Gold posted a modest uptick in Asian trade on Wednesday after having retreated the day before on profit-taking. Spot gold was last quoted up 0.8% at $5,184.55 an ounce by 21:08 ET (02:08 GMT), while U.S. Gold Futures climbed 0.5% to $5,203.10/oz.
The advance followed a 1.6% decline on Tuesday that interrupted a four-session run of gains for the yellow metal.
Market attention has shifted to newly implemented U.S. trade measures. The U.S. began collecting a temporary 10% global import tariff on Tuesday, with administration plans under way to raise that levy to 15%. The move has injected fresh uncertainty into global trade and inflation dynamics.
The tariff action came after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down earlier sweeping duties that had been imposed under emergency powers. That ruling prompted Washington to reintroduce tariffs using an alternative legal authority.
Geopolitical developments are also in focus. The U.S. and Iran are scheduled to hold a third round of talks on Thursday in Geneva concerning Tehran's nuclear programme, a development that has supported demand for safe-haven assets.
Despite those drivers, gains for gold were constrained by expectations that U.S. interest rates will remain elevated. Two Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday indicated little appetite to adjust the central bank's policy stance in the near term, reinforcing a higher-for-longer rate outlook that tends to weigh on non-yielding assets such as gold.
Adding to the headwinds, a stronger dollar made dollar-priced metals relatively more expensive for overseas buyers. The US Dollar Index was largely steady after edging up 0.1% on Tuesday.
Other precious metals moved higher on the session. Silver rose 1.6% to $88.59 per ounce, while platinum increased 2.3% to $2,224.60/oz.
Market context and implications
Overall, the session reflected a balance between safe-haven flows prompted by trade policy and geopolitical developments, and the restraining influence of monetary policy expectations and currency strength. Participants continue to monitor incoming developments on tariffs, talks in Geneva, and Federal Reserve commentary for further direction.