Gold prices edge up, but US rate hike outlook drags

[BENGALURU] Gold prices inched up on Wednesday, but remained near four-week lows hit in the previous session as expectations for a US rate hike in March gathered momentum.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen last week said the central bank was poised to lift benchmark US rates provided jobs and inflation data held up, comments seen as cementing plans for an increase at the Fed's March 14-15 meeting.

Investors are now awaiting non-farm payrolls data for February on Friday as a key barometer of the US economy.

"Gold has made a modest recovery this morning as early Asian buyers are sighted. Whether they are picking up gold at a bargain rate or are catching a falling knife remains to be seen," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at Oanda.

Spot gold had edged up 0.1 per cent to US$1,216.5 per ounce by 0323 GMT. It marked its lowest since Feb 3 at US$1,213.6 an ounce in the previous session.

Bullion is highly-sensitive to rising US interest rates, as these increase the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding metal, while boosting the US dollar in which it is priced.

"Gold will likely trade in a narrow band, between the US$1,210 and US$1,220 levels leading up to the non-farm payroll data and will exhibit a declining trend going into the Fed meeting," said Jiang Shu, chief analyst at Shandong Gold Group.

However, he said there could be a short-term upwards correction if the payroll data was not as strong as expected.

"(But) if the numbers are positive, prices could jump below US$1,200," Mr Shu added.

Spot gold may stabilise in a support zone of US$1,210-US$1,213 per ounce and then bounce towards a narrow range of US$1,219-US$1,223, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

Jeffrey Gundlach, chief executive officer at DoubleLine Capital, said on Tuesday he expected the Fed to begin a campaign this month of "old school" sequential interest rate hikes until"something breaks", such as a US recession.

In other precious metals, silver was mostly unchanged at US$17.48 per ounce.

Platinum edged down 0.1 per cent, to US$958.99 per ounce. The metal hit its lowest since Jan 20 at US$954 in the previous session.

Palladium eased 0.2 per cent to US$770.23 per ounce.

REUTERS