Good morning traders,

Prices for the precious metal, GOLD, closed at 1,865.19, after placing a high of 1,884.47, and a low of 1,856.36. GOLD prices fell about 1.1% on Wednesday, due to the stronger US dollar and the optimism surrounding the potential COVID-19 vaccine, which has raised hopes for a quick economic rebound, ultimately driving investors towards riskier assets.

The strong equities and the strong US dollar and US Treasury yields made it hard for GOLD to continue to rally, and the yellow metal started to fell on Wednesday. The coronavirus vaccine news removed last week’s flight to the safety of the precious metal, after the US election, and weighed on the GOLD prices.

The US dollar index rose by about 0.3% to a one-week high, making the GOLD prices weak on Wednesday. The chances of an effective coronavirus vaccine overshadowed the worries over rising numbers of COVID-19 infections, and increased the risk sentiment, putting further pressure on the safe-haven metal, GOLD, on Wednesday.

However, the vaccine breakthrough raises many challenges, including the distribution of hundreds of millions of vaccine doses once they become available. These challenges kept the losses in GOLD prices limited on Wednesday. Some analysts believe that the longer-term prospects for GOLD are still bullish, as the road to recovery for the global economy will be long. Further support from governments and central banks will also be needed, which will help GOLD move higher ultimately. The Federal Reserve once again highlighted the need for more targeted fiscal support from the government on Tuesday.

GOLD prices have gained about 22% this year, on the back of stimulus measures delivered by central banks, as GOLD is widely viewed as a hedge against inflation and currency debasement. However, some analysts believe that the reaction to the vaccine news in recent days has been very strong, which has caused an immediate increase in the downside risk for GOLD .

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Federal Reserve vice chair of supervision, Randal Quarles, said that the Fed’s backstop lending might not answer all issues facing state and local governments, and municipalities. No macroeconomic data was released in the United States on Wednesday, due to a Bank Holiday, so the GOLD prices continued following the market mood and vaccine news.

In addition to the US, Europe also imposed lockdowns again last week, which threaten to undermine the oil demand. As per the latest report, Sweden has declared a partial lockdown, ordering the shutting down of bars and restaurants for the first time since the virus started spreading across Scandinavia. Thus, the back to back lockdown restrictions will have an instant negative effect on transportation fuel, as more people will stay home in the evening hours.