Precious metals eased on Wednesday as a resurgent U.S. dollar and a shift in geopolitical sentiment dampened demand for safe-haven assets.

Gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) for June delivery opened at Rs. 1,54,757 per 10 grams, sliding from a previous close of Rs. 1,54,817. The contract hit an intraday low of Rs. 1,54,404, down 0.26%, as investors weighed the impact of potential peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

The slight retreat in bullion prices is primarily attributed to the Greenback’s recovery. A stronger dollar makes dollar-denominated gold more expensive for holders of other currencies, typically stifling demand.

While silver futures initially bucked the trend by opening higher at Rs. 2,54,343, the white metal succumbed to profit-booking, tumbling to an intraday low of Rs. 2,51,610—a 0.45% decline. In the international market, COMEX gold hovered near $4,837.3 per troy ounce.

With the August gold contract also trading lower at Rs. 1,54,725, market participants are keeping a close watch on U.S. diplomatic efforts. Any breakthrough in regional tensions could further alleviate the “risk premium” currently baked into metal prices.