LONDON: Gold slipped to more than one-week low on Tuesday as strength in equities markets and hopes for a smooth signing of the US-China Phase 1 trade deal tarnished bullion’s safe-haven appeal, while palladium hit a record high.

Spot gold dipped 0.4 per cent to $1,542.50 an ounce by 1300 GMT after touching their lowest since January 3 at $1,535.63. US gold futures dropped 0.5pc to $1,543.10.

Bullion rose to its highest in nearly seven years last week on worries over potential military conflict between the United States and Iran, but the rally faded in the absence of any further escalation in tensions.

Palladium hit a record high of $2,155.01 an ounce and was on track for a ninth straight session of gains, supported by a sustained supply deficit. The metal widely used in catalytic converters in automobile exhaust systems was up 0.9pc at $2,151.71.

Else­where, silver was down 1.2pc at $17.74 after hitting its lowest since December 24 at $17.64 and platinum slipped by 0.6pc to $967.86.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Impending slaughter
Updated 07 May, 2024

Impending slaughter

Seven months into the slaughter, there are no signs of hope.
Wheat investigation
07 May, 2024

Wheat investigation

THE Shehbaz Sharif government is in a sort of Catch-22 situation regarding the alleged wheat import scandal. It is...
Naila’s feat
07 May, 2024

Naila’s feat

IN an inspirational message from the base camp of Nepal’s Mount Makalu, Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani stressed...
Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.