Gold Silver Reports (GSR) – Spot gold rose 0.26% to $1,240.72 per ounce, having earlier reached $1,244.32 per ounce, its highest since July 17. US gold futures were 0.28% higher at $1,246.10 per ounce.
Back in India, gold prices on Thursday rose by Rs 170 to close at Rs 32,120 per 10 gram at the bullion market in Delhi on increase in demand from local jewellers amid firm trend in the overseas market.
Silver rates also inched up by Rs 25 to close at Rs 37,625 per kg on slightly higher demand from industrial units and coin makers.
“What we are seeing is a lot of safe-haven support with the equity markets selling off, coupled with a weakness in the US dollar,” said Alex Turro, market strategist at RJO Futures.
“Jobless claims came weaker than expected and ADP numbers missed. That leads us to the fact that the US Federal Reserve may be coming off the hawkish tone they had and this ultimately is just going to provide more underlined support for gold.”
Traders’ attention is now turning to Friday’s non-farm payrolls report, which is also likely to be on the U.S. central bank’s radar.
The dollar fell about 0.5% as U.S. Treasury yields tumbled and traders scaled back expectations on the number of hikes the Fed would implement amid weakening economic data and market volatility.
“The weaker dollar is keeping gold positive at the moment. If you look at the other markets as well, there is a kind of risk-off situation going on,”.
Global stock markets slumped for a third straight session on Thursday as the arrest in Canada of a top executive of China tech giant Huawei for extradition to the United States raised fears of a flare-up in trade tensions. U.S. stocks tumbled 3%.
Meanwhile, palladium dropped after outshining the yellow metal for the first time since 2002 on Wednesday.
Silver dipped 0.37% to $14.45 per ounce, while platinum extended losses to a third session in a row, declining 1.86% to $785.49 per ounce. The precious metal earlier hit a low of $779.50, its lowest since Sept. 12.
“It’s just profit-taking. Lots of money has moved in there so investors are checking out and taking some profits,” said Rob Lutts, chief investment officer at Cabot Wealth Management.
