LONDON: Gold stuck to a narrow range on Wednesday as optimism over Pfizer’s successful vaccine trials countered concerns over rising coronavirus infections and bets for further economic support.

Spot gold eased 0.1% to $1,876.41 per ounce by 9:49 a.m. EST (1449 GMT), while US gold futures fell 0.4% to $1,876.90. “The rollout of positive vaccine developments is reducing gold’s lure as a safe haven. (Although) it still seems to be in a trading range, the big moves up seem to be finished for now,” said ED&F Man Capital Markets analyst Edward Meir.

US drugmaker Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday it was set to apply for emergency US authorization after final results from its vaccine trial showed a 95% success rate with two months of safety data. “(Vaccines) seem to be progressing quickly and there are several others also in the pipeline ... that should help the global economy recover and be net bearish for gold. But in the meantime, the fact that we’re not out of the woods yet and need more stimulus seems to be offering some support,” Meir said.

Gold, considered a hedge against inflation and currency debasement, has gained 23% this year, benefiting from massive global stimulus and near zero-interest rates.

“It is worth recalling that the driver of investment flows into precious metals has ultimately been sourced from a powerful impulse lower in real rates,” TD Securities said in a note.

“The US Federal Reserve’s continued attempt to spark higher inflation expectations should suppress real rates deeper into negative territory. This will continue to drive investment appetite for precious metals, as capital seeks to shelter itself from increasingly negative real rates.”

Silver fell 0.5% to $24.35 per ounce, palladium gained 1% to $2,341.18. Platinum climbed 1.3% to $937.10.

The World Platinum Investment Council projected a market deficit in 2020 and 2021.—Reuters