Gold pinned below $2,000 as rate hike fears persist.
Gold prices inched up after recent losses on Monday, remaining under pressure as fears of a looming interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve dented appetite for the yellow metal, as did a recent spike in Treasury yields.
Bullion prices marked two straight weeks of losses as hawkish comments from Fed officials and some stronger-than-expected economic data ramped up fears that the Fed will keep hiking interest rates this year.
Such a scenario heralds more downward pressure for gold, given that rising lending rates push up the opportunity cost of holding bullion, which offers no yields. This notion saw gold lose the $2,000 mark, while the dollar strengthened.
