Central bank gold demand has provided critical support for gold, and according to some analysts, it is a key reason why prices have been able to hold support at $4,000 an ounce.
The gold market continues to hold on to solid gains and could attract a new bid as the U.S. labor market continues to show signs of cooling, with the number of jobs available dropping more than expected in June.
Spot gold prices are modestly firmer and spot silver prices are sharply higher in early U.S. trading Tuesday, as traders balanced a dollar rebound, rising Treasury yields, firm U.S. activity data and reduced Middle East inflation risk.
America's gold is still valued at $42.22 an ounce on the federal books, more than $1 trillion below market. The fund built from the last revaluation was buying yen on Friday.
Spot gold and silver prices are higher in late U.S. trading Monday, as a sharp drop in crude oil and lower Treasury yields offset reduced safe-haven demand tied to tentative U.S.-Iran diplomacy.
The gold market's months-long correction has created an attractive entry point for long-term investors, according to one market strategist, who says the metal's ability to hold support around $4,000 an ounce reflects confidence that its structural bull market remains firmly intact.
The gold market has been unable to break its gravity with the $4,000 level, and according to some analysts, better-than-expected manufacturing data could put more pressure on the yellow metal as it gives the Federal Reserve room to focus on the persistent inflation threat.
Gold gains as the oil rout eases inflation pressure, but Friday payrolls could hand Fed hawks control of the rate trade.
Going back as far as 1957 and a few periods notwithstanding, gold tends to outperform CPI and in the last couple of yars this has been especially pronounced.
Gold rose. The direction of the U.S. dollar, U.S. Treasury yields and incoming U.S. labor market data will affect gold's trends over the next few sessions more than the traditional safe-haven narrative, said XS.com.
Gold's months-long correction appears to be nearing its end, but prices continue to consolidate near critical support around $4,000 an ounce. The market remains caught between gold's traditional role as a safe-haven asset and the pressure of rising real yields.
The latest Kitco News Weekly Gold Survey showed Wall Street evenly divided between bulls, bears, and the fence, while Main Street sentiment slid out of bullish territory after another failed breakout.