"In March, we quickly lowered our policy interest rate to near zero, where we expect to keep it until we are confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve our maximum employment and price stability goals," chair Jerome Powell said.

Gold was worth about US$1,739 an ounce on the spot market, about $25/oz higher than at this point yesterday.

Key market futures were lower around the globe at the time of writing.

Markets had closed mixed yesterday, with the FTSE 100 down 0.1%, Japan's Nikkei 225 up 0.15% and the S&P 500 down 0.53%.

However the Nasdaq closed at a fresh record high, up 0.67% to 10,020.35.

Copper rose again in London to close at $5,885 per tonne, levels last seen in late January and about six weeks before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.

Among the major mining equities, Polymetal (LSE: POLY) gained 2.77% in London.

Gold major Newmont (NYSE: NEM) rose a similar amount in New York.

Teck Resources (TSX: TECK.B) closed down 2.6% in Toronto.

Finally, Western Australia-based gold miner Saracen Mineral Holdings (ASX: SAR) was the big mover on the S&P/ASX 200 yesterday, rising 8.49%.