By Gina Lee
Investing.com – Gold was down on Tuesday morning in Asia with some countries easing lockdown measures and restarting their economies.
Gold futures were down by 0.52% at $1,704.40 by 12:37 AM ET (5:37 AM GMT) as Italy and some U.S. states reopened some parts of their economies the day before.
Investors’ increased appetite saw stocks, which usually moves in the opposite direction to gold, post gains.
Swiss-based Valcambi and Argor-Heraeus said they were almost back to pre-COVID-19 operations after Switzerland also relaxed lockdown measures the day before. The companies are two of the world’s biggest gold refiners.
But ongoing U.S.-China tensions, with the two countries arguing about the origins of the COVID-19 virus, helped to keep the yellow metal above the $1,700 mark and retain its safe-haven crown.
China refuted claims made by top U.S. officials over the weekend that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab.