Gold retreats from two-month high after inflation-driven rally

Gold prices experienced a dip on Friday, retreating from a recently established two-month peak, driven by mild U.S. inflation figures that tempered expectations for a September Federal Reserve rate hike. Nonetheless, central banks exhibit persiste...

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Gold prices fell on Friday as investors locked in profits after non-yielding bullion climbed to an over two-month high in the previous session, with mild U.S. inflation data undermining expectations of a September Federal Reserve rate hike.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold was down 0.5% at $4,330.37 per ounce, as of 0103 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery slid 0.8% to $4,386.80.

Bullion climbed to its ⁠highest ⁠point since June 5 on Thursday, before settling 1.3% lower and wiping out its gains for the ​week.


U.S. producer prices were unchanged in July as goods prices fell and the cost ​of services increased marginally, bolstering market expectations that the Fed could keep interest rates unchanged next month.

The report from the U.S. Labor Department on Thursday followed news ​of mild consumer inflation last month.

Cleveland Fed ⁠President Beth Hammack reiterated her view that the U.S. central bank should ​raise rates ​immediately to restrain growth and too-high inflation.
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On the geopolitical front, ⁠Washington on Thursday threatened to maintain a naval blockade of ​Iran indefinitely, ratcheting up economic pressure on Tehran as ceasefire ​talks have floundered.

Highlighting persistent demand for the metal, gold is on the rise again, as a confluence of economic and political dynamics spurs demand from investors around the world, especially one cohort: central banks.

Underscoring robust central bank interest in gold, the Bank of Korea bought and held 679,765 shares of SPDR Gold Trust, valued at roughly $250.4 million as of end-June, a U.S. SEC filing showed, marking its first disclosed gold investment since buying physical gold in 2013.

​Venezuelan authorities plan ⁠to focus on reconstruction efforts and recovering gold reserves worth an estimated $4 billion held in the Bank of England's underground vaults, National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez said on Wednesday, ​as monthly inflation surged to 20%.
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In other metals, spot silver slipped 0.8% to $63.92 per ounce.

Platinum decreased 1% to $1,700.60, while palladium eased 0.3% to $1,303.25, both at their lowest levels since August 4.
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DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0900 EU Total Trade Balance SA June

0900 EU GDP Flash Estimate QQ, YY Q2

1230 US Retail Sales MM July

1400 US U Mich Sentiment Prelim August
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