Gold loses ground on robust dollar as focus turns to nonfarm payrolls

Bengaluru — Gold prices fell on Wednesday, pressured by a firmer dollar and US treasury yields, while investors focused on US nonfarm payrolls data that would be crucial to the Federal Reserve’s schedule for tapering support.

Spot gold fell 0.3% to $1,755.05/oz by 3.15am GMT, while US gold futures were 0.3% lower at $1,755.50.

The dollar held close to its 2021 highs, denting gold's appeal for those holding other currencies.

The benchmark US 10-year treasury yields ticked higher nearing a more than three-month peak touched last week.

Gold’s price momentum is skewed downward on the basis of monetary policy expectations, IG Market analyst Kyle Rodda said.

“There’s still significant signs of cost pressures in the global economy and that's going to keep the focus on central banks and tightening policy.”

Gold is often viewed as an inflation hedge, but reduced central bank stimulus and interest rate hikes tend to push government bond yields up, translating into a higher opportunity cost for holding non-interest yielding bullion.

Focus is now on Friday’s US payrolls data, which is expected to show 488,000 jobs were added in September.

“The upcoming nonfarm payroll report could be a game-changer for gold prices, so prices are likely to consolidate between the $1,745 and $1,775 range,” Edward Moya, senior market analyst at brokerage Oanda, said in a note.

“Once tapering is fully priced in, financial markets will grow fixated over the risks to the 2022 outlook and that will be the greenlight for many investors to return to bullion.”

Chicago Fed president Charles Evans said on Tuesday he still believed supply bottlenecks were driving most of the recent increase in inflation and would subside. He also repeated that the central bank was close to begin reducing its monthly asset purchases.

Spot silver fell 0.9% to $22.46/oz, platinum slipped 1.2% to $950.38, and palladium was down 0.5% at $1,904.30.

Reuters