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Gold retreats once again as profit-taking outweighs economic downturn issues

Gold prices dropped once again in unstable trade on Monday as profittaking countered assistance from increasing expectations for a rate cut from the Federal Reserve in the middle of concerns over a U.S. economic downturn, which led to an around the world selloff in financial markets.

Spot gold fell 0.4% to $2,433.74 per ounce, since 0721 GMT. Bullion had slipped 1% earlier in the session before rising as much as 0.7%.

U.S. gold futures edged up 0.2% to $2,475.30.

There is some profit taking occurring while traders try and determine how aggressive the Fed may be come September with regards to the size of a rate cut, stated Tim Waterer, chief market expert at KCM Trade.

Markets are in a flux about the U.S. financial outlook and whether rate cuts will arrive rapidly enough from the Fed.

Information on Friday showed that U.S. job growth in July fell short of expectations, with the joblessness rate rising to 4.3%, indicating possible weak point in the labour market and higher vulnerability to economic downturn.

Share markets tumbled and bonds rallied in Asia as U.S. economic crisis fears sent out financiers rushing from danger properties.

Traders are pricing a more than 70% opportunity of the U.S. central bank decreasing rates by 50 basis points in September, compared with an 11.5% chance a week earlier, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Lower rate of interest lower the chance expense of holding a non-yielding bullion.

Investors also kept a close eye on the Middle East dispute, with the Pentagon revealing that the U.S. armed force will release extra fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East to strengthen defence versus threats from Iran and its allies, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Spot silver was down 1.2% to $28.21 per ounce, platinum fell 2.8% to $931.05 and palladium decreased nearly 4% to $855, striking its most affordable considering that August 2018.

(source: Reuters)