Gold Slides to Two-Month Low as Debt Talks, Economic Data Fuel Rate Hike Bets

Gold slid to its lowest in two months on Thursday as optimism across the U.S. debt ceiling talks lowered safe-haven demand for bullion and sturdy financial knowledge fueled bets of one other fee hike by the Federal Reserve.

Spot gold was down 0.6% at $1,945.09 per ounce by 11:56 a.m. EDT (1556 GMT), having hit its lowest since March 22. U.S. gold futures eased practically 1% to $1,945.40.

U.S. President Joe Biden and prime Republican lawmaker Kevin McCarthy are edging near a deal on the U.S. debt ceiling, in keeping with an individual acquainted with the talks.

“It’s a one-two punch for gold … if a deal is finished over the weekend, then that can take away the most important threat off the desk,” mentioned Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA.

Gold prolonged losses after official knowledge confirmed new U.S. jobless claims rose reasonably final week, indicating persistent labor market energy, and revised up the estimated GDP progress final quarter.

“A reasonably spectacular spherical of financial knowledge suggests this financial system remains to be exhibiting a lot resilience … the argument for presumably delivering one other fee hike is gaining steam right here,” Moya added.

Merchants seemed to the Fed-favored inflation gauge, core private consumption expenditures (PCE) index, due Friday.

Markets now priced in a 48% probability of a 25-basis-point hike in June, seeing cuts no earlier than September, in keeping with the CME FedWatch instrument.

Gold, a non-yielding asset, tends to lose enchantment in a high-interest fee atmosphere.

The greenback climbed to its highest since mid-March, making gold much less engaging for abroad patrons, whereas benchmark Treasury yields have been close to highs seen on March 13. [USD/][US/]

Gold was “actually viewing issues by way of the lens of the greenback,” mentioned impartial analyst Ross Norman.

Spot silver eased 1.1% to $22.83 per ounce, whereas palladium additionally dipped 1.1% to $1,431.20, each at two-month lows.

Platinum was principally unchanged at $1,023.37.

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)