Gold slips as US-Iran tensions lift oil, stoke inflation fears

Gold fell on Tuesday as fresh U.S. attacks in Iran pushed oil prices higher, fuelling concerns around inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates. Spot gold was down 1% at $4,524.73 per ounce, as of 0737 GMT. U.S. gold futures for June delivery gained 0.1% to $4,525.30. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiating a deal with Iran could "take a few days," quashing hopes for an imminent end to the conflict a day after U.S. forces conducted what Washington called defensive strikes in southern Iran. "Even though we have a peace deal that is being done and dusted between the U.S. and Iran, the damage that has been done to Middle East oil production facilities could actually prevent a rapid normalisation of oil flows to the rest of the world," said Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst at OANDA. "The market has started to price in this situation, showing very high odds of an interest rate hike to come in this year." Brent crude futures rose 2% in Asian trade on Tuesday, as a deal to end the war and open up the Strait of Hormuz remained elusive. Elevated crude oil 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. Markets are pricing in a U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike before year-end, with a 56% chance of a move by December, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Spot silver fell 2.5% to $76.12 per ounce, platinum lost 1.1% to $1,945.16, and palladium slid 1.7% to $1,374.35.