Gold gains on softer dollar, slower Fed rate-hike bets

Gold prices rose on Thursday set to snap a three-day losing streak, helped by a weaker dollar and as signs of cooling US inflation raised bets on smaller rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve.

Spot gold rose 0.4% to $1,910.44 per ounce by 0942 GMT. US gold futures GCv1 gained 0.3% to $1 912.00.

There was a flight to safety after disappointing US economic data that had a negative impact on investor sentiment, in turn benefiting gold, said ActivTrades senior analyst Ricardo Evangelista.

“This dynamic also reinforces the narrative that the Fed will now be more likely to slow down its ongoing rate hikes…and this creates a downside for the dollar and is once again positive for gold.”

Data on Wednesday showed US retail sales fell by the most in a year in December, while producer prices fell more than expected last month, offering more evidence that inflation was receding.

Traders are pricing in a 25-basis point rate hike at the Fed’s January 31 to February 1 meeting. The US central bank slowed its pace of hikes to 50 bps in December after four straight 75-bp increases.

Making gold more appealing for overseas buyers, the dollar index eased 0.1% on the day after falling to its lowest in nearly eight months in the previous session. USD/ On Wednesday, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan both backed a slower pace of tightening.

Lower interest rates tend to boost bullion’s appeal as they decrease the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset.

Investors will later scan the weekly US jobless claim data due at 1330 GMT.

Spot silver rose 0.1% to $23.44 per ounce, while platinum fell 1.1% to $1,026.13.

Palladium XPD= fell 0.9% to $1 703.83.