PRECIOUS-Gold set for weekly loss as oil-driven inflation fears boost rate-hike bets

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 05:19 AM EDT

(Updates with European trading)

* Dollar holds near six-week high on U.S.-Iran uncertainty

* Traders see 41% chance of a 25-bp U.S. rate hike in December

* Trump to swear in Warsh as Fed chair on Friday

* All metals on track for weekly losses

By Noel John

May 22 (Reuters) - Gold edged lower on Friday and was headed for a second consecutive weekly drop, as elevated oil prices fuelled fears of inflation and boosted expectations of a U.S. interest rate hike this year.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $4,524 per ounce, as of 0904 GMT. The metal has shed about 0.4% so far in the week.

U.S. gold futures for June delivery lost 0.4% to $4,524.20. Brent crude oil prices held above $105 a barrel as investors doubted the prospects of a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran peace talks, even as Iranian media reported that Iran's foreign minister met Pakistan's interior minister on Friday to discuss proposals to end the war.

"Given the current high negative correlation to oil, dollar, and yields, these - especially oil - will set the tone for gold in the upcoming sessions," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. Higher oil prices stoke inflation risks, increasing chances of higher-for-longer interest rates. While gold is traditionally seen as a hedge against inflation, higher interest rates tend to weigh on the non-yielding metal.

Markets are now pricing in a Federal Reserve rate hike before year-end, with a 41% chance of a 25 basis-point hike in December, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool.

The dollar held near a six-week high, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.

"Technically, the 200-day moving average at $4,372 and the 50-day at $4,667 continue to define the outer boundaries, with gold likely retaining a slight negative bias until the Middle East crisis is resolved," Hansen said. Elsewhere, U.S. President Donald Trump will swear in Kevin Warsh as Fed chair later in the day at the White House, the administration said.

Spot silver fell 1.1% to $75.86 per ounce, platinum lost 1.5% to $1,935.90 and palladium fell 1.1% to $1,363.21. All the metals were on course for weekly losses. (Reporting by Noel John in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)

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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