Gold prices flat ahead of US jobs data

Gold prices were flat in early Asian trading on Thursday, as investors awaited US jobs data for clues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate path.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold was little changed at $4,146.66 per ounce, as of 0027 GMT. US gold futures for December delivery lost 0.3% to $4,177.00.

The crucial US nonfarm payrolls report for September is scheduled for release on Friday.


Data on Wednesday showed US inflation rose less than expected in August, and price pressures were more moderate in the prior month than previously reported. Gold prices briefly climbed following the data release but closed lower by the end of the session.

The data trimmed expectations for an October Fed rate hike, but traders see an 87% chance of a rate increase in December.

Some Bank of Japan policymakers saw the need to accelerate the pace of rate hikes or bring them closer to the central bank's "goal" soon, a summary of opinions at its September meeting showed.

Higher interest rates reduce gold's appeal because it yields no interest.

On the geopolitical front, Iran said on Wednesday it had received a US response to its latest proposal to resurrect the collapsed ceasefire in the Gulf, days after President Donald Trump said he had rejected it.

Elsewhere, Egypt's mining sector drew hundreds of millions of dollars in planned investments this week as companies seek gold and other minerals in a country often seen as one of Africa's most under-explored.

Spot silver fell 0.4% to $60.17, platinum fell 0.1% at $1,704.95 and palladium fell 0.4% to $1,200.85.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0600 UK Nationwide house price mm, yy Sep

0750 France S&P Manufacturing PMI Sep

0755 Germany S&P Manufacturing PMI Sep

0800 EU S&P MFG Final PMI Sep

0830 UK S&P GLOBAL MANUFACTURING PMI Sep

0900 EU Unemployment Rate Aug

1230 US Initial Jobless Clm 26 Sep, w/e

1345 US S&P Global Mfg PMI Final Sep

1400 US ISM Manufacturing PMI Sep