LONDON: Gold rose above the key USD4,000 per ounce level on Thursday, supported by a retreat in the dollar, while a prolonged US government shutdown raised worries over the economic outlook.
Spot gold was up 0.8percent at USD4,015.31 per ounce by 1207 GMT. US gold futures for December delivery gained 0.8percent to USD4,024.60 per ounce. “The Supreme Court skepticism on the tariffs and the slightly weaker dollar are likely supporting gold,” said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
“While near-term prices are likely to continue consolidating, we expect further Federal Reserve rate cuts to lift gold to USD4,200/oz by the end of the year.” The dollar fell 0.3 percent after hitting a four-month high in the previous session, making gold less expensive for other currency holders.
US Supreme Court justices raised doubts on Wednesday over the legality of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs in a case with implications for the global economy. Meanwhile, US private employers added 42,000 jobs in October, exceeding Reuters’ forecast of a 28,000 gain, the ADP report showed on Wednesday. The stronger labor market could temper interest rate cut hopes.
A congressional impasse has resulted in what is now the longest-ever US government shutdown, forcing investors and the Federal Reserve to rely on private sector indicators. The Fed cut interest rates last week but Chair Jerome Powell suggested it might be the last reduction for 2025.
Market participants now see a 63 percent chance of a Fed rate cut in December, down from more than 90 percent last week. Non-yielding gold tends to do well in low-interest-rate environments. European stocks slipped, pressured by losses in France’s Legrand as it missed sales growth expectations, adding to recent worries around elevated valuations in tech-related companies.
Elsewhere, spot silver rose 1.3 percent to USD48.69 per ounce, platinum was up 0.4 percent at USD1,568.26, and palladium fell 0.8percent to USD1,407.41.
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