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Gold trades near historical $2,500 mark on Fed rate-cut optimism

Gold rates relieved on Monday and hovered around crucial $2,500 level, as traders locked in profits following bullion's reach an alltime peak in the previous session on expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut next month.

Area gold was down 0.2% at $2,502.78 per ounce, as of 0317 GMT, and U.S. gold futures edged 0.2% higher to $ 2,541.80.

Interest over a likely rate of interest cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve in September moved bullion to an all-time high of $2,509.65 on Friday. This combined with increased geopolitical stress and robust main bank-buying have actually sent out bullion over 20% higher up until now this year.

Gold has actually been chasing the psychological $2,500 level for a number of months, and now that it has actually been reached, we are seeing some natural profit-taking happen, stated Tim Waterer, chief market analyst, KCM Trade.

Last week, strong U.S. retail sales print and lower-than-expected joblessness claims, together with mild inflation data, brought back self-confidence in the world's largest economy.

Traders are positive that the U.S. Fed will cut rates next month and the focus is now on the size of the decrease. They are pricing in a 75.5% possibility of a 25-basis-point cut, according to CME FedWatch tool.

Traders will be looking towards Jerome Powell's tone and language at Jackson Hole (on Friday) to fill out a few of the blanks in this regard, Waterer included.

The market will likewise watch out for minutes of the Fed's July policy conference on Wednesday for additional cues.

Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose nearly 1% on Friday. COMEX gold speculators also raised net long position by 34,197 agreements in week ended Aug. 13, information revealed.

Numerous Chinese banks have actually been offered brand-new gold import quotas from the reserve bank, preparing for revived demand regardless of record high costs.

Elsewhere, spot silver increased 0.2% to $29.08 per ounce, platinum gained 0.4% to $957.75 and palladium shed 0.4% to $947.13.

(source: Reuters)