PRECIOUS-Gold falls on oil-driven inflation fears as Trump rejects Iran peace proposal

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 04:59 AM EDT

* Trump calls Iran's response to US peace proposal 'unacceptable'

* Brent crude oil rises above $103 a barrel

* Trump, Xi to discuss Iran among other topics later this week

* U.S. April CPI data due on Tuesday (Rewrites to EMEA morning trading)

By Noel John

May 11 (Reuters) - Gold fell 1% on Monday, as elevated oil prices stoked worries over inflation and prolonged high interest rates, while peace talks between the United States and Iran remained unsolved.

Spot gold fell 1% at $4,667.99 per ounce, as of 0852 GMT. U.S. gold futures for June delivery lost 1.1% at $4,677.80.

The dollar rose, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran's response to a U.S. proposal for peace talks to end the war, saying Tehran's demands were "totally unacceptable."

Brent crude oil prices rose above $103 a barrel amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralyzed.

"Inflation risks still weigh heavy on the market's collective mind, as attempts to end the Middle East conflict reached an impasse after the U.S. and Iran rejected each other's peace proposals," said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Bybit.

Gold prices have fallen more than 11% since the war began in late February, pressured by higher oil prices. Elevated crude oil prices can stoke inflation, increasing the likelihood of higher interest rates. While gold is seen as an inflation hedge, high rates tend to weigh on the non-yielding asset.

Traders have largely priced out U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, with markets now seeing a 31% chance of a hike by March 2027, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool.

Investors will eye Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday as the Gulf will be on the agenda.

They will also looking out for April's U.S. Consumer Price Index data on Tuesday, for further clues on the Fed's monetary policy direction.

"Gold may face greater downward pressure should tomorrow's U.S. CPI prints come in hotter than expected, in turn forcing the Fed to keep its benchmark rates elevated for a longer period of time," Tan said.

Spot silver was steady at $80.34 per ounce, platinum slid 1.6% to $2,022.93, and palladium was down 1.1% at $1,475.55. (Reporting by Noel John in Bengaluru Editing by Bernadette Baum)

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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