Gold prices tumbled below $5,100 per ounce, weighed down by a resurgent U.S. dollar and diminishing prospects of imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts, even as the escalating Middle East conflict stoked safe-haven demand. Crude oil, in stark contrast, surged past $115 per barrel—its loftiest level since 2022—on mounting fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, compelling major producers including Kuwait, Iraq, and the UAE to pare output. The turmoil has already imperilled nearly a fifth of global crude and natural gas supplies, amplifying concerns over prolonged energy market volatility and rekindling inflationary anxieties worldwide. The U.S. dollar index breached 99.5, a three-month peak, underscoring investor caution amid geopolitical uncertainty. In India, MCX bullion futures for April delivery retreated 0.4% to Rs 161,010 per 10 grams, descending from recent peaks near Rs 170,000, as the twin forces of soaring oil prices and a firmer greenback exerted pronounced pressure on domestic commodities.
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