By Paul Ploumis

ScrapMonster Author

Biggest Gold ETF Sags Most in Seven Weeks on Fed Rates View

Market Daily & Weekly

Note: Indications only, open and closing prices are bids; Data source: Bloomberg; Times as per Dubai

Fundamentals and News

Biggest Gold ETF Sags Most in Seven Weeks on Fed Rates View

Gold futures posted a sixth day of losses, the longest slump since November, as traders wager the U.S. central bank is all but certain to raise interest rates next week. The sentiment is being echoed in exchange-traded funds, with holdings in SPDR Gold Shares, the largest ETF backed by bullion, dropping to the lowest in almost a month. Higher rates curb the appeal of gold, which doesn’t pay interest.

The outflows are consistent with moves in other haven assets as 10-year Treasury yields climb for a seventh straight day. Fed Chair Janet Yellen saidlast week a rate hike would “likely be appropriate” should employment and inflation continue to meet policy makers’ expectations.

Investors have priced in 98 percent odds that the Fed will move this month, kicking off three increases projected for 2017.

“People are getting out because of the rate increase” that’s expected, saidBob Haberkorn, a senior market strategist at RJO Futures in Chicago, in a telephone interview. Rate hikes historically don’t bode well for gold”

The market will wait for the language in the Fed’s statement after policy makers meet to gauge the direction of the metal, he said.

Holdings in SPDR Gold fell 3.8 metric tons on Monday to 836.8 tons, the lowest since Feb. 10, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The fund’s assets slipped 1 percent in the past two sessions, the biggest two-day loss since Jan. 10. The losses come after the ETF in February posted the largest monthly increase since June.

Gold futures for April delivery slipped 0.8 percent to settle at $1,216.10 an ounce at 1:45 p.m. on the Comex in New York.

A gauge of the dollar has risen for seven of the last eight trading days, diminishing demand for bullion as an alternative asset.

“The firmer U.S. dollar and rising U.S. bond yields can be cited as reasons for the continued price correction,” Commerzbank analysts including Carsten Fritsch said in a note to clients.

Data Forthcoming Releases

Courtesy: http://kalotipm.com.sg/kaloti-market-report-8-march-2017