Gold prices rose to their highest in more than two months on Monday in thin year-end trading as the dollar dip drove investors towards the safe-haven metal.

Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent to $1,513.29 per ounce by 0633 GMT.

Earlier in the session, prices hit their highest since Oct.25 at $1,515.80.

US gold futures were down 0.1 per cent at$1,516.60. “We are looking at pre-positioning for next year and a rebalancing of portfolios ahead of year-end, overlaid with very low liquidity levels, that are essentially exacerbating the volatility and making these moves appear exaggerated,” said Ilya Spivak, a senior currency strategist at DailyFx.

Gold is receiving modest support from the US. Gold is a considered a safe investment in times of economic uncertainty.

Further helping gold, the dollar slipped against a basket of rivals, making gold cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Gold prices have risen nearly 18 per cent this year and were on track for its best year since 2010, mainly due to the 17-month-long Sino-US tariff war and its impact on global economic growth.  “But from a pure macro and risk perspective, it currently makes little sense for gold to be trading above $1,500/oz. The surging equity market and higher gold prices seldom, if ever, exist in the same time frame and simultaneously moving higher,” said Stephen Innes, a market strategist at AxiTrader in a note.  On the trade front, China’s Commerce Ministry said it has “proactively dealt with” trade frictions with US this year.

Market participants, however, remained wary even after Washington and Beijing have made progress in their tariff dispute and an official ratification of an initial trade deal was close.

Reuters