals.
Platinum, this year's best-performing precious metal so far, was down 0.2 percent at 1,007.80 an ounce after easing 0.3 percent last week in its first weekly decline in seven. Palladium was down 0.4 percent at $1,087.90 an ounce, approaching a 2-1/2-week low.
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