On Friday (April 1), international gold prices fell as the dollar strengthened. But safe-haven demand triggered by the lack of progress in the Russian-Ukrainian peace talks has limited the fall in gold prices, while investors are waiting for US jobs data for March for clues to policy tightening. Technically, the price of gold is still bullish and is expected to rise above $1949 again.
15:08 Beijing time, spot gold fell 0.27% to $1931.87 / oz; COMEX gold contract fell 0.91% to $1936.2 / oz; and the dollar index rose 0.14% to 98.497.
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened on Thursday to suspend contracts to supply 1/3 yuan of natural gas to Europe unless settled in rubles. It was his strongest economic response to western sanctions so far.
The energy showdown has had a huge impact on Europe, and U. S. officials are calling on countries around the world to put pressure on Mr. Putin to stop a five-week invasion that has uprooted 1/4 of Ukraine's population.
Investors are watching US jobs data for March released later today for clues about wage inflation and the Fed's future monetary policy stance. The market expects non-farm payrolls to rise by 490000 in March, down from 678000 in February, and the unemployment rate is expected to fall to a two-year low of 3.7 per cent.
