Gold prices fell 1 per cent on Tuesday as investors chose to pocket profits after the metal hit a seven-year high in the previous session, although growing fears over a spike in new coronavirus cases outside of China capped bullion’s losses.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold was down 0.7 per cent to $1,649.49 per ounce by 0132 GMT, having touched a session low of $1,642.89.

ASIA MARKET

ASIAN shares extended losses amid fears the virus was rapidly mutating into a pandemic that could cripple global supply chains and wreak far greater economic damage than first thought.

CORONA VIRUS

The death toll climbed to seven in Italy on Monday and authorities sealed off the worst-affected towns, closed schools and halted the carnival in Venice, where there were two cases, while several Middle East countries were dealing with their first infections.

FINANCIAL MARKET

Financial markets on Monday ratcheted up bets the US Federal Reserve will be pressed to cut interest rates to cushion a feared hit to economic growth from the epidemic.

PROFIT TAKING

Bullion rose to a more than seven-year high of $1,688.66 in the previous session.

US gold futures fell 1.5 per cent to $1,651 an ounce.

The 1 per cent fall of Gold prices was because of margin calls but definitely that has triggered an added wave of profit-taking