BENGALURU: Gold prices edged lower on Friday on a stronger dollar while investors awaited US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium that could offer fresh clues on the monetary policy path.
Spot gold fell 0.3 percent to $3,329.19 per ounce by 9:07 a.m. Saudi time. US gold futures for December delivery lost 0.3 percent to $3,372.10.
The US dollar index hovered near a two-week high, making gold less attractive to overseas buyers.
Fed officials appeared lukewarm on Thursday to the idea of a rate cut next month as investors geared up for Powell’s speech, due at 5:00 p.m. Saudi time on Friday.
“With a Russia-Ukraine peace deal still a possibility, and the USD attracting some buyers, gold is facing headwinds,” KCM Trade chief market analyst Tim Waterer said.
“But if Powell’s message is interpreted as being a dovish shift, the USD could be undone, and gold may be on the move higher again.”
Futures markets indicate a 75 percent chance of a quarter-point rate reduction next month, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
Recent labor data showed US jobless claims rose last week by the most in nearly three months, while unemployment claims the previous week hit a near four-year high.
The challenge for Fed policymakers is that even though there are signs of labor market weakening, inflation remains above the central bank’s 2 percent target and could go higher due to the Trump administration’s aggressive tariff hikes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine give up all of the eastern Donbas region, renounce ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral and keep Western troops out of the country, three sources familiar with top-level Kremlin thinking told Reuters.
Elsewhere, spot silver was down 0.4 percent to $38.01 per ounce, platinum fell 0.6 percent to $1,345.06, and palladium rose 0.2 percent to $1,113.19.
