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Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
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Gold prices declined on Monday as a strengthening U.S. dollar and persistent inflation concerns weighed heavily on the precious metal. Spot gold dropped 0.6% to $4,720.67 per ounce, while gold futures slid 0.9% to $4,743.20 per ounce, reflecting growing bearish sentiment among traders.
The selloff was largely driven by the breakdown of ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran. Weekend talks held in Pakistan failed to produce any meaningful de-escalation, with both sides at odds over nuclear activities, Iran's backing of regional militant groups, and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the collapse of negotiations, President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and vessels, set to take effect at 10:00 ET. Tehran swiftly rejected the move, raising fears of a broader military conflict.
The geopolitical fallout sent investors rushing into the U.S. dollar as a safe-haven asset, pushing the dollar index up roughly 0.4% and adding pressure on dollar-denominated commodities like gold. Other precious metals also felt the strain, with silver falling nearly 2% to $74.3975 per ounce and platinum edging lower to $2,047.06 per ounce.
Compounding gold's struggles was a sharp uptick in U.S. consumer price index data for March. Inflation climbed 3.3% year-over-year, a significant jump from February's 2.4% reading, largely fueled by rising energy costs linked to the ongoing conflict and restricted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The hotter inflation print reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady for at least the next 12 months, according to CME FedWatch data. Since higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets, gold's appeal continues to diminish in the current environment.
Traders are now turning their attention to upcoming U.S. producer price index data, which could further shape the outlook for monetary policy and gold's near-term trajectory.
