Gold price rises late in the North American session, unfazed by high US Treasury bond yields and a stronger US Dollar on Wednesday. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades with gains of 0.63% and changes hands at $2,933 after a US inflation report that was softer than projected.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that consumer inflation in the United States (US) edged lower in February. Nevertheless, investors remain skeptical of the improvement as aggressive tariffs on US imports could trigger a second round of inflation.
February’s data increased the odds that the Federal Reserve (Fed) might cut interest rates thrice in 2025. Nevertheless, Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had expressed that they do not look at just one month of data.
In the meantime, US Treasury yields climbed amid fears that the global trade war could push prices higher. Consequently, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six currencies, gains 0.14% to 103.55.
On Wednesday, 25% US tariffs on steel and aluminum took effect at midnight as US President Donald Trump is battling to reduce the trade deficit by applying duties on imports.
The non-yielding metal is poised to extend its rally, even though there is progress on a truce between Ukraine and Russia.
The World Gold Council (WGC) revealed that central banks continued to purchase Gold. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) and the National Bank of Poland (NBP) added 10 and 29 tonnes in the first two months of 2025, respectively.
Given the backdrop, Gold is set to test the $2,950 mark. Traders will eye the release of the US Producer Price Index (PPI) for February, Initial Jobless Claims and the University of Michigan (UoM) Consumer Sentiment.