Gold edges up after hitting 2-month low as markets weigh Fed rate path

Kitco Media
By Reuters
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Reuters
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Oct 8 (Reuters) - Gold prices ‌edged up on Thursday after hitting a two-month low in the previous session, as investors assessed the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's September meeting for clues on its interest rate trajectory.

Spot gold ​rose 0.3% to $4,122.12 per ounce by 1128 GMT, having touched its lowest level ​since August 5 on Wednesday as a firmer dollar and higher US ⁠Treasury yields weighed.

US gold futures for December delivery were little changed at $4,146.60.

Fed policymakers were ​divided last month over the rationale for raising rates, the minutes showed. While "some participants" saw a ​hike as needed to keep the impact of energy and other price shocks at bay, a more hawkish core viewed it as necessary to guard against emerging demand-driven inflation.

Traders see only a 21.6% chance ​of an October rate hike, but are pricing in an 85% probability of an ​increase in December, according to the CME's FedWatch tool.

Higher rates dim the appeal of non-yielding gold.

US Federal ‌Reserve ⁠Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday that additional rate hikes would likely be needed, but added there was "flexibility" about the pace of increases and left the door open for a pause in October.

"Prices are wobbling above $4,100 as geopolitics stoke inflation fears and year-end Fed hike bets," ​said Lukman Otunuga, senior ​research analyst at ⁠FXTM, adding that a stronger dollar and Treasury yields could further pressure gold.

"The technical picture adds to the downside risk. A sustained ​break below $4,100 opens a path toward $4,000, while a hold above it ​could trigger ⁠a rebound toward $4,200."

On the geopolitical front, the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to the lowest in more than two months after attacks on tankers in the key waterway ⁠reached ​their highest last week since the start of the ​Middle East war, shipping data showed.

Among other metals, spot silver fell 2.2% to $58.8, platinum strengthened 1.0% to $1,647.30 and palladium ​climbed 0.7% to $1,133.00.

Reporting by Elizaveta Zhuravleva in Gdansk; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Joyjeet Das

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