The gold market is finding some bullish support following disappointing economic growth in the first quarter, and the precious metal could attract further bids after weaker-than-expected U.S. new home sales data.
The gold market has managed to bounce off its session lows but remains under significant selling pressure, even as the U.S. economy continues to cool and inflation pressures remain relatively muted — conditions analysts say could give the Federal Reserve room to cut interest rates by the end of the year.
Gold prices were struggling to reclaim $4,400 per ounce on Thursday morning following the release of worse-than-expected labor market data after the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits were above economists' forecasts.
The gold market is rising from session lows below $4,400 per ounce after the latest economic data showed sales of durable goods last month beat expectations.The Commerce Department announced Thursday that U.S. durable goods orders rose 7.9% in April, following March's revised increase of 1.3%. The data was far higher than expected, as the consensus view of economists called for an increase of 3.5%.
Spot gold and silver prices are sharply lower in early U.S. trading Thursday, as a firmer U.S. dollar and renewed U.S.-Iran tensions offset support from lower Treasury yields.
Gold falls as renewed uncertainty over the trajectory of the U.S.-Iran war gave the dollar a boost and drove oil prices higher. A stronger dollar makes gold more expensive for international holders of the precious metal.
The so-called debasement trade has fallen out of favor as both a discussion point and an investment concept.
Share markets across Asia fell on Thursday after reports of fresh US military strikes on Iran and missile attacks linked to Kuwait unsettled investors and weakened optimism surrounding a possible peace agreement in the Middle East. Oil prices surged while Treasury yields climbed as investors reacted to escalating tensions and growing concerns over inflation ahead of key US economic data.
Gold edged lower in morning trade, staying under pressure as hopes for a U.S.-Iran deal falter.
Spot gold prices are down and spot silver prices are sharply lower after the close Wednesday, as a sharp drop in crude oil and record U.S. equity closes reduced safe-haven demand tied to the Strait of Hormuz. At the time of writing, spot gold was trading near $4,454.80 an ounce, down 1.17%, while spot silver was trading near $74.665, down 3.00% on the session.
Gold remains the anchor of the new commodity cycle, and the yellow metal's secular bull market is still intact despite the recent volatility in precious metals, according to Doug Moglia, macro and market strategist at Rockefeller Global Investment Management.
Gold rose in Asian trade, rebounding from a fall in the prior session.