NEW YORK: Gold climbed to a one-week high on Tuesday, as the dollar retreated after a slower-than-expected rise in US inflation led to uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s timeline to taper monetary stimulus.
Spot gold rose 0.6% to $1,803.35 per ounce by 1657 GMT, and US gold futures gained 0.6% to $1,805.60 per ounce.
“Gold is toying with $1,800/oz following the marginally weaker-than-expected US inflation data,” said Suki Cooper, precious metals analyst at Standard Chartered Bank, adding “the macro backdrop remains conducive for further price gains.”
The US core Consumer Price Index edged up 0.1% in August, missing expectations of 0.3%, and weighing on the US dollar. That was the smallest gain since February and followed a 0.3% rise in July.
“While a tapering announcement is unlikely until the November FOMC meeting, the September meeting will introduce the staff forecasts, or ‘dots’ for 2024. The 2024 dots could mirror 2023’s two rate hikes,” Cooper added.
The inflation data could reinforce the view that the Fed may go slow on unwinding economic support measures and keep interest rates low. Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.
This (US data) miss is “good news for bullion”, as it makes a September taper announcement from the Fed less likely, said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at brokerage OANDA.
Among other metals, palladium fell 4.6% to $1,990.19, its lowest since July 2020, and platinum fell 1.8%, to $943.86 .
Palladium has dropped nearly 20% so far in September.
“Supply chain weakness effecting particularly chips and car manufacturing is having a depressing effect on the platinum group metals,” independent analyst Ross Norman said, adding that while the supply disruptions persist, prices were likely to be pressured.
Silver rose 0.5% to $23.83 per ounce.
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