Gold and Silver Prices Set to Rise Amid West Asia Tensions Easing; Crude Oil Drops
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 31 (NationPress) Prices for gold and silver are anticipated to rise during Tuesday evening's session, fueled by optimism surrounding a potential de-escalation in the ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
In response to global trends, spot gold surged by up to 2.39 percent, reaching $4,619.14 per ounce by 11 A.M., while US gold futures for June delivery increased by 2 percent to $4,649.26.
Likewise, spot silver experienced a notable rise of 4.82 percent, hitting $73.48 per ounce, with COMEX silver trading at $73.705, also up 4.44 percent compared to the previous close.
On Monday, MCX gold futures (June 5) concluded at Rs 1,47,450, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.15 percent, while MCX silver futures (May 5) settled almost unchanged at Rs 2,29,033, showing a minor increase of 0.03 percent.
Despite this recent uptick, the yellow metal is poised for its most significant monthly decline in over 17 years, primarily due to heightened energy prices which have tempered expectations for a potential US interest rate reduction.
Market sentiment has improved following reports indicating that US President Donald Trump has expressed a willingness to conclude military actions against Iran, potentially fostering a more optimistic outlook across global financial markets.
Further reports suggested that President Trump might suspend military operations, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains predominantly closed, postponing efforts to reopen this crucial oil route.
Despite the recent price increase, bullion has dropped by over 13 percent so far this month, setting the stage for its sharpest monthly decline since October 2008. However, prices continue to show a roughly 5 percent gain for the current quarter.
In light of these developments, global crude oil futures have dipped into negative territory, with Brent crude falling by 2.37 percent to $104.84 per barrel—an intraday low. Concurrently, US WTI futures have decreased by 2 percent to $100.83 per barrel as of 11 AM.
The Indian stock markets remain closed in observance of Mahavir Jayanti, but the easing of geopolitical tensions could provide a boost to market sentiment.
Meanwhile, the MCX is set to open for the evening session between 5 PM and 11:30 PM. GIFT Nifty futures were trading approximately 1 percent higher.