Gold traded at a two-month low early on Thursday on renewed inflation worries as oil prices rose on renewed fighting between Iran and the United States, while a key U.S. inflation measure rose in April.
Gold for July delivery was last seen down US$70.40 to US$4,411.10, the lowest since March 26.
The drop comes as oil prices rose off a month low on fresh hostilities in the Persian Gulf. The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. forces attacked a drone-control base in Iran and shot down Iranian drones, while Kuwait intercepted an Iranian missile and Iran attacked commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf.
"Gold fell to a two-month low as US Treasuries sold off and the dollar strengthened following a fresh surge in crude oil prices, fuelling concerns that tight energy markets will continue to exert upward pressure on inflation," Saxo Bank noted.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis on Thursday reported the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, rose 3.8% annualized in April, up from 3.5% in March and matching expectations, according to Marketwatch. Core PCE, excluding volatile food and energy, rose at a 3.3% annual pace, again matching expectations and up from 3.2% a month earlier.
The Bureau also released its second revision to its estimate for first-quarter gross domestic product growth, cutting its estimate to 1.6% from 2.0%. The agency was expected to maintain its 2.0% estimate, according to Marketwatch.
The dollar edged down following the data, with the ICE dollar index last seen down 0.02 points to 99.19. Treasury yileds were mixed, with the U.S. two-year note last seen paying 4.053%, up 1.2 basis points, while the yield on the 10-year note was down 0.4 points to 4.485%.