· Gold eased from a two-week high on Thursday as investors booked profits after prices jumped in the previous session on hopes of a massive U.S. stimulus package under the new Joe Biden administration.
· Spot gold fell 0.1% to $1,868.20 per ounce by 0110 GMT, after hitting its highest since Jan. 8 at $1,871.75 earlier in the session. Bullion had gained 1.7% on Wednesday.
· U.S. gold futures gained 0.1% to $1,868.50.
· U.S. President Joe Biden signed a string of executive orders, shortly after being sworn in on Wednesday to jump-start the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
· Gold is considered a hedge against inflation that can result from stimulus measures.
· The United States surpassed 400,000 deaths due to COVID-19 on Wednesday, while Britain reported a record daily number of deaths.
· The World Health Organization plans to approve several COVID-19 vaccines from Western and Chinese manufacturers in coming weeks and months.
· The European Central Bank will keep its easy money policy unchanged on Thursday but hold the door wide open to further stimulus as the spreading second wave of COVID-19 dims an already weak outlook.
· British inflation gathered speed in December, starting what is expected to be a climb this year as pandemic-fighting measures, Brexit and a recovery in the economy combine to push up costs for consumers and businesses.
· Silver shed 0.2% to $25.75 an ounce. Platinum eased 0.5% to $1,103.51, while palladium gained 0.3% to $2,379.28.
Reference: CNBC
Thai
Eng