Gold steadies as investors await US inflation data for taper cues

[BENGALURU] Gold steadied on Wednesday as investors awaited US inflation data and minutes from the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting for clues as to when the central bank would start withdrawing its pandemic stimulus.

Spot gold was flat at US$1,760.46 per ounce by 12.15 am GMT. US gold futures rose 0.1 per cent to US$1,761.20.

Three Fed policymakers said on Tuesday the economy has healed enough for the central bank to begin to withdraw its crisis-era support, cementing expectations the Fed will start to taper its monthly bond purchases as soon as next month.

Reduced central bank stimulus and interest rate hikes tend to push government bond yields up, translating into a higher opportunity cost for holding gold that pays no interest.

As inflationary pressures mount worldwide, money markets are charging ahead with pricing aggressive interest rate rises, in most cases betting that policy will be tightened far sooner and at a much faster pace than rate-setters are signalling.

Persistent supply chain disruptions and inflation pressures are constraining the global economy's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Monetary Fund said as it cut growth outlooks for the United States and other major industrial powers.

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The number of Americans voluntarily quitting their jobs surged to a record high in August and there were more than 10 million vacancies, pointing to a tightening labour market.

Spot silver gained 0.1 per cent to US$22.54 per ounce, while platinum fell 0.1 per cent to US$1,006.05. Palladium was 0.1 per cent higher at US$2,047.80 per ounce.

REUTERS