Gold jumps over 1%: What’s driving prices today?
Spot gold rises 1.1% to $4,434.70 per ounce
Gold surged over 1 percent on Thursday, driven by a weakening US dollar, lower Treasury yields, and investors awaiting US nonfarm payrolls data. Spot gold climbed 1.1 percent to $4,434.70 per ounce, breaking a near one-month low the previous session. US gold futures rose 1.5 percent to $4,480.10. A weaker dollar makes metals priced in greenbacks cheaper for holders of other currencies.
Key US nonfarm payrolls data is released on Friday, with analysts predicting it could be the decisive factor for gold prices. If the employment report falls short and September rate hike expectations dip, gold could rise further. The ADP National Employment Report indicated a moderate increase in US private payrolls in August. Markets currently assign a 62 percent chance of a US rate hike this month, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
Economic data from the Federal Reserve has been mixed, with modest growth in economic activity, employment, and prices. Gold is often considered an inflation hedge, but higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset. Geopolitically, US President Donald Trump's top advisers are urging restraint in escalating the Iran war before November's midterm elections to avoid Republican electoral losses.
They may contemplate increasing military action after the vote. Silver, platinum, and palladium also saw gains, with spot silver rising 1.2 percent to $66.08, platinum climbing 1 percent to $1,777.79, and palladium increasing 0.8 percent to $1,356.50.
Written by urgent.news from Hindu BusinessLine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
