Gold prices increased close to a monthly high on Friday, supported by indications of easing U.S. price pressures. Traders eagerly await remarks from Federal Reserve officials, with expectations of interest rate cuts later in the year shaping market sentiment.
Spot gold saw a 0.12 percent increase to $2,046.76 per ounce, as of 6:53 GMT, after hitting $2050.59 on Thursday, its highest level since February 2. Meanwhile, U.S. gold futures saw a 0.01 percent increase to $2,054.95.
In Saudi Arabia, too, gold prices saw an increase; 24-carat gold was priced at SAR267 per gram while 22-carat gold was priced at SAR247 per gram
U.S. economic data
Analysts noted the market’s relief over the absence of surprises in the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report. Gold traders reflected a positive sentiment regarding the slowdown in core PCE on an annual basis. January’s PCE inflation rose by 2.4 percent, marking the smallest annual increase since February 2021, after a 2.6 percent increase in December.
Gold-backed ETF
The SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, experienced a 3.3 percent decline in holdings in February and a 6.4 percent decrease so far this year. While negative ETF flows are constraining gold prices, China’s central bank’s significant purchases of gold reserves in the fourth quarter continue to provide support.
Read: Oil prices edge up as market awaits OPEC+ decision
Other precious metals
In addition to gold prices, spot platinum recorded a 0.8 percent increase, reaching $882.60 per ounce. Meanwhile, palladium rose by 0.7 percent to $948.38 and spot silver rose by 0.31 percent to $22.74. However, both platinum and palladium posted a second consecutive monthly decline, with palladium touching more than five-year lows of $849.13.
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