(Bloomberg) -- Gold headed for the highest close in seven weeks after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion coronavirus stimulus package, pumping more state funds into the world’s top economy. Silver surged.
The haven built on a run of four weekly gains following the breakthrough on the package, which Trump had initially declined to endorse amid a dispute on the size of checks to support households amid the pandemic. The dollar eased.
Bullion is set to post the first monthly gain since July after a run of losses prompted by the development of effective coronavirus vaccines. Over 2020 as a whole, gold has benefited from a steady weakening of the U.S. currency since it peaked in March, as well as from unprecendented fiscal and monetary stimulus.
Spot gold rose as much as 0.7% to $1,896.70 an ounce, and traded at $1,894.02 at 9:25 a.m. in Singapore. That would be the highest close since Nov. 6. Silver for immediate delivery rallied as much as 3.6% to $26.7601 an ounce. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell as much as 0.2%.
The relief package will likely be the last major legislation signed by Trump, whose re-election hopes were dashed in large part due to his handling of the pandemic. President-elect Joe Biden has said he will push for even more stimulus after taking office early next year.
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