-- Gold prices fell for a second day early Tuesday as the dollar rose after U.S. retail sales rose above expectations last month, while talks between the United States and Iran could see an end to the Middle East war that has sent the price of oil and other commodities higher.
Gold for May delivery was last seen down $21.60 to US$4,807.20 per ounce.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday said March retail sales rose by 1.7%, up from a revised 0.7% a month earlier and ahead of the consensus estimate for a rise of 1.5%, according to Marketwatch. The rise was the highest in more than three years, CNN reported, but came on a record jump in gasoline prices due to the U.S. war on Iran.
Talks to end the war are expected to begin in Pakistan as a two-week ceasefire is set to end tomorrow. A deal could see an end to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and lower high prices for oil and other commodities trapped in the Persian Gulf. However, Iran has not publicly confirmed it will send negotiators to Pakistan to meet with the United States, though the Wall Street Journal reports Iran has told mediators it will send a team to the talks.
"Gold is consolidating as traders assess the prospects for renewed US-Iran talks and the approaching ceasefire deadline. Its near-term trajectory remains closely linked to developments in the Middle East, given the potential spillover into inflation expectations, the dollar, bond yields, and US rate outlook," Saxo Bank wrote.
The dollar was higher early, with the ICE dollar index was last seen up 0.17 points to 98.26. Treasury yields were also higher, with the yield on the U.S. two-year note up 4.4 basis points to 3.769%, while the yield on the 10-year note was paying 4.272%, up 1.8 points.