Gold futures traded higher Thursday, lifted as the U.S. dollar slumped and investors watched results of the U.S. elections that appeared more likely to deliver a split government.
Gold for December delivery GCZ20, 1.76% was up $32.30, or 1.7%, at $1,928.50 an ounce, while December silver SIZ20, 4.17% advanced $1.012, or 4.2%, to $24.905 an ounce.
As vote counting continues following Tuesday’s elections, Democratic challenger Joe Biden was seen moving closer to clinching a victory in the electoral college while President Donald Trump’s campaign filed legal challenges. Meanwhile, Republicans looked increasingly likely to retain control of the Senate.
Gold “has found decent support after the likely outcome of US presidential election — that is, a Biden victory and a split legislature — has raised speculation that conditions in the world’s largest economy will remain supportive for all sorts of asset prices, including gold,” said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at ThinkMarkets, in a note.
“Investors are betting that a potential Biden win will pave the way for a bigger fiscal stimulus package than would have been the case if Trump was re-elected, while a Republican-controlled Senate will make it unlikely that Trump’s corporate tax cuts will be rolled back,” he said.
The dollar, meanwhile, was under pressure Thursday. The ICE U.S. Dollar Index DXY, -0.75%, a measure of the currency against a basket of six major rivals, was down 0.9%. Treasury yields were also lower, with the 10-year yield TMUBMUSD10Y, 0.757% falling 1.1 basis points to 0.756%.
A weaker dollar can benefit commodities priced in the currency, making them less expensive to users of other currencies. Lower Treasury yields were also seen as supportive, reducing the opportunity cost of holding nonyielding assets.
