Gold back up over $600Gold hits one-month high, boosted by weak dollar
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Gold rose to its highest in more than a month on Monday, boosted by a weaker dollar after news of unexpectedly soft economic growth data from the United States, analysts said.
Spot gold was quoted up at $603,10/$604,10 an ounce by 12:17 GMT compared with $598,20/$599,70 late in New York on Friday. Earlier on Monday it hit a session peak of $606, the highest since September 28.
US gross domestic product grew at an annualised 1,6 percent in the third quarter, the lowest rate since the first quarter of 2003, compared with a consensus forecast of 2,2 percent and 2,6 percent in the second quarter.
The data and the sliding dollar prompted investors to pile into gold, seen as a safe haven against economic turmoil.
"The dollar has taken a bit of a tumble and that in turn has boosted gold, said James Moore, analyst at TheBullionDesk.com.
The dollar was trading near one-month lows against other major currencies such as the euro and yen on growing speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve's next move could be to cut benchmark interest rates and boost economic growth.
"It makes you think the Fed may not raise interest rates any further," Moore said. "It's a potentially difficult situation, where the US economy may be looking at stagflation."
Risk-averse investors also use gold as a hedge against inflation, clues to which will come later on Monday with the release of September personal consumption expenditure data -- the Fed's favourite measure.
Crude oil prices fell below $60 a barrel on doubts about OPEC's resolve to cut production. Lower oil prices would normally turn sentiment against gold.
"Oil is a negative, but hasn't really had much impact," a trader said. "The market isn't really sure about OPEC's cuts ... Today it's all to do with the dollar."
But analysts say oil supply concerns could dominate gold prices with the northern hemisphere winter season approaching.
"Opec production data/decisions and US inventories should remain pivotal market drivers," Heraeus said in a research note.
Gold reversed its downtrend last week on news of a large drop in US crude stockpiles, which sent oil prices soaring, back above $60 a barrel.
Falling demand from the physical market with the passing of the Indian festival season is another factor that has, perhaps briefly, been sidelined.
News that Dubai's gold imports fell 9 percent in the third quarter to 117,6 tonnes against the same period last year did little lasting damage to gold sentiment.
However, the metal faced technical barriers on the upside. The first was an area of congestion between $607 and $608, followed by $640, a high from early September.
Silver, which has been tracking gold, faces first resistance at $12,30 an ounce.
It was last quoted at $12,11/$12,18 an ounce, below the 7-week high of $12,24 seen earlier in the session and compared with $12,02/$12,09 late in New York on Friday.
Platinum rose to $1 086/$1 091 from $1 071/1 076 late in New York. Earlier on Monday it hit $1 087 an ounce, the highest since October 20. Palladium was firm at $321/326 an ounce from $316/321.