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Update: Gold Edges Lower as the Dollar Steadies

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(Updates prices.)

Gold prices eased midafternoon Friday, remaining rangebound as the dollar steadied.

Gold for June delivery was last seen down US$19.30 to US$4,523.20 per ounce.

The price of the metal has traded within a tight US$200 range for the past month, sticking above US$4,500 despite fears of rising interest rates as inflation surges with the war on Iran hiking energy costs. However the price of oil has moderated from the four-year highs touched in April, lowering concerns central banks will need to raise interest rates to slow price rises.

"Gold holds above US$4,500, trading within a relatively narrow range after finding renewed support earlier in the week as crude oil prices eased amid ongoing US-Iran talks. Lower oil prices helped reduce pressure on central banks to hike rates while stabilizing the long end of the yield curve," Saxo Bank noted.

The dollar was mostly steady early, with the ICE dollar index last seen down 0.04 points to 99.22. Treasury yields were mixed, with the yield on the U.S. two-year note up 4.4 basis points to 4.134%, while the 10-year note was paying 4.562%, down 1,1 points.

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