Key Drivers Awaiting to Influence Gold - RSBL

 The past week in the gold market was significantly shaped by the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach to interest rate cuts. Federal Reserve speakers, including Fed Governor Christopher Waller and Fed Governor Lisa Cook, emphasized the need for more evidence of cooling inflation before considering rate reductions.

Gold prices were set for a weekly gain on Friday, buoyed by a softer dollar and safe-haven demand from escalating tensions in Middle East even as US Federal Reserve officials bruised the hopes of early rate cuts this year.

Currently gold faces a major threat from inflation data. There is lot of speculation in the market which has pushed investors towards safety buying. Markets even speculate that rate cuts might come soon- probably June or September. 

Though gold prices remained range bound as U.S equities performed well, it’s the risk-on environment here versus flight-to-safety buying. 

There are key economic numbers and important data set to release this week. Investors remain focus on these indicators as they will play a crucial role in influencing gold prices-

• new home sales on Monday,

• durable goods orders and consumer confidence on Tuesday, 

• Preliminary Q4 US GDP On Wednesday 

• pending home sales on Thursday

• PCE price index on Thursday

• ISM manufacturing PMI on Friday.

Several Fed officials are also set to speak later this week, and are expected to largely reiterate the bank’s outlook for higher-for-longer rates, amid concerns over high inflation.

Beyond the PCE data, a second reading on fourth-quarter gross domestic product is also due this week, and is expected to show some cooling in U.S. economic growth. But not to an extent that warrants early interest rate cuts.

Higher-for-longer rates bode poorly for gold prices, given that they increase the opportunity cost of investing in the yellow metal.

As we know the current market has a host of events lined up for gold, but there are some major Drivers in the current year that will play a key role in pushing gold prices high. We say this owing to the bullish sentiments in the markets and the major events that are lined up- 

• Geopolitical issues out there that could drive it higher. 

• Dropping Interest rates d should drive it higher 

• Weakening US dollar. 

• U.S Elections 

But a major long-term influencer for gold will be its global demand. Central bank purchases are strong and geopolitical tensions are high. Gold buying by central banks — particularly from China and India — have helped offset money flowing out of gold exchange-traded funds. Those purchases have been driven in part by geopolitical tensions, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Covid pandemic.

Key to gold’s current popularity is China’s lacklustre post-Covid recovery, which is hitting young people especially hard as youth unemployment soars and traditional investment options such as property suffer, analysts say. Gold prices are poised to rise as central banks purchase the precious metal and as strong retail demand in emerging markets bolsters prices.

The yellow metal is forecast to climb about 6% in the next 12 months to $2,175 a troy ounce. Gold prices can be seen hitting $2,210 an ounce by the fourth quarter of this year, reaching a new all-time high