Gold bullion is displayed at Hatton Garden Metals precious metal dealers in London, Britain July 21, 2015. REUTERS/Neil Hall
By A. Ananthalakshmi
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Gold reversed early losses on Thursday as volatility in stock markets stoked safe-haven demand, with bullion funds seeing fresh buying from investors.
Asian shares slipped as crude oil prices seesawed and Chinese shares dived rekindling anxiety about the impact of high market volatility on the global economy.
Spot gold had risen 0.6 percent to $1,236.40 an ounce by 0658 GMT after earlier falling as much as 0.7 percent.
On Wednesday, gold had climbed 2.1 percent to $1,252.91 as lower oil prices dragged down stocks. But the metal gave up most of its gains as crude turned higher, lifting stocks.
“The volatility in oil prices and stock markets, and ‘Brexit’ fears are all contributing to the rising risk averse sentiment in the market,” said Mark To, head of research at Hong Kong’s Wing Fung Financial Group.
Sterling was near a seven-year low against the dollar and a 2-1/2 year low versus the yen on Thursday on worries Britain may exit the European Union after Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement of a June 23 referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.
“I think there will be a stronger momentum for gold in the coming few weeks,” To said.
Gold’s 16-percent rally this year has been fuelled by safe-haven bids as global equities tumbled on lower oil prices and fears of an economic slowdown. The metal hit a one-year top of $1,260.60 two weeks ago.
An increase in assets of bullion-backed exchange traded funds (ETF) has also supported the rally.
Inflows into SPDR Gold Trust, the top gold ETF, since the beginning of the year have already surpassed outflows for the whole of 2015. The increase in assets so far is also the highest since 2010.
On Wednesday, holdings of the fund rose further to 760.32 tonnes, the highest since March 2015.
“The ETFs are a good indicator that money is definitely flowing into gold,” said a Hong Kong-based bullion trader. “More money will start to flow in if we hold above $1,250 convincingly.”
Gold could gain more as it is on the cusp of a key technical level called the ‘golden cross,’ when the 50-day moving average moves above than the 200-day moving average.
The gap was less than 50 cents on Thursday.
If the ‘golden cross’ occurs, it would be the first such formation in almost two years and would be a bullish buy signal for technical traders and momentum-driven investors.
(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Joseph Radford and Christian Schmollinger)