Gold prices fall over 2.0pc --

Gold prices fell by more than 2% on Tuesday as a firmer US dollar and persistent inflation fears kept interest rate hike expectations and Treasury yields high, reports Reuters.

Spot gold fell 2% to $4,474.40 per ounce by 9:41 a.m. ET (1341 GMT). Prices fell to their lowest level since March 30 earlier in the session. US gold futures for June delivery lost 1.8% ?to $4,476.80.

"We are seeing a multi-country rise in real rates around the world, and that is really weighing mostly on gold. The dollar is also stronger, that's a negative," said Edward Meir, an analyst at Marex.

Benchmark 10-year US Treasury yields were near a more than one-year high, while the US dollar strengthened. Both rose as investors eyed a possible hawkish shift by the Federal Reserve to curb energy-driven inflation.

Higher Treasury yields raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold and a stronger ?dollar makes greenback-priced commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Meanwhile, spot silver dipped 5.7% to $73.25 per ounce, platinum lost 2.8% to $1,923.55, and palladium dropped 3.3% to $1,371.25.