* Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields near a more than
one-year high
* Brent crude oil prices hold above $110 a barrel
* Minutes of Fed's April policy meeting due on Wednesday
(Updates for U.S. market close)
By Anjana Anil
May 19 (Reuters) - Gold prices fell by more than 1% on
Tuesday on a firmer U.S. dollar and as persistent inflation
fears kept interest rate hike expectations and Treasury yields
high.
Spot gold was down 1.4% at $4,503.98 per ounce by
1:45 p.m. ET (1745 GMT). Prices fell to their lowest level since
March 30 earlier in the session.
U.S. gold futures for June delivery settled 1% lower
at $4,511.20.
"We are seeing a multi-country rise in real rates around the
world, and that is really weighing mostly on gold. The dollar is
also stronger, that's a negative," said Edward Meir, an analyst
at Marex.
Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields were near
a more than one-year high, while the U.S. dollar strengthened.
Both rose as investors eyed a possible hawkish shift by the
Federal Reserve to curb energy-driven inflation.
Higher Treasury yields raise the opportunity cost of holding
non-yielding gold and a stronger dollar makes greenback-priced
commodities more expensive for other currency-holders.
Brent crude oil prices were elevated on supply concerns,
fanning concerns of rising global inflation as fuel costs surge.
Soaring inflation forces central banks to keep rates high to
ease price pressures.
Despite being an inflation hedge, gold usually comes under
pressure in high interest rate environments.
Markets now see very limited scope for rate cuts through
most of 2026, with expectations shifting toward no change or
tightening later in the year.
"While the structural investment case for gold remains
largely intact, shorter-term macro developments have created a
more challenging backdrop for prices," Ole Hansen, head of
commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, wrote.
"Once immediate energy-related pressures begin to ease,
central bank demand may re-emerge as a more dominant
driver."
Market participants await minutes of the Fed's latest policy
meeting, due on Wednesday.
Spot silver dipped 4.1% to $74.53 per ounce, after
touching an around two-week low earlier in the session. Platinum
lost 2.2% to $1,936.10 and palladium dropped 4.2%
to $1,359.26.
J.P. Morgan on Sunday forecast $2,400/oz in the fourth
quarter of 2026 for platinum, and added that it sees palladium
at $1,600/oz in the same period.