Gold gains on softer dollar; Iran-US talks in focus

Gold prices edged higher on Thursday, buoyed by a softer dollar and safe-haven demand fuelled by uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policy and U.S.-Iran talks.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold <XAU=> was up 0.3% at $5,184.43 per ounce by 0110 GMT. Bullion hit a more than three-week high on Tuesday.

U.S. gold futures <GCcv1> for April delivery were down 0.5% at $5,199.20.

The dollar began the day on the back foot, as better-than-expected earnings from Nvidia boosted investor confidence and markets awaited details of the latest U.S. tariffs on imports of foreign goods. [USD/]

A softer greenback makes dollar-denominated gold cheaper for holders of other currencies.

The U.S. tariff rate for some countries will rise to 15% or higher from the newly imposed 10%, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Wednesday, without naming any specific trading partners or giving further details.

Markets currently expect three 25-basis-point rate cuts from the Federal Reserve this year, according to CME's FedWatch Tool. FEDWATCH

Investors await the weekly jobless claims data due later in the day for more cues on the Fed's monetary policy path.

Iran and the U.S. hold the latest round of talks in Geneva on Thursday aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes on Iran following a large-scale military buildup.

Spot silver <XAG=> rose 0.1% to $89.49 per ounce, after climbing to a three-week high on Wednesday.

Spot platinum <XPT=> edged 0.3% higher to $2,294.30 per ounce, while palladium <XPD=> gained 0.8% to $1,809.62. Both metals reached three-week highs in the previous session.

-Ishaan Arora/Reuters