(Updates prices)
* Gold set for biggest weekly decline since end-September
* Gold has declined nearly $300/oz from record high hit in
August
* Silver hits 2-month low, on track for 6% weekly fall
* Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus:
https://tmsnrt.rs/3mvcUoa
By Diptendu Lahiri
Nov 27 (Reuters) - Gold slumped 2%, breaking below the key
$1,800 support level to a near five-month trough on Friday, as
growing optimism about a quick vaccine-fuelled economic recovery
and a smooth White House transition powered U.S. equities to
records.
Spot gold XAU= slid 1.3% to $1,787.46 per ounce by 1:15
p.m EST (1815 GMT), earlier falling to its lowest since July 6
at $1,773.10 an ounce.
The metal has shed about 4.5% so far this week, the most
since the week of Sept. 25.
U.S. gold futures GCv1 settled down 1.3% at $1,781.90 per
ounce.
"As soon as prices touched below the key $1,800 level, it
triggered a sell-off. It is probable that prices might test the
$1,750 level given we have a strong fundamental reason like the
vaccine," said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam.
Further weighing on gold, U.S. equities raced to a record on
the vaccine optimism and as investors bet on calmer global trade
under a Joe Biden administration in the United States. .N
"It is believed that Biden will take a calmer approach
towards trade with other countries like China and that is
getting reflected in the stock market," said Natixis analyst
Bernard Dahdah.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that if the
Electoral College votes for Biden, he will leave the White
House, paving the way for Biden to formally take up the
presidency. "However, with ultra-low interest rates and prospects of
more stimulus in the economy, gold looks robust in the longer
term," Dahdah said.
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led global
central banks to keep interest rates at a minimum.
Along with that, massive amounts of stimulus into the
economy has raised concerns of a higher inflation, helping gold
gain more than 17% so far this year.
In other metals, silver XAG= dropped 3.5% to $22.63 per
ounce and has fallen 6.4% so far this week.
Platinum XPT= rose 0.2% to $963.45 and palladium XPD=
gained 1.6% to $2,420.18.
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Gold prices have declined about 15% from record peak https://tmsnrt.rs/36cXMa3
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