PT Rifan Financindo Berjangka – Gold Pares Gains After JOLTS Report, More US Data Eyed
Gold prices trimmed gains on Tuesday after strong U.S. jobs data hinted at a cautious approach to rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, while a softer dollar and easing Treasury yields capped losses as markets awaited further economic cues.
Spot gold edged up 0.2% at $2,644.05 per ounce, as of 01:42 p.m. ET (1842 GMT). Prices were up as much as 0.7% before the U.S. job openings data. U.S. gold futures settled 0.4% higher at $2,667.90.
Bullion trimmed earlier gains as “the JOLTS data confirms our expectations of a rebound in the job market, which eases fears of a significant slowdown in labor markets ahead of Friday’s non-farm payrolls report,” said Daniel Ghali, commodity strategist at TD Securities.
A strong jobs report could lead the Fed to take a cautious stance on cutting interest rates. Investors’ focus turns to the ADP employment report and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Wednesday, ahead of Friday’s payrolls report.
Traders are currently pricing in a 74% chance of a 25-basis-point December rate cut.
The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to more than a month’s low, and the dollar was also down 0.3%, limiting losses in bullion.
Analysts at JPMorgan and HSBC highlighted gold’s role as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainty, noting that elevated global tensions and conflicts have boosted its appeal.
They emphasized that President-elect Trump’s policies could further heighten geopolitical risks, potentially benefiting gold as a safe-haven asset heading into 2025.
Source : Reuters
Gold Holds Steady as Traders Digest Geopolitics and US Data
Gold held steady after whipsawing earlier as traders digested geopolitical news from South Korea and France as well as the latest US jobs report.
Bullion was little changed after rising by as much as 0.6% as traders sought haven in the precious metal after South Korean President declared martial law in an emergency national address televised live. Investors are keeping a close watch on geopolitical conflicts, as bullion is considered a haven asset.
Gold pared most of the gains after US jobs openings data released Tuesday suggested demand for workers is stabilizing after steep declines in recent months. The dollar and Treasury yields also pushed higher after the print, weighing on bullion.
Swap traders also reduced bets on the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate cut decision this month, with a 70% chance of a quarter-point cut compared with an almost 75% possibility before the readings. Lower rates typically benefit non-interest bearing gold.
Traders will now turn to US nonfarm payroll figures due Friday which are set to provide an indicator of the nation’s economic health as the Fed prepares for its Dec. 18 meeting. Several Fed officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, are also scheduled to speak at various events later this week.
“The US economy is in the spotlight this week, due to the busy data calendar and the plethora of Fed speakers,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst with Phillip Nova Pte. “However, the ongoing concerns surrounding Russia and Ukraine are likely to limit any significant downside for gold.”
The precious metal has fallen more than 5% from a record high in late October, as the dollar gained and tensions eased in the Middle East. Still, prices remain about 28% higher this year, supported by US monetary easing and central-bank purchases.
“Despite the recent upward revisions to our forecasts for the US dollar and Treasury yields, we think the gold price will rise to $2,750 by end-2025,” Capital Economics wrote in a note. “This reflects our view that stronger gold demand from China and broader concerns about fiscal sustainability will offset unfavorable movements in gold’s traditional drivers.”
Bullion traded at $2,640.86 an ounce as of 10:33 a.m. in New York. Silver advanced 1%. Platinum rose while palladiuim wavered. PT Rifan Financindo Berjangka.
Source : Bloomberg