Gold price rises as optimism around coronavirus vaccine fades

Spot gold was up 0.3% to $1,748.73 per ounce by 0921 GMT. U.S. gold futures rose 0.5% to $1,753.40 per ounce.

“The situation worldwide is still tense as far as the coronavirus is concerned. The economic outlook and lower interest rate environment and lower stock markets are helping gold prices to go higher,” said Afshin Nabavi, senior vice president at precious metals trader MKS SA.

Stocks markets drifted lower after a media report said the trial results from Moderna Inc COVID-19 vaccine trial, which had buoyed global stocks this week, lacked detail.

The latest batch of economic readings underscored the deep impact on the global economy caused by the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected almost 4.91 million people globally.

On Tuesday data showed, U.S. homebuilding dropped by the most on record in April and permits for future construction tumbled, intensifying fears over deepest economic contraction in the second quarter since the Great Depression.

Gold is often used as a safe store of value during times of political and financial uncertainty.

In testimony before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed was looking at extending access to the credit facilities to additional borrowers, including states with smaller populations.

“What the Fed does in the next few months will be pretty important, and certainly Powell did indicate that the rates would remain near zero for foreseeable future,” ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes said.

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