PRECIOUS-Gold hits two-month low as US-Iran tension stokes inflation and rate hike fears

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 04:05 AM EDT

* U.S. launches strikes on Iran military site

* Dollar rises to one-week high

* U.S. PCE data due at 1230 GMT

* Silver, platinum hit near one-month lows (Updates prices as of 0740 GMT)

By Pablo Sinha

May 28 (Reuters) - Gold prices fell to a two-month low on Thursday as fresh U.S. attacks on Iran boosted the dollar and pushed oil prices higher, stoking concerns about rising inflation and clouding the interest rate outlook.

Spot gold was down 1.5% at $4,388.76 per ounce, as of 0740 GMT, earlier falling to its lowest level since March 26. U.S. gold futures for June delivery fell 1.4% to $4,386.

The dollar rose to a one-week high, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.

"Geopolitical tensions remain high, and we've had too many false alarms from the peace deal talks. So I think the U.S. dollar is going to remain bid, and that means gold is likely to remain under pressure," said Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at StoneX.

The U.S. military carried out new strikes in Iran targeting a military site that officials believed posed a threat to U.S. forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said, hours after President Donald Trump dismissed an Iranian report of a deal to restore traffic through the strategic waterway.

Oil prices jumped more than 3% on Thursday after Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a U.S. airbase in response to the U.S. attack.

Elevated crude prices can accelerate inflation and keep interest rates higher for longer. While gold is seen as a hedge against inflation, higher rates tend to weigh on the non-yielding metal.

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Wednesday said she feels the U.S. central bank should hold short-term interest rates steady for now, but, with tariffs, the Iran war, and a surge in AI-related investment pushing prices higher, she is prepared to hike rates if needed.

Focus is also on the U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures data, due later in the day, for cues on the Fed's monetary policy path.

Spot silver fell 1.7% to $73.36 per ounce and platinum lost 1.1% to $1,897.80. Both metals earlier hit a near one-month low. Palladium slid 1.2% to $1,373.58.

(Reporting by Pablo Sinha in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Eileen Soreng)

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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