Gold prices pare losses on rate hike bets after OPEC+ cut

April 3 (Reuters) – Gold prices eased on Monday after OPEC+ made a surprise announcement of oil output cuts, sparking inflation concerns and raising bets on more central bank rate hikes.

Spot gold was 0.2% lower at USD 1,964.69 per ounce by 0924 GMT, having earlier slipped to its lowest in nearly a week at USD 1,949.54. US gold futures were also down 0.2% at USD 1,982.00.

A knee-jerk reaction to OPEC+ cutting production, with the dollar rising, was pushing gold lower but some bargain hunters were coming in around the USD 1960-USD 1965 level, StoneX analyst Rhona O’Connell said.

Given that energy is a “reasonably high component of inflationary forces,” there could be more rate hikes expected, which the market is pricing in, she added.

European shares rose as oil heavyweights rallied with higher crude prices, but gains were limited and U.S. and European bond yields rose on renewed inflation fears.

While gold is traditionally considered a hedge against inflation, higher interest rates to rein in rising price pressures tend to dim appeal for the asset since it pays no interest.

CME’s Fedwatch tool shows that markets see a 60.3% chance of the Fed hiking rates by a quarter point in May.

British manufacturers slipped deeper into decline in March but turned optimistic as cost pressures and supply chain problems eased, which could be viewed positively by the Bank of England before its next rate-hike decision in May.

Bullion rose by nearly 8% last quarter after the recent global banking turmoil drove bets that the Fed would tone down its rate hike approach.

“There are support zones placed at USD 1,935 and USD 1,920, while a recovery to USD 1,980 would denote strength,” said Carlo Alberto De Casa, external analyst at Kinesis Money, in a note.

Spot silver fell 1.3% to USD 23.75 per ounce, platinum was down 0.6% to USD 985.74 and palladium  gained 0.9% to USD 1,473.03.