December’s rally has pared an annual decline, the first full-year loss since 2015.Gold gained ground this quarter as global equities plunged and doubts stacked up among some investors about the pace of global growth in 2019. The climb has been aided by a weakening of the dollar in December amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will dial back the pace of rate increases next year. Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping spoke at length by phone Saturday, with each expressing satisfaction.Underscoring the risks, data on Monday showed manufacturing in Asia’s top economy shrank. A rally of more than 8 percent this month has eroded an annual drop. Platinum is set for a full-year fall, while palladium traded near a record hit earlier this month.

Source: The Star December 31, 2018 01:30 UTC