· Gold prices were little changed on Wednesday, having edged higher in the previous session on a weaker dollar, as investors await the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates later in the day.
Spot gold was nearly steady at $1,282.01 per ounce as of 0107 GMT.
U.S. gold futures were also little changed at $1,284.30 an ounce.
The euro climbed to a one-week high against the dollar on Tuesday after first-quarter economic growth figures in the euro zone beat market expectations, dispelling some pessimism over the economic bloc’s common currency.
· Gold prices dropped to a one-week low on Wednesday as the dollar rebounded after U.S. Federal Reserve reduced expectations of a rate cut this year, with the safe-haven metal also pressured as the central bank signaled strong economic growth.
Spot gold slipped 0.6% to $1,276.36 per ounce as of 5:02 p.m., after falling as much as 0.8% to a session low of $1,272.74 earlier, its lowest since April 24.
U.S. gold futures settled 0.1% lower at $1,284.20 an ounce.
· The U.S. central bank held interest rates steady and signaled little appetite to adjust them any time soon, taking heart in continued job gains and economic growth and the likelihood that weak inflation will edge higher.
· The dollar bounced back up following the announcement, having declined for the previous three sessions. A stronger dollar makes gold, which yields no interest, expensive for holders of other currencies.
· “The fears of a possible rate hikes were gone, that was positive for gold, then the press conference started and all the stuff came out all at once that shook up traders thoughts,” said George Gero, managing director at RBC Wealth Management.
· The labor market remains strong and the economic activity rose at a solid rate in recent weeks, the Fed said in a policy statement. That weighed on gold, which is often used an alternative for political and financial risks.
· “That was quite a quick reversal for gold, it had to do with the lack of inflation according to Powell, less worries about Brexit and on the report that there could be a deal with China, which rattled gold traders,” Gero added.
The United States and China are nearing a trade deal, Politico reported on Wednesday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the two countries completed “productive” talks in Beijing.
· “We have economic numbers that are fairly well supported, equity markets are strong, gold doesn’t tend to perform particularly well in these situations as opportunity cost is associated with holding the zero-yielding asset,” said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategies at TD Securities in Toronto.
· U.S. private employers added 275,000 jobs in April, well above economists’ expectations and the most since last July, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.
· Among other metals, silver fell to a more than four-month low of $14.57, while platinum prices dropped 2.8% to $861.50, its lowest in nearly a month.
· Palladium slipped 2.8% to $1,349.50 per ounce, after touching its lowest level since Jan. 25 at $1,309.67.
Reference: CNBC
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