Metals Stocks: Gold edges lower as easing coronavirus lockdowns spark optimism

Meanwhile, May silver SIK20, +0.43% rose around 2 cents, or 0.1%. to $15.275 an ounce, following a weekly loss of 0.2%.

Bullish analysts contend that gold should remain supported even as lockdowns intended to limit the spread of the novel strain of coronavirus are rolled back, given uncertainty over the speed of a subsequent economic rebound.

“Even when the lockdown is lifted, the world will still be far from any kind of normality. In fact, the bigger risk then is economic collapse, as indicated by the disastrous economic indicators virtually everywhere,” said Carsten Fritsch, analyst at Commerzbank in a note. “To counter this, governments around the globe are likely to continue spending unparalleled sums of money — most of which will be created by the central banks,” he wrote.

The states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska started loosening restrictions on businesses despite warnings from public-health experts that such moves could be premature. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will likely begin to reopen the economy in certain areas “with certain precautions after May 15.”

Children in Spain were allowed outdoors for the first time in six weeks if accompanied by an adult on Sunday and the government will allow Spaniards to leave their homes for walks and exercise starting May 2.

Italy and Belgium laid out plans to begin easing some restrictions on May 4, while France aims to begin easing its lockdown on May 11.

Elsewhere, May copper HGK20, +0.36% rose 2 cents, or 0.7%, at $2.353 a pound, after the industrial metal produced weekly loss of 0.3% on Friday. July platinum PLN20, +0.82% advanced $3.40, or 0.4%, at $777.20 an ounce, following a weekly decline of 1.5% for the commodity. June palladium PAM20, -0.31% headed $11.40, or 0.6%, lower at $1,973.90 an ounce, after finishing Friday with a weekly loss of 6.8%.