Kuala lumpur: Gold futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower at Friday's close as traders and investors are no longer viewing gold purely through a geopolitical safe-haven lens. SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes noted that the escalating conflict in West Asia has heightened concerns over potential oil supply disruptions, with oil prices remaining elevated and the market rapidly scaling back expectations of any Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this shift is pushing US yields higher and strengthening the dollar, both of which are weighing on the bullion. At the time of writing, Brent crude oil price eased 1.39 percent to US$98.86 per barrel.

At the close, the spot-month March 2026 contract eased to US$5,103.8 per troy ounce from US$5,192.30 on Thursday. The April 2026 contract fell to US$5,122.6 per troy ounce compared to US$5,211.10 the previous day, and the May 2026 contract slid to US$5,141.8 per troy ounce from US$5,230.30 yesterday.

The June and August 2026 contracts also settled lower at US$5,175.7 per troy ounce against US$5,264.20 previously. Trading volume rose to eight lots from six lots the day before, while open interest increased to 78 contracts from 76 contracts previously.

Physical gold was fixed at US$5,130.1 per troy ounce at the London Bullion Market Association afternoon fix on March 12, 2026.