Gold Price Drifts Higher As US CPI Inflation Fuels Fed Rate Cuts -

Gold Price Drifts Higher As US CPI Inflation Fuels Fed Rate Cuts

May 16, 2024Jeremy ParkinsonFinance0

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Gold price trades in positive territory due to the weaker USD on Thursday.

The softer US CPI inflation data prompted the hope that the Fed may cut interest rates, boosting the price of precious metals.

The Fed’s hawkish remarks might cap gold’s upside; Fed’s Barr, Harker, Mester, and Bostic are set to speak on Thursday.

The gold price (XAU/USD) gains traction amid the weaker US Dollar (USD) on Thursday. The recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed inflation in the US slowed in April, prompting market players to increase their bets on the US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts this year. A lower interest rate might benefit the yellow metal, as it means the borrowing cost of investing in gold decreases.

Gold traders will focus on US Building Permits, Housing Starts, the weekly Initial Jobless Claims, the Philly Fed Manufacturing Index, and Industrial Production on Thursday. Also, the Fed’s Barr, Harker, Mester, and Bostic are scheduled to speak on Thursday. Nonetheless, the hawkish comments from the Fed’s officials might boost the US Dollar (USD) and cap the precious metal’s upside in the near term.

Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price edges higher due to cooling US inflation, weaker Retail Sales

The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3.4% YoY in April, compared to a rise of 3.5% in March, which is in line with market expectations. On a monthly basis, the headline CPI inflation dropped to 0.3% MoM in April from 0.4% in March, below the consensus of 0.4%.

The core CPI inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, rose by 3.6% YoY in April, compared to the previous reading of 3.8%. The monthly core CPI eased to 0.3% MoM in April from 0.4% in March.

US Retail Sales came in at 0% MoM in April from a 0.6% rise in March, worse than the estimation of 0.4%.

Fed Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said on Wednesday that the central bank needs to watch the economy carefully to see if current policy rates are restrictive enough.

Financial markets are currently pricing in a nearly 75% chance of a rate cut by the Fed in September 2024, a rise from 65% before the US CPI report, according to the CME’s FedWatch Tool.

According to the World Gold Council’s Q1 2024 report, global gold demand climbed by 3% to 1,238 tonnes, marking the strongest first quarter since 2016.

Technical Analysis: Gold price’s bullish stance holds strong
The gold price edges higher on the day. Technically, the yellow metal has formed an ascending trend channel since May 2. The yellow metal maintains its positive stance unchanged on the four-hour chart as XAU/USD holds above the 100-period Exponential Moving Averages (EMA). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands in bullish territory around 72. The overbought RSI condition indicates that further consolidation cannot be ruled out before positioning for any near-term XAU/USD upside.

The first upside barrier will emerge near the upper boundary of the ascending trend channel and psychological level of $2,400. A bullish breakout above this level will expose $2,432 (all-time high) en route to $2,500 (round figure).

On the downside, a breach of the lower limit of the ascending trend channel of $2,345 will pave the way to $2,334 (100-period EMA), followed by $2,300 (psychological mark).

US Dollar price in the last 7 days
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies in the last 7 days. US Dollar was the weakest against the New Zealand Dollar. More By This Author:GBP/USD Extends Its Upside Above 1.2680 On Weaker US Dollar Gold Price Gains Ground Ahead Of US PPI Data, Fed’s Powell Speech EUR/USD Price Analysis: The Crucial Resistance Level Will Emerge At The 1.0790–1.0800 Region