Gold edges lower as focus shifts to US payrolls data

Spot gold was down 0.3% at $1,319.47 an ounce, while US gold futures for December delivery were down $4.50 an ounce at $1,322.50

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

 

Gold fell on Tuesday after Federal Reserve officials sounded a hawkish note on interest rates at the weekend, boosting the dollar, while attention turned to US payrolls data this week for further clues on the pace of rate hikes.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen said on Friday the case for higher rates was strengthening, though she gave little clarity on when it would move. Shortly afterwards Vice Chair Stanley Fischer suggested a hike was possible as soon as September.

Spot gold was down 0.3 per cent at $1,319.47 an ounce at 0931 GMT, while US gold futures for December delivery were down $4.50 an ounce at $1,322.50.

The pace of rate hikes is heavily dependent on US economic data. Non-farm payrolls data due on Friday is seen as a key measure of the strength of the US labour market, and could reinforce hawkish messages from Yellen and other Fed officials.

"For this week, the focus is on one thing and one thing only, which is the US non-farm payrolls," Think Markets chief market analyst Naeem Aslam said. "This is the final piece of the puzzle which will enable the Fed to make their timeline decision with respect to a rate hike."

Gold is highly sensitive to rising US interest rates, as these increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion, while boosting the dollar, in which it is priced.

The dollar rose 0.2 per cent against the euro on Tuesday as investors focused on the next set of US data to see whether it supports expectations the Fed will raise interest rates soon.

Employers are expected on Friday to show 180,000 job gains in August, according to a Reuters poll, below the better-than-expected 255,000 additions in July and 292,000 gains in June.

Further comments are also awaited from Fed Vice Chair Fischer, who is due to appear in a TV interview at 1030 GMT.

"With investors pricing in a greater likelihood of a Fed rate increase before year end, pressure is likely to continue to weigh on gold," MKS said in a note. "Next focus for traders will be on today's Fischer speech, and Friday's employment data to gain more insight."

Silver was down 0.5 per cent at $18.74 an ounce, having hit a two-month low of $18.36 in the previous session.

Platinum was 0.1 per cent higher at $1,075.60, while palladium was down 0.3 per cent at $693.47. Platinum's discount to gold narrowed to $244 an ounce, from a near seven-week high of $253 an ounce at the end of last week.