NEW YORK (April 23) -- Gold futures fell back under $334 an ounce early Wednesday, with traders starting to consider what the impact of SARS may be on metals demand from China.
"Rather than a year of economic recovery, the first half of 2003 looks as if it may be remembered for abnormal economic factors such as threats of war, actual conflict and, increasingly, the SARS epidemic," UBS Warburg analyst John Reade told clients.
So far, the outbreak of the disease hasn't visibly affected gold demand, but "we are concerned that Asian gold demand could come under pressure if SARS were to spread," he said.
China currently consumers about 8 percent of the world's gold, according to Graham Leighton, an analyst at the metals trading desk at Societe Generale
The Asian country also consumes 17 percent of the world's copper and zinc, and 15 percent of its aluminum, he said.
"Given these figures, SARS, if not kept in check, could affect the metals market for months if not years ahead," he said.
Gold for June delivery traded lately at $333.70 an ounce, down $1.20, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained nearly $10 over the past five sessions. The May contract for silver traded at $4.59 an ounce, down 0.7 cent from the previous session."
Como se os movimentos do ouro tivessem a ver com o consumo físico do dito......
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aqui facultada deverá ser entendida como conselho ou recomendação
de qualquer tipo de transacção ou investimento.
