Gold prices on Wednesday finished lower for a third consecutive session, giving up its month-to-date gain, even as uncertainty hung over financial markets, putting pressure on stocks.
“Gold has lost a bit of its allure over the last week, which may be indicative of a trade that’s become a little overcrowded and prone for correction,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda, in a daily note. “The momentum indicators certainly suggest this may be the case and the recent consolidation off the highs, despite some dollar weakness, also suggests this is a move that’s run out of steam.”
April gold GCJ9, -0.49% fell $7.30, or 0.6%, to settle at $1,321.20 an ounce. It had settled at a 10-month high of $1,347.90 a week earlier, according to FactSet data. Weakness in prices Wednesday prompted the metal to trade about 0.3% lower for the month so far.
The precious metal, which is perceived as a haven in times of uncertainty, hasn’t garnered much support from various, potentially market-moving developments, including congressional testimony by Michael Cohen, former longtime attorney to President Donald Trump, the second nuclear-weapon summit between North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Trump, as well as escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, which has its own nuclear risk attached.
Read Michael Cohen’s full prepared testimony on Trump’s Russia plans, WikiLeaks DNC hack, more
In addition, Wednesday marks the end of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell two-day testimony to Congress. Powell on Tuesday delivered a clear message that Fed policy will remain data-dependent, which could mean no more rate increases in 2019, analysts said, noting it’s a stance that is largely dollar-negative and gold-positive. Gold was little moved by data showing a slump in home prices, though the result reinforced a stand-down approach by the Fed.
See: Blog and video of Powell testimony
U.S. stocks were lower, tracking their international counterparts into the red, as the tensions between India and Pakistan unnerved investors. The U.S. Dollar Index DXY, +0.11% edged up by 0.1% to 96.103. Gold and the dollar tend to move inversely as a more robust buck makes commodities less attractive to investors using other currencies, and vice versa.
Read: Fears of escalation between nuclear powers after India drops bombs in Pakistan
“The dollar aspect is particularly interesting as previous, periods of strength merely slowed or paused the rally and those of weakness spurred it on,” said Erlam. “If this trend has reversed then it doesn’t bode well for gold in the near term. Longer term though I remain bullish, it’s just a question of how large a correction we could see. The key supports here remain unchanged at $1,320 and $1,300.”
Among other metals, May silver SIK9, -0.95% fell 1% to $15.766 an ounce. Also among the most-active contracts, March silver SIH9, -0.96% also lost 1% to $15.672.
The most-active June palladium contract PAM9, -2.03% slipped 2.8% to $1,477.20 an ounce, pulling back after settling at a record well above $1,500 on Tuesday. A threatened strike by South African mine workers added to [palladium] supply concerns in an already tight market, analysts have said this week.
April platinum PLJ9, +1.24% rose 1.1% to $869.90 an ounce. May copper HGK9, +0.56% settled at $2.963 a pound, up 0.4%.
Read: Will copper’s revival last? China is the X-factor
Gold-backed exchange-traded fund SPDR Gold Shares GLD, -0.68% shed 0.7%.
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