Gold prices dipped Monday morning as cautious investors awaited key labor market data and remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in a shortened trading week.
After the yellow metal posted a gain topping 4% for the second quarter, prices declined slightly in Monday morning trading at $2,323 per ounce, down $2.64. Silver started the new month in positive territory, up $0.32 at $29.42 per ounce.
The market remains volatile as Wall Street awaits critical economic reports this week on job openings, ADP employment, and wages.
A report last week showed that personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, were unchanged in May, while the headline inflation rate fell to 2.6%. Additionally, a stable U.S. dollar index of around 105.64 and gains in U.S. Treasury yields both continued to exert pressure on gold. Some of that squeezing might be offset by current geopolitical tensions and elections here and abroad.
Remarks by Fed chief Jerome Powell, who is scheduled to speak Tuesday in Portugal, will also be closely watched for hints of an imminent rate cut, as will Wednesday’s release of the minutes from June’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, when policymakers decided to leave interest rates unchanged.
Investors are hoping recent news showing signs of contracting inflation will bode well for a rate reduction later this year. Market sentiment suggests a 63% chance of a cut in September.
With so many X-factors, combined with current market conditions, gold could be in for another rollercoaster ride this week.
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