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Gold to rise for the seventh week on hopes of US rate cuts and government shutdown

Gold was stable on Friday, and set to make a weekly gain for the seventh time in a row. This was boosted by expectations that U.S. rates will be cut further this year, and concerns about the effects of a U.S. shutdown.

Gold spot was unchanged at $3.851.99 an ounce as of 2:47 GMT after reaching a record high of $3.896.49 per ounce on Thursday. Bullion prices have risen by 2.4% this week.

U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery gained 0.2% to $ 3,874.40.

Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst at KCM Trade, said that the rise in the dollar has caused a minor bump for gold prices, but it is still within shouting range of $3,900.

Overall, the conditions are ripe for Gold to continue its march forward. With a U.S. Government shutdown creating uncertainty about GDP impacts, and lower U.S. Interest Rates likely to arrive again this month.

The U.S. shutdown lasted a second full day on Thursday. This could delay the release of important economic data, such as the non-farm payrolls reports due on Friday.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president Lorie Logan said that the U.S. Central Bank took some insurance against a sharp deterioration of the labour market when it cut its rates last month. However, she added that the bank should be "cautious' with any further easing.

According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, traders have priced in a 25 basis point rate cut this month as a near certainty.

In an environment of low interest rates, gold, which is often used to store value in times of political or financial uncertainty, flourishes. Bullion prices have risen by 47% this year.

Perth Mint gold sales rose 21% in September from the previous months, while the silver sales reached a five-month record.

Silver spot fell by 0.2% at $46.85 an ounce. Platinum dropped 0.2%, to $1.565.90, and palladium rose 0.4%, to $1.245.59. (Reporting by Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

(source: Reuters)