Gold at over one-week low on firm dollar, U.S payrolls data awaited

Gold prices eased to their lowest in more than a week on Tuesday, pressured by a firm dollar, while investors awaited U.S. non-farm payrolls data that could determine the size of the potential cut in the Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting.

Spot gold fell 0.4% to $2,489.00 per ounce. U.S. gold futures eased 0.3% to $2,520.40.

The dollar hovered near a two-week high, making gold more expensive for other currency holders.

“As long as the dollar moves higher, interest rates move higher, that’s not going to be good for commodities… however, the trend has still been up in gold,” said Daniel Pavilonis, senior market strategist at RJO Futures.

“We’re just kind of hanging around the highs from the last few months, we’re still staying elevated, but I think at this point we just need to see more economic data that is coming out this week.”

Markets are pricing in a 63% chance of a 25 basis point (bps) cut when the Fed meets on Sept. 17 and 18, with a 37% probability of a 50-bps cut, the CME FedWatch tool showed.

“If the U.S. jobs report is significantly weaker, speculation about a U.S. recession and faster rate cuts will resurface, further supporting gold,” Commerzbank said in a note.

Bullion is heading for its best year since 2020, driven by investor optimism about upcoming U.S. rate cuts and lingering concerns about the Middle East conflict.

Gold “remains our preferred hedge against geopolitical and financial risks, with additional support from imminent Fed rate cuts and ongoing emerging market central bank buying. We open a long gold trade recommendation,” Goldman Sachs said.

Spot silver dipped 2.7% to $27.74, platinum fell 2.8% to $904.00 and palladium lost over 4% to $933.75.