/2020/12/08/240217779p.jpg)
GOLD - JAKARTA. Gold prices were hemmed into a tight range on Wednesday with investors focused on the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting for signals on its rate hike plans.
Spot gold fell 0.1% to $1,714.89 per ounce by 1402 GMT. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% at $1,713.10.
Despite gold's status as an inflation hedge, bullion's shine dims amid rising interest rates as it is a non-interest yielding asset.
"If the Fed hikes rates by 100 bps, this might reduce demand for precious metals. But if they stick to a 75 bps hike, then there is chance that gold could see a relief rally," said Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco Metals.
Read Also: Oil Rises on U.S. Inventory Drop, Russian Gas Cuts
With the Fed expected to hike its key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point on Wednesday, focus will shift to how deeply signs of an economic slowdown have registered with its policymakers.
"Given the market is priced for a 75 bps hike at this meeting, the focus will be on whether the September meeting will see the pace of hikes slow," TD Securities said in a note.
Gold has lost more than $300 since climbing past the $2,000-per-ounce level in early March due to the Fed's aggressive rate increases and the dollar's recent rally, overshadowing bullion's appeal as a safe-haven despite recession risks.
Read Also: Indonesia Govt Sees Limited Impact on Yields from BI Bond Sales
Indicative of market sentiment, holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund (ETF), touched their lowest since January, to about 32,321,124 ounces.
"Exit from the ETFs maybe because investors are rethinking as paper assets tend not to perform so well during inflationary times. And one can argue that ETFs are paper assets. If gold prices start to rebound, we might see inflows into ETFs," Wyckoff added.
Spot silver fell 0.5% to $18.50 per ounce, platinum added 0.8% to $880.45, while palladium gained 0.7% to $2,024.27.
