Gold futures hovered near unchanged Monday, in consolidation mode after hitting a six-year high last week but underpinned by rising geopolitical worries after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker and as investors look for major central banks to ease policy.

Gold for August delivery on Comex was up 10 cents, or less than 0.1%, at $1,426.80 an ounce, while September silver rose 21.5 cents, or 1.3%, to $16.41 an ounce.

But the analysts expect gold prices to stagnate over the remainder of the year. They argue that investors will need to factor in shallower rate cuts than currently anticipated by the Federal Reserve and they've also penciled in weaker physical demand from Asia in response to an increase in India’s duty on gold imports.

Gold last week climbed above $1,450 an ounce for the first time in six years as expectations grew for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by as much as a half point at its July 30-31 meeting. But gold subsequently pulled back after the New York Fed said bullishly interpreted remarks by its president, John Williams, weren't meant as a commentary on policy actions at the July meeting.

Source : Marketwatch