Gold climbs as safe-haven bid intact on Middle East tensions

News
Gold prices rose on Wednesday after a deadly blast in Gaza fuelled fears of an escalating regional conflict, keeping the safe-haven asset in demand among nervous investors despite robust U.S. economic data and a high rate scenario.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Spot gold climbed 0.4% to $1,929.89 per ounce by 0123 GMT, and U.S. gold futures also jumped 0.4% to $1,942.70.

* About 500 Palestinians were killed in a blast at a Gaza City hospital on Tuesday that Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed on each other and that ignited protests in the West Bank and around the Middle East.

* Gold prices, which have surged about $100 since the conflict began, have risen despite recent robust U.S. economic data fuelling bets of higher-for-longer interest rates, which tend to lift the dollar and bond yields. [USD/ [US/]

* Production at U.S. factories and retail sales increased more than expected in September, suggesting the economy ended the third quarter on a strong note.

* Markets now await Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Thursday for rate cues.
* Richmond Fed Bank chief Thomas Barkin on Tuesday said that higher long-term borrowing costs are putting downward pressure on demand.
* Minneapolis Fed Bank President Neel Kashkari said it has taken much longer than expected for inflation to come down, and it is “still too high.”

* China’s economy likely slowed in the third quarter, data is expected to show on Wednesday.

* Spot silver added 0.5% to $22.93, platinum rose 0.2% to $898.77 and palladium slipped 0.8% to $1,134.93.

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