US-Iran Pause Sends Oil Prices Lower, Gold Higher
The recent pause in US-Iran hostilities has sent shockwaves through the markets, causing oil prices to plummet and gold to surge. According to TradingView data, spot gold traded at $4,106.65 per ounce on Monday, up 1.33% on the day.
This decline in energy costs typically eases inflation, reducing the likelihood that the Fed will hold interest rates high for longer. As a result, gold's appeal has increased, as it is no longer seen as a less attractive option compared to other assets with higher yields.
The pause in hostilities came after advisers reportedly warned Trump that the military was nearing the limit of viable targets in Iran and that draining US munitions stockpiles could be a concern. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would halt its own attacks as long as Washington does the same.
Other precious metals also rallied in tandem, with spot silver climbing 2.7% to $59.74 an ounce, platinum gaining 2% to $1,619.75, and palladium rising 2.3% to $1,271.93. COMEX gold speculators added 4,438 contracts to their net long position in the week to July 21.
The Fed's rate decision this week will be a key test of whether the truce holds long enough to sustain the rally. A split among 104 economists over the central bank's next move shows how uncertain the path remains.