Friday, March 29

Gold flat as investors strap in for aggressive US rate hike


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Gold prices were flat on Wednesday,

after falling more than 1% in the previous session, as

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surprisingly stronger US inflation data fueled expectations

that the Federal Reserve will continue hiking interest rates

aggressively and bolstered the dollar.

Spot gold was flat at $1,701.79 per ounce as of 0603

GMT. Prices saw their biggest one-day percentage decline since

July 14 on Tuesday.

US gold futures were down 0.4% at $1,711.20.

The stronger-than-anticipated numbers have “cemented the

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likelihood for a jumbo-sized rate hike at the (Fed) meeting that

we’re going to see next week,” said DailyFX currency strategist

Ilya Spivak.

A hawkish FOMC could prompt gold to significantly shift

lower, even below the $1,600 figure, Spivak said.

US Labor Department data showed on Tuesday the headline

Consumer Price Index edged up 0.1% last month versus

expectations for a 0.1% decline, while core inflation surged

0.6%.

The data has stoked expectations that the Fed could raise

US borrowing costs faster and further than previously

expected.

Nomura’s economists said they now believe a 100 basis-point

rate hike is the most likely outcome at the Sept. 20-21 meet.

The dollar index , which measures the currency against

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six major peers, was little changed after recording its biggest

one-day percentage gain since March 2020 overnight.

Benchmark US Treasury yields hovered close to

a near three-month peak touched on Tuesday.

Even though gold is seen as a hedge against inflation,

higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding

the bullion while boosts the dollar, in which the precious metal

is priced.

Spot silver dipped 0.1% to $19.30 per ounce and

platinum rose 0.4% higher to $881.69.

Palladium fell 1.2% to $2,078.94, having fallen 7.1%

in the previous session its biggest one-day percentage drop

since June 13.

(Reporting by Eileen Soreng in Bengaluru; editing by

Uttaresh.V)

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