Gold Rebounds as Rate Hike Bets Eased Ahead of US Jobs Data
Gold prices have rebounded to around $4,470 in the early Asian session on Friday, following a recovery from earlier losses. The precious metal's price has been influenced by shifting expectations of a US rate hike after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller's comments.
Waller stated that he expects 'reasonable' inflation readings next month, which has led traders to pare back their bets on further monetary tightening. According to the CME's FedWatch tool, there is now a 50.2% chance of a quarter-point hike in September, down from 63.2% before Waller's speech.
Analysts at HSBC argue that a further US rate increase is unlikely in the near term, provided that 'high energy prices aren't translating into higher core inflation.' They note that this remains their base scenario and that the Fed will be reluctant to tighten policy further because 'the US Federal Reserve won't want low-income households to bear the pressure of higher rates.'