Gold hovers near two-week lows as Sep rate-hike bets rise
Gold traded around $4,460 an ounce Tuesday near two-week lows. Rising oil prices and hawkish remarks from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh boosted expectations for a September hike, weighing on bullion.
Gold traded around $4,460 an ounce on Tuesday, hovering near two-week lows as rising oil prices and hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh strengthened expectations for a US rate hike this month.
Oil prices advanced for a second straight session after US forces struck an island in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran responded with attacks on the UAE and Jordan.
Higher energy costs stoked inflation concerns, strengthening the case for a near-term Fed rate increase, which is typically negative for bullion.
Meanwhile, Chair Warsh said the Fed would “have work to do” without clearer evidence that inflation is moving back toward its 2% target.
Markets are now pricing in a more than 65% chance of a September hike, up from around 36% before his remarks.
Despite the recent decline, gold still gained about 10% in August after the US Treasury announced plans to double liquidity-support buybacks of longer-dated bonds, reviving the so-called debasement trade.