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Gold Falls As Dollar and Yields Rise as Iran Again Closes the Strait of Hormuz
Gold traded lower early on Monday as the dollar rose while hopes for an end to the war on Iran faded after Iran on Friday opened and then closed the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up oil prices and the dollar on worries over higher inflation and interest rates.Gold for May delivery was last seen down $54.90 to US$4,824.70 per ounce.Gold rose on Friday after Iran briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for 20% of daily global oil demand supplied by Persian Gulf nations. However, later it again refused to permit transit through the waterway as the United States declined to end its blockade of Iran's ports.The United States is sending negotiators to Pakistan for peace talks but The Guardian reported Iran has no plans to attend after the U.S. Navy disabled and seized a Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf over the weekend. A ceasefire between the two countries ends tomorrow, with U.S. President Trump again threatening to attack Iranian civilian infrastructure unless a deal is reached.The closure of the Strait has produced the largest-ever energy supply shock, pushing up physical oil prices along with gasoline and diesel costs and causing widespread shortages of aviation fuel, raising inflation and concerns central banks will need to hike interest rates in response."The latest weakness has been driven by renewed dollar strength and fresh concerns about energy-led inflation. Gold and silver, like many other commodities, remain highly sensitive to developments in the Middle East given the knock-on impact on the dollar, bond yields, and US rate expectations," Saxo Bank wrote in a note to clients.The dollar rose early, with the ICE dollar index last seen up 0.14 points to 98.24 points. Treasury yields were also higher, with the U.S. two-year note last seen paying 3.739%, up 2.7 basis points, while the yield on the 10-year note was up 1.5 points to 4.266%.
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Sectors
Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Lean Lower Premarket Monday
Health care stocks were leaning lower premarket Monday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) declining by 0.4% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) down 0.5%.Biogen (BIIB) has agreed to acquire TJ Biopharma's rights to the felzartamab antibody in the Greater China Region under a definitive agreement, the companies said. Biogen shares were up more than 1% pre-bell.AstraZeneca (AZN) said its pivotal phase 3 study of tozorakimab demonstrated a "significant" reduction in the annual rate of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, exacerbations in trial participants. Shares of AstraZeneca were down more than 1% premarket.ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP) stock was up more than 1% after the company said it has received US Food and Drug Administration approval and launched Pimozide Tablets in 1 mg and 2 mg doses, the generic version of Orap, with 180-day Competitive Generic Therapy exclusivity.
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Sectors
Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Decline Pre-Bell Monday
Consumer stocks were declining pre-bell Monday, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) down 0.2% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) 0.5% lower.Lululemon athletica (LULU) said it has launched its e-commerce platform in Mexico. Lululemon athletica stock was 0.5% lower premarket.Ingles Markets (IMKTA) shareholders are being urged by proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services, Glass Lewis, and Egan-Jones Ratings to support activist investor Summer Road nominee Rory Held for election to the company's board at its 2026 annual meeting, according to a statement issued by Summer Road. Ingles Markets stock was nearly 2% higher premarket.LCI Industries (LCII) and Patrick Industries (PATK) said they were in discussions regarding a potential business combination. Shares of Patrick Industries were up more than 2% pre-bell.
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