Gold prices struggled to find a lasting lead yesterday, with another foray to the upside cut short intraday as a recovery in risk appetite sent yields higher and undermined the appeal of non-interest-bearing assets. Crude oil prices suffered a similar fate, hitting a three-week high intraday only to surrender most of the advance by the close of the session. Broadly speaking, the markets’ non-committal disposition might reflect the broad range of uncertainties muddying sentiment. A clear message on the progress of US-China trade talks now underway in Beijing is absent, a partial shutdown of the US government ... (full story)