Gold price advances on weaker US economic cues

Gold prices advanced on Monday as both the US dollar and yields retreated on weaker economic readings, casting doubts over whether the Federal Reserve may stick to its hawkish policy outlook.

Spot gold gained 0.4% to $1,926.86 per ounce, returning to the same level it traded at this time last week. US gold futures rose 0.3% to $1,934.60 per ounce.

[Click here for an interactive chart of gold prices]

“Gold has probably found a home around $1,900,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, in a Reuters note.

“There’s some positioning happening here … the market last week seemed to be slowly pricing in more Fed rate hikes, but data going forward might suggest that might not be happening, we could get really get one more rate hike.”

Also propping up safe-haven gold, the spread between the 2-year and 10-year US Treasury note yields hit the widest since 1981, reflecting concerns that an extended Fed tightening cycle will tip the US economy into recession.

Futures markets had reflected rate cuts at the Fed’s September meeting as recently as May, and are now projecting that the first cuts will come in January.

Gold also got a fillip from a dip in the dollar after data showed US manufacturing slumped further in June.

Carlo Alberto De Casa, external analyst at Kinesis Money, said that considering gold prices could trade in the $1,900-$1,930 range before the release of the minutes of the Fed’s June 13-14 meeting that could contain further clues on policy.

(With files from Reuters)