PRECIOUS-Gold falls more than 2% as Treasury yields, dollar weigh amid inflation concerns

(Updates for US mid-session trading)

* Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields near a more than one-year high

* Brent crude oil prices hold above $110 a barrel

* Minutes of Fed's April policy meeting due on Wednesday

By Anjana Anil

May 19 (Reuters) - Gold prices fell by more than 2% on Tuesday on a firmer U.S. dollar and as persistent inflation fears kept interest rate hike expectations and Treasury yields high.

Spot gold was down 1.5% at $4,498.43 per ounce by 11:30 a.m. ET (1530 GMT). Prices fell to their lowest level since March 30 earlier in the session.

U.S. gold futures for June delivery lost 1.2% to $4,502.90.

"We are seeing a multi-country rise in real rates around the world, and that is really weighing mostly on gold. The dollar is also stronger, that's a negative," said Edward Meir, an analyst at Marex.

Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields were near a more than one-year high, while the U.S. dollar strengthened. Both rose as investors eyed a possible hawkish shift by the Federal Reserve to curb energy-driven inflation.

Higher Treasury yields raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold and a stronger dollar makes greenback-priced commodities more expensive for other currency-holders.

Brent crude oil prices were elevated on supply concerns, fanning concerns of rising global inflation as fuel costs surge. Soaring inflation forces central banks to keep rates high to ease price pressures.

Despite being an inflation hedge, gold usually comes under pressure in high interest rate environments.

Markets now see very limited scope for rate cuts through most of 2026, with expectations shifting toward no change or tightening later in the year.

"While the structural investment case for gold remains largely intact, shorter-term macro developments have created a more challenging backdrop for prices," Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, wrote.

"Once immediate energy-related pressures begin to ease, central bank demand may re-emerge as a more dominant driver." Market participants now await the minutes of the Fed's latest policy meeting, which are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, and could help gauge the monetary policy path.

Spot silver dipped 4.4% to $74.24 per ounce, after touching an around two-week low earlier in the session. Platinum lost 2.5% to $1,929.81, and palladium dropped 4.5% to $1,355.18. (Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexander Smith)