Gold price edges lower to $2,620 as traders brace for FOMC Minutes, US inflation
by Sagar Dua · FXStreet- Gold price drops further as fading Fed 50 bps rate cut bets strengthened the US Dollar’s appeal.
- The downside in Gold price is expected to be limited due to geopolitical tensions.
- Investors await the FOMC Minutes and the US inflation data for September.
Gold price (XAU/USD) remains under pressure near $2,620 in Wednesday's North American session. The precious metal has been battered by the upbeat US Dollar (USD), which has strengthened as traders are pricing out another Federal Reserve (Fed) larger-than-usual interest rate cut of 50 basis points (bps) in their next meeting in November.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, has extended its upside to near 102.70. An appreciation in the US Dollar makes investment in the Gold price an expensive bet for investors.
Meanwhile, 10-year US Treasury yields jump further to near 4.05% in European trading hours. Higher yields on interest-bearing assets increase the opportunity cost of holding an investment in non-yielding assets, such as Gold.
Traders have priced out Fed large rate cut bets as upbeat United States (US) Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for September reduced the risk of an economic slowdown. The US job report showed that labor demand remained robust, the Unemployment Rate decelerated, and wage growth was stronger than expected.
However, the downside in Gold price is expected to remain limited due to escalating tensions in the Middle East region. The war between Israel and Iran-backed-Hezbollah intensified after the former killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his subsequent replacements. Historically, the appeal of precious metals, such as Gold, improved amid geopolitical woes.
Daily digest market movers: Gold price remains under pressure as US yields rise further
- Gold price is expected to remain on tenterhooks with investors focusing on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Minutes of the September meeting, which will be published at 18:00 GMT. The FOMC Minutes will provide a detailed explanation behind the hefty rate cut and fresh cues about inflation and the economic outlook.
- In September’s meeting, the Federal Reserve started the policy-easing cycle after maintaining a restrictive policy stance for more than two and a half years. Fed officials almost unanimously (with only Michelle Bowman dissenting) voted for a sizable rate cut of 50 bps as they were more concerned about reviving job growth, with confidence that inflation is on track to return sustainably to the bank’s target of 2%.
- This week, investors will pay close attention to the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for September, which will be released on Thursday. Economists estimate the annual core CPI – which excludes volatile food and energy prices – to have grown steadily by 3.2%. Annual headline CPI is expected to have decelerated further to 2.3% from 2.5% in August.
- The inflation data will significantly influence market expectations for the Fed’s interest rate outlook for the remainder of the year. According to the CME FedWatch tool, 30-day Federal Fund Futures pricing data shows that there will be a 25-bps interest rate cut in each of the two meetings remaining this year.
US Dollar PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.23% | 0.15% | 0.42% | 0.21% | 0.27% | 1.11% | 0.13% | |
| EUR | -0.23% | -0.08% | 0.20% | -0.04% | 0.08% | 0.82% | -0.11% | |
| GBP | -0.15% | 0.08% | 0.27% | 0.08% | 0.16% | 0.92% | -0.02% | |
| JPY | -0.42% | -0.20% | -0.27% | -0.19% | -0.13% | 0.68% | -0.31% | |
| CAD | -0.21% | 0.04% | -0.08% | 0.19% | 0.06% | 0.87% | -0.10% | |
| AUD | -0.27% | -0.08% | -0.16% | 0.13% | -0.06% | 0.78% | -0.19% | |
| NZD | -1.11% | -0.82% | -0.92% | -0.68% | -0.87% | -0.78% | -0.96% | |
| CHF | -0.13% | 0.11% | 0.02% | 0.31% | 0.10% | 0.19% | 0.96% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
Technical Analysis: Gold price drops to near 20-day EMA
Gold price extends its correction to near $2,610 from its all-time high of $2,685 as profit-booking remains intact. However, the overall trend of the Gold price remains bullish as the 20- and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) at $2,615 and $2,550, respectively, are sloping higher.
Upward-sloping trendline from the April 12 high of $2,431.60 will act as major support for the Gold price bulls.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) falls into the 40.00-60.00 range, suggesting a weakening of momentum. However, the upside trend remains intact.
Fed FAQs
What does the Federal Reserve do, how does it impact the US Dollar?
Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
How often does the Fed hold monetary policy meetings?
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
What is Quantitative Easing (QE) and how does it impact USD?
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
What is Quantitative Tightening (QT) and how does it impact the US Dollar?
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.
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