Friday 29 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

Gold edges up as soft US data rekindles hopes

Singapore, June 4, 2013

Gold inched up on Tuesday after near-2 per cent gains in the previous session, as weak US manufacturing data raised hopes the Federal Reserve would keep to its monetary stimulus programme for now.

Bullion, typically seen as a hedge against inflation, had been under pressure in recent weeks after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank could slow its $85 billion bond-purchase scheme if the US economy strengthened.

Recent data from the United States and China, however, has underpinned the case for continued monetary support from central banks around the world.
    
"Signs of when monetary easing is going to taper are going to be a function in the short term (for gold prices)," said Mark Keenan, cross commodity research strategist at Societe Generale.

"We are going to get over-scrutinized analysis of any signs that might suggest it could end slightly earlier than anticipated."
 
Keenan said the Fed could start slowing its programme in the fourth quarter of this year.

Spot gold had edged up 0.03 per cent to $1,411.56 an ounce by 0331 GMT. It gained 1.8 per cent to $1,416.11 on Monday as the dollar tumbled on the weak manufacturing numbers.

The US manufacturing sector contracted in May, driving activity to the lowest in nearly four years.
    
KEY BAROMETER

Investors are now turning their attention to the monthly US nonfarm payrolls report on Friday, with Bernanke saying in May that housing and labour data would determine the timing of any curbs in the monetary programme.

"Employment numbers in the United States have always been and will remain a key barometer to affect any tapering," Keenan said.
    
Meanwhile, strong physical demand in Asia and a pause in outflows from exchange-traded funds have also bolstered gold prices.

India's gold imports jumped to 162 tonnes in May, from 142.5 tonnes in April, despite a rebound in spot prices from a two-year low in mid-April and new measure by the central bank to reduce imports.
    
The data raised fears that India, the world's biggest bullion buyer, could impose more restrictions on imports in an effort to decrease its deficit.

Holdings of New York's SPDR Gold Trust, the largest gold-backed exchange-traded-fund, remained unchanged on Monday, showing investors' growing confidence in the metal. The near-three week decline in the holdings came to a stop last Wednesday. - Reuters




Tags: Gold | demand | bullion | Bernanke |

More Finance & Capital Market Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads