Gold slumps to 2-month low as dollar marches on; Fed signals in focus

Gold prices were subdued after hitting a two-month low on Thursday, pressured by a strong dollar rally, though traders have not lost confidence in a December rate cut following the latest U.S. economic data.

Spot gold fell 0.1% to USD 2,570.05 per ounce as of 02:00 p.m. ET (1900 GMT), touching its lowest level since Sept. 12. US gold futures settled 0.5% lower at USD 2,572.90.

The US dollar index .DXY continued its relentless march higher, trading at a one-year high, making gold more expensive for overseas buyers.

“I don’t see the latest inflation data as having a significant direct impact on gold,” said Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals.

“I think the Fed is going to hold its cards close to the vest until the Trump administration and the new Congress are in place and actually try to enact some of the policies that have been bandied about throughout the campaign and post-election.”

Easing labor market conditions are expected to encourage the Federal Reserve to deliver a third interest rate cut next month, even as data showed progress in lowering inflation has stalled.

Markets now see a 76% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in December..

Following the Republicans’ clean sweep in the Nov. 5 election, gold has plunged over USD 170 as President-elect Trump’s proposed tariffs are seen as potential drivers of inflation, which could prompt the Fed to slow its rate-cutting pace.

Markets are dismissing gold as a hedge against inflation, despite Trump’s policies potentially raising US inflation, said Exinity Group Chief Market Analyst Han Tan.

Investors are awaiting remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell later in the day along with Friday’s retail sales data.

“Gold could benefit if Powell avoids directly linking potential policy shifts to the Fed’s decisions, as this could dampen US rate expectations,” Forex.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada said in a note.

Spot silver rose 0.5% to USD 30.48 per ounce, after hitting its lowest level since Sept. 12 earlier in the session. Platinum lost 0.1% to USD 936.94, while palladium rose 0.8% to USD 941.00.

(Reporting by Sherin Elizabeth Varghese and Daksh Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Mohammed Safi Shamsi)