Gold hits one-week high on safe-haven demand, Fed decision loom

[BENGALURU] Gold prices climbed to a one-week high on Tuesday (May 6) as rising concerns over US President Donald Trump’s tariff plans boosted safe-haven demand, while investors also kept a close tab on the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting.

Spot gold rose 0.1 per cent to US$3,337.69 an ounce to hit its highest level since Apr 29 earlier in the session, but it later retreated and was trading flat at US$3,330.16, as at 0018 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.5 per cent to US$3,338.30.

Trump announced on Sunday a 100 per cent tariff on movies produced overseas, reigniting concerns about the potential fallout of a global trade war.

The US president also said on Monday he plans to announce pharmaceutical tariffs over the next two weeks.

On the radar this week is the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and Fed chair Jerome Powell’s comments due on Wednesday to get clues on the US central bank’s rate path. The Fed has held its policy rate in the 4.25 to 4.5 per cent range since December.

The Fed will doubtless leave interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, but the meeting may be the last where the outcome is so cut and dry with Trump’s tariffs casting a shadow of uncertainty over the economic outlook.

Non-yielding bullion, a safeguard against political and financial turmoil, also thrives in a low interest-rate environment.

However, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said Trump’s tariff, tax cut and deregulation agenda would work together to drive long-term investment to the US economy.

Among other metals, spot silver rose 0.1 per cent to US$32.53 an ounce, platinum was steady at US$959.30 and palladium was unchanged at US$940.50. REUTERS