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Gold nears record highs amid softer inflation data that fuels Fed's cut bets

Gold prices rose on Wednesday as investors hoped that the Federal Reserve would resume rate reductions at its meeting next week, after softer than expected U.S. inflation figures.

As of 9:16 am EDT (1316 GMT), spot gold was up 0.6% to $3,647.79 an ounce after reaching a record high on Tuesday of $3,673.95 per ounce.

U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery were up 0.2% to $3,687.40.

Labor Department data revealed that U.S. producers prices fell unexpectedly in August. This was due to a decrease in service costs.

Fawad Rasaqzada is a market analyst for City Index and FOREX.com. He said that any further weakness in U.S. economic data would continue to support the gold price, as it could indicate more than two interest rate cuts before the end of the year.

Gold is traditionally viewed as a hedge to political and economic uncertainties and inflation. It also tends do well when interest rates are low. It has increased by more than 38% in the past year.

CME's FedWatch showed that the markets are pricing in 90% of a quarter point cut during the Fed's meeting on September 16-17, and there is a slim chance for a bigger cut.

The market confidence that easing is imminent was reinforced by the soft nonfarm payrolls data released last week, which indicated a cooling of labor market conditions. The Labor Department revised down its estimates of job growth through March. This suggests that job growth had already slowed before President Donald Trump's aggressive import tariffs.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s Tuesday attempt to remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. This was a setback for White House in the legal battle that threatens central bank independence.

The Fed will now focus on Thursday's Consumer Price Index reading.

Ricardo Evangelista is a senior analyst with ActivTrades. He said that the $3,750 level was the next major resistance. If the precious metal consolidates above this mark, it could reach $3,900 before the end of the year.

Silver spot increased 0.4%, to $41.06 an ounce. Palladium climbed 2.7% to 1,179.30 and platinum gained 1%. (Reporting by Sherin Elizabeth Varghese and Ishaan Arora in Bengaluru)

(source: Reuters)