Gold prices eked out gains on Tuesday despite a stronger dollar and higher bond yields, as investors looked forward to the U.S. June inflation data due later this week for more clarity on the U.S. interest rate path.
Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,363.64 per ounce as of 14:35 p.m. ET (1835 GMT), after dropping more than 1% in the previous session. U.S. gold futures settled about 0.2% higher to $2,367.90.
The dollar was up about 0.2% against its rivals, making gold more expensive for other currency holders, while benchmark 10-year Treasury yields inched higher.
There’s an expectation that the Federal Reserve is more likely to start cutting rates as early as September, which is contributing positively to current market conditions, said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategies at TD Securities.
Recent U.S. economic data pointed to a slackening labour market, cementing expectations that the U.S. central bank is on course to start cutting interest rates soon.
However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in congressional testimony on Tuesday that inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, but has been improving in recent months and more good data would strengthen the case for central bank interest rate cuts.
Focus now shifts to the consumer price index (CPI) data on Thursday, with recent numbers showing a cooling from unexpectedly high levels at the start of the year.
If markets are shown evidence of still-stubborn U.S. inflation, that may prompt the precious metal to unwind more of its recent gains, said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Exinity Group.
Traders currently see about a 75% chance of a rate cut in September, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, opens new tab. Non-yielding bullion’s appeal tends to grow when interest rates are lower.
Elsewhere, spot silver added 0.1% to $30.80 per ounce, platinum fell 1.3% to $983.51 and palladium slipped 2.8% to $980.50.
Source: Reuters
