RTRS: Gold up 1 percent on dollar, eyes global rescue plan
By Lewa Pardomuan
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Gold gained more than 1 percent on Monday, after posting its biggest one-day drop in nearly 30 years the previous session, as moves by policymakers around the world to help banks pulled down the dollar.
Prospects for an easing in the month-long financial crisis could dim investors' interest in gold as a safe haven, but should also stem the kind of frenzied liquidation that knocked nearly $65 an ounce off the metal on Friday, the biggest one-day fall in dollar terms since 1980.
"Because we're seeing a bit of a bounce on currency markets, that's giving gold a lift," Australia & New Zealand Bank research head Mark Pervan said.
"But a rebound in the U.S. dollar that would accompany a recovery in stocks would be bad for gold and we could see prices hit again," he said.
Spot gold rose $14.50 or 1.71 percent to bid at $861.90 against a notional close of $847.40 on Friday, when prices were whipsawed in a nearly unprecedented over $100 range.
Gold hit a one-week low of $823.50 on Friday as investors sought cash to cover margin calls from steep losses in stocks, having earlier rallied to a two-month high at $931 an ounce.
"Subject to the panic attacks and unstable psychology of world financial markets, gold will continue its roller-coaster ride, exhibiting short-term price volatility," said Jeffrey Nichols, managing director of American Precious Metals Advisors.
"The withdrawal of central banks from gold-lending market is contributing to gold's high volatility. With many banks and financial institutions at great risk, central bankers are willing to sacrify the small return they earn on lending gold in favour of safekeeping their reserves at home."
Nations from Europe to Australia rushed out more plans on Sunday to shore up their banks with pledges to back lending, buy stakes in financial institutions and take other emergency steps, with markets initially responding positively.
The euro rose 1.2 percent to $1.3573
Oil gained more than $3 on Monday, recouping some of the previous session's 10 percent loss, after leaders in the United States and euro zone took steps to pull the banking sector away from a deeper collapse.
Looking ahead, gold was expected to closely monitor oil and currency markets, said dealers.
"An extended slide in oil and gains in the dollar might drag gold further down towards the $820 levels or lower. However investors might jump in on dips and the current gold holdings on the gold ETF's are proof," said analyst Pradeep Unni at Richcomm Global Services.
"A breach of $926 might push gold towards $950," said Unni, referring to a level last seen in March, but still well short of the $1,030.80 record high from then.
Holdings in the world's largest gold-backed ETF, the SPDR Gold Trust rose to 770.64 tonnes as of October 13 from 765.74 tonne as of October 9. NYS-
New York gold futures added $8.3 an ounce to $867.3