PRECIOUS-Gold slips as US bond yields rise, investors assess new tariffs

BY Reuters | TREASURY | 07/08/25 05:33 AM EDT

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US 10-year bond yields hit over two-week peak

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Trump unveils 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea

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US Fed minutes due on Wednesday

(Adds comments and updates for EMEA morning session)

By Brijesh Patel

July 8 (Reuters) - Gold prices eased on Tuesday, weighed by higher U.S. Treasury yields as U.S. President Donald Trump's announced new tariff proposals on trading partners, including Japan and South Korea.

Spot gold was down 0.3% to $3,324.19 per ounce, as of 0905 GMT. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% to $3,333.60.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes rose to a two-week peak, making the non-yielding bullion less attractive.

"Gold is stuck between a rock and a hard place," said UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

"Negative for the gold price is the U.S. decision to extend the deadline for a trade deal for many trade partners, positive for the gold price is the fact that key U.S. trading partners in Asia might have to deal with higher tariffs in the near future, weighing on economic growth prospects."

On Monday, Trump told 14 countries that sharply higher tariffs would start on August 1, marking a new phase in the trade war he launched in April, with levies between 25% and 40%.

The new deadline was firm, Trump said, adding that he would consider extensions if countries made proposals for a trade deal.

"Reciprocal tariffs" were to be capped at 10% until July 9 to allow for negotiations, but, so far, agreements have been reached only with Britain and Vietnam. In June, Washington and Beijing agreed on a framework covering tariff rates.

Meanwhile, China has warned the Trump administration against reigniting trade tensions, and threatened to retaliate against nations that strike deals with the U.S. to cut it out of supply chains.

Trump's tariffs have stoked inflation fears, further complicating the U.S. Federal Reserve's path to lower interest rates.

Investors await minutes of the Fed's June meeting, due on Wednesday, for more clues into the bank's policy outlook.

Spot silver was steady at $36.72 per ounce, platinum fell 0.3% to $1,366.25 and palladium rose 0.5% to $1,116.86. (Reporting by Brijesh Patel and Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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