Gold price climbs extending its gains for the third straight day, shrugs off a buoyant US Dollar as risk aversion boosts safe-haven assets. The golden metal has risen over 3.40% during the week, with buyers eyeing the $2,700 mark. The XAU/USD trades at $2,650, up 0.69%.
Bullion’s decline toward a two-month low of $2,536 can mainly be attributed to investors booking profits after President Donald Trump's victory in the US elections. Fears that some of his proposals could spark a reacceleration of inflation sent US Treasury yields soaring and underpinned the Greenback.
Nevertheless, Bullion prices had risen due to the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the use of nuclear weapons in retaliation to the West. Reports revealed the White House authorized Ukraine's use of American weapons inside Russia, according to officials.
In the meantime, the American currency advances 0.51% in the day, according to the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the buck's performance against six other peers. The DXY is at 106.69 after sinking to a five-day low of 106.11.
Recently, Fed Board Governors Lisa Cook and Michelle Bowman failed to clarify the outcome of the December Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policy meeting.
Cook remains confident the Fed will lower inflation toward the 2% goal, but she didn’t reveal whether she will support a rate cut next month. Bowman added that despite seeing “considerable progress” on inflation, it seems to have “stalled in recent months,” meaning the Fed should be cautious. She commented that neutral rates could not be as low as expected, by some officials at the FOMC.
Traders trimmed the chances for a 25 basis points rate cut at the December meeting. The CME FedWatch Tool sees a 55% probability of lowering rates, down from a 58% chance a day ago.
Ahead of this week, the US economic schedule will feature Initial Jobless Claims, S&P Global Flash PMIs, and the University of Michigan (UoM) final reading of Consumer Sentiment for November.