Gold, silver prices surge as US economy sheds 23,000 jobs
Negative payrolls reduce September rate-hike odds to 44%, metals reverse after summer's hawkish Fed.
Gold and silver prices surged on Friday following the US economy's unexpected job losses in July, which weakened the case for another Federal Reserve interest-rate increase. Comex December gold rose 2.3% to $4,401 an oz., reaching a seven-week high, while September silver jumped 3.6% to $63.85 an oz., also hitting a seven-week high.
The US nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, below expectations for an increase of about 80,000, and the unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%. The data prompted a rapid re-rating of interest-rate markets, reducing expectations for a September Fed increase, and leading to a decline in Treasury yields and an advance in US equity markets.
Gold and silver typically benefit from expectations for lower interest rates, as bullion pays no yield and becomes relatively more attractive when returns on interest-bearing assets decline. The July employment report complicates the Fed's next decision, as policymakers must weigh inflation concerns against a labor market that recorded a decline in payrolls and weaker hiring in previous months.
The sharp bullion rally also provides a tailwind for miners, whose margins can expand disproportionately when metal prices rise faster than operating costs.
Brief written by urgent.news from Mining.com's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
