Gold futures pop higher as fresh China tariffs escalate trade-war fear
New York (Apr 4) Gold futures rose on Wednesday after China said it would impose tariffs of up to 25% on 106 American products such as soybeans and more, elevating tensions in a simmering trade confrontation between the U.S. and Beijing.
News of trade tensions provided a lift for gold and other havens that tend to attract bids in times of global uncertainty.
June gold GCM8, +0.77% popped 0.8%, or $10.20, at $1,347.50 an ounce in early trade, after the metal halted a string of consecutive gains in the previous session amid a rise in the equity market and easing global tensions.
Meanwhile, May silver SIK8, +0.35%
added 8 cents, or 0.5%, to $16.470 an ounce.
In exchange-traded funds, the SPDR Gold Shares ETF GLD, -0.75% rose by 0.8%. The iShares Silver Trust SLV, -1.21% added 0.5%, while the VanEck Vectors Gold Miners GDX, -1.44% advanced 1.3%.
A slight weakening of the dollar also offered a runway higher for dollar-pegged commodities because a softening dollar can make commodities priced in the currency more attractive to buyers using other currencies. The U.S. unit, as measured by the ICE U.S. Dollar Index DXY, -0.08% was off a modest 0.1%. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +1.65% were down 450 points, or 1.9%, and the S&P 500 index SPX, +1.26% off by 1.5%.
China’s proposed tariffs on 106 U.S. products such comes after Trump’s administration on Tuesday gave details on the $50 billion of Chinese goods that it plans to hit with 25% tariffs unless Beijing makes trade and investment concessions soon.
Beyond the trade skirmish, commodity investors are looking out for key economic reports ahead of Friday’s nonfarm-payrolls report. ADP’s report on private-sector employment in March is slated to hit at 8:15 a.m. Eastern.
Separately, Markit is set to release a report on the services-sector activity for March at 9:45 a.m. Eastern. That will be followed by the more closely watched ISM services data at 10 a.m., with economists polled by MarketWatch forecasting a March reading of 59.0%. A reading of at least 50 implies improving conditions.
MarketWatch
