Latest News

Safe-haven gold heads for regular monthly gain on Mideast worries, Fed

Gold rates firmed on Wednesday following the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran, on track for a. month-to-month gain driven by optimism about possible U.S. interest. rate cuts as focus shifts to the Federal Reserve's upcoming. policy choice.

Area gold was up 0.5% at $2,420.00 per ounce, as of. 1147 GMT, and has actually gained more than 4% this month. U.S. gold. futures were up 0.6% to $2,418.10.

The dollar index was down 0.5%. A weaker dollar makes. bullion more appealing to buyers holding other currencies.

I believe we're seeing a weakening of the U.S. dollar, which. is always positive for gold. This weakening is related to, on. one hand, expectations that the Fed will embrace in some way a. positive position towards cutting rates in September, stated. Ricardo Evangelista, senior expert at ActivTrades.

On the other hand, we're likewise seeing an escalation in. geopolitical tension with the assassination, obviously, by. Israel of Ismail Haniyeh, one of the political leaders of Hamas. in Iran.

Bullion, typically known for its stability as a favoured. hedge versus geopolitical and economic dangers, grows in a. low-interest rate environment.

As the Fed concludes its two-day conference later on in the day,. it is anticipated to keep present rates of interest. Financiers. will be closely seeing Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press. conference for any tips about the timing of possible rate. cuts, potentially as quickly as September.

On market radar is also the ADP employment report due at. 1215 GMT and Friday's U.S. non-farm payrolls report.

Spot silver was up 0.8% at $28.62 per ounce. The. metal is set for a 2nd straight regular monthly loss.

Current concerns about China's economy have raised doubts. about its commercial demand for silver, triggering weakness in. base metals market, which in turn has actually weighed on silver. sentiment, according to some market observers, Kinesis Cash. said in a note.

Platinum acquired 0.6% to $965.00 and palladium. climbed up 2.9% to $914.88. Nevertheless, both the metals were headed. for a regular monthly decline.

(source: Reuters)