BENGALURU (Sept 1): Gold dropped more than 2% on Tuesday to a two-week low as elevated Treasury yields and a stronger US dollar weighed on prices, while bullion's break below its 200-day moving average triggered additional technical selling.

Spot gold was down 2% at US$4,360.39 (RM17,609) per ounce at 09.58am ET (1358 GMT), after touching its lowest since Aug 19 at US$4,362.89 earlier in the session. Bullion dropped below its 200-day moving average, which is currently at around US$4,528, on Aug 28.

US gold futures fell 1.6% to US$4,409.30.

"We're seeing some technical selling pressure...bond yields globally are at highs not seen in years. So that's all working to pressure the gold market," said Jim Wyckoff, a market analyst at American Gold Exchange.

"Gold price has dropped below its 200-day moving average, which is an important technical signal."

US Treasury yields rose to their highest since January 2025 on Tuesday as rising tensions in the Middle East stoked inflation fears and triggered a global bond sell-off.

Although gold is traditionally viewed as a hedge against inflation, rising interest rates and higher yields on Treasuries typically pressure gold as they raise the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset. The dollar also gained, making greenback-priced gold more expensive to overseas buyers.

Gold hit a more than three-month high last week before sliding over 3% last Friday, after US Federal Reserve (Fed) chair Kevin Warsh warned of having more "work to do" if inflation does not cool down to the central bank's 2% target. Traders added to bets on a September rate hike after Warsh's comments.

Traders now see a 66% chance of a rate hike this month, CME's FedWatch Tool showed.

Investors are now looking ahead to the ADP employment report on Wednesday and non-farm payrolls data on Friday for fresh clues on economic policy.

"The path of least resistance right now is probably sideways or sideways to lower in the gold market over the near term. Same goes for silver," Wyckoff added.

Spot silver slid 2.3% to US$64.99 an ounce.

Platinum fell 1.4% to US$1,766.66 and palladium lost 1.6% to US$1,334.88.

Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee