The price of Gold reached a four-week high of just over $2,050 on Thursday, surprising many analysts. Despite higher US inflation data, the precious metal continued to rise. Economists at Commerzbank are analyzing the outlook for the yellow metal.
Gold price rises despite higher US inflation data
The price increase may seem unexpected, considering the rise in the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the price index for consumer spending (PCE) excluding energy and food, by 0.4% in January compared to the previous month. This data does not support arguments for earlier Fed rate cuts.
Market expectations, as indicated by Fed Fund Futures, do not fully price in the first interest rate cut by the US central bank until July. Despite the recent acceleration in price increase over the last six months, moving away from the Fed’s inflation target, the reasons behind the Gold price rise are not entirely clear. Some speculate that market participants were anticipating an even stronger rise in the PCE price index.
As Commerzbank economists pointed out, sometimes price movements in the market cannot be fundamentally explained. Whether this upward trend in Gold prices will continue beyond a single day remains uncertain.
Additional insight: The Gold market is often influenced by a variety of factors, including economic data, geopolitical events, and market sentiment. While higher inflation data typically puts pressure on the price of Gold, the recent surge to a four-week high suggests that other forces may be at play. Investors seeking safe-haven assets during times of uncertainty may be contributing to the upward momentum in Gold prices. It will be interesting to see how these factors continue to shape the future movement of the yellow metal.
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