In a notable upswing, gold futures soared to a three-week high on Tuesday, August 29th, benefitting from the weakened state of the dollar. Simultaneously, lackluster US labor data further fueled speculations that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) could halt its interest rate hikes.
Gold futures demonstrated a remarkable climb of $18.30, equivalent to a 0.94% increase, culminating in a closing price of $1,965.10 per ounce. This milestone marks the highest closure since August 7th, 2023. Correspondingly, silver futures saw an uptick of 53.60 cents or 2.21%, concluding the session at $24.788 per ounce. The platinum contract mirrored the trend, rising by $13.90 or 1.43% to reach $986.10 per ounce. In contrast, palladium futures witnessed a minor dip of $4.70, constituting a 0.4% decrease, settling at $1,257.20 per ounce.
The driving force behind gold’s surge was the declining dollar index against a basket of six major currencies, experiencing a 0.50% dip to 103.5332 overnight. This decline provided substantial support to gold prices. As the dollar’s value waned, gold contracts, which are denominated in dollars, became increasingly appealing to investors holding alternative currencies.
The latest figures from the US Department of Labor Statistics, specifically the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), revealed a significant decline in job openings by 338,000, resulting in a total of 8.827 million openings for July. This figure not only represents the lowest count since June 2021 but also falls below the market’s projection of 9.465 million positions.
Of note, this marked the third consecutive month of diminishing job openings and notably the first time that the number of available jobs has remained below 9 million since 2021.
With these developments in mind, the latest insights from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicate that investors are predominantly leaning towards the Fed opting to maintain interest rates within the range of 5.25% to 5.50% during its September meeting, with an 87% likelihood. Furthermore, there is a 54% consensus that the Fed will persist with these interest rate levels in its subsequent meeting in November.
The confluence of gold’s ascent, the weakening dollar, and the implications of labor market data showcases the intricate dynamics influencing financial markets. As investors eagerly await the Fed’s next moves in response to this evolving landscape, the precious metals market remains an area of intense focus and speculation.
The Spot Market is Open
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
| Metals Updated at | USD Bid/Ask | Ounce Change | Low/high |
| Gold 11.00 | 1,936.70 1,937.70 | -0.40 -0.02% | 1,935.10 1,938.40 |
| Silver 11.00 | 24.63 24.73 | -0.08 -0.30% | 24.61 24.81 |
| Platinum 11.00 | 976.00 986.00 | -3.00 -0.31% | 974.00 989.00 |
| Palladium 11.00 | 1,214.00 1,274.00 | -4.00 -0.33% | 1,211.00 1,281.00 |
| Rhodium 05.00 | 3,450.00 4,650.00 | 0.00 0.00% | 3,450.00 4,650.00 |