Gold inches higher as traders prepare for data-heavy week

Bengaluru — Gold prices edged up on Tuesday due to a softer dollar, as investors awaited a key US inflation report in a week filled with data releases and speeches from several Federal Reserve officials for fresh cues into the central bank’s potential rate cut timings.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,034.08/oz, at 4.36am GMT. US gold futures also rose 0.2% to $2,043.60/oz.

The dollar traded weaker, making gold relatively less expensive for other currency holders.

“Ahead of inflation number we expect some kind of consolidation. We expect gold to trade in a very narrow range ... bias will be sell on jump,” said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities in Mumbai.

The support for gold followed Japan and UK entering a technical recession, a trend reflected in the gold-silver ratio which was at 90, Kedia said. “But, there is no change in war premium, everything has been already priced in.”

Recent remarks from Fed policymakers suggested that the US central bank was in no hurry to cut interest rates, largely cementing bets against any rate cuts before June.

Markets are pricing in about 79 basis points (bps) of rate cuts for 2024, with a 61% chance of the first quarter-point cut occurring in June, according to LSEG’s interest rate probability app, IRPR.

Lower interest rates boost the appeal of holding non-yielding bullion.

At least 10 Fed officials are due to speak this week, while investors are focused on the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, due on Thursday.

Investors are also monitoring the risk of US government agency shutdowns if Congress fails to reach an agreement on a borrowing extension by Friday.

Spot platinum climbed 0.6% to $885.20/oz, palladium edged 0.1% higher to $951.82, and silver rose 0.2% to $22.56/oz.

Reuters