By Geoffrey Smith
Investing.com -- Gold prices fell another 3% on Friday to a new low for 2020, as investors were forced into further sales to raise liquidity in the wake of Thursday’s rout.
The yellow metal opened lower after equity markets initially rebounded, responding to increased signs of urgency from European policymakers in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
However, it turned down in parallel with risk assets after newswires reported that President Donald Trump would declare a national emergency to accelerate the government’s response to the crisis. Again there were reports of investors liquidating positions to cover margin calls in other assets, notably equities.
The news came against a backdrop of speculation over Trump’s personal fate, given reports that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro – with whom Trump came into contact last weekend – had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Bolsonaro’s son later denied the reports on his Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) page.
By 12:12 PM ET (1612 GMT), gold futures for delivery on the Comex exchange were down $54, or 3.4%, at $1,536.40 a troy ounce, nearly 10% off their high of earlier in the week.
“We view gold’s recent setback as temporary given the potential support still lying ahead as fiscal spending, instead of failed monetary policies, takes over,” said Saxo Bank strategist Ole Hansen. The combined policy response would lift the likelihood of inflation making a gold-supportive return, he argued.
Elsewhere, the rout in silver futures turned uglier, as they fell another 8.1% to $14.69, their lowest since May last year.
Platinum futures fell 3.5% to $751.80 an ounce, while palladium futures fell victim to the same liquidation pressures, falling 16.7% to $1,595.10, on course for a 35% drop for the week.
The downward move in gold was accompanied by selling in government bonds, too, despite signs that the Federal Reserve is preparing to reactivate its quantitative easing program.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose 2 basis points to 0.87%, while the 30-year rose 10 basis points to 1.52%. Shorter maturity yields inched lower, anchored by expectations of another big rate cut from the Fed next week, after fresh criticism on Twitter from Trump earlier Friday.
“The Federal Reserve must FINALLY lower the Fed Rate to something comparable to their competitor Central Banks,” Trump tweeted. “Jay Powell and group are putting us at a decided economic & physiological disadvantage. Should never have been this way. Also, STIMULATE!”