Gold prices held largely steady on Monday, moving within a narrow range as the U.S. dollar showed little clear direction. Investors balanced tentative hopes of easing tensions between the United States and Iran with caution ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting later this week.
The metal found some support following last week’s sharp decline, with sentiment lifted by reports that Iran had submitted a fresh proposal to Washington that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Spot gold was broadly unchanged at $4,711.0 per ounce, while gold futures slipped 0.3% to $4,725.94/oz as of 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT).
Other precious metals also showed limited movement. Spot silver was flat at $75.6975 per ounce, while platinum rose 0.5% to $2,023.54 per ounce.
Stalemate persists in U.S.-Iran diplomacy
Attempts to revive U.S.-Iran negotiations faltered over the weekend after Iranian officials departed Pakistan and Washington withdrew plans to send a delegation to Islamabad.
Donald Trump said Tehran could reach out if it wanted to resume talks, reiterating that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons—an issue central to the conflict.
Still, a report from Axios offered a degree of optimism, indicating that Iran had proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending hostilities.
A key aspect of the proposal involves deferring discussions around Iran’s nuclear programme, which may prove difficult for U.S. officials to accept.
Despite this, tensions remain elevated. A naval blockade is still in place, and Iran continues to restrict access through the Strait of Hormuz.
The ongoing disruption has pushed oil prices higher, raising concerns about persistent inflation and the prospect of tighter monetary policy. In this environment, a firmer dollar has weighed on non-yielding assets such as gold.
Federal Reserve decision in focus
Attention now turns to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting, where policymakers are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged.
Markets will be looking closely at the central bank’s economic outlook, particularly in light of uncertainty stemming from the Iran conflict.
This meeting could be the final one led by Jerome Powell, whose term is set to end on May 15.
Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh—Trump’s nominee to succeed Powell—told Congress last week that he has not committed to lowering interest rates. He is generally viewed as less dovish than investors had anticipated.
Warsh’s confirmation now appears more likely after Republican Senator Thom Tillis withdrew his opposition, following the Justice Department’s decision to end its investigation into Powell—an inquiry that had drawn criticism for potentially pressuring the Fed to cut rates.
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