St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard sees no need for the Fed to raise interest rates by more than 50 basis points. However, the central bank has previously raised interest rates more strongly, and therefore Bullard does not rule out a potential increase of 75 basis points.
Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans said on Tuesday that federal funds rates could reach 2.5% by the end of the year.
June COMEX gold futures closed down $27.40, or 1.4%, at $1,959 an ounce, the lowest since April 11, while May silver futures fell 76 cents, or 2. 9%, to $25.391 an ounce.
As a result of Monday's session, gold reached the closing high for the most actively traded contracts since March 10. That day, trading ended at a 19-month high of $2,000.40, according to Dow Jones data.
Gold prices rose in six of the last seven sessions, despite rising Treasury yields and a stronger dollar. Rising bond yields increase the opportunity cost of owning gold, which does not generate coupon income. At the same time, the strengthening of the dollar makes commodities denominated in this currency more expensive for holders of other currencies.
The dollar continued to rise on Tuesday: the ICE dollar index, which tracks the dynamics of the US currency against a basket of six other currencies, reached a maximum since March 2020. The Japanese yen fell sharply against the dollar as the BOJ remains overly loose as the US Federal Reserve prepares to sharply raise interest rates and cut its asset balance in an attempt to contain rising inflation.
Meanwhile, gold is gaining support amid the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Gold is considered a safe-haven asset during times of geopolitical uncertainty.
Technical analysis shows the potential for growth in gold prices, Otunuga notes, but quotes, apparently, are forming a new range. Support is located around $1960 and resistance is at $2000. In the event of a fall below $1960, prices could drop to $1920. In the event of a break above $2,000, the quotes may test the strength of the resistance levels located at the levels in 2009, 2015 and 2050 dollars.
Meanwhile, May copper futures ended the day down 1.8% at $4.718 a pound. July platinum futures fell 3.1% to $988.70 an ounce, while June palladium contracts fell nearly 2.7% to $2,380.40 an ounce.