• Gold has pulled back down ahead of the Federal Reserve policy meeting announcement on Wednesday. 
• Better-than-expected US Retail Sales data released on Tuesday caused the backslide in the precious metal. 
• Bridgewater Associates CIO Ray Dalio considers a 25 basis points rate cut as more appropriate in the current context. 

Gold (XAU/USD) trades in the $2,570s on Wednesday, ahead of the main financial-market event of the week: the Federal Reserve (Fed) policy meeting announcement at 18:00 GMT.   

Gold surges as bets the Fed will double cut increase

Gold hit a record high of $2,589 at the start of the week after market bets that the Fed would make a double-dose 0.50% cut to interest rates at its meeting later today rose sharply. 

A bigger rate cut from the Fed would be positive for Gold because it lowers the opportunity cost of holding the yellow metal, which is a non-interest-paying asset. This makes it more attractive to investors. 

Gold pulls back after Retail Sales data

Gold slid lower on Tuesday after US Retail Sales rose 0.1% in August, compared to the 1.0% advance registered in July. However, this was still better than the consensus expectations (revised down at the last minute from a 0.2% gain to a 0.2% decline). 

A 50 bps cut highly probable, according to futures markets 

The probability of a larger 0.50% cut stands at 61%, according to the CME FedWatch tool, which bases its calculation on the price of 30-day fed funds futures. The probability of a smaller 0.25% cut, meanwhile, is at 39%. The probability of a cut of any size is therefore 100%. 

In an interview with Bloomberg News on Wednesday, Ray Dalio, CIO of Bridgewater Associates said that the Fed would be looking to balance the needs of creditors to earn a real yield (the gain from debt interest after inflation) with the desire to lower interest repayments for debtors.  

“[A] 25 pbs [interest-rate cut] would be the right thing to do if you are looking at the whole picture. If you are looking at the mortgage situation, which is worse – and affects more people – then it’s probably 50 bps,” Dalio said.  

Based on the economic data alone, he said the “[US] economy is very close to an equilibrium level, except for the debt situation.” Significant socio-economic and political factors, including political polarization were further variables to consider, added Dalio.

Another factor that could influence financial markets and the price of Gold is the Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), which is published along with its accompanying policy statement. 

The SEP shows the projected path of interest rates in the future based on officials’ views, as well as growth and inflation forecasts for the US economy. Any revisions from past SEP projections could cause volatility.